Fifteen years later

Benjamin Harrington, third son to the Duke of Ware, groaned loudly as the curtains in his bedchamber were thrown open. A stream of sunlight hit him across the face, making his head burn with pain.

“Close those at once!” he barked, throwing his arm across his eyes to block out the light. “Whatever do you think you are doing? I shall have you dismissed!”

The maid, however, was used to the bluster that accompanied him when he woke and ignored his orders entirely. Instead, she placed the breakfast tray on the small table by the roaring fire and left the room, clearly not in the least bit concerned over what Benjamin had threatened.

Muttering under his breath, Benjamin wondered whether he had enough energy to get out of bed and close the drapes once more before crawling back under the covers, or if he was best to simply deal with the fact that he had been awakened for a reason and was obviously expected. The maid had evidently been following his mother’s orders, given how she had ignored his instructions, which meant that there would be consequences if he did not rise from his bed.

And if his mother had given strict instructions to the maid, then she would certainly report to his father if he did not appear soon after being awakened.

Groaning out of frustration rather than pain, Benjamin dropped his arm back to his side and tried to open his eyes. His head screamed as he blinked in the sunlight and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut for a few moments until he ventured to open them again.

Throwing back the bed linens and quilt, he walked across the cold wooden floor to the fire, dressed only in his nightshirt. How he had the presence of mind to change out of his clothes last night, he could not say, for he had imbibed a great deal of liquor. Most likely his valet, the ever-faithful Peter, would have waited up to assist him, although Benjamin could not even remember climbing the stairs to his room. It must have been a damned good evening if he could not recall a thing about it.

His stomach churned, but Benjamin drank the coffee and ate his toast regardless, knowing that, even though everything in him wanted to refuse to eat or drink a single thing, he was determined to lose his headache. By his second cup, Benjamin was beginning to feel a little better and he sat back in his chair with a sigh.

The day was bright, although it looked as though the sun was already beginning to fade. Glancing at the clock, Benjamin was surprised to see that it was already late afternoon – not that the time particularly mattered. He had become a creature of the night of late, spending his days in bed and his nights out with friends, at whatever soiree or ball they could find, and if not there, then at a club or gaming hall. For what else was the third son of a duke to do?

A frown wrinkled his brow. The truth of the matter was that Benjamin had very little idea about what to do with his future. He had no direction, no thought of where to take his next steps. His eldest brother had the title to worry about, of course, and Thomas had joined the Navy, although goodness knows where he was at the present moment. His sister Violet had been forced into a hasty marriage, albeit an apparently happy one, which left him and his sister Polly at home.

Polly’s direction in life was to find herself a suitable husband, of course, but Benjamin was not as eager to enter the matrimonial state. It seemed too proper, too much like duty and that was the one thing he did not particularly care for. Duty meant propriety. It meant acting with thought and good sense, and Benjamin was quite enjoying not having to worry about such things. At times, he was perturbed by his lack of future direction, but it was easy to push such thoughts away, especially when there was good liquor and easy women to be enjoyed. Besides, at only four and twenty, he was still a young man with many good years ahead of him.

There was a scratch at the door. Benjamin called for the person to enter, only for his valet to appear with a slightly apologetic look on his face.

“Forgive me for my tardiness, my lord,” he said, hastily walking over towards Benjamin. “I did not know you had awoken.”

Benjamin shrugged. “It is of little consequence. I am only just awake, as it is, but I presume from the rude way I was awakened that my mother wishes to speak to me, so I suppose I must dress.”

Peter nodded, walking towards the wardrobe to pick out Benjamin’s clothes. Benjamin watched him for a moment, a slightly puzzled expression coming across his face. “Did I come home late last night?”

“You did, my lord,” his valet replied, without a hint of censure in his voice. “Accompanied by a young lady.”

A jolt ran through him. That was a surprise. He never brought women home. “A lady?”

“Indeed, my lord.”

“I did not wake up with anyone beside me,” Benjamin murmured, his frown deepening as he tried to recall what had happened. “Are you quite sure I was not alone?”

“I believe she left in the early hours of the morning,” his valet replied, his face expressionless as he laid out Benjamin’s clothes. “I came in promptly to rescue your cravat and other such garments.” He sighed heavily, making Benjamin more than aware that his valet was quite displeased with how he must have hastily discarded his clothing.

Benjamin tried to remember who it was he had taken to his bed, but his mind conjured up no picture of the lady, nor of any pleasures they might have shared. That was more than a little frustrating, but it was, unfortunately, one of the consequences of drinking too much brandy. It was not uncommon for Benjamin to take women to his bed, but he normally had his eye on them for some time beforehand. They had to be just right – women who did not wish for matrimony or the like but were seeking a liaison of sorts. They were mostly wealthy widows although, at times, Benjamin had occasion to visit some local establishments. However, whoever this lady was who had warmed his bed, Benjamin simply had no recollection of her whatsoever.

