Page 56 of Her Wily Duke

“The Harbottles have hired me to restore their garden,” said James proudly. “Apparently, it’s something that a lot of rich people are doing now — expending huge effort on making the gardens pretty, and on having a wide variety of herbs and flowers, so that the garden is a delight of interwoven scents. They want more statues and fountains and the like added too, but I took the job mainly because my mother would have loved to have an herb garden on this scale, and to see this one run to weeds and broken borders was more than I could accept.”

“Why? Why would anyone start to do that, in late autumn? Surely spring would be more sensible?” Benedict regarded James, rather bewildered.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” James said with a shrug, “but it keeps me employed and out from under my wife’s feet. And they don’t seem to care how much it costs, or how long it takes, so long as something is being done. Step in here out of the rain, and let’s sit down.”

Benedict did as suggested, and stared out over the mist shrouded lake, contemplating what James had said.

“That sounds delightfully uncomplicated.” Anyone else of Benedict’s acquaintance might have found the occupation of garden restorer rather menial, but Benedict almost envied James’s happiness. It would have been a relief to leave home every day and come to stand out here among the trees and flowers, with nothing more complex to deal with than where to put a statue, or where to plant a particular herb. It was the sort of job which James could perform well and which he, with his title and status, would never have been allowed to contemplate. “Don’t you ever get bored or lonely, with no one to talk to all day?”

“Why would I, with the birds of the air and the beasts of the field to keep me company? And each evening I’ve my wife to go home to – it’s not so far, driving our little gig, so I’ve company and conversation then. This is far more peaceful than most other jobs I’ve done. Anyway, what brings you to see me? I rather thought you’d be busy with your new wife, given that I heard that you’d recently married. I must admit, I’d not generally expect a Duke to seek me out in a merchant’s garden…”

“Well, I remembered something you once told me about the potions and salves that your mother used to make for the villagers,” Benedict hesitated, swallowing nervously, then decided to get right to the point – even if he wasn’t sure that what he was about to ask was anything more than foolish superstition, “and I was wondering if you still had any bottles of love potion.”

“Love potion?” James gave a gentle laugh, “that was always one of mother’s more popular potions.”

“So the servants’ gossip informed me, years ago. Which is why I hoped…”

“I think I may still have one in the workroom of my cottage, but why do you need it? Who could you possibly be trying to seduce, given that you already have a wife?”

Benedict’s eyes didn’t quite meet James’.

“I need it for my wife.”

This admission evoked a cry of surprise from James.

“In all the years that my mother made potions, the love potion was probably the most commonly requested item — but as far as I know, no one ever bought it for their spouse. And you are only just married, so why…?”

Feeling remarkably foolish, but determined to see this through, now that he had already embarrassed himself, Benedict explained to James the state of his marriage since the night of the wedding - how Ariana refused to engage in marital relations; how she had recently begun sleeping in another room - defying his requirement of her, and how her father’s advice had proven more abusive than helpful.

“The situation feels completely hopeless at this point,” he said. “I’m getting desperate, and I just wish that there was something I could do to get her to love me – or at least like me.”

“Well, a love potion would certainly do that. It would create a powerful attraction which would make you irresistible to her. But are you sure that a love potion is what you really need?”

“If it would mend the rift in our marriage, then yes, of course. Some would call me foolish to even believe in the possibility - but I’m desperate. Frankly, when you live in a place like Darkmire Abbey, which feels full of ghosts and other oddities, it’s not so hard to believe that a potion might work.”

James nodded, considering his old friend closely.

“Indeed. But tell me… how do you feel about your wife? Do you love her? Or was this a typical ton arranged marriage?”

Benedict turned his eyes away from the misty lake, and locked his gaze to James’ green eyes. How did he feel? The answer which rose in his mind in response to that question shocked him. He loved her. Somehow, through all of their arguments, all of her stubbornness, it had made him see the strength in her, the beauty which went beyond the physical. Which meant that, if this didn’t work, he was doomed to a life of unrequited love.

“I love her.”

It was baldly said, but James just smiled.

“Then come to my cottage tonight, and we’ll see what I’ve got.”

***

Ariana had barely seen Benedict for days, and when she had, they had greeted each other coldly, formally – she might as well have been living with a stranger. But that was what she had wanted, wasn’t it? To be left alone?

Except… she was not just alone, but lonely.

All her life, she’d not had much chance to be lonely, for her parents had always been there, involving themselves in her day.

She’d thought that being left alone would be wonderful – but now – perhaps it wasn’t, after all. She might have been forced to marry Benedict, but she was beginning to see that, as men went, she could have been far worse off. It could have been Lord Jasper…

Ariana shuddered at that thought, the memory of his intense pale blue eyes on her when she had spoken to him the day after her wedding making her feel oddly disturbed. He had not wanted to accept her request to leave her alone – and she’d been glad when the servants had found her, and escorted her back to the house – glad, because Lord Jasper could not follow her there.