Page 27 of A Duke to Ravish Her (The Dukes of Sin #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ I am here to speak with Lord Windham.” Benedict held his head high as he addressed the aging butler. The man nodded and stepped aside. Only then did Benedict cast a hesitant glance over his shoulder. Thalia waited outside, having come from the manor with him this morning.

Giving him a smile of encouragement, Thalia waited. Taking a deep breath, Benedict grinned back at her and, steadying himself, stepped inside.

He was far more nervous than he had expected. Unlike when he was courting Selina, Benedict’s character would be considered far more questionable to the earl. Indeed, when Benedict had spoken with Jerome at the house party, the man had all but given him permission to marry his youngest daughter right then and there.

But Benedict had gone and turned the tables. He had fallen in love with her older sister.

He smiled to himself, remembering how he and Thalia had laughed together over the absurdity of their new situation, languishing in one another’s company, the manor emptied of any other soul. Theirs truly was a story of twists and turns. But it was a love story all the same. Something Benedict had never thought that he would call his own.

“His Grace, the Duke of Ravenwood, to see you, my lord,” the butler announced, standing in the doorway of Jerome’s study. Then, with a curt bow, the older man stepped aside and retreated back up the hall.

Benedict ducked as he entered the room, finding Thalia’s father sitting at his desk, looking up at him in surprise.

“Your Grace, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Jerome stood and offered Benedict his hand.

Benedict swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He had traversed continents, he reminded himself. He had hunted wild animals and faced all sorts of dangers. So why was he now quaking in his boots before a simple, kindly man?

“I hoped to speak with you,” Benedict began.

“Ah.” A cloud seemed to pass over Jerome’s face. The man frowned slightly, looking Benedict up and down. “Is this in regard to Lady Selina? She informed me of her last meeting with you.”

“Indeed?” Benedict held his breath. Just how much did Selina share with her father?

“She told me that she rejected your proposal of marriage. And that you did not take it kindly.”

Now he truly was in trouble. Benedict cleared his throat. “Well, I fear there has been a misunderstanding. I, I did indeed allow my temper to get the better of me. And for that I am ashamed. The first chance I get, I would be glad to offer Lady Selina my sincerest apologies. But it was not her rejection that incensed me.”

Jerome frowned, waiting for a further explanation. Benedict marveled at the man’s sudden change in demeanor. Up until this moment, Benedict would have sworn that the man did not have a stern bone in his body. But now, Jerome was staring at him with a confident mixture of caution and disapproval. It was rather unsettling.

“When we spoke, Lady Selina informed me that Lady Thalia had left. This was what sparked my temper.”

“Why on earth should that bother you?”

“Because, sir, it is your eldest daughter that I am in love with.” Benedict squared his shoulders, forcing himself to hold the older man’s gaze. “I did not realize it for a very long time. But, at that moment, I could not comprehend the idea that I might never see her again. And so I grew angry – not with Lady Selina, but with myself, for all the time I had wasted. For all the time I had spent lying to myself about my true feelings for your eldest daughter.”

Jerome was silent for a long moment. “This is certainly a change of heart,” he mused after a moment. Benedict could not read the man’s expression and found himself impressed at Jerome’s composure. Impressed, and then unsettled. If the man was not instantly rejoicing at an offer of marriage for a duke, no matter which daughter it was intended for, then was Jerome truly considering not giving Benedict his blessing?

“I fear it only seems as such,” Benedict hurried to explain, “because I spent so long denying my true feelings for Lady Thalia. But I assure you, my love for her is unwavering. If you will allow me, I plan to spend the rest of my days trying to make your daughter happy.”

Jerome was silent once more. “And what does Thalia think of all this?”

Just then, there was a chuckle from behind Benedict. He turned as Thalia stepped into the room. Smiling, Thalia moved to stand beside the duke, facing her father. “You will think me a silly girl, father,” Thalia confessed. “Given that I was the one who was so adamantly opposed to his courtship of Selina. But I, too, have had a change of heart.”

Thalia took Benedict’s hand, smiling up at him. “I love him, Father. I never thought that this feeling would be meant for a woman like me, but, somehow, I find myself not only in love but wanting to spend the rest of my life with this man.”

When Benedict looked back at Jerome, the older man’s expression had softened. He gazed upon his daughter with gentle joy. “Indeed? My little Thalia? To be married?”

Thalia nodded, beaming.

“Well, seeing as you were the one I was going to confer with, should the duke ask for Selina’s hand, I suppose I must also confer with you in this new matter.” Jerome chuckled and stood. He crossed to take Thalia’s hand, pressing it gently between his. “Well, Thalia? Should I give His Grace permission to marry you?”

Thalia laughed. “Yes. I think you should.”

“Then it is done,” Jerome grinned, kissing his daughter’s hand. When he turned back to Benedict, a little of his former stoicism had returned. “You, Your Grace, should know one thing – if you ever hurt my daughter, I will ensure that you pay for your misdeeds. I may seem like a kindly, patient old man, but I assure you that I will do anything to protect my daughters.”

Benedict nodded, his eyes widening ever so slightly. “I promise you, I will never give you cause to worry. Your daughter will be safe with me.”

“Ensure that she is.”

Benedict nodded and, finally, Jerome offered the man his hand. Taking it gratefully, Benedict had the sudden realization that the older man before him would soon become his father-in-law. It had been so many years since Benedict had been able to call anyone father, and even more since he felt any sort of attachment to the word.

