They rode in silence. Benjamin didn't even understand why he was nervous, but he was. He had never ridden with a girl and he needed to keep as far away from her as possible so as not to be unseemly. Louisa, on the other hand, felt a little uncomfortable for never having ridden with a boy, and even more so for the boy being Benjamin.
Judith was sitting on the porch, embroidering a towel. She intended to prepare some things for her son's future bride's trousseau, since she hadn't been blessed with the grace of being mother of a girl. She had become pregnant, but suffered two miscarriages and ended up not being able to bear any more babies for two years, until she became pregnant with Benjamin and he managed to survive. He was her little miracle.
She heard horse noise and looked up, as she believed that it could only be her son. However, when she saw that he wasn't alone, she frowned. When she saw who his companion was, she was disgusted. It wasn't that she didn't like Louisa. On the contrary--she was a really good girl and would certainly make an excellent wife. For someone from her social class, not for Benjamin. They were very well off, but that didn't mean that she didn't dream that he would marry some noble's daughter, in order to increase the Dankworths' fortune and estates. Louisa couldn't offer them that.
Judith got up and went to meet the two teenagers. She saw Benjamin getting off the horse and helping Louisa do the same, holding her by the waist. As much as Louisa was still a twelve-year-old girl, soon those four-year breach between her and Benjamin wouldn't make much of a difference. She cleared her throat, breaking eye contact between the two in front of her, who split up quickly, with their heads down.
"Did you have a pleasant ride, Ben?" Judith asked her son and, turning to Louisa, "Darling, could you make me some tea?" Louisa nodded, excused herself, and left.
Benjamin realized that his mother had done this on purpose. He and Louisa were looking at each other differently when Judith arrived. He felt some kind of connection, and he could have sworn his mother knew it.
"I'm going to splash some water on my face and wash my hands, before I join you for tea." Benjamin said and Judith patted his shoulder in agreement. The two of them entered the house, and while Judith sat in the living room, Benjamin climbed the stairs, but only until he saw that his mother's back was turned, and then he carefully descended and went to the kitchen. As he imagined, Louisa was there, by the stove, waiting for the kettle to heat water for tea. He shushed and Louisa looked around until she saw him. He motioned for her to come closer.
"What is it?" she asked and he motioned for her to speak quietly. "What happened?"
"I need to talk to you, later. When it gets dark." He whispered, looking back to see if his mother was nearby.
Louisa frowned immediately. Her mother had already taught her not to trust sassy boys. And when they asked to see her alone, especially after twilight, it was because they couldn't be trusted.
"I cannot." She replied coldly. Benjamin turned his head to her, with his brow furrowed.
"Because…?"
"My mother warned me about boys like you." It was her answer and he then realized what she was talking about. He wanted to laugh, but in the end, her mother wasn't wrong. However, he did not intend to 'deflower' the girl.
"I don't want to do anything wrong! Just chat with you! It could be near the kitchen door." He pointed. She looked where he indicated and narrowed her eyes at him.
"How can I be sure you don't want to be saucy?" she asked suspiciously.
"You can arm yourself with anything, and if I do anything you dislike, you can hit me." She thought and finally nodded. But Benjamin decided to ask something, before leaving. "And what do you consider 'saucy'? What did your mother tell you?"
"Well, she didn't specify anything. She just said that cheeky boys could ask to speak to me alone, especially after twilight. And that I should refuse." She didn't know what the boys might want, after all.
"Ah, I see." Benjamin said. He could see how innocent Louisa still was, and he was pleased with that. And, mainly, for her being obedient to her mother. "Your mother is right. I don't want naughty things, but some boys might. And it's good that you keep away from them." With that, he walked away and left Louisa there, looking silly, until she remembered the water heating up in the kettle. She ran to the stove, but the water was already overflowing.
"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, whimpering nervously.
Benjamin came back into the living room after cleaning up and his mother was impatient.
"Where is that girl with the tea?" Judith asked in an irritable tone.
"Relax, mom. She should be coming by now." Benjamin tried to calm his mother down; however, he ended up making the situation worse. Judith didn't like him defending Louisa.
A few minutes later, Louisa appeared with the tray, set it on the coffee table and poured tea into both teacups. Judith had a serious expression and Benjamin knew she didn't look normal.
"It's awful." Judith declared, without even touching her teacup.
"You haven't even had a sip yet, mother." Benjamin said, looking from his mother to Louisa, who had an astonished expression.
"I don't need to drink it to know it's poor! Look at the color of that tea!" She turned to Louisa. "Ask your mother to make my tea. You're old enough to prove yourself useful in this house, girl!"
"Mother!"
"Get out!" She yelled at Louisa. "And you, Benjamin, why are you turning against me to defend this girl?" Judith questioned him, which took Benjamin by surprise.
"Mamma, I'm not being against you." Benjamin tried to talk it over, but Judith turned away.
"What is going on here?" Harry asked, approaching them. He had heard some yelling when he was in the office and left the room to investigate what was going on.