Page 17 of Chasing Benedict
“And have you?” Aubrey prodded, leaning in over the desk in anticipation. “Discovered her identity?”
“I have.”
Silence descended among the three men, the muffled voices from the shop penetrating the office door. Aubrey looked shocked, while Warin’s face remained a blank slate.
“Her name is Cynthia Milbank. Aubrey, the name will be familiar to you.”
Aubrey’s goggled at Benedict as if he’d been struck by lightning. “Miss Milbank? Are you certain?”
“I wasn’t at first, but there was something too familiar about her. Millicent confirmed it. It’s her.”
Warin darted a puzzled look at Benedict. “Would either of you care to enlighten me as to just who this woman is and why she’s doing this?”
“She was Benedict’s fiancée for a short time,” Aubrey offered.
For the first time, Warin’s expression faltered, clear surprise registering on his face. He knew of Benedict’s preference and had never judged him for it.
“It was an arrangement made by our fathers,” Benedict said with a shrug. “No one involved wanted it, but my father found it necessary. He assumed marriage would reform me.”
“He also assumed you would go through with it,” Aubrey said with a derisive snort. “It’s almost as if he doesn’t know you at all.”
“Oh, he knows me,” Benedict spat. “He simply doesn’t care. He is determined to have his way, regardless of what anyone else wants.”
“What happened?” Warin asked. “Since you are still unwed, I’m assuming she cried off.”
“She didn’t,” Benedict replied. “I did.”
Warin’s stoic expression had been completely obliterated by now. While not born of thebeau monde,Warin’s connections to people such as Benedict had taught him the various faux pas that could bring a man to ruin. He knew as well as Benedict and Aubrey that it was the height of incivility for a man to end an engagement—one that could lead to him being shunned from polite society.
“Dear God,” Warin said with a shake of his head. “It’s no wonder your reputation is such shite.”
“Indeed,” Benedict said. “I refused to go through with the marriage, and no one could make me—not my father, not Mr. Milbank, not Cynthia.”
“I think it’s safe to say we now know why her writings about you are so venomous,” Aubrey remarked. “During your engagement, did she happen to discover the truth of your … inclinations?”
“That, I do not know. It is my belief that she’s angry that I jilted her and out for revenge. She started out with a vendetta against the Gentleman Courtesans, which comes as no surprise to me. The Milbanks are merchant class social-climbers looking for status and prestige, which they thought to gain through marriage. Cynthia was always such a haughty little chit, looking down on those she thought were beneath her due to their immorality.”
“How did she come to learn that you were the proprietor of the agency?” Warin asked.
“I cannot say,” Benedict replied. “However she learned the truth, she has intensified her efforts against all of us … because of me.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Aubrey insisted.
“It sort of is his fault,” Warin said under his breath.
Benedict snorted a laugh. “I take full responsibility for bringing her wrath upon us. Which is why it falls to me to end this.”
“What are you going to do?” Aubrey asked.
“Millicent is obtaining my invitation to a ball hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Avonleah. I have it on good authority that Cynthia will be there. I intend to confront her … discreetly, of course.”
Warin frowned. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. She’s sure to be furious with you for temporarily halting circulation of her paper.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Benedict said. “But I cannot do this any longer. The last time I encountered Cynthia, she told me she wanted something. I intend to find out what that is.”
“Do you intend to give it to her?”
“Not a chance. But if I know what she wants, I have all the control. I can deal with her more effectively. Besides, I need her to know I’m on to her.”
