Page 15 of Fit for a Duke
‘Odious man!’ Miss Benton sent him a scathing look. ‘It is clear that you intend to insult me by every means at your disposal but I shall rise above your petty-mindedness.’
‘Petty-minded?’ Ezra shook his head, enjoying himself enormously. ‘No one has ever thrown that accusation at me before.’
‘I expect all the people you encounter want to make a good impression, so they avoid being brutally honest. All the ladies in the house are keen to engage your amatory interest, and all the gentlemen hope for your patronage in some respect or other.’ She canted her head and sent him a considering look. ‘The flummery must grow tiresome, which is why I am determined not to flatter or offer false praise. I can afford to be myself, and should it become necessary I shall point out your shortcomings for your own benefit. I don’t want anything from you, so I can risk giving offence. There, I hope that pacifies you.’
‘I have yet to recover from the astonishment of learning that I have shortcomings.’
They both laughed. ‘I dare say you will get over that humbling truth, given time. Brandy is good for shock, so I am told, but I don’t suppose you need an excuse to resort to its medicinal properties.’
‘You do me a disservice, Miss Benton. I am a sober, god-fearing chap.’
She sent him an amused sideways look. ‘Of course you are!’
‘What must I do to impress you?’
Her laughter abruptly faded. ‘You don’t need to worry. I have not told anyone what I overheard, and nor shall I. I give you my word in that respect but I cannot promise not to warn the person you intend to murder, should I learn his identity. Unless of course,’ she added capriciously, ‘Captain Salford is the man you have in your sights, in which case you would be doing me a service.’
‘I have nothing to fear from your meddling because you misinterpreted what you overheard.’
‘Well, they do say that eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves. I hope I did get it wrong, because without wishing to sound like one of the ladies in the drawing room, you are one of the few people here who is worth talking to. Mind you,’ she added hastily, ‘I have not spoken to that many guests as yet so don’t read too much into the compliment.’
Ezra quirked a brow. ‘Was there a compliment in there somewhere?’
‘Tell me why you do not care for Captain Salford. I have not forgotten that you adroitly changed the subject when I raised it before.’
‘I cannot share the particulars, but—’
‘Why can you not?’ she asked impatiently. ‘And don’t you dare say that you would prefer not to offend my sensibilities,’ she added, wagging a warning finger beneath his nose. ‘My sensibilities are very robust, I thank you. Why do gentlemen get to decide what is and is not seemly?’
Ezra cleared his throat, tempted, very tempted, to enlighten her. ‘I do not make the rules, my sweet.’
‘I am not your sweet,’ she replied impatiently. ‘You are fast becoming as tiresome as Captain Salford.’
‘Now you are being deliberately offensive.’
‘Sorry,’ she replied, stifling a giggle that reminded Ezra just how young she still was. ‘Even you do not deserve such a comparison.’
‘How old are you?’
She stopped walking and planted her fisted hands on her slender hips. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Humour me? Since I am told you are not yet officially out, one assumes you cannot be more than seventeen or eighteen, but you appear older, which is why I ask. You have a lively, enquiring mind which, without wishing to sound patronising, is as unusual as it is refreshing. Most chits of your age are incapable of stringing two intelligible sentences together. Your cousin Lady Beth is a case in point.’
‘Ah, but Beth is lovely inside and out, which is far more important.’
‘Of course it is.’
‘And she would never accuse you of having shortcomings.’
They both laughed.
‘Since your ducal personage entitles you to ask personal questions,’ she replied after a short pause, ‘I have no objection to your knowing that I am seventeen.’
‘So young and yet so worldly,’ he muttered.
‘Now it is my turn to wonder if that was intended as a compliment,’ she replied with asperity.
‘You may depend upon it.’ He paused. ‘Salford brought discredit to the regiment,’ he said, grinding his jaw. ‘In times of war the lines get blurred and the forces on both sides do not always behave well.’
