“Because it would appear that Lord Charles is attempting to court you.”
She shook her head. “He is doing no such thing,” she asserted. “We are just friends.”
Mr. Drew came to sit across from her. “Does Lord Charles know that?”
“He does,” Henrietta replied. “We are just…” Her words trailed off. For some inexplicable reason, she didn’t want to reveal the truth of it all to Mr. Drew. Why was that, she wondered.
With an expectant look, Mr. Drew prodded, “You are just?”
“Friends, as I said before,” she replied.
“Pardon me if I don’t believe you,” Mr. Drew said in a mocking chide.
Henrietta tilted her chin stubbornly. “I don’t have to justify myself to you.”
“That is true,” Mr. Drew replied. “My apologies for upsetting you. I can assure you that wasn’t my intention.”
She felt rather foolish for overreacting in such a fashion. “I apologize, as well. I know that you meant no harm in it.”
“Then why did you take offense?”
Henrietta glanced down at her hands in her lap, delaying her response. She didn’t dare admit that she had developed some feelings for Lord Charles. Fortunately, before she could respond, Marjorie walked into the room with a bright smile on her face.
“Good evening,” she greeted them both.
Mr. Drew rose. “Good evening, Miss Whiston.”
Marjorie waved him down and came to sit down next to Henrietta. “I just had the most wonderful rest, and now I am prepared to eat dinner with Mother and Father.”
Mr. Drew glanced between them. “Why do you say that?”
Marjorie waved her hand in front of her. “They will want to know all about my carriage ride through Hyde Park with Lord Featherstone, down to the last detail,” she responded dramatically.
Mr. Drew smirked, exchanging a look with her. “That sounds awful.”
“It is,” Marjorie said.
Henrietta’s lips twitched. “I hope Mother and Father will be very interested in Lord Featherstone’s hunting stories, since he spoke of little else.”
Marjorie shifted on the settee to face her. “He was just nervous.”
“I don’t believe that was the case,” Henrietta replied. “He seems to only share his hunting stories.”
“Regardless, I had the most pleasant time with him,” Marjorie said, her tone not quite convincing. “He behaved exactly as a man of his station usually does.”
“That doesn’t make it right,” Henrietta remarked. “You deserve someone who will shower attention on you.”
Marjorie frowned. “You have no right to dictate my life.”
“I am only concerned about you.”
“There is nothing that you need to be worried about,” Marjorie asserted. “I am more than capable of making my own choices.”
Henrietta nodded weakly. “You are right.”
Marjorie turned her attention towards Mr. Drew. “May I ask how you occupied your time this afternoon?”
“Your father took me to White’s, and we only just returned in time to dress for dinner,” Mr. Drew replied.
