The Wedding Game

by Christine Merrill

  ‘Really, sir? Do not tell me...’

  ‘If one wishes to kiss a pretty girl, it is not necessary to drag her into the bushes,’ he said, irritably.

  ‘Nor is it necessary to drag her into a closet,’ she replied.

  ‘You instigated that encounter,’ he reminded her. ‘You have more experience here, as well. Do not try to claim I was a bad influence upon your character. From my standpoint, the opposite appears to be true.’

  Before she could frame a retort, she heard her sister’s voice, calling her name, far too loudly.

  ‘Amy?’ Belle appeared around the next bend in the path, smiling broadly and oblivious to the impropriety of discovering or being discovered.

  ‘Shh.’ Amy held a cautioning finger to her lips.

  By her sister’s puzzled expression, Amy was about to be peppered with loud questions about the need for silence.

  Amy touched her lightly on the arm to reassure herself that all was well. ‘The birds are asleep in the trees. We do not want to wake them.’

  Belle nodded in agreement.

  ‘Why did you leave Miss Watson?’

  ‘It is easier to see the fireworks in the dark,’ Belle replied.

  There was more than a little logic to that. But agreeing with her would not get Belle to safety. ‘It might be hard to see them through the trees. You will miss the balloon launch as well.’

  Belle blinked. ‘I would not want to miss that.’

  ‘Perhaps I might be of assistance.’ And now Mr Templeton was there, polite as always, offering his arm to Belle. ‘May I escort you to the fireworks grounds, Miss Arabella?’

  ‘That would be most helpful,’ Amy supplied, not giving her sister a chance to refuse. Then she paused. When Templeton appeared, had he come from the lighted park behind them or from further up the dark path? She puzzled over it for only an instant before deciding that it was a matter that could be discussed at home, if it was discussed at all. ‘But please, Belle, first you must go and find Miss Watson and tell her you are all right. She is at her wits’ end.’

  Belle looked distraught at the thought that she had caused trouble.

  Mr Templeton gave her a brief, encouraging smile and then replied, ‘We will find her this instant and set everything to rights. Come, Miss Summoner.’ And then they were gone and Amy was alone in the dark walks of Vauxhall, with Benjamin Lovell.

  For a moment, they stood silent, listening to the rustling of the wind in the leaves and the occasional whispers and sighs of couples alone in the dark. When she gathered the nerve to speak it was to state the obvious. ‘Well, we have found her.’

  ‘Safe and sound, just as I promised.’ In the dim light, she could see his supremely confident smile.

  Belle had not been alone. But it did not seem to bother him. ‘Will you keep our secret?’

  He touched her shoulder. ‘I saw nothing out of the ordinary tonight.’

  ‘Thank you. And thank you for your kind words as we walked.’ Perhaps relief made her foolish. Perhaps it was the moonlight. Or perhaps it was simply that she wanted to do it. But before she could stop herself, she was up on her tiptoes and leaning forward to press a kiss on his cheek.

  He responded without hesitation, turning his head so their lips met. There was an instant where she might have withdrawn, pretending shock where she felt none and ending the kiss. Instead, their mouths opened on one another’s and their tongues tangled in a frenzied caress. It was everything she’d hoped it would be.

  His hands took hers and lifted them, wrapping them around his neck. Then he clasped her around the waist and pulled her off the path, deeper into the undergrowth. Despite the darkness, the worry of a few moments before burned away like morning mist in the first rays of sunlight. She wanted to strip herself bare and bask in the heat of that sun until it had touched every part of her body.

  His hand rose again to touch her cheek. Then it stroked down to grasp a breast and squeeze it possessively.

  She whimpered with desire and writhed against him, eager to follow the moment where it led.

  He answered with a shaky sigh. ‘From the first moment we met, you have been a hazard to my peace of mind, Miss Summoner.’

  ‘Amy,’ she whispered back.

  ‘Amy,’ he said and touched her lips with his again.

