Author's Note: Thanks so much for clicking! This is a companion fic to "A Scandalous Match". If you have not yet read that one, I would humbly suggested you start there, as this fic won't make much sense otherwise. :)
Chapter 1
Ben Solo, Duke of Ren, stood in silent shock as His Majesty's words rattled through his brain.
For the good of the family line, I'm ordering you to marry.
"Come man," said the King. "It's not as if I've ordered you to your death."
Haven't you? Ben thought to himself. He felt his temper rising and fought to quash it. It would do no good to rail of his misfortune in His Majesty's presence. He had been given an order and like it or not, he would have to either obey or face the consequences.
"My apologies, Your Majesty," Ben said, fighting to keep the tremor out of his voice, "You simply took me by surprise."
"If you would like some suggestions, I can have one of my advisors send over a list of eligible young ladies," the King offered.
"That won't be necessary," Ben replied, withholding a shudder at the no doubt simpering ladies His Majesty would find suitable. The worst thing about his role as Duke was dealing with the constant assault of mothers thrusting their eligible daughters at him.
The king chuckled. "Very well. You are free to leave."
Ben bowed and turned to leave.
"Remember, within the year." The king's voice rang out as Ben turned and nodded once more before walking quickly out of the palace.
By the time he arrived back to his home in London, Ben was positively livid. It was all he could do to make it through the door before his temper burst free and he threw the nearest vase at the wall.
Ordered to marry.
He knew that he was eventually expected to marry and bear an heir. It was the expectation of all men of consequence. But to have such a short timeline within which to comply was galling. Ben avoided the season and all it's balls and simpering ladies whenever possible. He already knew that none of the eligible ladies were to his taste. He could not imagine marrying a single one.
He strode into his drawing room, pacing furiously as he pulled a hand through his hair.
A year, he thought bitterly. He pulled at his collar, suddenly feeling as if it were choking him.
"Edward!" he shouted, knowing his valet would be hovering nearby.
As expected, the man appeared after only a few moments.
"Yes, Your Grace?" He stood with his hands in front of him, unfazed by his employer's outburst.
"Pack my things," Ben said. "I'm returning to the countryside."
If his valet was surprised, he hid it well, merely nodding. "At once, sir." With a short bow, he turned and left Ben once more to himself.
At least in the countryside he'd have space to figure out how he was going to fulfill His Majesty's command.
Several days after his arrival back to his countryside residence, Ben decided to ride into town. It was refreshing to breathe the country air, free of the stench of industry and press of people. He noticed many of the townsfolk whispering as he passed by and repressed the urge to scoff. No doubt his reemergence into the small town was giving the gossips plenty to discuss.
Ben usually did not look to his surroundings, but as his gaze swept around the small town square it caught on a young woman. Her companions, one of whom he recognized as a former servant at his estate, were whispering to her as she tried to look at him covertly.
She was obviously of a lower class, given her somewhat shabby dress, and yet Ben was surprised to find he could not take his eyes off her. Though her skin had more color than most women he knew, he enjoyed the healthy flush of her cheeks. As he passed by, he swallowed, his heart racing. He willed himself to look away, but could not. Her hair shone in the sun, like freshly oiled mahogany, and her green eyes reminded him of moss-covered trees. When his horse strode beyond the small group, and he would have had to crane his neck to keep staring, he finally dropped his gaze. As he continued on his way, he pondered how best to discover who she was and how he might meet her.
As the weeks passed, Ben made inquiries into who the newcomer might be. He discovered she was Rey Chapman, orphaned ward of a Mr. Unkar Plutt. He found himself riding more frequently through town, hoping to once again run across her, all to no avail. Making inquiries as to where Mr. Plutt and Miss Chapman were residing, he discovered that the house was along a riding path he occasionally frequented, and began riding nearly daily in the hopes of running into her.
One day, after several previously unsuccessful trips down the path, Ben finally happened across Miss Chapman. He saw her hair sparkling in the sunlight as she bowed her head. Slowing his horse, he watched her smiling down at her toes. When he got close enough, he could see that she was holding her hem up out of the water as she waded through. He swallowed thickly. He wished to strike up a conversation, but had always been terrible at social interactions. Unfortunately, as it often did when he was nervous, his mouth ran without first consulting his head.
"I should think you're quite old to be playing in the water like a child."
She whipped her head up, dropping her hem into the water in her surprise.
"Sir – My Lord – Duke," she sputtered flushing. He found the added color charming. "You frightened me. I did not see you there."
Ben schooled his expression into impassiveness as he responded, "Yes I think that is quite obvious. Unless of course you make a habit of impropriety when gentlemen are present."
