She clasped her hands in front of her, and he could hear the hesitancy in her voice. “You may call me Henrietta.”
“That is a beautiful name.”
“I was named after my grandmother,” she rushed out. “She was much taller than me, but we both are quite stubborn.”
“That is… uh… informative.” He wasn’t quite sure what to say to that.
The young woman frowned. “I do apologize, but I tend to rattle on when I am nervous.”
“That is something that you and I have in common.”
“Truly?”
He nodded. “Truly, but there is no reason for you to be nervous.”
She gave him a look that implied she didn’t believe him. “I am alone with a gentleman, and my gown is ruined,” she said. “My entire reputation revolves around me getting to the coach without being seen.”
“I can help with that.”
She put her hand up. “You have done enough, kind sir.”
He opened the gate and watched as she maneuvered so he couldn’t see the back of her gown.
Once she had backed through the gate, he said, “Until we meet again, Henrietta.”
“I doubt that our paths will ever cross again,” she responded, stopping a few feet away from him. “At least, I hope not.”
“Why is that?”
She smiled, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “You may have been my hero tonight, but I truly hope that you forget all about me.”
“I’m afraid that might not be possible.”
“Why is that?”
“I have never seen a young woman climb a tree in a ballgown before,” he said. “I find it quite extraordinary.”
“Then you are associating with the wrong people,” she teased.
His lips twitched. “I wish you luck in getting to your coach.”
“I can be quite crafty when the situation warrants it.”
“I shall have to take your word for it.”
Charles found himself staring at her, abruptly transfixed. There was something about her he found intriguing, and he wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. But it was evident that Henrietta did not feel the same, because she said, “I should be on my way.”
“Of course,” he replied. “I won’t keep you any longer.”
He slowly closed the gate to ensure it latched quietly. Once it was closed, he watched Henrietta hurry down the path.
As he walked back towards the townhouse, Charles realized he had never given the young woman his name. That had been a mistake on his part. She may not want to see him again, but he found himself hoping that their paths would cross soon.
Miss Henrietta Whiston awoke and let out a groan. She wasn’t ready to wake up. She had been having the most wonderful dream about the man who had saved her the night before. It wasn’t until she had reached her coach that she realized she hadn’t caught his name. Not that it would matter. She had no intention of ever seeing that man again.
A knock came at the door, interrupting her musings.
“Enter,” Henrietta ordered as she sat up in her bed.
