Page 23 of Scars of a Passionate Revenge
“Exactly,” Benedict said firmly. “That is exactly what I want you to do, and I know that you can do it. You know everyone. Everyone likes you. There is no reason why they would not want you to join their party, especially since everyone knows you are the most eligible bachelor of the Season. Doesn’t Lord Hutington have about six unmarried daughters?”
Cecil laughed. “I do not think he has six. I believe there are four daughters, three as yet unmarried.” He paused for a moment. “No doubt that is the reason for the house party. To gather as many people at the house as possible, with a view to trying to find husbands for their daughters.”
Benedict suppressed a shudder. In all honesty, the prospect of such a party did not fill him with joy, but he could not risk spending two weeks away from Alice, and Cecil was his only hope.
“Please, Cecil,” he said earnestly. “You do not understand how important this is to me.”
“I think that perhaps I do know,” Cecil said, with a knowing smile. “And in all honesty, my friend, I am relieved. All this talk of revenge was worrying me. Much better to pursue true love instead.”
Benedict bit his lip, another wave of guilt crashing over him. But if he had convinced his closest friend that his intentions were pure, then it should not be too difficult to convince the rest of society. And it definitely should not be too difficult to convince Alice herself, which was the most important thing to consider.
“Well, I’m not sure about true love,” he said diffidently. “But I do not want to be apart from the lady for two whole weeks, so I am trusting you to help me.” He paused for a moment and shot his own knowing look in Cecil’s direction. “I expect that Lady Clara will be in attendance too,” he added. “It seems that she is usually to be found wherever Miss Dunberry is present.”
Cecil looked at the floor and seemed to be struggling to keep his composure. A moment later, he looked up and replied to Benedict’s request. “I will do my very best, my friend. I can assure you of that.”
It was later, when Benedict had returned to his own lodgings, that there was a sharp knock on his chamber door. He jumped to his feet and went to open the door. His manservant was standing outside his room with an envelope in his hand.
“An urgent message for you, Sir,” the man said.
Benedict took the envelope, thanked him, and closed the door, then tore it open, his heart pounding with anticipation. It was, as he had hoped, a message from Cecil.
“You can thank me later, my friend, but I have secured us an invitation to the house party. I cannot leave tomorrow—I have some business to attend to at my father’s estate before I can depart for Bath—but we can leave the day after tomorrow. I will send word soon regarding our travel arrangements! You’d better start packing!”
Benedict’s face broke into a grin. He had been sure that his friend would manage what he had asked of him, although he had not expected it quite so soon. But now, his heart fluttered with excitement. He was going to Bath, to see Alice, and he had two whole weeks to carry out his plan. Things were going better than he could possibly have anticipated.
Chapter 10
“Alice, you do not seem to be very excited about the party?”
Alice looked at Clara, who was sitting in front of the looking glass arranging her hair with the help of Sarah, and tried to think of a way to answer her friend’s observation.
“I am excited,” she said slowly. “I know that we are very lucky to be invited to the Hutington’s party.”
“Well, you don’t look remotely excited,” Clara insisted. “Do you not want to go?”
Alice let out a sigh. “You know that I much prefer being in the countryside, and I find parties such as this much more enjoyable than the big events of the Season in the city.”
“But…?” Clara said, looking at her quizzically. “Does this have something to do with a certain Mr. Fletcher?”
“I could just as easily ask you whether you have thought at all about your Lord Grant, in all your excited preparation!” Alice bit back.
“He is notmyLord Grant, as well you know,” Clara replied with a pout. “But as a matter of fact, I am not worried. He will still be in London when I get back, and if he cannot wait for me, then he is not worth my while in thinking of him.”
Alice looked at Clara and wished that she had the same confidence and poise as her friend. But the truth was that although she vastly preferred being away from the city, she was anxious about not seeing Benedict for such a long time. Would he get swept up in matters of business, or a flurry of society events, and forget all about her?
She realized, as she watched Clara fussing with her hair at the dressing table, that had it not been for how excited her friend was about going to the house party, she herself would have preferred to cancel all the arrangements and stay in London, so that she could remain close to Benedict.
But she knew she was being foolish. He probably wasn’t thinking about her at all, and here she was, considering denying herself the pleasures of one of the most exclusive parties of the Season, all for the sake of someone who could not even remember her or that precious time they had spent together as children. Precious to her, anyway.
She let out another sigh. “I am perfectly content to go to the party, Clara,” she said.
Clara looked at her across the room. “I am sure we will have a nice time, Alice. The weather will be fine and we will meet lots of new friends. You will enjoy it.”
Alice nodded. “I am sure you are right,” she said, then turned her attention toward her own last tasks relating to her packing. Sarah had done most of it for her, and had helped Clara to gather her things, too; she had arrived at Alice’s house the previous evening with her luggage, so that they could travel to Bath together later that day.
She resolved to try and make the best of things. Clara was surely right. There would be plenty of pleasant diversions during the course of the house party, which were sure to take her mind off Benedict.
But as she looked through the dresses that Sarah had packed, checking that nothing that she needed had been forgotten, she could not help but think of him.
