AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘You are awfully silent,’ Robert remarked from where he sat on the other side of the carriage with his top hat shading his eyes and his hands lightly resting on his silver-topped cane.
‘Am I?’ Henri grabbed on to the seat edge to prevent herself from flying into his arms as the carriage hit yet another deep rut. ‘I was thinking about young Master Jenkins and his Latin exam. His mother has hopes of him studying for the church.’
‘You’re a poor liar, Thorndike.’ He reached out and pulled her across the gap in the carriage, settling her next to him. ‘There, that is better. It won’t do to have my best girl tumbling into the dirt. I can’t think why Hudson is driving so poorly today.’
A bubble of pleasure grew within Henri at his words. ‘Best girl?’
‘I spend far too much time around my workers. Do you object? And why do you want to talk about young Master Jenkins?’ His arm gathered her close to him. He tilted her chin upwards. ‘Why is it important?’
‘Because it means that someone cares enough to remember. It is important to be remembered. Little details.’
‘But I’ve been looking forward to doing this all morning. Good morning, my dear Henri.’ Robert dropped a kiss on her lips. ‘I don’t care about young Master Jenkins or that Hudson is making cow-eyes at Grace. I want to know about how you are doing. It was a wrench to leave you.’
‘I’m worried about Sophie,’ Henri admitted as inwardly she glowed. ‘The fact that she took a frying pan bothers me. When we first discussed Sebastian, I told her that if she wanted to make sure he behaved, she should always have a frying pan to hand.’
‘She took you at your word.’
‘It would seem so.’ Henri concentrated on the horsehair seats. ‘What if that means Sophie doesn’t want to marry Sebastian?’
‘Will I force it?’ Robert removed his arm from Henri’s shoulders. ‘I have to look at what is best for Sophie in the future. Her father wanted her to take her rightful place in society. He gave both Dorothy and I that charge. I refuse to have her live the life of a demi-monde or not be accepted by the best people. Do not seek to bolster your cousin. He will do right by my ward.’
‘The best people are not always the most interesting. My instinct—’
He shook his head, rejecting her argument. ‘Sophie is my responsibility. Don’t interfere, Henri, or it will be the end of our friendship. It is what is best for Sophie in the long term, rather than right now. Meddling, however well meant, has no place and it won’t change my mind.’
Henri bit her lip. Despite everything, he remained convinced that she meddled. He hadn’t learnt from yesterday.
He gave a husky laugh. ‘Henri, stop worrying. All will be well.’
Henri gave a small nod and allowed Robert to discuss his plans for the aluminium experiments. All the while in the back of her mind, she kept wondering what would happen and whose side would she be on?
The carriage lurched slightly to one side. Robert rapped the roof. ‘I pay you to drive, Hudson, not to enjoy the scenery.’
‘Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.’
Henri heard the muffled sound of a giggle. She raised her eyebrow.
A dimple showed in the corner of Robert’s mouth. ‘You are an inveterate matchmaker.’
‘Unashamed and unabashed as long as it isn’t my own match.’
The carriage gave another lurch.
Robert rapped on the roof again. ‘You had best stop at the next inn and check the wheel. We don’t want it damaged.’
‘Right-o. The Bluebell should be on the left in a mile or two.’
* * *
Robert ground his teeth and tried to make light of the delay to Henri. Everything was conspiring against him, and Henri’s blind assertion that Sophie might not want to marry Cawburn did nothing to ease his growing anxiety.
‘We should be back on the road shortly,’ Robert said, helping Henri from the carriage. ‘Far better to be cautious now, than to be forced to wait later.’
‘I hope so. The sooner we know what truly passed between my cousin and your ward, the sooner a judgement can be made. Far be it from me to prejudge what the future might hold.’
He shook his head. It was a straightforward decision. As much as he loathed Cawburn, Sophie would suffer more from being outside society than from being married to him. Her father’s will would ensure that. Cawburn had not kidnapped her off the street. Sophie would have to live with the consequences. He could only hope she was happy. As the marriage was inevitable, he toyed with the idea of prolonging the journey to Jedburgh so he could enjoy more time with Henri.