  ‘And do you value your peace?’ she asked as he rained desperate kisses down her throat.

  ‘I am learning to do without it,’ he said. Then he pulled away, setting her gently back on her feet. ‘But I had best not lose my common sense as well. If we are gone any longer, someone will miss us.’

  She doubted the truth of that. When she had been younger and trying to shock, no one had noticed what scandal she was courting. Now, if she was gone, anyone who might care would assume she was doing some sensible thing that needed doing. No one would guess she was trading kisses in the dark with Ben Lovell. She sighed and straightened her gown. If she meant to lecture her sister on propriety, she had best not flout it herself. ‘Very well. Take me back to the pavilion, Mr Lovell.’

  She paused, waiting for the invitation to use his given name.

  None came.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning found Ben in the receiving room of the Summoner town house. Even though he was unobserved, he forced himself to stand at the window, facing the street as if admiring the view. Despite the purpose of the room, it was doubtful that Lord Summoner would come to him. More likely a footman would come to lead him to an office or study. In either case, he would not be caught pacing about the room like a caged animal. No hint of nervousness must spoil his first introduction with the one man in London he most wished to meet.

  Assuming that it had not been spoiled all ready. The invitation had arrived with his first morning post, written by the great man himself and not some secretary or underling. But there was nothing in the brief note to indicate a purpose for the meeting.

  So here he stood, resolutely still, trying not to focus on the most likely scenario. If someone had seen him leaving the dark walks with Amelia, word might have got back to her father. If so, he had been summoned to give an account of himself. Either he was about to be warned off or Summoner would expect him to make the offer that a gentleman should.

  On reflection, he was surprised to realise that little pressure would be necessary to bring him to accounts. Though Templeton had suggested that one daughter was much like another, marrying Amelia had never been a secondary course of action, should he fail to attain the primary goal of Arabella’s hand. Though his reasons for marrying were rational and analytical, it seemed too callous to swap sisters like cravats, when the first knot failed.

  But now? When he thought of Amy, he was dangerously close to an involvement of the heart. Even worse, his body clamoured for a more intimate match and the sooner the better. When they were alone together, he was possessed by an earthy, primal attraction that he did not feel when looking at the ethereal Arabella.

  Even now, when he should be in terror of the meeting about to occur, he could imagine torn and scattered clothing, and frenzied thrusts while staring down into passion-drugged, mismatched eyes.

  It was settled, then. Her father’s permission, one simple question to the lady, three weeks to read the banns and he could begin acting on that passion with vigour and frequency.

  At the thought, he reached for a handkerchief to mop a drop of cold sweat from his brow. He had but to look at his own past to remember why one did not trust heart and groin to make important decisions. Though it all might end well, the path to success was lined with tumult and heartache. Ranked in a lifetime of female acquaintance, Amy Summoner scored a close second in the administration of pain and suffering.

  It had taken years for Cassandra to break his heart. Last night, after one kiss from Amy, he’d been ready to
let it shatter all over again. If he took her to bed, it would be the death of reason and free will.

  But what a glorious, hero’s death it would be. Despite what one promised at the altar, it was not really necessary to love when one married. He respected her and he wanted her. That was more than enough. He would give anything else she required of him, but he would keep possession of his heart.

  A footman interrupted his thoughts and led him down a long hall. It ended in a heavy oak door that stood open, ready to receive him. He passed through it to find Lord Geoffrey Summoner seated at an enormous desk in front of the window. He was sifting through the stack of letters before him, deliberately oblivious to the man he had invited for a meeting.

  Ben refused to let himself be fazed by it. Instead, he stood before the desk, waiting patiently to be acknowledged.

  After a few seconds, he looked up and Ben bowed. ‘Lord Summoner.’

  Summoner responded with a smile that was both warm and genuine, as if he had actually been looking forward to the visit. ‘Mr Lovell. Please, sit down.’

  He indicated the chair before the desk and Ben sat. ‘How good to see you. Does the day find you well?’

  ‘Indeed, my lord.’

