Page 61 of Chasing Benedict
“I will hold you to that. Now, are you going to tell me why I had to dress like this just to eat dinner with you and Fisher?”
Placing a hand over his heart, Alex gasped in mock horror. “The company of an earl and a boxing master aren’t good enough for you?”
“Of course not,” Benedict said with a laugh. “And I do enjoy the sight of you in that coat. I thank you for not wearing the one that matched mine—I still haven’t forgiven you for having them made behind my back.”
Alex smoothed both hands over the lapels of his royal purple coat, the splash of his signature yellow cravat contrasting in a unique way. “I didn’t want to upstage you, so I chose the violet. I will reveal to you the reason for your elegant attire in a moment. First, I have a proposition for you.”
Following Alex’s indication for him to sit on the bench, Benedict smirked. “A proposition. And here I thought that was my job.”
Remaining serious, Alex reached into his breast pocket. “This time, it’s my job. I believe this belongs to you.”
A block of ice settled in Benedict’s chest as he unfolded a bank draft, signed over to him in the amount of twenty-five thousand pounds. Suddenly, acting as Alex’s courtesan felt sordid and wrong. He’d begun the arrangement for a reason, but now regretted it sorely.
“Alex—”
“Just hear me out,” Alex said, not accepting the draft as Benedict tried to give it back. “I am placing an important decision in your hands. Your first choice will be easy. Take the money and use it to silence Cynthia—yes, I know that’s why you needed it. I didn’t need you tell me; it was plain enough when you insisted you had a plan. Your plan seemed dependent on earning this money from me … and earn it you did.”
“I can find another way. I don’t want your money. What we did here, together … you cannot buy that. Second chances aren’t a commodity.”
The beaming smile Alex gave him warmed the icy block away, and Benedict felt as if he could breathe again.
“Then make the better choice,” Alex said. “Your second option is to letmedeal with Cynthia and your father myself. Before you say anything … Nick and I developed a plan to end this, tonight. All is in place, but we won’t act without your leave. If you say no, this dinner will be just that. If you say yes, you will trust me to execute the plan without interfering.”
Benedict’s mind screamed that he would be a fool to entrust this task to anyone else. His heart told him that he’d done it all alone for too long, and his weariness was a problem of his own making. He was more than ready to leave this phase of his life behind and start something new—perhaps with Alex and Ella in tow. Alex could have come back to him with six children and a basket full of puppies, and Benedict would still have taken him back. He knew what he wanted, but he needed the obstacles of Cynthia and the viscount out of the way before he could claim it. It seemed Alex was willing to fight alongside him to make the dreams of their youthful love into a reality.
Benedict had thought him weak all this time—a coward for walking away instead of choosing to stay and fight. But there was much to be said for the power of hindsight. Knowing what he did now, Benedict could see how wrong he had been. It had taken incredible strength of will to do what was necessary, and while Alex had already proved that once, he seemed prepared to do so again.
“Will you at least tell me what the plan is?” he pressed.
“No,” Alex insisted. “If you say yes, I will take it as you placing your faith in me and letting someone else take the lead for a change. I’m a terrible leader on the dance floor, but I promise you that I am prepared to end this threat to you and your friends effectively and efficiently. So, I suppose there is only one question left to ask. Do you trust me?”
Benedict stood, allowing the bank draft to flutter to the floor. He had a feeling that taking Alex’s money would open another rift between them. Now was the time to prove that he could be the man Alex deserved.
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I trust you.”
Alex smiled, pulling Benedict into a quick embrace. Then, taking his hand, he guided Benedict from the bedchamber. “Remember, no interference.”
“I’ll be as silent as a fly on the wall. I must admit, I’m looking forward to watching this mysterious plan unfold.”
They released one another’s hands as they reached the stairs, falling silent. A heavy sense of finality fell over Benedict, but he reminded himself why he had agreed to Alex’s offer. He had something to prove, and he would not to let Alex down. The murmur of voices reached out to them from the open doors of the dining room—so many voices, Benedict couldn’t distinguish them all.
“A dinner party?” he whispered as they drew closer, ripples of laughter and the high and low pitches of conversation reaching out to them.
“Like none you have ever attended.”
The murmurs died away once they entered the room, the butler’s voice intoning their names. Dozens of pairs of eyes landed on them, speculative and questioning. Among those seated down the length of the table, Benedict spotted his dearest friend. Hugh sat with a very pregnant Evelyn at his side; their dark heads bent together as he whispered something in her ear. Beside them sat Aubrey in Lucinda, then David and his wife, Regina. David’s wife was only just beginning to show her condition, and her ethereal beauty was the perfect complement to her husband’s swarthy good looks. Dominick and Calliope sat across from them, with Millicent and Celeste together on Dominick’s left. Millicent raised her wineglass and gave Benedict a slow nod, as if to reassure him that all was well because she was here.
The presence of the people he considered his family offered some relief from his apprehension, but his attention was soon stolen by the other occupants of the room. His father sat to the left of the head chair, dour and imposing, his mouth fixed in a dark scowl. Other members of the nobility filled in the other seats—one duke, three earls, two viscounts, and a baron. Some had come with their wives, others were alone, but all were prominent, well-known members of theton.
Ignoring his questioning glance, Alex spread his arms like a master of ceremonies and flashed his magnetic smile. “My lords and ladies, thank you for joining me this evening. Many of you are familiar with my good friend from university, Mr. Benedict Sterling. His father is here with us, as well. Viscount Sterling, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
The sharp bite of his words clearly said Alex was not pleased in the least to have Benedict’s father in his home. The viscount’s expression showed that the feeling was mutual.
“Ben, if you would, take your place at the end of the table,” Alex coaxed.
Benedict wanted to rebel, but fought past it to do what he was told. Aubrey’s steady gaze bolstered him as it always did, steeling his resolve. Once Benedict was in his place—seated as far from his father as possible, he looked to Alex and waited.
“As stated in your invitations, this dinner is more than an opportunity for us to gather and socialize. It is also a chance for us to combine our collective power as peers of the realm to deal with the scourge plaguing us. I speak, of course, of the London Gossip.”
