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Her aunt’s gaze narrowed. ‘He has brought the roses to your cheeks. You are positively glowing. Male companionship is good for one. If I were twenty years younger…’
Henri ducked her head. ‘It’s more likely going without my bonnet. The sun always gives me a sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of my nose.’
‘Henri, dear, you never go without your bonnet tightly fastened on your head.’ Her aunt raised a hand. ‘Mr Montemorcy is a good man. You could do worse than encourage him. His company obviously does you good. Your face was becoming quite pinched and sallow. Now, you appear in the best of health.’
Henri placed two pottery shards together. They formed a naked man’s torso. The best of health. It was as she feared—what had passed between her and Robert showed in her face. Sebastian would guess, but she doubted Aunt Frances would be that direct. A cold shiver went down her spine. But what would Sebastian do about it? Threaten her or, worse, Robert?
‘It must be the rest. I was obviously far too busy before the attack.’ She picked up a shard and balanced it in her hand, before adding it to her aunt’s current pattern. ‘You simply missed it before.’
‘No, it is something more.’ Her aunt tapped a long finger against her mouth and moved the shard to the side of the vase where it fit perfectly. ‘It is long past time that you remarried, Henrietta. You were not born to be a widow.’
‘I’ve no plans to remarry.’ Henri put a hand on her aunt’s shoulder. ‘Edmund is irreplaceable. I don’t want another husband.’
‘For an intelligent woman, Henrietta, you can be remarkably obtuse. Your mother was a silly vain woman who allowed you to indulge in mawkish behaviour. You make it sound like men are interchangeable cogs. No one is asking you to replace him.’
‘But Edmund…’ Henri waved her hand. Her insides felt empty. Surely her aunt had to understand that she had no wish to be disloyal. Or any wish to risk her heart again.
‘Edmund would want what is best for you. He loved you, by all accounts. If the circumstances had been reversed, would you have wanted him never to experience happiness, pleasure or even contentment again?’
‘Mr Montemorcy has not asked me to marry him, Aunt. Nor is he likely to.’ Henri crossed her arms. Robert had stated often enough that marriage was not in his future plans. She was not going to beg. ‘We are friends and we respect each other, but that is as far as it goes.’
‘Then you will hold all the blame for a narrow lonely bed.’
‘Aunt!’
‘They put Edmund in the grave, not you. You are not some Indian widow who is forced to sit on a burning pyre to prove your devotion. You should take a closer look at Mr Montemorcy.’ Her aunt gave her a piercing stare. ‘You might be surprised. He does have a rather well-turned calf. Youth is wasted on the young.’
Henri stared at her aunt, shocked. Not only had she noticed Robert’s legs, but felt she could comment on them! ‘Have you been taking sips of the cherry brandy again?’
‘I may be elderly, niece, but my eyes work.’ Her aunt gave a thoroughly unrepentant smile. ‘And as legs go, Mr Montemorcy’s are well worth noticing. And without his jacket on, you can see the muscles in his back rippling.’
Henri rolled her eyes heavenwards and tried to regain control of her breathing. Granted, her aunt was trying to matchmake, but the image she had just conjured up was a powerful one. ‘You do get the strangest notions in your head. I shall change and hopefully we can have a suitable conversation over lunch.’
‘Yes, your linen dress is showing a few moss stains on the skirt.’ Her aunt’s eyes danced. ‘It must have happened when you were gardening. You should take more care.’
‘I did rather too much gardening. I forgot to bring a cloth to kneel on.’ Henri brushed the moss stain on the side of her skirt. ‘The borders were neglected when I was at Montemorcy’s. There is still much to be done. I did not want to miss a single damaged bloom.’
‘If you concentrated more on Mr Montemorcy than on your gardening, he might have stayed.’ Her aunt popped a cucumber sandwich into her mouth. ‘He missed an excellent repast and it will have been your fault.’
‘I will remember that.’ She kept her shoulders down and her head up. She had to say something and she couldn’t explain why it would be a bad idea for her to see Robert alone. Seeing him in company was surely permissible though. ‘Next time, Aunt, I will endeavour to make sure Mr Montemorcy stays for cucumber sandwiches.’
‘Will there be a next time?’
