Nate’s butler bowed. “In the morning room, my lord.”
“Thank you.” He handed the man his hat and cane. “That’s where I’ll be.”
“Very good, my lord. Shall I send a tea tray?”
“Yes, please.” Boxing had given him an appetite.
He ambled slowly to the morning room with thoughts of Henrietta Stern filling his mind. He wanted her family to accept him, but failing that, he wanted her to choose him over her family. Yet did he really want that? Her insistence that he reconcile with her sister and brother-in-law did her great credit. If they married, he’d want that same kind of loyalty from her for their family. Nate leaned his head back and sighed. He’d just put himself squarely back to the beginning when she discovered who he was. He was not sure even his mother could help him. He rubbed a hand down the side of his face. There had to be a way to have her as his wife, and have the support of her family.
He entered the morning room, one of his favorite parlors in the house. The pale yellow silk wallpaper was covered with paintings done by family members over the years. The furniture was comfortable rather than fashionable, and situated to make conversation easy. Long windows were spread across the back and one side of the room. Miniature portraits decorated one large, round table in a corner. In the other corner was a cabinet where any number of games could be found. His mother was on the chaise reading a letter.
“Good afternoon,” Nate said as he entered the parlor.
“Ah, Fotherby.” Mama put down the letter and glanced at him. “What happened to you?”
“Merton.” Nate grinned. “I went to Jackson’s Boxing Salon, and he came in while I was there. He doesn’t look any better than I do.” He gingerly touched his jaw. “I’d hoped that indulging him would help him forgive me.”
Mama gave him a dubious look. “Did it?”
“I’m not sure.” Hulatt brought in the tea, including biscuits and several small sandwiches. Nate waited until the butler left before taking a seat on a leather chair next to the chaise. “We went to an inn and had a drink and talked. His wife still thinks badly of me. He said he’d ask her if she would listen to my apology. But I have the feeling he did not hold out much hope of her agreeing.”
His mother poured them cups of tea, and he took two sandwiches and several lemon biscuits. After she had a sip of tea she set down the cup on a low table between his chair and the chaise. “How do you plan to go forward if she will not speak to you?”
“I am not certain.” He sipped his tea. It tasted like a new blend. “I haven’t tasted this before.”
Mama fluttered her fingers. “I decided to try something different. Do you like it?”
“I do like it.” He finished his cup, poured another, then ate a sandwich.
“Back to your problem.” She let the sentence hang.
“I believe we are becoming closer. However, I don’t wish to cause Miss Stern problems with her family. I am positive that neither of us wishes to go behind her family’s collective back to see each other.”
“Does Lord Merton know you have met?” she asked thoughtfully.
“He does.” Nate hadn’t thought about his former friend’s reaction to that news. He’d been more concerned about Lady Merton’s feelings toward him. “I told him the duchess introduced us.”
His mother tapped a finger against her cheek. “Did he warn you away from Miss Stern?”
“No.” Nate mentally reviewed the conversation. “No, he did not.” That, in and of itself, was interesting. “After I told him that I would like to know her better, we discussed his wife’s feelings about me.” He’d not thought of what that might mean. There was no overt approval, but Merton said nothing about Nate not seeing her. “He was more concerned about his wife.”
“I must say, that does not surprise me at all,” Mama said. “I understand that she is in a delicate condition and is not able to chaperone her sister.”
No wonder Merton was so concerned about her. If it was Henrietta, Nate would be very worried. An image of her large with his child invaded his thoughts. “Perhaps I should visit Miss Stern’s father.”
Mama’s brows rose. “That might not be a bad idea. Although I believe it is a bit too soon.”
“But if I had his permission—”
“She is still quite close to her sister,” Mama said.
Nate slumped back in the chair. He had to find a way forward that would, if not satisfy everyone, at least be acceptable.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Henrietta paused before knocking on the door to her sister’s parlor as Dotty barked a sharp “no” to someone. “I will not allow him to make excuses for his behavior.”
They must be talking about Lord Fotherby. Had he managed to have a meeting with Merton? Henrietta leaned closer to the door.
