Telling himself that this was quite true. Benjamin nodded to himself as if in confirmation, so that the guilt he wore would quickly fade.
“Did she appear to be attempting to force you into matrimony?”
Benjamin shook his head.
“That was one of my first thoughts upon seeing her, but she did not make any attempt to do so and certainly had no eagerness to try anything of that nature – she declared that fact quite distinctly. She believed that I was gone from the house and would be for some duration, having expected there to be improvements work in progress.”
Lord Foster’s eyes flared at this remark.
“Do you not see?”
“See what?”
Confused, Benjamin looked hard at his friend, who only grinned
“She must have been at the ball where I was speaking of the many improvements to your house!”
In a flash, it returned to Benjamin’s mind, and he found himself catching his breath.
“Yes, of course!” As Lord Foster grinned back at him, Benjamin waved a hand, the other rubbing at his chin as he thought. “Of late, I have only been at one ball – which was the one where I discussed the improvements to my house with many a guest, thanks to your suggestion.”
“Were you introduced to anyone new?”
In response to his friend’s question, Benjamin screwed up his face, trying hard to recall.
“I was rather anxious that evening,” he remembered. “I was concerned that thetonwould ignore me entirely. Yes, I was introduced to a few–”
A sudden mental image of a face came back to him, and he threw one hand to his mouth, curling his fingers into a fist as he tried desperately to recall her name.
“You remember her now, do you not?” Lord Foster exclaimed as Benjamin nodded.
“I recall the lady’s face, certainly,” Benjamin responded. “It was your very own Miss Lawrence who introduced me to her.”
Now it was the turn of Lord Foster’s eyes to flare.
“Then I believe that I know exactly who it was, who was introduced to you, for she spoke to me of the one singular new acquaintance she had made that evening.” Settling one hand on Benjamin’s arm, he looked back at him steadily. “Does the name ‘Carshaw’ mean anything to you?”
Benjamin’s hands dropped to his side.
“It certainly does. I know precisely who was in my townhouse, asleep in my guest bedchamber.” His fingers curled tightly into fists as he shook his head. “The young lady in question is Miss Carshaw.”
Lord Foster’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And are you quite certain?”
Benjamin nodded determinedly, his gaze drifting away for a moment.
“Yes, there can be no doubt. Miss Carshaw was introduced to me by Miss Lawrence at the ball – and she was also the young lady I found in my guest bedchamber.” His eyes went back to his friend. “The young lady who was seemingly terrified of her brother.”
Chapter Eight
“Good evening. Miss Carshaw. Might I say how lovely you look this evening.”
She waved a hand, dismissing him.
“Yes, yes. You need not give me any particular compliments, Lord Bullfield. I have no doubt that my brother had sent you in my direction.” A quick lift of her eyebrows and the flush which came into his face told her that her consideration was correct. “You need not compliment me. I am all too aware of themanyyoung ladies whom you like to keep company with, as well as the recently widowed ladies who have lost their husbands but retained a great deal of their wealth.”
“Miss Carshaw, I hardly think–”
