Then he ran his tongue past the curve of her lips, teasing at them until they opened. Tentatively, she responded.
This was why women fell. She’d never understood what could make a woman risk her reputation, her future.
But this. Now she understood.
“Ben!” Cassandra yelled. “Are you here to help us?”
Her words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over them. Amelia stepped back swiftly, brushing at her gown and tucking a strand of hair back into place.
Her fingers itched to tug flat the wrinkles she’d created in his coat.
Benedict coughed and turned to face his sister, who was stripping twigs free of leaves as she walked toward them.
“Yes, poppet. I’m here to help.” He flashed Amelia a hot and wicked smile.
Goodness. What did that mean?
Her heart raced as her mind sifted through all the possible consequences of the kiss. None of which was territory she’d explored before.
At least Benedict was having as much trouble concentrating as she was. He’d been looking at his sister a full five seconds before he actually saw her. She could tell because surprise flickered over his face, followed quickly by resignation.
Cassandra may have spent the past hour playing outside, but the morning had been spent taking the first steps toward being a young lady. “Your hair looks lovely, Cassandra,” Benedict said gruffly in response to the lopsided curls piled high on her head. “Daisy has done an excellent job.”
Daisy had done the job that could be expected from a housemaid—an awful one—but Cassandra beamed anyway. “Doesn’t it look pretty?” She patted it gently.
She’d been so pleased that she’d insisted they not wear bonnets outside, and the curls had sagged somewhat under the snowflakes that had quickly turned to water.
Amelia watched Benedict breathe deep. It was to his credit that he bit back whatever his actual opinion was. Progress indeed.
“Amelia says we may share a lady’s maid until I’m sixteen, and then I’m to have my own. Except for when we’re in London. We will be too busy to share one then.” Cassandra seemed oblivious to the tension building in her brother’s shoulders or the tightening of his mouth.
“London? Have we got plans to go into town now?” He turned to Amelia.
“Not now,” she said, hoping their recent kiss would blunt his frustration. “I daresay it would be best to wait until the gossip dies down. But certainly later in the year, once the Season is over, it might be nice. It would be good for Cassandra to start meeting people.”
He was near his limits. First the servants, and then Cassandra’s hair. Throwing in news of a trip to London in the same forty-eight-hour period was perhaps a bit much.
Benedict took a deep breath. “You may have a lady’s maid, Cassandra. To do your hair and play with dresses. But you’re to clean your own room and make your own bed, as always.”
Cassandra nodded quickly, as if to agree before he could change his mind. “Absolutely.”
“And if you fall behind on your studies, Daisy is not to assist you at all.”
Cassandra screwed up her face in a completely unladylike manner. There was so much work to be done with her.
“Why would I fall behind? I love my studies.”
The twelve-year-old was a strange creature. Goodness, the extremes Amelia had gone to in order to avoid her studies.
Benedict turned to her, his eyes falling to her lips. “There’s no harm in a trip to London, but what we’ll do and who we’ll see there is a discussion for another time.”
“Dare I press my luck and ask if the staff are allowed to stay?”
Benedict rubbed the back of his neck. “There has been an overwhelming amount of support for your decision to employ some of the locals, and while it makes me uncomfortable, I can see its benefits. Besides, breakfast was…appreciated.”
Breakfast this morning had been a far cry from the half-burnt toast and sausages of the day before. The sideboard had been covered in hot pastries, glazed ham, buttered croissants, and poached eggs. If anything was going to convince Benedict that hiring some extra help was a good thing, Mrs. Duggan’s food would be it.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now I think it’s time to head inside for some hot tea.” Now that the heat of his kiss was dissipating, she was getting cold.
