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them more privacy. “You seem very much ill at ease and I would like to help if I am able. I could promise you utmost discretion.” He chuckled. “Even from my wife if need be.”
    Benedict turned on his heel and paced farther into the parlor. Andrew likely did not know how tempting an offer he presented. There was a large part of Benedict that wished to hash out his conflicted feelings and Andrew had always been a good friend when he needed one.
    But once he said the things inside of him, they could never be taken back or pretended away again. And while he knew Andrew meant the offer of discretion when it came to Lysandra, if he betrayed that promise, there was no doubt that all of Benedict’s words would come right back to Vivien. And the power they would give her…
    It was too much.
    “I trust your discretion, of course,” he croaked past dry lips. “And I appreciate your offer of an ear. But at this point, I do not think I can explain what I do not understand myself.”
    He glanced over to see if Andrew would accept this mysterious explanation.
    His friend continued to look concerned but said, “Very well. I would never demand a statement you didn’t wish to share, of course. But I hope you know that if you need to talk, I am here in London for the remainder of the Season.”
    “Thank you,” Benedict said, facing his friend straight on so that Andrew would know how much he meant his gratitude.
    Andrew shrugged and stepped back. “Now I should go back to what I was doing, which was searching for my dear wife. It is late and I would much rather be at home in my bed than fighting the crowds through the London streets. Good evening.”
    Benedict nodded his goodbye and turned to face the low fire in the grate behind him. Though his emotions might remain conflicted, what he had to do was suddenly as clear as the freshly cleaned window across the room.
    He had to leave.
    If he couldn’t control his emotions with a friendly acquaintance like Andrew Callis, then he had no chance with Vivien. And he already knew how sharing his emotions with her would turn out. He would be crushed. Rebutted. Rejected.
    And that would not do. Not now. Not ever again.
    He exited the room and passed through the crowd waiting for their carriages at the entryway to the house. His horse was tethered nearby and he didn’t wait for a servant to fetch it. He released the animal himself, swung into the saddle and rode away.
    But it was more difficult than it should have been not to look back in regret just one more time.

Chapter Five
    Most nights, Vivien assumed she would be alone. Not for lack of offers from gentlemen, of course. Even tonight there had been a man who had leaned over and asked her to allow him to pleasure her. But more often than not she refused those who wished to add her as a mark to their manhood and accepted that a good book and a sherry were to be her companions for the night.
    But tonight she knew she would be alone and it cut her to the bone.
    Benedict had left her home three hours before. Without a word to her, not even goodbye. But his actions spoke volumes, didn’t they? There was no refuting their meaning.
    He didn’t want her anymore. Or if he did, he wasn’t willing to lower himself to her level to pursue that desire again. After all, hadn’t he told her that he intended to seek a bride during this Season? Certainly running around with women such as her could do him no good on that score.
    She sucked in her breath. Once Benedict wed, he would be faithful. That was the kind of man he was. Whatever they had shared would be truly over the moment he asked a lady to be his bride. He would forget her and devote himself to babies and country living with a woman of the proper station.
    Her heart hurt at the thought, despite the fact that she had no right to her pain. She knew what she was. And in the past she had rejected Benedict’s attempts to make what they shared more than a mere affair.
    She paced her chamber