emotion.
He was glad to see her. She’d once been the
closest person in the world to him, but when she ended things, for
reasons he didn’t understand at the time, he had taken steps to
hurt her and the only other person in the world she loved, her
son.
Though their separation hadn’t lasted long,
he’d always been careful not to become too close again.
One reason he’d kept his distance was he
didn’t want to accidentally mention that he was the cause of the
pain for her and her son. Occasionally, he’d feel a little guilt
about it when she spoke of her son and had that distant look in her
eyes, but he’d never actually been able to openly admit neither his
part nor his guilt about it. At the time, he felt his actions were
justified because of the pain she’d caused him.
At one point he’d even tried to fix
everything in a way that would not expose his part. But that
eventually led to more problems, so he washed his hands of it and
felt no guilt because at least he’d tried.
“To see you, of course,” she replied
cheerfully.
“To see me? Why would you want to do that?”
Benjamin asked, taking a seat in a chair near her.
Lizzie smiled. “Why, because you are one of
my two favorite people of course. And since you don’t respond to my
correspondence.” She gave a speaking glance over to where some
letters were stacked on the corner of his desk. “I thought I would
come and inquire about your welfare personally.”
Benjamin gave her a thin smile. He’d never
been one for writing letters, and she knew it. At one time he would
have dearly loved to have a letter from her. He had actually longed
for one and would have written her back immediately. But not now,
maybe this was his underhanded way of punishing her for not sending
him one when he craved one so badly.
“I am doing well,” he said flatly. “You?”
“The same as always,” she said with a watery
smile.
They were both quiet for a few minutes.
Benjamin had never been much a conversationalist and Lizzie didn’t
speak much unless she had something to say, or was forced to
talk.
“Are you planning to attend the Watson house
party next week?” Lizzie asked, breaking the silence. Noticing his
scowl, she tried a different approach. “I hear they have some
American relations who are also to be in attendance.” She wagged
her eyebrows suggestively at him.
He chose to ignore Lizzie’s clear attempt at
matchmaking. “I will not be attending,” he said simply as if to end
the discussion.
Lizzie broke into a wide grin. “Why,
Benjamin, I thought you had a tendre for the oldest
daughter. I did read your name linked to hers in a scandal sheet no
more than three days ago. What’s wrong, Benny, was the waltz
not close enough for you?” she thrilled.
Benjamin grimaced at her words. He knew she
was just having her fun, even if it was at his expense. He wasn’t
going to ruin it for her though. He knew better than anyone that
fun was something Lizzie had very little of in her life. He thought
back to the night she was talking about with a crystal clear
memory. Brooke Banks had made such a fool of him, and worst of all,
he’d let her.
“Maybe I will go to the party after all.
Something interesting always seems to happen at house parties. I
wouldn’t want to miss something. Will you be going?”
“You mean do I plan to willingly surround
myself with a bunch of gossiping old dowagers with fire pokers up
their arses? The answer is no.” Lizzie’s voice was full of
conviction.
Gateway couldn’t help but smile, leave it to
Lizzie to be so blunt. He could always count on her to be
completely blunt and honest with him. It is probably why they had
stayed so close over the years; they both hated society and their
rules and neither of them gave a thought to what others thought of
them for it.
Chapter 9
Brooke always thought she had the perfect
mother. As a child, Brooke remembered her mother taking the girls
on walks or to play in
He was glad to see her. She’d once been the
closest person in the world to him, but when she ended things, for
reasons he didn’t understand at the time, he had taken steps to
hurt her and the only other person in the world she loved, her
son.
Though their separation hadn’t lasted long,
he’d always been careful not to become too close again.
One reason he’d kept his distance was he
didn’t want to accidentally mention that he was the cause of the
pain for her and her son. Occasionally, he’d feel a little guilt
about it when she spoke of her son and had that distant look in her
eyes, but he’d never actually been able to openly admit neither his
part nor his guilt about it. At the time, he felt his actions were
justified because of the pain she’d caused him.
At one point he’d even tried to fix
everything in a way that would not expose his part. But that
eventually led to more problems, so he washed his hands of it and
felt no guilt because at least he’d tried.
“To see you, of course,” she replied
cheerfully.
“To see me? Why would you want to do that?”
Benjamin asked, taking a seat in a chair near her.
Lizzie smiled. “Why, because you are one of
my two favorite people of course. And since you don’t respond to my
correspondence.” She gave a speaking glance over to where some
letters were stacked on the corner of his desk. “I thought I would
come and inquire about your welfare personally.”
Benjamin gave her a thin smile. He’d never
been one for writing letters, and she knew it. At one time he would
have dearly loved to have a letter from her. He had actually longed
for one and would have written her back immediately. But not now,
maybe this was his underhanded way of punishing her for not sending
him one when he craved one so badly.
“I am doing well,” he said flatly. “You?”
“The same as always,” she said with a watery
smile.
They were both quiet for a few minutes.
Benjamin had never been much a conversationalist and Lizzie didn’t
speak much unless she had something to say, or was forced to
talk.
“Are you planning to attend the Watson house
party next week?” Lizzie asked, breaking the silence. Noticing his
scowl, she tried a different approach. “I hear they have some
American relations who are also to be in attendance.” She wagged
her eyebrows suggestively at him.
He chose to ignore Lizzie’s clear attempt at
matchmaking. “I will not be attending,” he said simply as if to end
the discussion.
Lizzie broke into a wide grin. “Why,
Benjamin, I thought you had a tendre for the oldest
daughter. I did read your name linked to hers in a scandal sheet no
more than three days ago. What’s wrong, Benny, was the waltz
not close enough for you?” she thrilled.
Benjamin grimaced at her words. He knew she
was just having her fun, even if it was at his expense. He wasn’t
going to ruin it for her though. He knew better than anyone that
fun was something Lizzie had very little of in her life. He thought
back to the night she was talking about with a crystal clear
memory. Brooke Banks had made such a fool of him, and worst of all,
he’d let her.
“Maybe I will go to the party after all.
Something interesting always seems to happen at house parties. I
wouldn’t want to miss something. Will you be going?”
“You mean do I plan to willingly surround
myself with a bunch of gossiping old dowagers with fire pokers up
their arses? The answer is no.” Lizzie’s voice was full of
conviction.
Gateway couldn’t help but smile, leave it to
Lizzie to be so blunt. He could always count on her to be
completely blunt and honest with him. It is probably why they had
stayed so close over the years; they both hated society and their
rules and neither of them gave a thought to what others thought of
them for it.
Chapter 9
Brooke always thought she had the perfect
mother. As a child, Brooke remembered her mother taking the girls
on walks or to play in
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