“Speak to her, Benjamin. I assure you that she is curt at times and may be slow to trust you entirely, but I believe she is eager to do so.” Something was keeping her at Whitley Court, and as David considered it, he couldn’t help but wonder if the motivations of both brother and sister were aligned. “I believe she has an idea for her future that doesn’t include marrying the likes of Mr. Tryck.”
“I have tried speaking with her in the past—”
“No. Not truly.”
Chapter 24
They paused once more, but at least they’d reached the stables proper. The grooms moved about, readying the horses as he considered what to say.
Drawing in a deep breath, David said, “You say you’ve given her no reason to distrust you, but I would ask you if you’ve ever given her reason to trust you. How many times have you sought out her company? Searched for some common ground between you and her? Been eager to see her, rather than allowing her to join us simply because I asked it? I promise you are not as subtle as you think yourself to be, and she is far more perceptive than any of you give her credit for.”
For all that his words were entirely true, David couldn’t help a pang in his heart as he considered his feelings when they’d first met. Though he had never disliked Miss Leigh as so many others did, it had been more compassion than desire that had pushed him to reach out to her with the hand of friendship. And thank the heavens his conscience had prodded him to do so.
Benjamin kicked at the ground, digging into the grass with the heel of his boot as he stared at his feet. “You are my friend. That means you ought to take my side over hers, you know.”
“She is my friend as well,” said David, cutting his words short before he admitted the full truth, for if he was forced to rank the two, Miss Leigh would certainly take the premier position.
Benjamin’s friendship was a blessing, to be sure, but it was vastly different from what he shared with Miss Leigh. The young man was still only twenty years of age, and David felt far older than his own seven and twenty. A man didn’t become the head of the household at sixteen without maturing quickly, and Benjamin had much more growing to do.
The world was forever about to collapse around them. Benjamin’s troubles were always insurmountable and cataclysmic. Though his friend was level-headed enough to accept good advice when given, David’s role was far more that of a mentor than a peer. The truest of friendships required a give and take, and he couldn’t say that Benjamin offered as much of the former as he did the latter.
But that wasn’t a confession to be shared. Thankfully, the fellow accepted David’s statement with no further argument.
With a nod, the pair strode towards the stables and their waiting mounts, but if David had thought to enjoy an easy ride, he was sorely mistaken; Benjamin pushed them and the horses hard as the young man tried to work out his troubles. Unfortunately for David, it did little to quell his unease. Despite the physical toll it took, both on his muscles and concentration, he couldn’t stop his mind from drifting to Whitley Court and Miss Leigh.
A sennight’s separation was hardly evidence that the lady was avoiding him, but that niggling concern he stuffed into the back recesses of his thoughts lunged forward as he considered her behavior at the concert. Something wasn’t right between them. Despite his best efforts to speak to her, Miss Leigh had snuck away without ever deigning to acknowledge him.
David supposed that was understandable if Benjamin had spent the evening hounding her about Mr. Tryck, but Miss Leigh hadn’t even smiled at him or waved back when he’d drawn her attention. She was by no means a demonstrative lady, but he knew the signs and hadn’t seen a single flicker of pleasure in her gaze when she’d looked at him.
Despite scouring his memories, David couldn’t think of anything he’d done or said to deserve such cold treatment. The story of Irene’s dog sprang back into his thoughts, but he quickly quashed the fear nipping close on its heels. His friendship with Miss Leigh hadn’t been the easiest to cultivate, but they were well past the time when she’d snapped at his metaphorical fingers.
Not wishing to damage their mounts, the pair forced themselves into a slow walk, and both horses and riders were breathing heavily. Benjamin made no move to break the silence, and David was quite content with that.
Only a sennight, and he missed Miss Leigh. It was a strange thought, but a true one nonetheless, and he couldn’t say that he felt that way about any other friend.
“What does this fantasy lady have that is so much better than a lady whose company you crave and whose opinion you value?”Benjamin’s question surfaced from the hidden depths of his thoughts. Though David had been dismissive of it at first, the blasted thing had continued to resurface.
David shifted in his seat and adjusted the reins in his hands, ruining the proper grip he had and forcing him to settle the straps of leather back where they’d been. Reaching over, he rubbed Brutus’s neck, and the beast shook his head.
There was no denying that Miss Leigh was his dearest friend. Though other gentlemen might scoff at giving a lady that designation, David preferred her company over any number of his peers. Though his actions hadn’t been deliberate, he couldn’t deny that it was no surprise that he’d ended up at her side at the Hyatts’ picnic. She was his calm in the storm.
Thinking of Miss Leigh in such a manner brought a smile to David’s lips, for she was not a peaceful and serene creature. Her exterior hid so much fire in her soul, and for all that her own family believed her heartless, David knew she possessed one of the strongest and truest hearts he’d ever known.
So, why was he seeking out another lady?
Benjamin’s question had surprised him at the time. Between the possibility of his having raised expectations and the damage it might’ve done to Miss Leigh’s reputation, David hadn’t been of the proper mind to truly consider the whole of that question when first posed.
The world labeled Miss Leigh plain. His heart twisted at that cruel descriptor, for it was entirely inaccurate, and he had never thought of her in such terms. Yes, she was far too thin for fashion’s liking, but Miss Leigh had a regal bearing that suited the lithe frame. And her chin was prominent, but it made it all the more amusing when her feathers were ruffled and she jutted the thing out like a weapon. Her spectacles may be a bane to her mother, but they suited Miss Leigh, adding an extra sparkle to her gaze whilst she was delivering a dry retort or jest.
No, she wasn’t plain by any means. But did she inspire a burning desire?
Attraction wasn’t the premier consideration for a wife. Friendship was a far stronger foundation for a marriage, and David wanted a wife who was first and foremost his confidant and companion. However, that did not mean that passion was unimportant.
That was the missing piece that his Mystery Lady possessed. An attraction of body and mind. A desire for companionship and kisses. Not adoration or affection, but a perfect blending of the two. Their tokens shared in the garden weren’t mere trifles, and a man would be a fool if he gave up on finding such a lady. David cared deeply for Miss Leigh, but he wanted a spouse who stirred his blood—they both deserved that.
For all that Benjamin spoke cavalierly as though it was a simple matter of David deciding to take Miss Leigh for his bride, he’d never considered her in such a light before. And having spent a fair amount of time considering the past, David felt confident that Miss Leigh had no romantic intentions, for she certainly had given no sign that she desired anything beyond their platonic relationship.
They were friends, nothing more—though even that was suspect at present, for Miss Leigh was most determinedly ignoring him at present.
