Page 21 of Chasing Benedict
Sly glances and flirtatious smiles came from Cynthia’s companions, and Benedict indulged them with an upward tick of one eyebrow. Cynthia’s chin jutted defiantly, but he could see that she realized she’d been trapped. If she cut him, rumors would swirl as to why. Their short-lived engagement wasn’t a widespread fact, but the connection between their families was.
Forcing another one of her humorless smiles, Cynthia accepted his proffered hand. “You are in luck, Mr. Sterling.”
“Splendid.”
Benedict placed her gloved hand on his arm, stiffening in revulsion at the nearness and scent of her. His stomach roiled as his mind sprung forth with things he’d rather forget. This woman and her father had conspired with the viscount to trap him into an unwanted marriage, and added further trauma to what had already been an impossibly difficult time in his life. He would not forgive them for it.
“Ah, a waltz,” he murmured as they entered the dance floor. “You are permitted to dance it, are you not? While still unmarried, you are certainlyoldenough to be allowed a waltz.”
Cynthia’s fingers dug into his forearm. “It is impolite to remark upon a lady’s age, though I should not expect decorum from an impertinent wastrel such as yourself.”
Benedict kept his gaze over her shoulder as they positioned themselves for the dance, every part of him rebelling against her nearness. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, conjuring up a more desirable situation. His mind inundated him with memories of guiding Alex through the steps. Instead of being annoyed at the thought of Alex, Benedict was relieved. There was something comforting about the memory of leading Alex through the steps, chuckling when a mistimed step resulted in sore toes.
Will you dance tonight? … You were always a magnificent dancer.
The first refrain of the music jarred Benedict back to the present, and he led Cynthia into the dance. She executed the dance with a stiff awkwardness that forced him to compensate.
“I am surprised you approached me this evening,” Cynthia remarked, her tone suddenly light and nonchalant. “A few years ago, you could not be away from me quickly enough.”
“I didn’t ask you to dance so we could rehash the past. I was never going to marry you, and you were foolish to believe our fathers could bring me to heel.”
“And you were naive to think calling off our engagement wouldn’t result in consequences. I warned you not to do it, but you didn’t listen.”
“You are right,” Benedict conceded. “I underestimated how vindictive you could be.”
“You destroyed any chance I had of making a good match.”
“Your father did that, with help from mine. Or have you forgotten that after I refused to go through with the engagement, the three of you conspired to drug me beyond comprehension so you could slip uninvited into my bed?”
Cynthia swiveled her head toward him, causing a near misstep, which Benedict corrected with a sharp turn. “You certainlyroseto the occasion readily enough,” she spat.
“I was out of my mind with opium, and never consented to your advances,” he hissed, his face flushing hot. He was fairly trembling now, feeling as if some monstrous beast had awakened within him and fought to burst free of his skin. “Did you honestly think forcing yourself on me would gain my compliance? I wouldn’t have you if my life depended on it.”
Her laughter pierced his eardrum like a dagger, and he nearly hurled her away from him then and there. “Suppose I told you that your life did depend on it … as well as the lives and social standing of your friends.”
“This old threat?” he scoffed. “It has grown tiresome. You do not know enough to publicly accuse us, and the fact that I know you are the London Gossip means that if I go down, I will take you with me. If you can be sure of nothing else, you be certain of that.”
A viper’s smile appeared, and Benedict half expected a forked tongue to flick from between Cynthia’s lips. “Youcouldtake me down with you, that I know. But, you might wish to withhold judgment on how much I know and what I’m willing to do with that information. You may have temporarily outsmarted me by changing the logistics of the operation, but I was determined to uncover the truth. I kept digging. Do you want to know what I discovered?”
“The suspense is killing me.”
“Along with the account given to me by Lady Carlotta Thrush—who conducted an affair with Mr. Dominick Burke and is willing to risk her own reputation to publicly tell her story—there was the rather diverting story I was told by a Madame Hershaw. You know, the old windbag is quite fond of you, as well as the obscene piles of money you paid her to provide a shelter for your secret enterprise.”
Benedict’s heart stuttered, his pulse quickening in his throat. Madame Hershaw had provided an office for him in the back of her shop, and a discreet way for clients to meet with him and negotiate their contracts. The woman was a modiste caring for a crippled, widowed son and three young grandchildren. Benedict’s payments had gone a long way toward helping her provide for her family. She would never set out to expose him without provocation and Benedict had given her none. After vacating his office, he had bestowed enough money on Madame Hershaw to keep the family afloat for a year or more. As well, his presence in her shop had increased her business tenfold.
No, she couldn’t have turned on him, and that left only one other possibility.
“What did you do to her?” he demanded.
“Oh, nothing as nefarious as you might think. I simply made her aware of my intention to expose the names of all the men involved in the Gentleman Courtesans in my paper, and that if she doesn’t aid me in that endeavor I will name her as your co-conspirator. Once she was made to see that her business would be ruined unless I painted her as an innocent victim blackmailed into helping you, Madame Hershaw was more than willing to see things my way.”
“You bitch,” Benedict growled. “You sneaking, cowardly little bitch.”
“Now, now,” she crooned. “I’m not finished yet. Perhaps you should reserve your epithets until after I’ve given you the other piece of information I uncovered. You see, there is a certain gentleman who one of my guards witnessed in the act of buggery some weeks past. When threatened with exposure, this gentleman offered anything for my man to keep his secret. As I trade in information, my servant was able to extract the most titillating bit of gossip. Imagine my surprise to know that there aremenwho have frequented your business for the use of male courtesans. It was easy enough to deduce which of you was depraved enough to take on such clients. Of those closest to you, all have gone on marry, and one has even begun breeding. I find it interesting that you, Mr. Sterling, have never been publicly connected to any woman … or that the little love nest you keep with Lady Celeste Browning has seen a number of other male visitors over the years. Were you in residence when they called, I wonder?”
Benedict showed no outward reaction to Cynthia’s revelation, though he was a turbulent swell of panic and fury inside. This woman was far more dangerous than he’d ever supposed, and proved that by reminding him she was willing to hurt anyone standing in her way. Madame Hershaw, this mysterious gentleman who had likely been one of his past clients, his friends.
Taking a deep, slow breath, he forced himself to remain outwardly calm. He hadn’t lost yet.
