Her Accidental Groom

by Nadine Millard

  “Oh, Bea,” she said before moving to throw her arms around her oldest and dearest friend.

  “I’ll miss you so much,” Bea sniffed.

  “I’ll miss you, too,” Natalia gulped. “But Papa has already said that you can visit, if your mother will allow it.”

  Beatrice pulled back and held a handkerchief to her eyes.

  “Perhaps, if I can convince Ben to accompany me.”

  And just like that, Natalia’s thoughts went straight back to her arrogant earl.

  “My goodness, look at the time,” she said feebly, coming to her feet. “I must return home to ready myself for tonight.”

  “But we have hours yet,” Beatrice argued, standing to face Natalia.

  “Indeed, but this dress Papa is insisting I wear. It will take so long to get into it, I should have started yesterday.”

  Bea dutifully laughed, and Natalia moved to the doorway.

  “Talia.”

  Natalia turned at the sound of her name.

  Bea was standing, hands clasped in front of her.

  “I thought that perhaps you and Ben – I thought maybe – “

  Bea drew to an uncomfortable close, and Natalia couldn’t even muster a smile of comfort for her friend.

  “I thought maybe, too,” she whispered before turning and hurrying from the house.

  Perhaps going home would be the best thing for her after all, she thought miserably. Maybe the distance of an ocean would bring her some peace.

  ***

  Ben looked up at Aunt Elizabeth’s house. Every window on the first floor was illuminated, shining beacons in the cold, dark night.

  He had made good time.

  He was exhausted, freezing, starving, and anxious. But he was here.

  Though he’d barely slept all week, though he’d wondered a hundred times if he were doing the right thing, though he wasn’t sure if he should just take himself off to Bedlam and be done with it, this was the hard part.

  Being back here, and facing these people, and seeing Natalia. This was the difficult bit.

  Still, he’d never considered himself a coward before, and he’d certainly never been afraid to work for what he wanted.

  After handing his stallion off to one of the grooms with instructions to spoil the beast rotten because he’d nearly run him into the ground today, Ben straightened his shoulders and ran up the steps of the house.

  His companion should be arriving momentarily. Horseback hadn’t exactly been suitable.

  But that worked in Ben’s favour, for it would give him a chance to speak to Aunt Elizabeth, and to Natalia. To explain everything before doing what he had to for his future.

  Upon reaching the ballroom, Ben refused to be announced, moving swiftly to a pillar from which he could see the room and its occupants.

  He scanned the crowd. There was Aunt Elizabeth and Beatrice, the former dragging the latter from gentleman to gentleman. His poor cousin. Aunt Elizabeth’s determination knew no bounds.

  But right now, Beatrice wasn’t his concern.

  He was here for Natalia.

  His eyes searched for her, moving immediately to the dancers.

  Usually that was where she was to be found, in the thick of the dancing, the life and soul of the party. Her dance card always filled in record time. That fact had never bothered him before, yet he felt himself becoming irrationally jealous about it now.

  But his careful search yielded nothing.

  Frowning, he darted his eyes round the room.

  She wasn’t with Beatrice. She wasn’t with her family who stood in the corner, her father looking imposing as he surveyed all before him.

  Finally, his gaze moved to the chairs usually reserved for wallflowers and the village biddies whose dancing days were long gone.

  And there she was.

  Ben’s heart twisted as he took in the sight of Natalia sitting alone and despondent.

  He couldn’t stand the look of hopeless sadness on her beautiful face, wanted nothing more than to go over there and take her in his arms and protect her from all the ills of the world.

  But he couldn’t. Much as his hands ached to do it, he couldn’t.

  Instead, he stood there and just watched her for a while, drinking in the sight of her.

  She was ethereal in a confection of silver satin, the diamonds at her ears and throat glinting in the candlelight.

  More than once, she was approached by a gentleman, but time and again they were sent away.

  And so, she just sat there despondently, reminding him of Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, making him itch to kiss her and never stop.

  But he couldn’t.

  Her father was determined for her to marry and return to Russia. And Natalia was adamant there was no other option.

  So, that was that.

  Ben turned and walked away from Natalia, seeking out his aunt.

  “Aunt Elizabeth.”

  He watched as the older lady spun around in a flurry of burgundy skirts.

  “Ben,” she cried. “You’re here.”

  “I am.” He bowed. “And I need to speak to you on a matter of some urgency.”

  Aunt Elizabeth’s eyes widened, but she nodded her consent immediately.

  “Very well, lead the way.”

  They entered the library and Ben closed the door before turning to face the woman who’d been like a mother to him.

  “I wanted to speak to you about the money,” Ben dove right in.

  Tonight was important, and he needed to make sure everything was done correctly.

  “The money?”

  “Yes, the inheritance.”

  “All right,” Aunt Elizabeth said carefully.

  “I want you to know, Aunt Elizabeth, that I appreciate the offer. And I appreciate your reasons behind the condition you attached. Just as I appreciate everything you’ve done for me since infancy.”

  “You don’t have to – “

  “I know,” he interrupted gently. “But I do.”

  Aunt Elizabeth nodded her acknowledgement of his gratitude.

