Page 59 of An Accidental Romance

He quietly began to make his way around the manor house to the front courtyard of Alderwood so he could have his phaeton brought to him.

* * *

The villagers—all friends—were being exceedingly kind. In fact, everyone seemed keen to offer their condolences to Rebecca over her broken ankle, to the point that it was beyond tedious. Her ankle became an obvious topic of conversation with literallyeveryone, and she was finding she could only repeat the same story so many times without feeling she might scream—andthatcertainly wouldn’t do under the circumstances.

She wasn’t far from a small, private garden that followed a walkway from the breakfast room; if she could make her way to it, she would be able to sit and enjoy a few minutes of peace and the shade and fragrance of the budding flowers and hedges that grew there. After that, she was certain she would be ready to mingle with the guests once again.

She also needed time to consider the invitation Susan and the Duke of Aylesham had extended to her. But the real question in Rebecca’s mind was: Could she tolerate their displays of affection while she was aching over Ben’s inability—or unwillingness—to move on from the hold his deceased wife had on him?

She began making her way to the small garden, doing so with a look of intent so the guests near her would think her on a specific task without the time to chat, which, on one level, was entirely how she felt. But because she was focused solely on her footing in front of her, being mindful of the pavement and anything that might cause her to stumble, she didn’t see the gentleman in front of her until she nearly ran into him.

“Rebecca!” Ben exclaimed when she gasped in surprise, nearly stumbling. “What are the odds that we were going in the same direction? Were you looking for me, per chance?”

“Not at all,” she said as coolly as possible. It was plainly obvious that he’d been attempting to leave withoutspeaking to her, and he was now attempting to cover his actions by pretending it wasn’t what he was doing.

“I ask because your sister mentioned you had news you wished to share with me,” he said.

“Did she?” Rebecca said.

“Yes. In fact, she suggested I look for you so you could tell me.”

“And you were doing precisely that, weren’t you?” she said because he clearly hadn’t been and she wanted him to know that she knew.

He looked at her a bit guiltily, which meant she had to forgive him the tiniest bit. Of course she did, lovesick fool that she was. “Truth be told,” he said, rubbing the side of his nose, “I’d had my share of conviviality for the afternoon and had decided to venture home until this evening.”

Since Rebecca had felt precisely the same way, she had to forgive him a tiny bit more, heaven help her for being so weak when it came to Ben Fortescue.

“Come,” he said, gesturing to the now-visible garden where she’d been intending to go anyway. “Let’s sit and converse, and you may tell me this news of yours.” He sounded reluctant, but at least he’d offered.

She sighed, feeling beaten. “Very well,” she said. Perhaps it was just as well that she’d encountered him. How he responded to her news would help her make her decision one way or the other.

Oh, he was so handsome—but he looked wary too.

They had that last bit in common.

* * *

Ben had heard a noise behind him and had seen that it was Rebecca, and he’d known his opportunity to slip away without speaking to her had been lost. While she appeared to be focused on the pavement in front of her feet, he couldn’t be sure that she hadn’t seen him, and he would not, under any circumstances, give her what might appear to be the cut direct by ignoring her presence.

So he’d waited for her to reach his side and had braced himself.

She looked breathtaking despite the unwieldy crutches. Heartbreaking. Her pale-pink muslin with its short, puffed sleeves made her look young and vulnerable, and her cheeks were flushed from the cool air and the vigor it had taken for her to walk this far. He wanted to scoop her into his arms as he had on previous, unforgettable occasions.

“Oh, how I love you!”

Her words had haunted him; they still haunted him. He wanted to believe them, but he’d believed Gemma, hadn’t he? And what an utter mess that had turned out to be, and still was.

He allowed her to lead the way to a bench in the garden’s far corner and then sat next to her, making sure to keep some distance between them for his own sake. He tried with all his might to remain aloof when all he wanted to do was hold her and apologize for hurting her once again.

“What is this news of yours Susan is so eager for me to hear?” he asked.

Rebecca gazed at her clasped hands in her lap. “They have invited me to return with them to London after the week’s end,” she said. “They think my Season can be salvaged after all, if I am agreeable to it.”

His stomach turned to stone. “And are you?” he asked, hoping his voice sounded calm.

“Am I what?” she asked.

“Agreeable to the invitation?” he said. “Going with them?” he added. He should be happy for her. He wanted to be happy for her.

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