  Summoner steepled his fingers. ‘And I suppose you are wondering at the purpose for the meeting.’

  Ben gave a brief nod and smiled back at him. ‘If there is something you require of me I am at your service.’

  ‘Require of you...’ Summoner smiled again, drumming his fingers against each other as if he had a surprise that he was not ready to reveal. ‘I am merely interested in seeing if you are half the man my friends seem to think you. At White’s they speak well of you.’

  ‘I am glad to hear it, my lord.’ He was far more than glad if it meant that his indiscretion with Amy had not been discovered.

  ‘You are thought to be moderate in all things, intelligent, well spoken and wealthy enough to be your own master.’

  Ben gave another nod of modest acknowledgement.

  ‘And you are in search of a wife,’ Summoner finished.

  Ben blinked in surprise and prepared to revise his previous assumption, then gave another, hesitant nod.

  Summoner cleared his throat. ‘I have a daughter...’ He paused. ‘Two daughters, actually. Both unmarried.’

  Ben blinked again. There was still no indication of censure in the man’s tone that might hint at knowledge of how well he already knew Amy. Instead, it sounded rather like Summoner meant to arrange a match himself. Finally, he nodded. ‘I have met them both. They are lovely girls and do you credit, my lord.’

  Summoner let out a relieved breath. ‘Thank you, Mr Lovell. It does a father’s heart good to know they are admired. But as I said earlier, I want to see one of them in particular settled with a man I can respect.’ He gave Ben a long appraising look. ‘Everyone I know speaks well of you. You have the means to care for her and the ambition to make a bright future from what you have already been given.’

  Fraud. Upstart.

  Ben silenced his doubts and responded as a man of his position would be expected to. ‘That is my goal, sir.’

  ‘Then I see no reason why we shall not both have what we wish.’

  At this, Ben blinked twice. Of all the scenarios he had imagined for his future with the Summoner family, being approached by the father and solicited to court the daughter was not one of them. Was the man really so doubtful as to Amy’s chances of success that he was willing to barter her away? ‘Your blessing on my suit sets my mind at rest,’ Ben said cautiously.

  ‘On your suit?’ Summoner gave a short laugh. ‘You have my consent to a marriage, Mr Lovell.’

  Even though it had been his plan to ally with the family through marriage, things were moving too fast for comfort. ‘I have not yet spoken to the lady on the matter,’ Ben reminded him. ‘There is no guarantee that she will have me.’ It was far more likely that she would hand him his head for settling matters with her father before proposing.

  Summoner gave a dismissive wave of his hand. ‘When you do, you will find her in agreement. Young girls are far too flighty to make such decisions based on their hearts. And she truly is the most obedient of children. When I tell her that you are my choice, she will agree without argument.’

  For a moment, Ben could not manage to respond at all. It had been his plan to take only the first step. But it appeared that he had all but completed his journey to the altar. And after that—

  The older man interrupted his reverie. ‘There is also the matter of a settlement. As I understand it, you do not need my money. I have little land, other than the house in the country, which is entailed. But I control two seats in the House of Commons. They cannot very well be given to my girls.’

  He paused to laugh at the idea of women in office. But Ben saw it for what it was: a carefully structured pause to build drama for the offer he was about to extend.

  ‘You seem like a bright young fellow. Have you considered standing for office?’

  Though he had seen it coming, it still took effort to hide his amazement. He had gone to bed dreaming of the future and woken to find his future was made. He answered with as much composure as he could manage, ‘Indeed, my lord. It is my fondest wish to serve.’

  Summoner nodded. ‘A noble ambition, to be sure. Then we are in agreement. Welcome to the family, Mr Lovell.’ The man stood and offered his hand.

  Ben rose as well, giving it a firm shake. ‘Thank you again, my lord. I will endeavour to exceed your expectations of me. And I will do my utmost to make your daughter as happy in the future as you have made me today.’