  Ben took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eye.

  “But I can’t accept it,” he blurted. “I know you wanted me to be engaged, and I know you wanted me to have it now so that I could use it to secure my estates and holdings, but the truth is, I won’t be getting engaged, and I don’t think I’ll be here to secure them.”

  “What? Why ever not?” his aunt demanded.

  “Because,” he answered, his heart thumping. “I plan on getting married, not engaged. And there’s a very real chance I’ll be moving to Russia.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Natalia could feel her father’s scowl from across the room, but she steadfastly refused to maintain eye contact with him.

  The mood in her family right now was as frosty as the weather outside.

  She couldn’t say quite what had come over her when she’d returned from her visit with Bea that afternoon.

  She’d gotten dressed like the dutiful daughter, putting on the gown more fit for a royal engagement than a country party. She’d listened to her father’s travel plans for after Twelfth Night.

  And when Mama had suggested that Natalia would be sad to leave people behind, he’d been so dismissive. Completely uninterested in her needs, her wants.

  When he’d climbed into their carriage and casually mentioned the names of her possible husbands, Natalia had felt the anger that only a broken heart can induce rise inside her.

  “I won’t be marrying any of those men, Papa,” she’d blurted. “In fact, I won’t be marrying anyone.”

  The ensuing argument had been long, unpleasant, and probably useless.

  Her threats to run away until she came of age had turned Papa such an alarming shade of puce that Natalia had given up, and they’d travelled the remaining short distance in stony silence.

  She’d refused all offers to dance, had refused several attempts to include her in conversations.

/>   Instead she sat here, moping, watching the entrance even though she knew he wouldn’t come.

  Every once in a while, Beatrice came over and tried to rouse her from her self-pity. But it was no use.

  Natalia looked up as her friend rushed over once again, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with excitement.

  “Talia,” Beatrice gasped, dropping into the chair beside her. “What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, slightly alarmed at Bea’s giddiness.

  “You never told me. And you’re supposed to tell me everything.”

  “Told you what?” she asked in bafflement.

  “Why, that Ben is back, of course. And that he’s – wait, you didn’t know?”

  Natalia’s head jerked around as she desperately hunted for a sign of Ben. But she couldn’t see him.

  “Bea, are you sure?”

  “Of course, I’m sure,” Beatrice laughed. “I’ve just seen him and – well, oh just come on!”

  She jumped to her feet and dragged Natalia to hers.

  “Bea – what – “

  “Make haste,” Bea interrupted. “Hurry!”

  Natalia stumbled but righted herself as Beatrice dragged her through the ballroom, either not noticing or not caring about the attention she was garnering with her actions.

  Natalia didn’t particularly care either.

  Ben was here? But why had he come back? Why had he left in the first place?

  They reached Lord Fortescue’s library in seconds, and Bea wasted no time in pushing the door open and dragging Natalia inside.

  “Beatrice, what are you – “

  Natalia’s question died on her lips as she looked up and saw Ben standing there, gazing at her, the look in his eyes so tender that it caused a lump to form in her throat.

  “Hello.” He grinned that grin that made her heart stop.

  “H-hello,” she stammered in response.

  “You look beautiful,” he said softly, and Natalia felt her cheeks heat in response.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  Her eyes moved to take in her surroundings, and she saw Ben’s Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Mary, and her mother dotted round the room.

  Beatrice was still holding her hand, and she squeezed it lightly before dropping it and moving closer to – Natalia’s heart stuttered – a vicar?

  “I’m getting married,” Ben announced, so casually that it took a moment for the words to sink in. And when they did, a pain unlike any Natalia had ever felt shot through her, and she stumbled away from him, afraid that she’d do something foolish like cry or beg him not to.

  “Oh,” she managed to croak. “Well, congratulations.”

  Married?

  Had he left to find a fiancé? Had he already found one?

  “Thank you.” He sounded highly amused, and Talia felt that old irritation rear its head.

  “Was there a reason you dragged me in here to tell me this? You know there’s a ball going on outside. This is unpardonably rude.”

  She was pleased to hear that her voice came out tart and annoyed. She might be a blubbering mess on the inside, but she wouldn’t show it.

  “This won’t take long,” Ben assured her. “You know you stole my jacket?”

  The shift in the conversation threw her somewhat, but not enough that she wasn’t shocked at his audacity.

  “I beg your pardon?” she gasped. “I did not.”

  “I think you’ll find you did,” he answered smoothly. “I gave it to you last week when you were cold, and you never returned it.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. He was a cad, a blackguard. How on earth could she be so stupid as to love him?

  “You ran away before I had a chance to return it,” she bit out, knowing that she was in for a world of trouble now that her father would know she was wearing gentlemen’s jackets. “And then I quite forgot I had it,” she sniffed.

  He didn’t need to know that she slept with it in bed every night like a complete madwoman.

  “No matter,” Ben shrugged. “You can keep it.”

  Natalia raised a brow. He’d brought it up in front of his family and hers, just to tell her she could keep it?

  “No thank you,” she spat. “I’ll return it tomorrow.”

  “I don’t want it,” he answered.

  “Well, I don’t want it,” she shot back.