Shrugging off the feeling of unease, he decided that there was nothing for it but to ask one of his many friends, once he’d listened to whatever it was his mother had to say. Tonight was another night of dancing and cards, with a great deal of liquor likely to be thrown in and he did not particularly want to have his mother’s words ringing around his ears for the rest of the day. He would listen, mumble something as he usually did, and then make his way from the house.

Surely someone would know who this mysterious lady had been? Then again, perhaps she wanted to remain anonymous. The thought made his lips curve into a smile, as he began to look forward to the evening’s pleasures. Yes, indeed, life was very good – and he was sure it was only going to get better.

* * *

“Benjamin!”

His mother’s shrill voice had him wincing, his headache not quite gone. “Mama, a little more quietly if you please.”

“I will speak as loudly as I wish!” she replied, harshly, her eyes boring holes into him from where she stood in the middle of her drawing room, which his brother Thomas, a naval captain, had always jokingly called the helm of her ship. “Now, sit down. I have a great deal to say to you.”

With a heavy sigh, Benjamin sat, slumping into an overstuffed chair as he passed a hand over his eyes, already tired of the situation. Since his older sister had married, his mother had become more focused on him than he would have liked. “If you are going to lecture me, Mama, can you please make it quick? I have plans.”

She gaped at him for a moment, the wind taken completely from her sails.

“That is what you were going to do, was it not?” he continued when she did not speak. “To tell me that I must make something of myself, that I must stop my frivolous ways and find something of import to do?” He had heard it all before and was growing weary of the same words being flung at him on a fairly regular occurrence. “I must tell you, Mama, that I have very little inclination to do such a thing, for I am quite happy in my present state.”

His mother’s eyes flared. “Well, neither I nor your father is pleased, Benjamin! For goodness sake, the maids are gossiping about the lady who crept from your room in the small hours of the morning. I cannot have such behavior in my house. You are bringing shame to our family.”

He shrugged, trying not to let her words affect him. “I am of age to do as I please, Mama.”

A slight smile curved her lips, surprising him and making him sit up a bit taller in his chair, suddenly suspicious. This was not the reaction he had expected.

“You forget, Benjamin, that the matter of your father’s will is something still to be decided. You believe that you can continue as you please, with nothing to stop you – but I think that you should consider the matter a little more carefully.”

He frowned at her, no longer slouching, but sitting forward in alarm. “Father’s will? What are you talking about, Mama?”

Benjamin watched her smile widen as she sat down, taking her time to sit carefully and brush the wrinkles from her skirts. He knew she was making him wait and tried his best not to let his frustrations show. “Mama?” he muttered, seeing her eyes on him. “What are you trying to say?”

The smile disappeared and she fixed him with her gaze. “I mean this, Benjamin. Your father’s will currently has a good settlement for each of his children. That will can easily be rewritten.”

Staring at her, Benjamin let her words wash over him, trying his best to work out what it was she was suggesting.

“Are you trying to tell me that father will remove me from his will if I do not ‘settle down’?” he asked in carefully measured tones, quite sure that his mother was bluffing.

“That is precisely what I am saying,” his mother replied, calmly. “We care for you, Benjamin, but we cannot continue to watch our fortune frittered away on wastefulness!”

“It is my money,” Benjamin bit out, his collar suddenly a little too tight. “I have money of my own.”

“You have some,” she answered, quickly. “But the majority of your fortune is tied up in the will, as well you know. You will need to start being more careful, Benjamin. Money is not going to last forever, you know. Should you continue to fritter through your current finances, you are not guaranteed to have anything else to live on once your father passes away.”

Benjamin narrowed his eyes, regarding his mother carefully.

“Father’s not … not ill, is he Mama?”

“No, of course not. With any luck he has many years remaining on this earth, however, one never knows. You have been warned, Benjamin.”

This was the first time she had made such a threat, and he was not quite sure whether or not he believed her. Was he going to call her bluff and continue with his evening plans regardless? Or was this enough of a threat to force him to do as she asked?

The stubbornness that had always been a part of his character rose to the fore once more, making his jaw clench. “I do not believe you would ever do such a thing, Mama,” he said, eventually, getting to his feet. “Your words mean nothing, for they hold no threat.” He chuckled then and shook his head, realizing that his father was not even present. “I’d bet you haven’t even spoken to Father about such things and have come up with this all on your own, in an attempt to bend me to your will.”

“Your disrespect for me is plain to see,” she said angrily, standing up to face him. “If you do not listen to me, then I shall make sure you listen to your father.”

Benjamin shrugged, refusing to listen to her any longer. “Good day, Mama. I shall not be back home until the early hours.” He heard her angry monologue begin once more but refused to listen to it, walking from the room. “Don’t wait up for me, Mama. I do not intend to rush home, not even with your threats hanging over my head.” With a chuckle, he pulled the door closed behind him and walked down the stairs towards the front door.