Page 46

“That my brother is a complete scoundrel.” Benj pinched the bridge of his nose. “Meddling, manipulative . . . he takes after my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” He sighed. “No one ever has perfect relations, I’m afraid.”

She bit down on her lip, holding back a smile. “This will be fun.”

Benj nodded, and she knew he was thinking about the plan they’d made yesterday in the garden.

Clara glanced again at the clock. “You had better leave the room.”

“All right,” Benj muttered. He placed a hand on hers. “I’m so sorry for the agony he caused you.” And then he turned down the corridor.

Within ten minutes, the butler announced that Matlock had come to call.

“How very lucky,” Matlock said as he nearly closed the parlor door behind him. “I heard Darcy had left town already this morning. And I thought I’d have to somehow distract Georgiana, but I saw her on a phaeton with that Edling fellow on my way here.”

“Yes, so fortunate,” she said, her tone even. “Do sit.”

He chose a spot much too close to her on the couch, but she drew in a deep, calming breath. If Benj could fight and win battles, she could manage one conversation.

Matlock rubbed his hands on the knees of his pants. “The letter I received from you last night made it seem like you’ve come to your decision.”

Most would say this man was handsome, but it was incredible how much attractiveness he’d lost—and his brother had gained—since the last time she’d seen him.

“I have.” She smiled. “I cannot accept you.”

Silence tore through the room, seeming to steal the air from Matlock.

“What?” Though an earl, the man’s mouth hung agape.

“I am afraid my heart is employed elsewhere.”

“Your heart?” He shook his head and gripped the side of the sofa. “Surely I misunderstand. You are destitute . . . you need me.” He wielded a smile that had no effect on her. “I am here for you, Mrs. Hughes.”

“In some ways, yes, she does need you.” Benj threw wide the door, a triumphant smile on his face.

“Benj?” Matlock swiveled around.

“Hello, Mat.” He strode over to the couch and clapped a strong hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You’ll be granting us an exceptionally large wedding present, so we appreciate you helping with Mrs. Hughes’s debt that you are so eager to alleviate. Especially since you have grossly inflated the sum.”

“Excuse me?” Lord Matlock stood, the color of his face matching one of the crimson accent pillows on the settee.

Clara remained in her seat but drew in a breath. “My lord, your brother and I intend to marry.”

“What? No!” Matlock’s gaze turned from his brother to her and back again.

“It’s true.” Benj smiled. “And unless you want me to divulge to the general public how you blackmailed a solicitor and tried to convince a very smart, beautiful, and capable widow to marry you, you’ll be quite generous in your wedding gift to us.”

“Benj—” Matlock looked like he would pummel his brother’s face that instant.

But Benj just moved to the door and gestured outward.

“And might I suggest you don’t try anything so conniving in the future. I may be your younger brother without the title or the fortune, but I am very good at learning your secrets.”

Benj then withdrew Matlock’s stack of correspondence from the desk drawer near him and held it out, excepting the letter from Stockton, which he kept in his other hand. “I’ll keep this one as . . . collateral, you might say.”

Something akin to a groan escaped the earl’s lips, and tearing the stack from Benj’s fist, he stormed out of the room without so much as a goodbye to either of them.

Once the sounds of angry footfalls stopped ricocheting through the corridor, Clara stood and smiled, chuckling toward Benj. “Well done! After your sound put-down, he’ll be so much less of a burden on us.” She sighed and then noticed Benj beaming. “What is it?”

His head cocked to one side. “I like the sound of that: us .”

“Me, too.”

He came forward and took her hands, and she drew him close enough to kiss his cheek. She’d never really felt like she was a team with anyone until now. She finally understood why it wasn’t good for a man—or a woman—to be alone.

“I also spoke with Darcy before he left,” Benj continued. “He thinks Edling and Georgie will have a wedding in four months, to give Lizzy time to have the baby and recover enough so she can attend. Would you mind staying as her companion until then?”

“Not at all,” Clara nodded.

“So we won’t get any money from my brother quite yet. But I think you could keep renting your properties in the meantime, and then, if you’ll have me, I’d like to marry you.”

She hadn’t expected his proposal at the end of the explanation, but she threw her arms around him. “ If I’d have you? Of course I’ll have you!”

“Good,” he said, and drawing back enough to meet her lips, he kissed her thoroughly. She relished his touch, his feeling, his meaning.

Never before had kisses felt like his.

She would have kissed him for longer, but there was a loud knock on the open door.

Instead of the butler, Beth stood in the doorway carrying a tray.

“Georgiana mentioned that she’d asked Mrs. Augustin to make her famous strawberry tarts for this afternoon.

” She walked in and placed them down on the table just in front of them.

Beth smiled at them. “And don’t worry, sir, no one ordered any mussels. ”

“Thank you,” Clara said, laughing as she wrapped her arm around Benj’s.

Beth was good enough to leave the door only slightly ajar as she left.

It didn’t take long before Benj took her in his arms again, kissing her like he meant it.

She kissed him back more than a time or two.

Then, after several more moments, they settled comfortably on the settee, and each consumed a delicious strawberry tart.

THE END