The Wicked Governess (Blackhaven Brides Book 6)(32)

“Dear God, it was a mistake coming here,” she whispered. But she had come, and she had her duties. She threw the towel onto the table by the washing bowl and walked into Rosa’s room.

Rosa sprawled on the bed, reading. She seemed more nervous than delighted by the treat of Lady Helen’s company, and showed a tendency to cling to Caroline as they went to the drawing room.

“I don’t go about much,” Miss Benedict was saying to Serena. “I haven’t for a long time now, but I must say your party sounds delightful. And here is Rosa.”

Rosa curtseyed to Lady Tamar as Caroline had taught her.

“Goodness, you curtsey much better than I can,” Helen observed.

“That’s because you’re in too big a hurry,” Caroline said, “and only pay about a quarter of the attention necessary.”

“Well, it’s not a very interesting thing to learn,” Helen complained.

Caroline had to allow her that one. It even won the glimmer of a smile from Rosa.

“But it is necessary if one moves in polite society,” Caroline said primly. “Or any society, really.”

“Quite,” Miss Benedict said with a sage nod.

“Shall we take a walk while the sun is shining?” Serena suggested.

“Perhaps we can take Tiny,” Caroline suggested.

“Who is Tiny?” Helen asked, bewildered.

Rosa smiled mischievously and beckoned the other girl from the room.

It was a start.

In the end, not only Tiny, but Tiny’s master chose to accompany them. He appeared around the corner from his study, his coat fastened and his cravat tied carelessly about his throat. Helen, pinned to the wall by Tiny, stopped laughing to stare at Benedict in awe. Even Serena’s breath caught at her first glimpse of the legendary tenant of Haven Hall.

And he did look dangerous in the shadows of the back hall, his long, jagged scar standing out lividly across his saturnine face. Until Rosa and Tiny both bounded at him.

“I see you’ve met Tiny,” he observed.

“Lady Tamar, allow me to present Mr. Benedict,” Caroline said as calmly as she could. “Sir, Lady Tamar and Lady Helen Conway.”

Benedict bowed with unexpected elegance. “I hope you realize there are no formal gardens here. The grounds were thoroughly overgrown when we took the place, and I confess I’ve done nothing about them.”

“We enjoy natural beauty,” Serena assured him.

“Well, we have the natural in abundance. Heel, Tiny,” he added severely, and opened the door with one hand while he unhooked his old coat and hat with the other. No one could have accused him of currying favor with the beautiful young marchioness.

Inevitably, Tiny shot out of the door like a cannon ball, both girls at his heels.

Caroline, thrown by this sudden turn of events, hoped Benedict’s anxiety for his daughter wouldn’t inspire him to interfere and keep too close an eye on the girls. And indeed, he did begin by walking beside them while she and Serena followed some distance behind. He threw a stick for Tiny, who seemed to fly through the air to catch it at its height, before landing on his feet again. Helen clapped her hands with delight and laughed at whatever Benedict said to her.

After that, he veered off the path and the girls ran off after the dog to throw the stick for him again.

“Well, he’s not what I imagined,” Serena murmured.

“Because he hasn’t yet eaten the children?”

“Pshaw. I thought he’d be much staider and colder. Or at least grumpier.”

He emerged back onto the path a little further on and walked with the ladies, responding civilly to Serena’s conversation, with occasional sardonic asides that seemed to amuse the marchioness. Caroline added very little. Already angry with Benedict, she was appalled to discover the added pain of jealousy, because beside Lady Tamar’s vitality, charm and beauty, Caroline was nothing.

And what exactly is it you want to be to him? she asked herself furiously.

Perhaps fortunately, the walk was not a long one, for the rain was threatening. They repaired to the house to have tea with Miss Benedict before Serena’s carriage was summoned. The two girls seemed comfortable with each other, if not yet bosom friends, and Caroline thought that it had been a good day’s work for Rosa.

Mr. Benedict had retreated once more to his study or elsewhere, but his sister and Rosa accompanied Caroline to the front door to wave goodbye to their visitors.

“Come over to the castle if you can,” Serena invited as she climbed into the carriage. “We can dress up!”

“What does she mean by that?” Miss Benedict wondered.

“I expect she means to find me one of her old gowns,” Caroline replied frankly, “so that I might not afflict her party with drabness.”

“My dear, you are not remotely drab!” Miss Benedict protested. “You have brightened us up wonderfully!”

“Then you are quite happy for me to attend with you and Rosa?”

“Of course. Perhaps, since it is an early party, we do not need Javan’s escort?”

Miss Benedict, clearly, assumed her brother would not go. Caroline, who had once thought of persuading him, said nothing. Following Miss Benedict back inside, she resolved to go for a longer walk, alone, to clear her head. So, she merely passed through the house to the side door, resumed her cloak and bonnet and went out again.