‘Perhaps that is her intention,’ Summoner replied. ‘But I have no plan to indulge it and neither should you. My daughter can refuse to marry if she wishes, but it does not entitle her to live off her sister’s husband under the guise of sisterly devotion.’
‘I am glad to hear you say it, my lord.’ If he meant to wed Belle, he could not be staring at those disquieting eyes and luscious lips for the rest of his married life. Even a wife who did not expect total fidelity from her husband would not stand for an affair inside the family. Nor did he want to give himself up to a woman who might be tempting him now, just to spite her father.
‘And if I am honest, Belle is far too influenced by her sister,’ Summoner said with a worried frown.
That might explain why she had been in need of rescue the previous evening. She had only followed the bad example of her sister. ‘I am sure Miss Amelia regrets any harm she might have done,’ he said. This, at least, was true. Amy had been genuinely distraught at her sister’s absence and unwavering in her devotion.
‘Once we have separated the pair of them, you must be Belle’s guide in all things. It is your duty, as husband. I trust that you will have a care for her, sir. Simply have a care.’ There was a slight tremor in the older man’s voice that spoke of barely controlled emotion.
‘Of course, I will care for her. With all my heart,’ Ben added. Or some of his heart, at least. The poor man was feeling the loss of his daughter already. It could do no harm to hint at more affection than he felt for the girl. He would generate it easily enough, after he actually spent some time with Belle and they’d discussed the wedding between them without Amy or her father there to organise the matter for them.
‘See that you do, my son.’ Summoner paused again, his face becoming suddenly grave. ‘After you leave this room, there will be no turning back from the matter.’
‘I have no intention of it,’ Ben assured him.
‘No intention? That is hardly enough assurance for me. Men intend many things. But how many actually follow through?’
Was Summoner now having second thoughts? It did not matter. With the ultimate goal in sight, Ben would not allow himself to fail. ‘I cannot speak for other men, Lord Summoner. But when I intend to do a thing, it is as good as done.’ If he could tell the man just how far he had come on intention alone, he might actually be impressed. Then he would throw Ben from the house for being an upstart imposter.
‘Would you be so kind as to swear to the matter?’ Summoner turned away and walked to the nearest bookshelf. When he turned back, he was holding what appeared to be the family Bible. He set it down on the desk between them.
‘Of course. But...’ Was it truly necessary?
‘I would not normally be so demanding. But Belle is...special.’ There was the choke in his voice again, as if he could not bear to be parted from her.
Even so, if a man gave his word, an oath should not be required. But if a man’s life was based on lies, then did he truly have honour to swear on? It was a question that he’d asked himself many times over the years. But today was not the day to search for the answer.
Summoner sensed his doubts and pushed the book towards him. ‘Swear to me, that, from the time you leave this room until the end of your life, there will be no second thoughts and no regrets at your haste. Swear you will do nothing, no matter how small you might think it, to hurt my daughter.’
‘As you wish,’ Ben said and laid his hand down on the leather cover. ‘I swear before God that I will care for your daughter and do only what is best for her.’
Summoner nodded. ‘Very good.’ He laid his hand down as well to cover Ben’s. ‘For I swear, if you break this oath, so shall I break you. You have a bright future in front of you, Boy. But if you hurt my child, embarrass her, disgrace her, or do anything to sully her reputation, there will not be a scrap of hope left in you, once I have finished with you.’
The threat was made with such conviction that Ben wanted to snatch his hand away in denial. But it did not matter what he wanted to do. It was already too late to change his mind. The man had said no retreat and he had promised.
Since the prize was Belle Summoner, it would not be a hard promise to keep, as long as he stayed far away from Amelia. And once she realised she was free of her responsibility for Belle, she would not be a spinster for long.
It would take a particularly brave man to stand up to both her strong will and her protective father. But he should not be brooding on it. That woman’s future was no longer his concern. She could kiss as many men as she liked, in Vauxhall or a cupboard. Since she was not to be a member of his household, he need never know of it.
Considering how much the prospect of Amelia kissing other men annoyed him, the less he knew about it, the better.