She should have believed him from the beginning, she supposed, but her hopeful heart had painted another picture.
“Lady Georgiana?”
Hearing her name, she whirled around to see the carriage beside her. A man’s face was peering at her through the open window. His eyes widened in astonishment as she tried to place him.
“It is you! Er, Your Grace, I mean,” he stammered out.
It was Benedict. Her mouth dropped open for a second before she clamped it shut. As her hands tightened on the reins, her horse jerked to a stop. Her hair fell into her face while he called for his carriage to halt.
“Go on,” someone was saying from inside. “Benedict, talk to her!”
“I am, I am, my dear. Your Grace? I didn’t expect to see you. H-how nice it is to see you this day,” he said with a self-deprecating smile. He took off his hat and offered a slight bow. “This is terribly inconvenient, but do you have a moment to speak?”
Georgiana hardly knew what to think. She hadn’t seen him until the two days before her wedding, when she had met his mother and they’d finalized plans for their union. There had been no letter, no farewell, no explanation.
We might not have cared for one another, but it was such a selfish thing to do. And now he wants to speak with me? He, Owen’s cousin?
Remembering the pain in her heart, she began to shake her head. “I don’t think that would be best.”
“Please, Your Grace!” Out peeped another face. This one was much thinner, with mousy brown hair curled about the cheeks. The woman smiled hopefully. “Please hear him out if only for a moment. We won’t be back in London for some time, I fear.”
“I…” Georgiana glanced about in the hope that the traffic would begin easing up. But it was slow, and the carriage was already shifting inch by inch to the side of the road. She sighed before nodding. “All right. I’ll climb down.”
She reluctantly steered her horse to the side of the road and allowed Benedict to help her down.
It was terribly awkward, making her wonder how they would have managed a marriage together. But it wasn’t long before the two of them stood before each other under an elm tree while she fiddled with the reins of her horse.
“Talk to her!” the brown-haired woman called from the carriage. She was still watching them. When they looked at her, she waved.
“Ah, right.” Benedict tugged at his collar. He smiled sheepishly to Georgiana as he admitted, “That is my wife.”
She swallowed, though the lump in her throat wouldn’t go away. “Yes, I heard you… were in love with someone.”
The man had the decency to wince. “That is right. Yes. I suppose Owen told you. I am terribly sorry, Your Grace, for my actions. I should have been honest with you. From the beginning, I should have told you the truth.”
“Yes, you should have.” Georgiana glanced away. “But it’s done now, and I pray you are happy.”
“I am,” he responded as his eyes lit up. He glanced back toward the carriage with a fond smile. “I love Florentia with all my heart. She challenges me and adores me. I’m a fortunate man. But that’s not your concern, er, of course. You see, I meant to write to you and Owen to explain my actions. The letters came with me all the way to Gretna Green and back, however.”
“I’m sure. Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you if…” she trailed off uncertainly.
“We’re off to live outside of London. It’s better for us this way,” Benedict explained quietly. His smile remained, but the light in his eyes dimmed. “After everything Owen and I have been through, I think it’s best that we are able to live our lives the way we want. Free.”
Her spine stiffened. Was this why he really wanted to talk with her? Had he talked with Owen? “Free from the constraints of society, I’m sure.”
“Hm? Oh no. No, I mean free from my father. His uncle. The Marquess, he… Didn’t Owen tell you?”
Georgiana recalled the argument she had heard between Owen and his uncle the day after her wedding. It was like every man wanted to stab her in the heart all over again. “We have talked enough.”
“Ah, then you know. It hasn’t been easy, you know. I don’t know where I would be without Owen. He’s the reason I’m still able to find love in this world. He was able to leave when he came of age and took on his duties. But I can’t until my father passes away. Florentia saved me from that. Now, my father can do as he likes without either of us around. I only hope my mother will find the courage to leave as well.”
As he spoke, Georgiana furrowed her brow in confusion. “I beg your pardon?”
Benedict shrugged awkwardly and lowered his gaze. “It can’t be easy leaving the one you are married to. Father was kind once. He didn’t hurt me like he hurt Owen. But over the years, he has become more violent toward Mother, though she won’t admit it to me.”
“Wait!” Georgiana had to interrupt to try and understand what he was saying. “So you and Owen planned to escape your father?”
“Yes. No. I mean, Owen was always going to be out from under my father’s thumb at eighteen. We corresponded after that, but I didn’t see him until the day we met you. I confessed I loved another before the wedding, but I didn’t tell him about Gretna Green.”