The Discerning Gentleman's Guide by Virginia Heath

Author:Virginia Heath
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Once damaged, a woman’s reputation can never be restored. If there is even the slightest whiff of anything unsavoury, she is definitely not the wife for you...

‘Mother, I wonder if we should all visit Aveley Castle at the weekend.’

His mother grasped those words with both hands, as he had known she would, and soon all attention was drawn away from Miss Mansfield’s unfortunate past and to excited preparations for a few days in the country. Bennett had changed the subject not because he had felt it unseemly, but because the images her descriptions put into his mind were making him so angry he wanted to smash something. To think of her, so young and so alone, sleeping on straw with a bunch of stinking strangers or, worse, taken advantage of by ‘unscrupulous’ men made his blood boil.

‘You will love Aveley Castle, Amelia,’ his mother gushed. ‘It is surrounded by the most beautiful parkland and, although it is not the largest of castles, it is delightfully cosy and so very peaceful. Although it might be the perfect opportunity to do some entertaining. It has been an age since we have had people visit the Castle. Do not panic, Bennett; I have no intention of subjecting you to a house party, but I would enjoy inviting a few acquaintances for afternoon tea as we are so close to town, and perhaps some horse riding.’

‘Do you ride, Amelia?’ This came from Uncle George.

His aunt answered for her. ‘It has been years since Amelia has been on a horse, hasn’t it, dear? Perhaps you could take her out, George, to refresh her memory and remind her of the skill? George taught Bennett to ride, so you will be in very safe hands.’

Bennett let the chatter wash over him. Frankly, he had too many things to think about and none of them were pleasant. Like the fact that he had been unaware that the poor might be trapped in a cycle of poverty which they were helpless to change. What good were cleaner streets if people did not even have homes? Or food? And had Miss Mansfield suffered unduly during that dreadful time? If he found out that anyone had done anything even slightly untoward, he would personally enjoy tearing them limb from limb. And how was it that absolutely everyone now called her Amelia, but he still had to call her Miss Mansfield? Or did she think him so ‘stodgy’ that he would prefer to maintain that stiff formality, even though he had kissed her and she had kissed him back?

When the interminable meal finally came to an end, Bennett stood. ‘Miss Mansfield, if we might have that word now? I shall direct Lovett to send some tea to my study.’ Even that came out like a clipped order, making him inwardly cringe as he marched out of the dining room, expecting her to follow him. He was beginning to think he was incapable of sounding anything other than like an army general in her presence and wished fervently that he didn’t.

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