To that end, she dressed with exceptional care in her favourite morning gown of gold-striped muslin that suited the amber cross Father had given her on her last birthday. Admiring herself in the mirror, she’d never have claimed to be as beautiful as Belle. All the same, she looked exceptionally pretty this morning. One might even call her adorable. She had only to find her disciple to test the effect.
Even though she had prepared for company, she didn’t actually expect it. The last person she expected to find when she descended the stairs to the ground floor was Mr Lovell, already standing in the hall with a puzzled expression on his face, staring down the hall towards her father’s study.
‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded. There were no trace of society manners in the question. She stopped to remind herself that, even though he was used to her treating him with brusque uninterest, things had changed between them. As an afterthought, she softened her words with a smile and a toss of her head and prepared to start again.
‘I just spoke with your father,’ he said. The response was delivered in a monotone that proved his usual town bronze had abandoned him. Neither did he answer with the smile he’d worn last night, when they had parted.
‘Is something the matter?’ If Father had got wind of what had occurred at Vauxhall he might have summoned Ben to account for it. Since her father had done nothing about her previous trips into the dark walks, it was surprising that he should take an interest now.
‘No,’ Ben said slowly. ‘Nothing is the matter. We have been discussing your sister’s future.’
After what they had done last night, he had come to talk about Belle. Her mind flooded with responses, but the one she most wanted to give was the one pride would not let her say aloud.
How could you?
Instead, she answered in the distant tone she’d used with him when she was trying to put him off. ‘Really? You obviously did not consult her in the matter, since she is still abed. What did you two men decide between you about Belle’s life and happiness?’
‘I am on my way to arrange for a licence,’ he said, his voice still flat. ‘The banns will be read for the first time this Sunday.’
‘And at what point do you mean to speak to the bride?’ she said, horrified. She had known his plan. Why did she think a few kisses would change it? ‘And when you do, will you tell her what happened last night, after we found her?’
‘Last night was a mistake,’ he said. Though he stood a few feet from her, it was as if he was delivering a line in a play, speaking in her direction, but not to her. He looked at her, but not into her eyes.
‘A mistake? Yes, I believe it was.’ It was the biggest mistake she had made in years. The sort of error a green girl would make before she learned to protect her heart as carefully as her reputation. She had lost her head and kissed him, and encouraged him to kiss her in return. Then she’d allowed herself to believe that it might be more than a typical male response to her wanton behaviour. Now he was about to tell her that any further contact between them would be impossible, since he was going to marry Belle, just as he had meant to, all along.
She spoke before he could. ‘Do not worry. My curiosity is satisfied. There was nothing about the experience that I wish to repeat.’
His gaze snapped to meet hers. She could see by the sudden flash of anger there that he wanted to insist that she was lying. The kiss had been phenomenal. It was the sort of passion that came along once in a lifetime. How dare she deny it?
Then he remembered that, for all their sakes, the kiss had to mean nothing. The light in his eyes died and he responded in the same unemotional voice. ‘I am glad we are in agreement.’
‘On that, perhaps,’ she said. ‘But my opinion of your marriage to my sister is the same as it ever was. You will not suit.’
He raised an eyebrow. Some of his original Almack’s hauteur was returning. ‘Lord Summoner approves of me and has sanctioned the match. You do not have a say in it.’
‘The fact that you do not value my opinion makes it no less valid,’ she said. ‘You will know soon enough that I am right. Then perhaps you will find the decency to withdraw your offer.’
‘Disabuse yourself of the notion, Miss Summoner,’ he said, finally showing his annoyance. ‘I gave my word that the wedding would go on, no matter what happens. Your father is happy with it, I am happy with it and your sister will be happy as well, because I promised that I would make her so.’
‘If you are happy, then why are you shouting?’ she asked triumphantly.
‘I am happy! And I am not...’ he lowered his voice and finished ‘...shouting.’ He took a deep breath and returned to the impassive man whom she’d found at the bottom of the stairs. ‘The only one not satisfied with the situation is you. But there is no pleasing a person who makes such a concerted effort to be contrary. Now, if you will excuse me? I have a marriage to arrange.’ With that, he turned and left her.