But Jerome might become the father figure to him that Benedict had always wanted. Indeed, Benedict already admired the man’s kindness and generosity. He could only imagine how much more he would learn from Jerome over the years.

As Thalia walked Benedict out of the study and back down the hall, another familiar figure stepped into their path. Benedict hesitated as Selina glanced from him to Thalia and then back again.

Her eyes narrowed. “Is it done?” she asked after a moment.

It was Thalia who replied. “What do you mean?”

“Have you two finally realized that you are madly in love with one another?”

Benedict’s jaw fell open as Thalia gasped. Then, a self-satisfied grin breaking across her face, Selina nodded. “Good. It was getting far too tiresome waiting for one of you to finally break down and confess. Oh!” a hand flew to her mouth as she seemed to realize something. “There will be a wedding to plan!” Selina giggled delightedly. “Thalia, there is so much to do!”

Beside him, Thalia chuckled. “And I will entrust a great portion of that to you, Selina. After all, you have the better taste of the two of us.”

Selina eyed Benedict with a small smile. “I think you have done very well for yourself all the same, sister.”

Benedict offered Selina a small bow, knowing now that all was forgiven between them.

Thalia continued with him to the door. He paused, knowing it was time for him to go, but not wishing to leave his love’s side. “Perhaps I could stay here for a time,” Benedict mused teasingly, gesturing back into the house.

Laughing, Thalia shook her head. “Soon enough we will be able to spend every minute of every day with one another,” she assured him. Then, she frowned slightly. “Are you certain that this is what you wish? It is an awfully big commitment.”

It took all of Benedict’s self-control not to pull her into his arms and kiss her right then and there. He might have received her father’s blessing, but even Jerome would not appreciate seeing such a scandalous display before the wedding.

So, instead, Benedict took both of Thalia’s hands and pressed them to his chest, right above his heart. “I have never been more certain of anything in my life. I would marry you today if I could.”

Thalia grinned, blushing slightly. Benedict shared her smile. It was good to know that he could still elicit some color in her cheeks. She stood on the steps as Benedict started toward his carriage.

But it wasn’t right. He paused. And then, glancing quickly over his shoulder to ensure that his driver was turned the other way, Benedict strode back to Thalia and took her in his arms.

He kissed her with all the joy he felt and, he hoped, all the assurance that this love for her would never fade, come what may.

And Thalia kissed him back.

Thalia watched Benedict leave, already missing him though he was hardly out of her sight. When she turned to go inside, she found Selina standing behind her, arms folded across her chest.

“Is something amiss?” Thalia asked tentatively, wondering if she often looked so foreboding when standing so.

But it was Selina’s turn to shake her head disapprovingly at her older sister. Still, she could not quite hide the smile of amusement that tugged at her lips. “Is that the sort of display an unmarried woman like yourself should allow?” Selina chided as Thalia’s face grew red.

Realizing that her sister had witnessed her kiss with the duke, Thalia scrambled to find an excuse.

But Selina laughed, then, and shook her head. “I shall forever hold this against you, you know.”

“What?”

“The fact that you found love – the very thing you assured me was not necessary in a marriage – before me.” Selina crossed to put an arm around her sister’s waist. “Now you shall be a hypocrite if you ever try to chide me for being picky as you once did,” she informed Thalia, thoroughly pleased and self-righteous.

Thalia groaned playfully and rolled her eyes. “I have created a monster.”

Selina giggled. “Do not worry, I shall simply have to find love as deep as yours for myself. I am certain I can manage it.”

Thalia’s smile grew. She put an arm around her sister, leaning her head atop the smaller woman’s head. “I am certain of it too.”

“My beautiful girls.” Jerome walked down the hall toward them, practically beaming. He took in the sight of his daughters together and then, impulsively, moved to take both of them into an embrace.

“You squeeze too tight,” Selina giggled.

Releasing them, Jerome laughed. “I simply cannot help it. When I look at the two of you, I think my heart will burst with love. I do not know how I ever got so lucky as to have daughters like you.”

He turned to Thalia and his smile turned sad. “I fear I have taken advantage of just how blessed I have been to have a smart, capable daughter like you, Thalia. Intelligent as you are, I should never have allowed so many responsibilities to fall onto your young shoulders. I fear,” he added, his eyes shining with tears, “that I allowed my grief to cloud my judgment for far too long.”

Thalia knew exactly what he meant. Wordlessly, both sisters reached out to embrace their father. “I miss her,” Thalia murmured.

“She would be so very proud of you both,” Jerome replied with a sigh. “I see so much of her in you.”

The older man sniffled a little. “I do not know what I shall do when both of you marry and leave me.”

“You shall occupy yourself with your grandchildren, of course,” Selina reminded him happily. “They shall need much care and attention. And I am willing to guess that at least one of them will be most eager to learn about horses from their grandpapa.”

As Jerome’s eyes widened with excitement, Thalia’s mouth fell open. “Grandchildren?” she protested. “I hardly think anything like that will be happening too soon.”

Selina raised an eyebrow, fixing Thalia with a stare that said, ‘not from what I’ve just seen’, and then giggled as Thalia began to blush furiously.

“Grandchildren,” Jerome mused happily. “Yes, of course. I wonder what the best way is to teach them to ride? We must start them young, of course.”

Thalia and Selina exchanged knowing glances and then burst into laughter.