“For my sparkling wit and delightful housekeeping skills?”
A smile teased at the corners of his lips. “For writing to me. Telling me of Father’s plan. I knew it was difficult for you. But I had no idea how much it cost you.”
“Indeed. The express post is pure robbery. You owe me a guinea, by the way.”
“I’ll add it to your bill at the modiste. Listen, I know sincerity disagrees with your constitution. But you could have allowed Father’s plan to go forward unchallenged. Instead, you wrote to me, enlisted West’s assistance,andvoluntarily sat in a room with Wayland for more than an hour without unsheathing your hairpin. All that to say, I recognize at least some of the sacrifices you’ve made today. And I am truly grateful.”
“Yes, well—” She cleared her throat before taking another sip. “Your Eliza isn’t so… That is, she seems a rather sweet girl, and I quite enjoyed my conversation with the mother as well. And Wayland was… not what I expected.”
“Yes, he’s…”
“A loving father,” she supplied, something weary in her tone.
Benedict understood the sentiment well. It shouldn’t hurt the way it did, deep in his chest, to see a man love his children so fiercely, so unconditionally. Both Sinclair siblings knew such paternal love was an impossibility for them. “Precisely.”
“I know. It’s disgusting, really. No wonder your Eliza is so… earnest.” Bella added the last word with a hint of distaste, but there was no force behind it. “Benedict?”
“Yes?”
She inhaled slowly, deliberately, before exhaling with just as much purpose. “What Eliza said last night… about not believing you capable of love?”
Benedict swallowed.
“She was wrong. She knows it too. I suspect she was trying to hurt you because she was frightened. I’ve heard you say something similar before. And I wanted to— You’re wrong.You’re capable of so much love. But we’ve had to crush such sentiments. I imagine it’s rather like a muscle. Once you exercise it, you may find it stronger than you think.”
Tears welled in Benedict’s eyes. He risked the irritation of the settee on his back to move beside her.
“I do love you, Bell,” he whispered. “I know our plan hinges on being able to identify Draycott, but West has seen him. He can identify the man tomorrow. It would be safer for you to stay here.”
“Do be serious, Ben. That masquerade is the event of the season every single year. Securing an invitation was at least half of the reason I agreed to meet with Wayland tonight. I’ve had my dress for weeks.”
A laugh escaped Benedict’s chest. “Fair enough. I know better than to forbid you anything. But please stay close to me or West?”
She rolled her eyes. “I suppose.” And then, to Benedict’s astonishment, she leaned to the side and rested her head against Benedict’s shoulder. “You be careful as well.” Bella could only abide a moment of sincerity before she added, “I’ve had your outfit selected for months. It wouldn’t do to ruin it.”
“Understood,” he said with a touch of mock solemnity.
Bella pulled away, then ventured over to the drink cart and refilled her gin. Benedict used the opportunity to slouch forward on the settee again, ignoring the pull of the scabs along his back.
“Do you think it will work?” she asked.
Benedict sighed. “I’m with Wayland. I hate it—the thought of using Eliza as bait… But Ainsley is right. Draycott will see the chaos of the masquerade as the perfect opportunity to take one of the girls. It will be pure bedlam—unfamiliar faces, disguised faces, music, drinking, dancing, gaming, laughter. It is the ideal event for him to get in and out with hours to spare beforeanyone notices Eliza missing. But he no longer has the element of surprise he thinks he does.”
“And if we stop Draycott? Father won’t give up.”
“You know what?” Benedict finally brought his gaze up to Bella’s. His own face surely mirrored the resigned devastation etched in her mouth and the corners of her eyes.
“You mean to let Wayland take care of father.”
“It’s better if I know nothing about it. Legally. But Wayland, or that dunner—he seems strangely protective of the girls.”
Bella’s teeth gnawed on her lower lip.
“He’ll never stop, Bell. I thought perhaps he would attempt to rob Wayland after I— But this?—”
“I know. I know. It’s just…”
“Our father.”
