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A loud knock on the front door saved me from a very improper and probably cuss-filled rant aboutourclub. Trent in her huff skirted past me and marched up to the portal which she opened. “Whatever you wish to sell-Count Castle!”
Ben stood on the doorstep with a wide grin on his face. “I fancy I would have made quite a good step salesman.”
Trent shook her head. “I meant no disrespect!”
“And none was taken,” he assured her as he swept past his flustered hostess. He strode over to me and opened his arms. “My sincerest apologies, Millie, but I must take you away from your club, but we must really be going.” I couldn’t help but notice a few shallow scratches on his face as he took up one of my arms.
I shook off my surprise and bobbed my head. “Of course, but you forgot that Miss Lowe is coming with us.”
He smiled and bowed his head to Serena. “How foolish of me. You are coming, are you not, Miss Lowe?”
Serena cast an uncertain look at the boiling Lady Trent before she nodded. “Y-yes, of course I’m coming. How could I miss it?”
Ben looped his other arm around one that belonged to Serena and inclined his head to our hostess. “A pleasure seeing you again, Lady Trent.”
“One moment, Count Castle!” Lady Trent pleaded as she zipped between us and a speedy escape. “I’ve been meaning to speak with you about my husband’s charities. You haven’t attended even one of my husband’s charity dinners, and I was curious if my crows were reaching you.”
Ben smiled and bowed his head. “My apologies, Lady Trent. My affairs keep me rather busy at night so that I find little time for amusement.” I had to cover my mouth to hide my own amusement.
Lady Trent tapped the tip of her folded fan against his shoulder. “Well, then you must at least bring Miss Lucas to the upcoming gala. It’s this Saturday and she’s sure to meet everybody who’s worth knowing.”
Ben inclined his head. “We will try our best to attend. Good day, Lady Trent.”
She looked quite put out, and she lifted her nose a little. “Good day, Count Castle.”
Ben slipped us past our hostess and out into the bright world. I didn’t take a full breath until we reached the bottom of those long steps. “You just saved us from a fate worse than death.”
“The speed of your crow told me as much,” he teased as he traced his fingers across the small scratches I had earlier noticed. “It was in such a hurry to reach me that it plastered itself to my face.”
I winced. “Sorry about that.”
He dropped his hand and smiled at me. “No need to apologize, but I would accept a proper introduction to Miss Lowe as compensation.”
I shook off my guilt and cleared my throat. “Miss Serena Lowe, this is Count Benjamin Castle.”
He took her hand and pressed a kiss on the back. “A pleasure to meet the beautiful daughter of Baron Lowe.”
Serena’s eyes widened. “You know my father?”
I snorted. “Ben knows everybody.”
Ben’s eyes shone with his mischievous glint as he gave us a wink. “Anybody’s who’s worth knowing.”
We laughed and let him lead us down the street toward where he’d parked Bashful. I glimpsed the vehicle itself positioned on the street within sight of the manor.
Ben studied each of us as we traveled alongside him. “So which one of you lovely ladies would like to tell me what occurred for your stay to be so short?”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
I tooka deep breath and succinctly filled him in on what had transpired. My tale finished as we reached the thunder, and I topped it off with a shrug. “And that’s when you came in.”
Ben folded his arms over his chest and cupped his chin in his hand. “This doesn’t bode well for Peter’s book sales.”
“Is Trent really that powerful, even with a book about thunders?” I asked him.
He sighed. “Unfortunately, yes, particularly since her husband is such an avid spectator. With that connection, more people are likely to believe her opinion.”
My shoulders sagged. “So what can we do?”
