Page 33 of An Accidental Romance

Ben looked confused at the direction the conversation was going.

“Delia and Artie were actors—” Rebecca began.

“Areactors, dear child,” Delia said to Rebecca in a slightly chiding voice. “One does not simply cease to be who one is. We are not performing on the London stage or around the countryside anymore, that is true, but I daresay we could if we were of a mind to.”

“Delia Weston, hmm,” Ben said, shooting a glance at Rebecca before she could apologize for her poor choice of words. “Delia Weston—I thought that name sounded familiar. Have you, perchance, shared your talents in Hampshire?”

“Why, yes, I have, many times over the years,” Delia said, her eyes glowing. “Did you see me perform there? Is that where your family hails from?”

“Yes,” he said. “A coincidence if there ever was one.”

Rebecca looked at Ben in surprise. Was he intentionally leaving clues for her brothers and the others about being the Earl of Winton? Or did he feel safe enough that mentioning where he was from wouldn’t give away his secret?

“Desdemona she was and Queen Gertrude, too, you were, back in the day,” Artie said. “Best production ofHamletI ever saw. I was part of the cast, mind you, but smaller parts, like the gravediggers and such, but when my Delia here, I mean Queen Gertrude, died . . . well, it tore my heart asunder each time. Delia’s the best at dying of any actor I know.”

“It’s what finally got the two of you to marry, as you’ll recall,” Lavinia said. “Delia’s convincing death scenes. So nice to meet you, Mr. Fortescue. I hope our little ramblings haven’t scared you off yet.”

“Not at all,” Ben said with an odd look on his face. “Have we met before, Mrs. Jennings?”

“Oh dear,” Lavinia said. “Spent time in London, have you?” she asked.

Rebecca briefly shut her eyes. Here were more family secrets about to be spilled.

“A bit, from time to time. Not recently though,” Ben replied.

“Ah,” Lavinia said. “I wonder if perhaps you may have seen an actress perform at Drury Lane—”

“Ruby Chadwick,” Ben said, snapping his fingers as recognition apparently dawned on him. “That’s it. She does remind me of you, now that you mention it. I saw her once, two, maybe three years back. She was exceedingly popular and highly entertaining, as I recall. Are you a relative of hers, then, Mrs. Jennings?”

“SheisRuby Chadwick,” Rebecca said on a sigh. “Just as Artie is really Johnny Grimmett and Delia is Minnie Hopgood.”

“I ask you, Mr. Fortescue,” Delia said, sounding indignant and straightening in her chair, “before you pass judgment upon us after hearing our little secrets: What sort of crowd do you think an actor named Minnie Hopgood is going to attract? Now,Delia Weston”—she lifted her chin—“Delia Westonis going to have dukes and earls,royaltyeven, paying her court at the theater, which they did, by the way.”

“’Tis true,” Artie said, nodding his head. “She wasmagnificentin her day.”

“You always brought so much charm to the stage, Arthur,” Delia said in reply, softening her tone.

“Ruby Chadwick,” Ben said as if in a trance. “Ruby Chadwick is your sister-in-law.”

“No,” Rebecca replied. “Lavinia Jennings is my sister-in-law.”

“But Delia just said a person doesn’t simply cease to be who they are,” Ben said.

“I will allow that if called upon, I could act,” Lavinia said in response to Ben’s comment. “But I am Lavinia Jennings now, and Ruby Chadwick has retired from the stage.” She said that last bit with emphasis.

“I understand completely, Mrs. Jennings,” Ben said.

“Fortescue,” Lucas said, watching Ben carefully, his eyes in narrow slits. “I seem to recall a gentleman with that name, might have hailed from Hampshire, actually, but it was a few years back, and I don’t recall if I met him or not. Could you be related, by chance?”

Rebecca watched Ben’s face tighten. “I imagine most of the Fortescue family are related in one way or another,” he said. “I couldn’t say for certain.”

“Do you suppose supper is ready yet?” Rebecca said, hoping to change the subject. It was obvious now that he’d made a mistake in mentioning Hampshire to the others. “Ah, there’s Hawkins. Hawkins, you have arrived just in time to save us from starvation.”

“My apologies, Miss Rebecca,” Hawkins said. “If you will pardon me for saying so, however, I believe Cook has outdone herself this evening, even if it did take a few extra minutes.” He bowed and then held the door open for the others as they paired off to walk to the dining room.

Ben assisted Rebecca in standing and helped her get situated with her crutches, after which he actually offered his arm to Hannah Broome. Rebecca’s opinion of him grew even more.

“I’m used to fending for myself, young man,” Hannah mumbled, her cheeks turning scarlet. “You really needn’t have bothered.”

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