Mistress - Amanda Quick [129]
“Masters told you this?”
“In a manner of speaking. I gained the impression that he wants you very badly.”
“In the same way that you want Juliana Dorchester?”
“Good Lord, no, of course not.” Bennet scowled. “The feelings that I bear for Miss Dorchester are really quite extraordinary. I am in love with her, Mrs. Bright. And she is in love with me.”
“I see.”
Bennet was momentarily overcome by his favorite subject. “Our mutual affection is characterized by sublime emotions and a truly metaphysical communion of the senses.”
“How nice for you.”
“There is a noble grandeur to our love that leaves me floundering for words.”
“I had not noticed.”
“She engenders within my breast the most elevated of passions.”
“Quite understandable.”
“Frankly,” Bennet concluded, “it is difficult to speak of Miss Dorchester’s exquisite sensibilities, her refined mind, or even her gracious manner without resorting to poetry.”
“Your feelings are, indeed, extraordinary. You do not believe your brother capable of such emotions?”
“If he was ever capable of the more delicate and exalted emotions, his experience of marriage destroyed all such inclinations within him.” Bennet shrugged. “To be perfectly truthful, I am not certain he was ever the sort to surrender to the higher sentiments. His is an intellectual nature, you understand.”
“Yes.” Iphiginia propped her chin on her hand. “Forgive me, sir, but your change of heart on the subject of your brother’s marriage has left me somewhat confused.”
“It is important that you marry him, Mrs. Bright. Please believe me. I would not be here today if I did not think that it was a necessity. I think it should be a quiet wedding. Special license, preferably. You will not want a formal engagement of the sort that Miss Dorchester and I intend to have.”
“You’ve asked Miss Dorchester for her hand?”
“I’ve spoken to her about it. I’m pleased to say that we have agreed to announce our betrothal at the end of the Season. We shall be married in the spring. Miss Dorchester and I wish to spend the next few months becoming better acquainted with each other. And there are so many plans to be made, you know.”
“Yes, of course.” Marcus would be relieved, Iphiginia thought. He had at least bought some time for Bennet to make certain that he was doing the right thing.
“She was willing to elope with me,” Bennet confided proudly. “During that brief span of time when she thought I would have nothing, she said that she would go to Gretna Green with me. She loves me as much as I love her.”
“I believe she does. I have met her, you know.”
“Have you?”
“Yes. And I found her quite charming.” Miss Dorchester really was a nice young lady, Iphiginia thought, even if her parents were a trifle overambitious.
Bennet glowed with enthusiasm. “She is most charming, indeed. Very likely the most charming woman on the face of the earth.”
Marcus would require some convincing of that fact, but Iphiginia had a hunch that all would be well between Bennet and his beloved Miss Dorchester.
“Our situation is quite different from your own, however,” Bennet continued. “You and my brother needn’t bother with a long engagement. No offense, Mrs. Bright, but it’s not as though you were a young chit fresh out of the schoolroom. And God knows my brother is not getting any younger.”
“True.”
Bennet frowned. “Cannot ever remember my brother being young. Even when I was a lad, he seemed something of an antiquity. But that’s neither here nor there. The important thing is your marriage.”
“I appreciate your concern, Mr. Cloud. However—” Iphiginia broke off frowning at the sound of another carriage halting in the street. “More visitors?”
The knock on the front door was followed by the sound of familiar voices in the front hall.
“Good grief,” Iphiginia whispered. “Corina and Richard. And Aunt Zoe and Lord Otis. What is going on here? Pray excuse me, Mr. Cloud.”
She leaped to her feet, dashed across the room, and flung open the library door before Mrs. Shaw could announce the new arrivals.