Page 54 of Chasing Benedict
Nick looked uncertain, but gave in. “You know that Mr. Milbank and Viscount Sterling were friends.”
“Of course. I always suspected they were trying to align their families with a marriage between Cynthia and Ben.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “Well … they succeeded. Sort of.”
“They were engaged?”
“Few people knew, and Ben refused to go through with the marriage. He tossed her over before it could be formally announced.”
Alex pushed away from the tree and began to pace. This was all news to him, but it made perfect sense. If the viscount had tried to force Ben into a betrothal, then it stood to reason it had happened after Alex had married Katherine. Had Sterling tried to punish him for running away with Alex or refusing to marry Cynthia? Alex wouldn’t be surprised if it were both.
“I would imagine Cynthia was incensed to have been rejected that way,” Alex mused aloud. “But no one knew. Why not seek another husband instead of becoming a spinster and wreaking havoc on Ben and the rest of theton?”
“The Milbanks have been trying to claw their way into high society for years, and marriage to a future viscount might have been their best chance at cementing their place. If there is anything other than that, you’ll have to ask Ben. I know nothing else.”
“You’ve been very helpful. I think I might know of a way to end this for good, but I will need your help. Ben can’t know. He’ll only try to take matters into his own hands, when what he needs is help. He can’t do it alone.”
Nick looked at Alex as if he’d lost his mind. “This woman is dangerous, Alex. If we fail, not only will Ben kill us both, but everyone we care about will be ruined. You don’t know Hugh and David yet, but they’re good men. Both have wives who are expecting children—one this spring, and the other in the summer.”
“I understand. The plan isn’t foolproof, but it’s sound.”
“Are you going to treat me like Ben does and keep the details to yourself?”
With a grin, Alex placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Not a chance. Here’s what we’re going to do …”
ALEX RETURNEDto the house after finalizing his plans with Nick in high spirits. If he could pull his scheme off successfully, Ben would be free of Cynthia. Their lives could finally settle into some kind of normality with nothing else standing in their way. Tonight, he was resolved to tell Ben about Ella, leaving no further secrets between them.
Nick had gone off in search of his wife, so Alex took the steps two at a time. He would change out of his riding clothes before going to his study. He had letters to compose and invitations to send out. On the way to his bedroom, Alex drew up short before an open doorway. The small drawing room connected to his suite was occupied.
Ben lay on the ground, surrounded by small parcels. Fisher stood over him, while two footmen continued packing the bundles around Ben.
“What on Earth is going on here?” he asked.
All eyes fell to him, but Alex was watching Ben, who lay shivering beneath what he now realized was a mountain of ice.
“Rehabilitation for sore muscles,” Fisher replied. “First ice, then heat.”
“Hopefully, I won’t freeze to death before we get to the heat,” Ben remarked, voice quavering.
“If you can take a pounding in the ring, you can withstand a little ice,” Fisher fired back.
“No one haseverpounded me in the ring. I do the pounding.”
“Quiet!” Fisher admonished. “Save your energy for tomorrow’s training. I know you’ve been eating unapproved foods. I can see it all over you. Did you think me daft?”
Ben groaned. “This would be so much easier if you were.”
Muffling laughter, Alex backed out of the room. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Traitor!” Ben called after him.
Alex made for his room, still chuckling as he rang for Simmons. They made quick work of his toilette, then Alex made his way to his study. After giving his steward orders regarding the invitations and who to send them to, Alex penned a letter to Aubrey and Millicent Dane. He hadn’t visited Millicent while in London, but they had written to each other frequently over the years. She was one of the few people who knew the truth about him and Ben, and he had taken comfort in her letters.
Once finished, Alex left his desk, stretching his stiff neck and cracking his knuckles. Returning upstairs, he found the door to his drawing room closed, though he could still hear Ben’s and Fisher’s voices. Cracking the door, he flinched as a wave of unrelenting heat slapped him in the face. Ben lay under a huge pile of thick woolen blankets, while two footmen fed a roaring fire. Alex noted the sweat glistening on Ben’s brow, his face flushed scarlet.
Stepping into the room he met Fisher’s gaze. “Might I have a moment alone with Ben? I’ll feed the fire and follow any other instructions you might have.”
Fisher glared at him with clear suspicion. “Keep the fire high and hot. He’s not to be let up for another half hour.”
