The Wedding Game(32)

His friend looked at him with a surprised smile. ‘Good news? And I surmise it involves a young lady.’

‘You are correct, sir.’ He forced an answering smile. He had no reason not to. His fondest dreams were about to be realised. Therefore, he was a happy, happy man. He had but to remind himself of the fact and act accordingly.

‘Does the engagement involve a member of the Summoner family?’ Templeton responded with playful encouragement.

Ben nodded. ‘It hasn’t been announced yet, of course.’

‘But it is only a matter of time, I’m sure. Special licences are all the rage.’

‘I am a conventional man,’ Ben countered. A regular licence would take three weeks minimum to read the banns. But if this marriage was what he had wanted, why stall?

‘More time to prepare the guest list. It will be the event of the Season, I’m sure.’

‘I want nothing less.’ Though the prospect of notoriety had appealed to him at the beginning of the Season, now he wanted nothing more than to get the marriage over with as quickly as possible.

Eventually. In a month or so. Maybe two.

‘Good for you, my friend.’ Templeton was clasping him by the hand, pumping vigorously. ‘And congratulations to Miss Amelia.’

‘Amelia?’ Ben shook his head. ‘I am sure she would as soon spit in your hand as shake it. She was none too happy, when she heard the news.’

‘But I thought...’ The handshaking stopped, as Templeton understood the truth.

‘I am engaged to Miss Arabella,’ Ben said, fighting back a panicked laugh. It was easy enough to confuse the sisters. He had made that mistake himself while swearing away his future in Summoner’s office.

For a moment, Templeton said nothing at all. Was the idea that he’d done as he planned really so shocking? Then the man stuttered, ‘B-but you barely know the woman.’

‘I spoke to her father,’ Ben replied. ‘He spoke to me, rather. He summoned me to his house and suggested the match himself.’ He still could not decide whether to be flattered or suspicious. ‘He had heard of me and wished to further my career. It is only natural that we strengthen the bond with a family alliance. It was exactly as I had planned.’

And yet it did not feel like his plan at all.

‘Natural. Yes. I see.’ Apparently, Templeton did not see the sense in it either. Though arranged marriages were not the least bit uncommon, he looked as if he had never heard of such a thing, much less seen it happen. ‘Lord Summoner called you to his home and gave you his daughter. And now you are seeking congratulations, before you have spoken to the lady.’

‘Not as of yet,’ Ben hedged. ‘I was just down to Phillips to pick up a ring. I will arrange for the licence and talk to Belle directly.’

Templeton withdrew his hand. ‘Your cart is not just before the horse. It is miles ahead of it.’

It was true and he knew it. But he could not help but protest. ‘Summoner said there would be no problems with the offer.’

‘Of course there won’t be. When you finally take the time to speak to your fiancée on the matter, you will know why.’ Templeton’s smile had disappeared. In a few scant moments, he had gone from a picture of bon ami to distant reserve.

An unpleasant thought occurred to him. ‘Is there some reason that she might be willing to make a match with the first man who asks?’

‘You want to know if she is pregnant.’ Templeton followed the inappropriate question with an oath before realising that they were on a public street and discussing a lady. His next words were dangerously quiet. ‘I do not know whether to laugh, or punch you in the mouth for even considering such a thing. I would call you out, but apparently, it is to be none of my business.’

The last words made no sense at all, but the threat was clear enough. ‘I apologise for the assumption. But it was you who led me to it with your vague hints of trouble. If there is nothing to fear, than why have you not answered the question?’

‘Because it is beneath dignity,’ Templeton replied. ‘Arabella Summoner is as sweet and pure as any girl in London. Her only faults are that she is too innocent, too trusting and far too obedient. She will do what her father tells her without thinking of the consequences to her happiness.’

‘She will be happy,’ Ben insisted. ‘I will give her no reason to be else.’

‘Because you are supremely confident that you can be all things to all people.’ Templeton made no effort to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

‘I made no such claim,’ Ben argued. ‘I only know that my intentions towards the young lady are honest.’

Intentions. Summoner had called him to account for using the word. Why did people find it so unlikely that he could do what he meant to do?

Templeton seemed equally sceptical. His eyes narrowed and his expression changed from aloof to actively antagonistic. ‘Very well, then. You mean to do well by her. Perhaps there is nothing I can do to save the girl from all the people who are sure they know what is best for her, but never take the time to ask what she wants. But know that, if I hear you are treating her with anything less than the respect and tenderness she deserves, you shall answer to me. And now, good day.’

But something in his words sounded less like a parting comment than a permanent end to their friendship.