  They glared at each other, and Natalia could just imagine the looks being exchanged amongst the other occupants of the room.

  “How about this, then?” Ben stepped forward and captured her gaze in that magical, golden one of his. “Keep it, and we’ll call it a wedding present?”

  ***

  Ben watched closely for Natalia’s reaction to his words.

  Whilst he was outwardly calm, inside he was a nervous wreck.

  They’d made no promises to each other. And this thing between them was only ever meant to be a faux engagement.

  It wasn’t Natalia’s fault that Ben had fallen head over heels in love with her.

  Her words last week in the conservatory had just confirmed what Ben already knew. Her talk of leaving forever, of their never seeing each other again; it felt as though she had cleaved his heart in two with her words, and he knew he couldn’t, he wouldn’t, live a life without her.

  So, he’d left in a race against time, worked like a madman to ensure everything was in place.

  Procuring a special licence hadn’t been easy.

  And preparations for his estates and holdings were only half done.

  But he’d done enough to ensure that he could come back here and make Natalia his wife.

  The only thing left had been to inform the bride and hope that she’d agree to marry him.

  Aunt Elizabeth had been beside herself when Ben had broken the news that he would likely be leaving England.

  He hadn’t expected Natalia’s father to agree to his suit. And he’d been right.

  The Russian count had steadfastly refused to give Ben his permission.

  “I will tell you the same thing I told my obstinate daughter earlier this evening,” Count Soronsky snapped when he’d agreed to meet Ben at the library. “Natalia is coming home. And she will live in Russia and marry a Russian.”

  Ben had wondered briefly at the man’s words. Had Natalia stood up to her father? Argued her case?

  If so, it obviously hadn’t worked.

  And it had taken all of Ben’s efforts, and a promise that he was sincere in his desire to move to Russia, if that’s where Natalia would be, to secure the man’s reluctant blessing. Though ‘blessing’ was something of an exaggeration.

  Ben had asked that the man be present for this, but the count had left the library and hadn’t returned.

  “And if she refuses you?” Count Soronsky asked. “What will you do then?”

  “I’ll come to Russia and try again,” Ben had said. And he’d meant it, too.

  Wherever Natalia was going to be was exactly where Ben wanted to be.

  He’d only just discovered how much he loved her, and he had no intentions of allowing her to disappear from his life.

  The room was silent, save for the crackling fire in the hearth in front of which the vicar now stood.

  He’d begged the man to come to the manor house after his evening’s sermon. Thankfully, the young reverend seemed to be a bit of a romantic and when he’d heard Ben’s story, he’d immediately agreed.

  Outside the snow fell in flurries, and inside it felt as though the very room itself held its breath.

  Still she didn’t speak.

  “Talia,” he began to try again, but just her name spoken aloud seemed to rouse her from whatever state she was in.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, confusion in her ice-blue eyes. “What is this?”

  Ben began to wish that he’d had this conversation first with Natalia in private.

  But it was done now, and he had no choice but to lay his heart on the table and hope tha
t she treated it well.

  “This is my clumsy way of proposing,” he said quietly, though from the way everyone leaned forward to hear, even the vicar, speaking quietly was ineffectual to say the least.

  Her eyes widened then filled with an unbearable sadness.

  “Oh, Ben,” she said. “I told you, it won’t work. And now you’ve done this in front of our families.”

  “I’m not faking this, Natalia,” he interrupted her, hoping that she could see how sincere he was.

  “Just as I’m not faking my feelings for you. Somewhere on this truly foolish, impulsive journey we’ve taken, I lost my heart to you.”

  Natalia’s jaw dropped, and he heard a sigh from someone in the room. It must be Beatrice. Possibly the vicar.

  “I love you, Natalia Soronsky,” he said simply, sincerely. “I’m completely and utterly in love with you, and I know that this started off as a lie but my love for you is the truest, most pure thing in my life. I love you and I will never stop. So, I’m not asking you to be my fake fiancé. I’m not even asking you to be my real one. I’m asking you to be my wife.”

  “B-but you left,” she exclaimed. “And now I have to leave.”

  He took a deep, unsteady breath, pulling the licence from his pocket.

  “I left to get this,” he said. “A special licence. One that says I can marry you right now, if you’ll have me. I even stopped on the way to pick up a reverend,” he said.

  Natalia’s eyes darted to the vicar then back to Ben.

  “Ben, I have to go back to Russia,” she sniffed, a tear running down her face. “My father – “

  “Your father knows I love you, Natalia,” he assured her. “And he knows that if it means I can be with you, I will gladly move to Russia and make my home there.”

  “You can’t mean that,” she gasped.

  “Of course I mean it,” he replied, reaching out to grasp her upper arms. “Don’t you understand? I don’t care about my title or my holdings. I don’t care about living in England.”

  He moved one hand from her arm to cup her chin, gently raising it so her eyes met his own.

  “I thought Aunt Elizabeth had taken leave of her senses when she insisted that I marry.” He smiled wryly at the aunt who now hung on his every word. “But I see now she was wiser than I gave her credit for. A man needs a wife. A partner in life. I didn’t realise that until I fell in love with you and tried to imagine my life without you.