“That says it much better than what I was spewing,” said Bevan.
“I have seen it all before. The woman meets the man she is meant to be with but bows to the wishes of her family and marries their choice. What she ends up with is pure misery. She is not lying with the man she truly wants, not having the babes she dreamt of, not living in the home she had imagined having, and all through that, if she is particularly unfortunate, she will see the one she walked away from go on with his life, giving his heart to another, as well as that house and those babes.”
“That is a horrible fate.” Simeon frowned. “Wonder if something similar is what has left my aunt such an evil twisted mess of a woman?”
“It certainly did not help but she had that evil seed inside her from the beginning. From what I heard, she did not love your father, she loved his title. No, she is a bad example of what I was talking about. She is just one who was born wrong, in heart and mind.”
Simeon was still thinking about what Bevan and Lilybet had said when he watched Bened escort Primrose back to the camp. He studied them and realized there was some truth in what the others had said. He could see a match there. In their eyes he could see the softness of affection as well as the heat of desire. His sister had never had a season and there had been few dances or beaux.
To many men in society she would be a plum ripe for the plucking and not necessarily for the sake of marriage. There was not one thing about Sir Bened Vaughn that made one think of a heartless rogue who seduced women just for the pleasure of it. Simeon suspected the man had seduced very few women in his time. He was just what he appeared to be, a big strong man with the sort of special gifts that allowed him to help people, something he did readily. If he was going to be fully honest with himself, Simeon would admit that he would have heartily approved of such a man for his sister. Of course, if he had had control over the courting time, they would not be slipping off into the wood to do the sort of things he did not care to think of his sister doing.
He looked at Bevan who just winked and decided he even approved of the family his sister might soon be joining. It was not going to be easy but he decided he would just leave it be. Bened would probably wonder at his apparent acquiescence but Simeon promised himself he would not interrupt what Lilybet called a mating dance. His sister deserved her chance at happiness.
Chapter Fourteen
“There is my Uncle George’s.” Simeon looked at the tidy stone manor house surrounded by luxurious gardens and smiled at Lilybet who rode beside him. “You are looking better. I mean, healthier.”
“I feel a great deal better. Your sister has been tending my back and, I hate to admit it, but her salve works far better than mine does in healing the wounds and, just as important, dimming the pain.”
“Primrose is extraordinarily clever when it comes to healing plants and herbs. Papa built her whatever she needed for her work. I envy her for that. She has something that pleases her and which creates things to help people.”
“You have found nothing like that?”
“Not yet. I can talk you to death about philosophy, in several languages, and I have been trying to invent things. I keep playing about at it but have not yet succeeded.”
“You will, and cease glaring at Sir Bened.”
“I know what you said and I actually agree with most of it, but does he truly think I do not know what he and my sister are about with all their late-night walks? Must think I am an idiot.”
Lilybet sighed. “I doubt he thinks much about you at all. M’lord, she is a grown woman, a spinster by many people’s reckoning, and he is a very good man. I thought you had made up your mind on that.”
“I had but he should ask to marry her instead of just continuing on as her lover.”
“Best if they decide that all on their own if they are suited enough in all ways to actually marry.”
“Have you seen anything about their future?”
“I have and it will not start out smoothly but that is all you need to know. Just stay out of the way.”
Simeon sighed and glanced back at Primrose who was, as always, riding beside Bened. Primrose certainly looked happy and Bened had not once shown her anything but the greatest respect, courtesy, and, he had to admit, affection. Simeon just felt as if he was failing her in some way.
His uncle hailed them from the front step of his home and Simeon waved at the man. Right behind him was Frederick, a huge bear of a man who loved cooking. The beautiful garden with its massive number of roses in bloom was all George’s work and Simeon was not surprised to see Primrose already off her mount and walking through it toward the house, pausing to inspect any plant she found beautiful or just interesting.