  ‘Excellent.’ Summoner stepped from behind the desk. ‘I am so glad to have the matter settled and so early in the Season. Social events are tiresome for Belle and I had no wish to put her through more than was necessary to secure a match.’

  ‘Belle?’ Had they discussed the identity of the bride to be? Or had he just assumed he knew it?

  ‘We call her that at home,’ the other man said, misunderstanding his confusion. ‘Arabella is a beautiful name, but so formal.’

  ‘Of course,’ Ben answered, his mind still racing to catch up.

  ‘We call her elder sister Amy for the same reason,’ he said. ‘Sometimes I worry that there is power in the names we give. Amelia always struck me as an excellent name for a spinster. And my Amy has grown adamant that she will never marry. Many men have tried, but there is no changing her mind.’

  How many men? And just how hard had they tried to persuade her? It would be naïve of him to think that a woman with a passionate nature and the sense to be discreet would deny herself pleasure if it was offered. It was obvious, after their discussion last night, that he was not the first man to have kissed her. It was unlikely that he would be the last.

  ‘You are certain she will never marry?’

  ‘She’s refused more than one offer,’ Summoner assured him, ‘and has been most adamantly opposed to men I’ve suggested for her. I suppose I should be thankful that she has not run off with a dancing master, or some such foolishness. If she means to spite me, remaining respectably unmarried pales in comparison to actively courting disgrace.’

  Her devotion to her sister outweighed any desire to elope to spite her father. Once Belle had married, perhaps she would consider it. Or would she return to one of the suitors she had already rejected? In either case, Ben doubted she would want him once she knew he had Lord Summoner’s approval. And if he truly did not want to involve his heart in his marriage, it might be wise to take the perfectly lovely daughter being offered to him and not the one who raised such conflicting and uncontrollable emotions in him. ‘I have heard that Amelia intends to follow her sister to her husband’s house,’ he said, cautiously.

  ‘Perhaps that is her intention,’ Summoner replied. ‘But I have no plan to indu
lge it and neither should you. My daughter can refuse to marry if she wishes, but it does not entitle her to live off her sister’s husband under the guise of sisterly devotion.’

  ‘I am glad to hear you say it, my lord.’ If he meant to wed Belle, he could not be staring at those disquieting eyes and luscious lips for the rest of his married life. Even a wife who did not expect total fidelity from her husband would not stand for an affair inside the family. Nor did he want to give himself up to a woman who might be tempting him now, just to spite her father.

  ‘And if I am honest, Belle is far too influenced by her sister,’ Summoner said with a worried frown.

  That might explain why she had been in need of rescue the previous evening. She had only followed the bad example of her sister. ‘I am sure Miss Amelia regrets any harm she might have done,’ he said. This, at least, was true. Amy had been genuinely distraught at her sister’s absence and unwavering in her devotion.

  ‘Once we have separated the pair of them, you must be Belle’s guide in all things. It is your duty, as husband. I trust that you will have a care for her, sir. Simply have a care.’ There was a slight tremor in the older man’s voice that spoke of barely controlled emotion.

  ‘Of course, I will care for her. With all my heart,’ Ben added. Or some of his heart, at least. The poor man was feeling the loss of his daughter already. It could do no harm to hint at more affection than he felt for the girl. He would generate it easily enough, after he actually spent some time with Belle and they’d discussed the wedding between them without Amy or her father there to organise the matter for them.

  ‘See that you do, my son.’ Summoner paused again, his face becoming suddenly grave. ‘After you leave this room, there will be no turning back from the matter.’

  ‘I have no intention of it,’ Ben assured him.

  ‘No intention? That is hardly enough assurance for me. Men intend many things. But how many actually follow through?’

  Was Summoner now having second thoughts? It did not matter. With the ultimate goal in sight, Ben would not allow himself to fail. ‘I cannot speak for other men, Lord Summoner. But when I intend to do a thing, it is as good as done.’ If he could tell the man just how far he had come on intention alone, he might actually be impressed. Then he would throw Ben from the house for being an upstart imposter.