“No, you do not.” Releasing her arm, he swung around to face her. “Perhaps I have made a mistake.” Her eyes rounded all the more and Benjamin silently cursed himself for being so foolish. He had not said what he had intended to, nor what he felt, but from the sudden paleness in Miss Carshaw’s cheeks, he now saw she believed he regretted his choice. “That is not what I meant,” he said aloud, wanting to remove the fear from her eyes. “We are betrothed now, Miss Carshaw, and I will not step aside from you. These difficulties I speak of, they are significant, however. I am afraid that I have brought you into a situation where you will soon despise me for having done so. My life is not all as it appears.”
“Might… might you tell me of it?” The quietness of her voice and the widening of her eyes had Benjamin bowing his head.
“I have not intended to hurt you. I consider us betrothed and we will wed, so pray be assured that I will not turn my back on you. However, I also pray that you will not come to regret accepting the situation as it now stands.”
“How could I ever regret standing by the side of the gentleman who saved me from a dark fate?”
Miss Carshaw took a small step forward, and even though they were in the middle of the ballroom, let her fingers twine with his. There was a softness in her expression that Benjamin could not help but respond to, as he pushed his other hand through his hair, even as his heart doubled its speed. No longer could he pretend that he felt nothing for the lady. That was precisely why he had found himself in this difficult situation after all, was it not?
“I do not want to injure you. Miss Carshaw.”
“You could not do so. I find my heart open to trusting you.”
A small sigh escaped him.
“We will face the wrath of your brother for many days. Perhaps even for years.”
Miss Carshaw laughed quietly.
“I have very little concern about what Kingston thinks. Now that I am betrothed, he can say nothing.”
A sudden shock rushed into Benjamin’s soul, and he found himself staring at the lady, his fingers frozen in place as he held her hand in his. Could it be that what he had just heard was true?
Miss Carshaw’s laugh faded away as the rest of the noise in the ballroom seemed to dissipate also. Benjamin stared down into her face, seeing the swirling shades of green in her eyes as she looked back at him, clearly confused about why he was responding with such evident shock.
“Is something the matter, Lord Wiltsham?” Benjamin closed his eyes, hiding the sight of her. “Lord Wiltsham.” Her voice was a little more urgent now. “Something is wrong. Pray tell me what it is I can do to aid you.” He could not immediately speak, the shock of what he had learned still surging through him. “My Lord, I beg you!”
Struggling to speak, he gave a small shake of his head.
“Miss Carshaw.” His voice was hoarse and rasping. “Do you mean to say that your brother is Viscount Kingston?”
When he opened his eyes, she was looking up at him, her eyes huge.
“Yes, that is so. Although I do not understand why you appear so shocked. Have you not known that was my brother’s title?”
Benjamin shook his head.
“No, I have not.”
Miss Carshaw blinked.
“I do not understand how you can be so troubled. Ever since learning of my brother’s title, you have gone very pale indeed. Is there something about him which concerns you? Some significance that I should know of?”
Benjamin opened his mouth and then closed it again, uncertain as to what he ought to say. Miss Carshaw’s brother being Lord Kingston had left him speechless. How could he tell her? What words could he find to explain? It was not just that he had not known Lord Kingston’s title before, but rather that this understanding brought with it a great deal of astonishment as to how close he had been to someone he had been searching for.
Benjamin was struggling with the realization that one of the gentlemen he had been seeking, one of the names on the list given him by Lord Foster, was none other than Lord Kingston himself. The brother of Miss Carshaw, and soon to be his brother-in-law.
Chapter Twelve
“What is it that you think you are doing? Do you really think you can escape me so easily?”
Julia looked up at her brother, keeping her expression mild, but inside her heart was dancing with the sheer joy.
“There is no question about it, brother. I have managed to escape your intentions and your plans for me, and I cannot deny that I am happy that I have done so.”
Her brother came forward, his hand raised, but Julia merely looked at him. Even if he did strike her, it would mean very little. There was nothing he could do now. Thetonwere all too aware of the betrothal tonight, and nothing could be done to end it which would not cause scandal. Thus, Julia felt herself quite safe, able to find security in Lord Wiltsham and their plans to marry.
“He will bring you nothing but pain.” Her brother stopped short of striking her, but slammed both of his hands on the arms of the chair, his face leaning down towards her as he sneered. “You will be without hope. You will regret this.”
