“I wish to help you,” he added. “And if hauling about trunks is the only assistance I can offer, then so be it, but for once, I can see something you require and cannot do yourself.”
Katherine opened her mouth, but he continued, “I can travel there and see for myself if it will suit your needs. It is easy enough for me to do so without raising suspicions. And I would feel better if I saw for myself that you are properly settled, rather than entrusting it to some solicitor you hardly know.”
Brows crinkled together, she watched as he spouted off reason after reason as to why she ought to accept his assistance, and she couldn’t seem to find the words to answer him. Benjamin truly wished to assist her. Though some dark part of her heart whispered that it was solely so he could ruin her plans, that fear couldn’t be sustained with every impassioned argument he gave.
Benjamin’s gaze pleaded with her, matching his tone as he expounded at length on just why he was the better choice. And still, she couldn’t seem to answer him.
Her brother cared for her. Had she thought such a thing yesterday, Katherine would’ve laughed at herself. That foolish hope had laid in wait for so many years, desperate for some sign that it was true. And here it was. Benjamin Leigh cared about his sister.
Clearing her throat, Katherine drew in a deep breath and interrupted. “I accept.”
Benjamin paused mid-sentence and blinked at her. “You do?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,” he replied, straightening and drumming his fingers against the floor. “I thought it would take more for you to agree. I still haven’t exhausted all my arguments.”
She huffed. “I can be reasonable. Isn’t that shocking?”
He matched her huff and shook his head. “How did I overlook your humor?”
“A double shock, to be sure,” she replied in a dry tone.
Drawing his legs in, Benjamin stared at her with a clear question on his lips, though he didn’t speak. Katherine watched him for a long moment before he finally ventured to voice it.
“I hope not to pique your anger, but I fear I must ask if I can divulge your plans to Prudence and Rosanna.”
She shook her head. “They will tell Mama—”
“Not if you ask them not to,” he replied. “And please notice I did not mention Francis, for not only will she be of no use, she will immediately write to Mother and tell all. However, the others can be trusted.”
“Rosanna is Mama’s favorite, and she will do what she will to maintain that place—even betray my trust if need be.” Katherine crossed her arms and sighed. “She is just as aggressive as Mama when it comes to foisting me off on undesirable gentlemen, and all for the sake of garnering favor with the Leigh matriarch.”
Benjamin canted his head to the side, his brows furrowing. “That is not true. Rosanna is convinced you do not like her, but she wishes to see you settled. Unfortunately, she is as blind as I have been. I cannot tell you how often I have heard Prudence and Rosanna bemoan the fact that they wish to know you better—”
“That is ridiculous,” she said with a frown. “Rosanna is forever attempting to alter me—just like Mama does—and Prudence continually brushes me aside whenever I ask her for anything or attempt to speak with her. She is forever occupied with something far more important.”
With a wince, Benjamin shrugged. “I feel as though we have already established that our family is quite good at misinterpreting each other’s motivations. Perhaps we could try again.”
Drawing her arms tight around herself, Katherine considered the dueling sentiments warring in her chest. Her heart gave a happy flutter at the mere thought that such a thing was possible. Yet experience had taught her time and time again not to give in to such vain hopes, and her ribs squeezed tight at the thought of opening herself up once more to that possible pain.
She breathed deeply, forcing both emotions into the background as she focused on her brother. “I will, if you promise me one thing.”
Benjamin paused, his head canting to the side as he considered that. “Which is?”
“Do not break the entail. Do not sacrifice your future for our parents’ selfish desires. They have made their poor choices, and you needn’t be made to bear the consequences of them.”
“I do not plan on doing so,” he said. “And with you comfortably situated there is nothing they can do to persuade me otherwise.”
Katherine shook her head, her brows drawing close together. “You have never been the focus of their ire before, Benjamin. In their eyes, you can do no wrong, for you are their salvation. When it becomes clear you are not, they will unleash the very fires of hell. You have no idea how horrid they can be.”
Rising to his feet, Benjamin took her in his arms once more and held her tight. “Do not worry, my dearest sister. I will remain strong.”
Yet as she reveled in the comfort his embrace held, Katherine’s heart chilled at the thought of what was to come for him.
Chapter 36
Focus was not a difficult thing. Having stepped into his father’s shoes at sixteen, David Archer knew how to work. For all that people believed the youth lacked determination, to his thinking, much of that was due to a lack of responsibilities laid on their shoulders.