Miss Chapman frowned at the insult and Ben quickly realized this might not have been the best way to endear himself to the lady.
"And I wonder in return," she said, "if you make it a habit to sneak upon unsuspecting ladies only to insult them for having a bit of fun within the privacy of their own home."
"Ah, but you see," Ben returned, amusement at her spunk causing his tongue to run further, "You are not in your own home are you? Instead you bare your legs in broad daylight where any unsuspecting gentleman might happen upon you. You are quite lucky it was myself who happened upon you and not a less savory man."
Though Ben realized his words were only further angering the lady, he could not seem to stop himself from speaking.
"Lucky?" she said, obviously insulted. "And why should I consider your invasion of my privacy lucky?"
Ben cocked his head as he considered her, his hands sweating nervously within his gloves. "Because, as previously stated, there may be others who would take advantage of your impropriety, whereas I have no desire to lower myself with a commoner such as yourself." He did not need to see the look on her face to realize his mistake. His stomach dropped as he wished he could retract the insult. He in fact did not care that she was a commoner and cursed his nervous tongue for getting away from him, silently berating himself for being such a boorish man.
She scoffed. "Then it is lucky indeed, because I would never allow an arrogant man such as yourself anywhere near my person."
Miss Chapman picked her now soaking hem back up, raising it up to her knees again as she wandered back to dry land. Ben eye's widened and his hear rate picked up as he eyed the creamy skin of her calves. Willing himself to calm down, he watched the anger leech from her eyes, to be replaced by embarrassment as she dropped her hem.
Before she could speak again, a man yelled out the back door of her home.
"Girl! Where are you? I did not give you permission to go out of doors! Return at once or you'll be spending this Sunday locked in your room!"
Ben saw Miss Chapman's face grow redder before she turned and ran back into the house. His eyes narrowed as he saw a rather large man grab her by the arm before pulling her inside. The intensity of his sudden anger at the man, who must be Mr. Plutt, surprised him. He decided then to discover precisely what sort of situation Miss Rey Chapman was living in.
It had been three years since Ben had seen either of his parents. His relationship with them was troubled, at best, and he usually preferred to keep contact with them to a minimum. As such, Ben had not called on his mother since his return. His mother, however, had taken it upon herself to visit him and was currently sipping tea in a chair in his drawing room. She had arrived, citing a need to drop off his invitation to her and his father's yearly ball, though they both knew this was a thinly veiled lie to conceal her need to see her son. Ben loved his mother, but he had not forgotten how she had sided with his uncle against him.
Under normal circumstances, Ben refused to attend his parents' ball for many reasons, not the least of which was all the lower-class neighbors sending their daughters his way in the hopes one of them would catch his fancy. At the moment, however, there was one lovely creature he yearned to see, and this ball might be the perfect chance for him to do so.
"I assume you shan't be attending the ball this year, as usual?" His mother asked, sipping her tea and grabbing a biscuit.
Ben stood at his window, his back to her, contemplating how best to gather the information he wanted without revealing too much to the mother who, when no other source of conversation could be had, often resorted to begging him to settle down.
"I assume you'll still be inviting every family in the county?" he asked in response, staring out at his lawn. He refrained from fidgeting as he awaited her answer.
"I really wish you weren't so superior about socializing with those beneath you," his mother said, sighing. "Your own father isn't among the peerage." When he made no reply, she went on. "You used to adore him."
Not wishing to have this discussion again, Ben turned the conversation back to the ball.
"I suppose you already have a list of eligible women for me to meet?" he asked.
When his mother did not respond he turned around, finding her regarding him with suspicion. "Is there anyone in particular you wish to be invited?" she asked, a shrewd look on her face.
He turned back around, feigning boredom. "I only wish to know if any new mother will be attempting to foist her decided unattractive daughter on me."
He heard his mother taking a sip of her tea before she responded. "The only new members of our community are one Mr. Unkar Plutt and his ward Miss Rey Chapman. Have you had the fortune of meeting them yet?"
His mother's voice was far too innocent for Ben's liking. "I have not been properly introduced, no." It was the truth, since they had not been formally introduced at either their first or second meeting.
"A pity then that you will not be attending the ball," his mother said, "for I have made sure to send an invitation to Miss Chapman."
Ben felt his spirits lift at that and quickly worked to school his face as he turned back around and walked over to sit opposite his mother. "A pity indeed," he said, in his best attempt at sarcasm.
He saw his mother's lips twitch upwards as she took another sip of her tea, though she made no further comment on Miss Chapman, for which Ben was grateful.
A/N: Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. :)