A hand gripped his shoulder.“Sit down, my boy.”Benson pushed a little more firmly.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep, and I certainly didn’t mean to lose the entire morning.”He stopped fighting and dropped back onto the seat.
“It’s about time you did.”
Sunlight beamed through the windows.He should have been up and about hours ago.“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I was busy making sure no one else woke you.”
“It’s not funny, Benson.I have so much to do.”
Benson shook his head.“Everything is already being seen to.Right now, you are going to drink some coffee.”He handed him a cup, as if he’d just conjured it.“And then, I’ll go up with you and help you dress.”
Trent closed his eyes as the warmth of the coffee slid down his throat.It was wonderful.Benson spoiled him sometimes.“I don’t need help.”
“Don’t you?”Benson’s gaze skimmed over him from head to toe, startling a laugh from him.
“You’ve never talked to me this way before.”
“You’ve never driven yourself to this level of exhaustion before.Lord Ashdown asked me to stay on here for a reason, and if I allow you to work yourself to death, how do you suppose he’ll feel about that?”
Trent looked down at his rumpled clothing.“Point taken.”He savored another mouthful of coffee and handed the cup back to Benson.“Let’s go upstairs.”
The clock on the mantel said it was half past nine, but Benson assured him all was well as he ushered him out of the room.
When Trent picked up his razor, he looked over at Benson.“Is she…”
Benson nodded.“She’s down in the dining room with Maggie.”
“How did they get there?”
“They walked down together.When I told Samantha you were sleeping, she took it upon herself to check in on Maggie.I dare say the young miss was thrilled by her company.She seems to really like her.”
Trent nodded.She definitely did.“Is Samantha’s ankle feeling better?”
“She assured me it was, or I would not have allowed her to walk down unassisted.”
“Thank you, Benson.You’re too good to me.”
The man held out his hand for the razor.Trent shook his head.“I don’t think I could trust even you with a sharp blade against my throat.”
“Considering your father’s never got cut, you should.”
Trent blinked.Sometimes he forgot that the monster who was Ash’s father, was also his father.And Benson had been his valet.How much mistreatment must he have endured back then?Reluctantly, Trent gave in and handed over the razor.
Laughter greeted him as he walked into the dining room.Maggie looked at him, her eyes bright, like always.She stuck her tongue out at him before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
It was impossible to not laugh with her.“Have you been teaching her that?”he asked Samantha.She was smiling and laughing, and it was such a wonderful sight.Especially after yesterday.
“I would never do such a thing.”
“Yes you did, Mantha!”
“Shhh.Don’t tell him.”
Maggie was overcome with giggles again.He could only stand and watch, a half-smile on his face.Somehow it created a clash of emotions.It was utterly enchanting, but at the same time, it made him wish for something that would never be.Maggie deserved a mother.Someone who would care for her and nurture her in ways that he couldn’t.
Samantha’s face was flushed with her laughter, and Sandra must have trimmed her hair.The length was much more uniform, and she wore a lovely lace headband.As her eyes met his, they shone just a bit brighter than they had the day before.His heart missed a beat.She was beautiful.
