Except, she was angry because he hadn’t even asked to begin with and made decisions that had affected them both. Even if they had shared a long, drawn-out discussion, the outcome would have been the same.
But Victoria was independent and stubborn, which was something he had realized within a day of meeting her while the masks were still in place. It was one of the things that he admired about her. Her independence, not her stubbornness.
No wonder she was angry at not being consulted, which he should have done.
Not that it would have made any difference, which was what hurt the most.
He was not worthy of her and never would be.
As he lifted the glass to his lips, Benedick sank down onto the settee and drank, feeling sorry for himself.
Just because he was here to guard her did not mean he couldn’t also brood.
“Dinner has been served in the dining room,” a footman announced after entering the parlor without knocking. “Will you be joining Lady Victoria or would you like a plate delivered in here?”
He almost asked to be served here, but Benedick was bloody tired of taking his meals alone.
At least her anger was directed at him for not being consulted and not his person.
“I will dine with Lady Victoria,” he answered then drained the brandy from the glass and stood before he followed the footman.
Her eyes widened only slightly, then she offered a nod as if to allow him to approach her. No different than how a queen might acknowledge those beneath her and solidified why they were not suited.
Benedick took the seat then stared at the plate before him of roast chicken, fried potatoes and carrots.
“We have simple meals,” she said to explain. “There is no reason for Cook to prepare a meal of courses for only me. I eat the same as they do.”
“It looks marvelous to me,” he returned. “I have eaten so much mutton stew and other meals that I am afraid to identify in taverns these last months that this is elegant.”
“Taverns?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered and cut into the chicken. “I could cook for myself, I suppose, but it takes too much effort after a long day of chasing criminals so it is easier to visit a tavern or café.”
“I would have thought you would dine with your brothers, or maybe a sister when she was in town.”
“On occasion I do,” he answered. “But our schedules are such that we rarely have the same time that is free.”
She moved the potatoes around on her plate with the tip of her fork. “I suppose that I should not be surprised. Even though Olivia and I had shared a home before she wed, we rarely dined together as she was often at Westbrook House.”
“You were not?” he asked.
“She has the experience to be a doctor, surgeon, apothecary and midwife. With so many children, there was often someone ill.” The corner of her mouth twitched. “Society would be scandalized to know that she used to sneak into medical lectures dressed as a man.”
He certainly was. “If those were her duties, what are yours?”
“I run Westbrook House and attend to the finances and arrange events to raise funds and attend the balls so that I might encourage benefactors to give me more money.”
A world much different from his. Benedick only attended balls when forced to by his sisters and now that they were wed, he would not have to attend another wedding breakfast, and likely not another ball. Nothing made him feel more out of place, even though that had not always been the case. It only became an issue after Lady Grisham’s house party because he was afraid that he might cross paths with Lady Victoria. Except, he had not needed to attend a ball. He was summoned to the place she and her sister had founded.
At a scrape against the window, as if someone had scraped their fingernails across it, Victoria turned wide blue eyes to him and he could feel the fear radiating from her being. It had grown dark outside, which was a time when those with intents of breaking into a home to do harm were ripe. Except most waited until the owners and servants were asleep.
When there was a second scratch against the glass, Benedick rose from his seat, fisted his hand around the handle of a knife, and slowly walked to the window.
Victoria did not move and he wondered if she even breathed.
He thought to slide along the wall so that whoever was outside would be caught, but if there was someone there, he could easily see into the brightly lit dining room, even through the lace dimity curtains.
As he neared the window, Benedick drew in a breath then parted the curtain only slightly before he relaxed.
