Shoving against him, David gritted his teeth. “What are you doing? I know I have been a fool—and I certainly deserve to be raked over the coals—but this has gone on long enough. I thought giving her some time might help, but clearly, matters are only growing worse. Things will never mend if she won’t speak to me—”
“And I ask you again, what does it matter?” asked Benjamin, shoving back with equal force. “One way or another, you’re going to find your Mystery Lady, and you won’t have any need for Katherine to hang about—”
“I don’t want that wretched Mystery Lady!” shouted David, putting his shoulder into it as he butted against his friend, but Benjamin grabbed him in a bear hug, and the two were as close to wrestling as gentlemen in restrictive jackets could.
“After the way you’ve been pining for her?” asked Benjamin with a grunt.
“You’re the one who has been pushing me to open my eyes and realize the truth, and I have. Katherine is everything I could hope for in a sweetheart. We make each other happy. In fact, the only time I am miserable when it comes to her is when she refuses to speak to me, so let me go. I need to find her. Why are you being so ridiculous?!”
His arms squeezed tight around David, strangling the last words, and though Benjamin stilled, he didn’t loosen his stranglehold.
“You truly mean that, don’t you?” asked Benjamin.
“Again,” he managed to squeak out whilst tugging at the arm holding him in place, “you are the one who has been lecturing me on this subject. Why are you so surprised that I came to my senses?”
With a low hum somewhat akin to a growl, Benjamin released him, and David straightened, tugging at his jacket and smoothing his cravat.
“You care for her?” asked Benjamin.
Brushing off his sleeve, David frowned. “I do not wish to discuss that with you.”
Benjamin’s gaze darkened, and he stepped forward, reaching for him again. David jumped backward, holding up his hands to ward his friend off.
“I only meant that she deserves to hear what I have to say first.”
But his friend did not back away. Benjamin narrowed his gaze. “I did a wretched job of it in the past, but it is my duty and honor to protect her from blackguards.”
David kept his hands up between them, and he nodded. “I understand, and I will say that I have intentions and they are honorable. I was a fool to cling to some fantasy for so long, but I realize my folly now, and I will do everything in my power to win her heart.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, Benjamin dropped his arms to his side. His brows drew together as he studied David, who did his utmost to look as genuine as he could. Thankfully, every word he’d uttered was the truth, so it was simple enough to do so.
“I am a distraction,” said Benjamin.
“Pardon?”
“You asked why I was visiting, and that is the reason,” he clarified. “Katherine is gathering the last of her things she left here, and she asked me to keep you occupied.”
David Let out a groan that ended in a sigh and scrubbed at his face. “Promise me that if this interview goes poorly, you will convince her to continue using our piano. If she wishes to avoid me, she need only tell me when she is coming by, and I will leave the premises. Even if she cannot forgive me, she shouldn’t be kept from her music.”
Benjamin’s jaw clenched, and he was silent for a moment before he answered. “I cannot promise you that, but I give you my word Katherine will never be forbidden music again.”
Again, the tone with which he spoke was far too significant to be ignored, and David frowned.
“Your parents have replaced her piano?” Though that seemed the clearest meaning, he couldn’t imagine it was the case, as Mrs. Leigh was quite clear and unshakeable concerning her daughter’s playing.
“Of course not,” replied Benjamin, holding David’s gaze as though hoping to lead him to the answer.
David rubbed at the back of his head. “If you have something to say, man, then say it. Clearly, something is going on, but I cannot fathom what it is. Out with it.”
“I gave my word that I wouldn’t,” replied Benjamin with an equally heavy tone and expression. “I have already said far more than I probably ought to, but do you recall when you asked me about the escape plan Katherine mentioned?”
Benjamin raised his brows suggestively, and David frowned, his thoughts quickly pasting together the various hints scattered in their conversation. It took no great leap in logic to suspect that his friend’s recent absences from town had something to do with it, and David didn’t need Benjamin to confirm what his heart already suspected.
When Miss Leigh had spoken of her escape, it hadn’t seemed like some small attempt at freedom. David had never thought it would be so grand a thing, but in his bones, he knew it was true.
Cold ran down his spine, settling into his stomach as he stood there, staring off at nothing. She was leaving Greater Edgerton. Leaving him. Knowing he had time to plead his case had been the only modicum of peace to be found in the past three weeks, and now, that was snatched away from him.
David was out of time.
