“Will we be remembered as kind or as vexing as a bat?” she asked, smiling.
Charles found himself smiling in response. “Have you had any experience with bats?”
“I have,” she replied. “On occasion, they roosted in the roof of the stable and would fly around when they were disturbed by the grooms.”
“That sounds awful.”
“Do you get bats in the stable of your country estate?”
“We do.”
Miss Henrietta turned back to the portrait of her great-grandmother. “I hope that the generations to come will remember me with much fondness and that I will inspire them in some way.”
“You will.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asked, bringing her gaze back to meet his. “I’m sad to admit that I haven’t done anything that is noteworthy.”
“I have no doubt that you are capable of many great things.”
“That is kind of you to say, but I fear you give me far too much credit.”
Charles smiled. “I have discovered from my experience with antiquities that the relics that have imperfections are generally the most fascinating.”
“Why is that?”
“Because every chip or crack is a testament to its survival,” he explained.
Miss Henrietta eyed him curiously. “How fortunate you are that you are able to handle these relics and recognize what a profound responsibility that is.”
“I wish my family felt the same as you,” he said. “They get rather bored when I discuss antiquities with them.”
“That is a shame, because I don’t think I would ever tire of it,” she shared. “We have ruins near our country estate, and I always pretended to be an archaeologist.”
“You did?”
A twinkle came into her eyes. “I spent hours digging in the soil in hopes of finding treasures, whether it was fossils or clay pots. I would get horribly filthy, but I did not regret my time doing so, much to the chagrin of my parents.”
“I think we would have gotten along quite nicely when we were younger, since I was known to do the same thing.”
“Did you find anything of note?”
He shook his head. “I made a lot of holes, but I didn’t find anything of interest that I could have written about in the morning newspapers.”
“Likewise, but I had fun in the process.” Miss Henrietta glanced over at the drawing room. “My mother insisted that you come meet my cousin before we depart for our ride through Hyde Park.”
“Then lead the way.”
She smiled before she spun on her heel and Charles followed her the short distance to the drawing room. As they stepped inside, he saw Lady Finsbury sitting on the settee and a stocky man standing near the window.
Miss Henrietta gestured towards the gentleman. “Lord Charles Brooksbank, allow me the privilege of introducing you to my cousin, Mr. Roger Drew.”
Mr. Drew tipped his head respectfully. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
“Likewise,” Charles responded politely.
“Mr. Drew is visiting from his estate in Kent,” Miss Henrietta shared.
Charles nodded his acknowledgement. “How do you like London?”
