Now, then, Sedgewick said, advancing on the punch bowl. This will fix you right up, Miss Ferrand. Normally, of course, it is not what I would consider giving a young lady such as yourself, but considering the chill of the night and the ordeal youve gone through, I think it will be just the thing to set you up.
He began to mix the punch expertly, adding rum, sugar and lemons until he decided that the hot drink had just the right taste. He handed one silver cup of the mixture to Camilla, and she took the steaming drink gratefully. She had never had as strong a drink as this, for, as Mr. Sedgewick had pointed out, it was not considered a fit drink for women. However, Camilla considered herself no slave to tradition, and she was rather pleased to have the opportunity to sample a little of the sort of drink men consumed. It had a slightly unpleasant taste underlying the fruity sweetness of the punch, but, all in all, it was not as strong or as bad as she would have thought, and it was blessedly warm. The liquid rolled down her throat, warming it all the way, and burst fierily in her stomach. She finished off the cup and decided that she felt better already.
That was excellent, Mr. Sedgewick, thank you, she said, and he graciously refilled all their cups.
Now, Miss Ferrand, you must tell me how you happened upon Mr., uh, Benedict.
Camilla cast a stormy look toward that individual. He abducted me.
Oh, God, Benedict said callously, turning his back to the fire to warm it. Not that again.
I was almost killed, Camilla added, crossing her arms over her chest and glowering at Benedict.
Benedict! Mr. Sedgewick stared at the other man in astonishment. What in the world happened?
She exaggerates. It was nothing. He waved a hand dismissively. We were shot at.
Shot at? Sedgewick repeated incredulously. You call that nothing?
Benedict shrugged. No one was hurt. They were some distance away, and I dont think any of them could hit the side of a barn, anyway.
No one was hurt! Camilla cried, raising her face from her hands. What about my driver? I think you killed him!
Benedict rolled his eyes. I knocked him out, he explained patiently to Mr. Sedgewick, then added to Camilla, The reason he stayed out so long is that hed been nipping at a bottle all evening. He was drunk. Tis no wonder you were lost.
Lost? Sedgewick repeated. My girl, you have had a dreadful day.
Tears started in Camillas eyes as she thought about just how dreadful the day had indeed been, even before Mr. Benedict came along to persecute her. Youve no idea, sir. Her voice roughened, and she stopped, trying to blink back her tears. I thinkI think this is the worst day of my life!
And suddenly, surprising even herself, she burst into tears.
Sedgewick stared at Camilla, his face showing all a gentlemans horror at being confronted with a sobbing female. Dear lady, he began feebly, pray, dont Im sure it cannot be that bad.
Oh, it is! Camilla cried, covering her face with her hands. You just dont know. It is too, too awful! Tears poured down her face.
Well, its not a tragedy, Benedict pointed out brutally. I am sure you have been lost before, and will be again. We were never in any real danger. I told you.
Oh! Camilla would have liked to shout at him that she was not absurd enough to collapse into sobs because her carriage had gotten lost, but she could not stem the tide of her tears enough to answer. At any other time, she would have been ready to sink through the floor with humiliation at giving way like this in front of two strangersespecially when one of them was as obnoxious and rude as Mr. Benedict. However, tonight, she was too weary and distressed to care.
Shouldnt have given her that rum punch, Benedict told Sedgewick. Shes bosky.
Sedgewick cast him an impatient glance. Dont be absurd.
Benedict shrugged. Im not. Shes in her cups.
I am not in my cups! Camilla flashed, raising her head and glaring at him, her irritation at his rudeness cutting through her emotional outburst. She wiped angrily at the tears wetting her cheeks. I am merely tired andand overset. Everything is justjust ruined!
Benedict cocked a supercilious eyebrow. A party canceled? A beau marrying another?
Camilla jumped to her feet, her fists clenched by her sides, letting out an inarticulate cry of rage. How dare you! How dare you trivialize mymy Oh, I hate you! My grandfather is dying!
She burst into tears again and threw herself back into the chair. Sedgewick cast the other man an admonishing look, and even Benedict had the grace to look abashed.
I am sorry, he said stiffly. I had no idea.
Dear girl, Sedgewick began, going over to her and reaching down to take one of her hands and pat it. I am so sorry. If there is anything I can do
There is nothing anyone can do, Camilla said when her spurt of tears had subsided. She brushed the tears from her cheeks, once again disturbing the smears of mud, and drew a ragged breath. He is old, and his body is failing him. He had a fit of apoplexy several months ago, and ever since then he hasnt been able to leave his room. His doctor She swallowed hard. His doctor said he hadnt long to live, but he has kept hanging on. She offered a watery smile. He was always the stubbornest of men.
I am sure hes had a long, full life, Sedgewick said comfortingly.
Camilla nodded. He has. And IIve almost resigned myself to his death. Its just Oh, Ive made the most awful mess of everything. She gulped back her tears and raised large, beseeching eyes to Sedgewick. Truly, I didnt mean to. I did it all for the best, but nowwell, now I have to tell him the truth. All of them. And I am so afraid it will kill him.
The man frowned. I am sure it cannot be that serious.
It is. II lied to him, you see.
At her words, Benedict let out a noise of disgust and said with withering sarcasm, Naturally.
Camilla whirled toward him indignantly. I did it for the best!
That is what they always say, he retorted. Deceiving you and then pretending that its for your own good.
Hush, Benedict. Dont mind him, Miss Ferrand. Our Benedict has a warped view of the human condition.
Benedict grimaced but did not reply, and Camilla turned back to Mr. Sedgewick, ignoring the other man. I did do it for the best, she reiterated. I was trying to give him some comfort, to make his last days better. But I never thought that he would tell Aunt Beryl!
Well, of course not, Sedgewick agreed, confused but sympathetic.
But I havent been to see Grandpapa, not since that first collapse, and all because I cannot bear to face Aunt Beryl. She will ask all sorts of penetrating questions, you see, and would want to know where he is. It would be impossible. And now Lydia is there, and of course she cant carry the burden of the lies. Its not that she cant lie to Aunt Beryl, for Lydia is capable of the most perfect whoppers, all the while looking completely innocent. Her tone indicated a wistful envy of the said Lydias ability. The trouble is that she gets carried away by them and winds up saying so many things that she gets all tangled up. So I had to come. And I have to tell them the truth.