Turning back to the mirror, he adjusted his cravat however it appeared the invasion was not over as the last of his nieces and nephews in residence swept through his still-open door.Dressed for the ball and wearing an imperious expression, Amanda declared, “Uncle Bendict, you must dance with me this evening, and it must be at least twice.”
“Must I?”he said, raising his brow at her in the mirror.
She glared back.“Yes, you must.And you must not spendallyour time with Lady Eleanor.
His hands stilled.He had been trying very hard not to think of El.Exhaling steadily, he said, “If you have decreed it, then it must be so.By the bye, you look lovely.”
“I know,” she said, tossing her head as Maria had only moments ago.She looked around.“My brothers and sisters were headed to your rooms.Where are they?”
“Matthews is dispensing treats in the sitting room,” he said.
Glancing at the door to the sitting room, longing warred in her expression.Much like George, Amanda had not that long ago been one of them, vying with her siblings for the choice sweets in that glass jar.
“I don’t believe anyone will know should you have one,” Benedict said.
“Well, it is only one.”With a quick grin, she disappeared into the sitting room.
As the door closed, his smile faded.Damn, but he wished Amanda had not mentioned El.Now that he’d thought on her, it was like a dam bursting.
He exhaled.He had resolved not to dwell on this and he’d been doing a damned fine job of it until Amanda had mentioned her name.He had not seen El since their last lesson.He’d thought too much about their kiss, had felt the lingering softness of her lips against his too often.The kiss had invaded his dreams, such that he woke every morning with the taste of her on his lips.He did not know how to rid himself of this obsession.He’d never been so consumed by something as simple as a kiss, and it could not have been as good as his memory had painted it.That he could recall the feel of her lips beneath his in perfect clarity did not mean a thing.
“Are my children with you?”
Thank Christ Lady C had arrived, and with her distraction from thoughts of El.Always it seemed most everyone who resided in this house wished to visit his rooms.He nodded at the sitting room.“Matthews is plying them with sweets.”
“Oh, good.They will be full of sugar and completely unmanageable.”Shaking her head ruefully, she said, “Why do I always find them in your chambers, Benedict?”
He shrugged.“I have the good treats?”
She sighed.“I think it more they love their Uncle Benedict.They always contrive ways to congregate in your rooms.I am surprised Peter did not abscond from school to find his way to your rooms.”
Before he could respond, Gregory exploded into the room, followed hotly by Maria and Edward.They screamed and shouted, something about Gregory stealing the last lemon sweet and Maria and Edward were going to destroy him.
Lady C raised her voice above the din.“There is a reason I too have come to your rooms.Colgrove wishes to speak with you.He waits in his study.”Catching her youngest son, she threw a look only a mother could at her other children.Maria and Edward immediately quieted, and she was so distracted with controlling her children she did not notice how Benedict had stilled.“You’d best attend him, Benedict.I will not have Amanda arrive a moment later than we intend.”Her arm wrapped around Gregory, she continued, “Please remind him we will leave at a quarter past the hour, with or without him.”
He nodded stiffly and he left Maria and Edward attempting to argue with their mother—a futile endeavour, as he and El well knew.In no time at all he stood before his brother’s study.
He took a long breath.This summons did not bode well, and moments before they were to leave for a ball.Whatever it was, his brother did not want to give him time to argue.
At the muffled ‘come’ he entered and found the Earl standing by the unlit fireplace.Pointing at Benedict with his half-full brandy, he said, “Good.You are here.”His brother took draught of his brandy and seemed to brace himself.“We must talk about your marriage.”
Benedict did not react.He would not give the Earl the satisfaction.“Are we to discuss fiction, brother?”he said, as if he had not just been blindsided.
The Earl frowned.“No.Why would we discuss fiction?”
“Because any discussion ofmymarriage is such.I have no plans to pursue a bride any time soon.”
“Do not be glib, Benedict, this is in earnest.”The Earl placed his glass on the mantle.“We’re about to brave the marriage mart, you would be wise to take advantage of it.You will soon have thirty years of age, Benedict.It is time for you to take a wife.”
“I do not see how this is any business of yours.”
“Itismy business.As head of this family, it behoves me to ensure my siblings are well settled.You are the only one who remains at loose ends.”
“My ends are not loose, Colgrove.”
The Earl gave a long-suffering sigh.“You have no pursuit, no purpose.A wife will give you purpose, Benedict.A family to care for.You cannot say you do not wish a family, when you spend so much time with mine.”
Perhaps he did, but he loved his nieces and nephews, and he loved they felt they could invade his rooms whenever they felt like it.He loved that they looked for him, that they talked with him, that they gave him their attention and their time.It was such a privilege, and he would not let his brother take that from him.“Are you saying I am using your children?”
