“Yes, she surprised me with her arrival. I do not think she wanted me to dissuade her from coming. Her being here somewhat forced my hand. I admit, I feel I am ready for the ton to know, but the matter of how I announce his death has been the only thing stopping me. Well, that and wanting to tell Felicity first. But as she has not responded to my letters since the ball, I do not think I can wait for her any longer.” Benjamin could not hide the twinge of sadness he felt at her silence out of his voice.
“I do not know what to tell you, Chapman, other than, I think you will know what to do when the time is right. But do not wait too long before acting. She is the Diamond of the season after all. I have heard of how many callers parade in and out of her drawing room daily.”
“Yes,” Benjamin said, his jaw tight with envy, “I know. Tell me, have you heard of any planning on proposing?”
Nicholas stilled at the question, his refilled glass halfway to his mouth.
“Tell me,” Benjamin demanded, the need to pace consuming him once more.
“I cannot be certain,” Nicholas hedged, “but I have caught wind of Lord Roberts intending to ask for her hand.”
“What?” Benjamin exploded. “That leech?”
Nicholas threw his hands up as if he was surrendering to Benjamin’s anger.
“While I was waiting for you tonight, I overheard some of the other gentlemen discussing it. It sounded as if the Earl felt confident that she would accept, and she would not be able to turn him down. Apparently, he has worked out some kind of deal with her parents — something about them needing the money.”
“When?” It was the only word Benjamin could get out between his clenched teeth.
“That I do not know. Something about announcing it at next week’s ball? Perhaps he will throw his own to celebrate. You know how he loves all the attention he can muster.”
Four days. There were only four days between now and the next dance. It did not give him much time to get his affairs in order and tell his mother, but Benjamin was determined that in four days’ time, he would be ready to let the ton know two things. The first was that he was now the Duke of Ferndown. The second was he already had his sights set on the next Duchess.
* * *
By the time he had made it home from White’s, the hour was late. He had expected a still and silent house. He did not mind the solitude. In fact, he found that he craved it after a night out with his friend. Their conversation had given him much to think about, much to plan. Lost in thought, Benjamin made his way to his study. He stoked the fire back to life before moving to pour himself a drink. He had just gotten settled in his chair when he heard footsteps coming from the stairs.
“Benjamin? Is that you?” his mother called from the doorway.
“Mother,” he said, rising from his chair, “why are you not asleep? It is late.”
“I have been tossing and turning for the last three hours. Sleep is a rare commodity for me these days,” she said with a soft smile. “Never mind about me. Why are you out so late?”
“I was at White’s with Owens.”
“Ah,” she said with a knowing smile. “Mind if I join you?”
He gestured for her to sit and waited for her to get settled before taking his seat again.
“You were never one to brood over a fire. Action was always your first reaction. Elijah was always the brooder so much like his father. You are more like me, ready to make a plan and then act on it. Whatever is going on must be important to have you so contemplative. Would you like to talk about it?”
Benjamin swirled his cup and sighed, not quite sure where to start.
“I think it is time the ton knew about Elijah.”
He guessed that was as good of a place to start as any. He watched his mother’s face carefully as she slowly nodded.
“What changed your mind?”
“Well,” he said with a short laugh, “you being here has somewhat forced my hand.”
“Oh, do not blame this on me. I have no plans to go out in society just yet, and I am not accepting visitors. No one even knows I am here. So,” she said, knowing she had backed him into a corner, “what is the real reason?”
“I have met someone,” he admitted hesitantly, “someone I think I could be happy with for the rest of my life.”
“How wonderful, dear,” she said, clapping her hands together, excitedly. “Tell me all about her.”
“I met her a while ago at a ball. It was really a chance encounter. We have since been exchanging letters.”