Page 24 of Inventing Vivian

Coming from a person so determined to avoid him, the compliment felt surprisingly genuine. Benedict moved another rock. “I do wonder why you chose to come into the garden so late,” he said. “Nighttime does not seem to be optimal for fountain repair.”

Miss Kirby lifted another rock as well. Her eyes darted toward him and then away. “It was just the most convenient time.”

“Because you wished to avoid seeing me,” Benedict said.

She set down her rock and returned to her tools, closing the box and fastening it.

But Benedict wasn’t finished. “Why do you dislike me so, Miss Kirby? Is it because of how I behaved to you when we were children? You must know how sorry I—”

She turned toward him, and the discouragement in her face stopped his words. He recognized the expression as the same one she’d worn when Baron Harrington had turned her down. She looked utterly defeated.

“I apologize if I have given you that impression,” she said. She looked toward the lit windows of his house. “You should return, my lord. Your guests will be wondering what happened to you.”

Benedict nodded, feeling as if he were being dismissed and sent away to a place he didn’t want to go. But, of course, he couldn’t desert his friends. And Miss Kirby very obviously did not want his company. “Yes. I thank you for your work. The fountain is splendid, Miss Kirby. I am in your debt, and I shall fully compensate you for time and materials.” Speaking in practical terms felt impolite, but he thought it would make Miss Kirby more comfortable.

“I do not want any money, my lord,” Miss Kirby said. “I enjoyed the challenge. Besides, it was our debt. Chester broke it in the first place.” She picked up her toolbox and the shovel. “Come along, Chester.”

“Goodbye, Lord Benedict,” the boy called. “Goodbye,Shifù.”

Zhang Wei chuckled.

As Benedict walked back toward the house with Zhang Wei, an idea occurred to him, and he was surprised not to have thought of it earlier. Anticipation made his spine tingle as he considered the best way to go about it.

“She still does not like you,” Zhang Wei observed.

“You’re right.” Benedict couldn’t change how Miss Kirby felt about him. He smiled to himself. But there was something he could do for her. A way to atone for the hurt he’d caused years earlier. And he could not wait to set the idea into motion.

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