Charles’s words kept resonating in her mind about how she needed to speak to her parents about her decision to not marry Mr. Drew. She had little doubt that they would be furious, but she hoped that they would respect her reasons.
From across the table, Mr. Drew gave her a curious look, and she responded with a weak smile. She assumed that he would be relieved that she confessed the truth. They could finally end this ruse with her parents.
Marjorie turned towards her and asked, “Which ribbon do you think would look best in my hair?”
“I don’t think it matters.”
Marjorie tossed up her hands. “Of course it matters,” she declared. “How can you even suggest such a thing?”
“Then I suppose you should go with the pink ribbon.”
“That could work,” Marjorie remarked, “but only if I wear a white gown.”
Her mother removed the napkin from her lap and made eye contact with each of her daughters. “I believe it is time we adjourn to the drawing room and leave the men to their port.”
Agreement circled the table, and the ladies withdrew.
After they’d settled in the drawing room, Henrietta turned her attention towards her mother and said, “We need to talk.”
“About what, dear?” her mother asked.
Taking a deep breath, Henrietta replied, “I have no intention of marrying Mr. Drew.”
“That is no surprise,” her mother commented.
“It isn’t?”
Her mother nodded. “Why would you settle for Mr. Drew when you could marry Lord Charles?”
“Why do you believe Lord Charles and I would suit?”
With a blank look, her mother asked, “Why wouldn’t you suit?”
Henrietta pressed her lips together, knowing it was time to tell them the truth. “Lord Charles and I are just pretending to form an attachment.”
“I beg your pardon?” her mother asked. Marjorie’s eyes widened, and she focused too intently on her needlework.
“After I fell in Hyde Park, Lord Charles felt sympathy for my plight and came up with a plan to help me,” Henrietta explained. “By feigning an attachment, it gave the gossips something else to talk about.”
“So all of Lord Charles’s visits were just for show?” her mother asked.
“I’m afraid so.”
Her mother grew silent. “I cannot believe that you have done something so foolish,” she said. “What do you think will happen once you and Lord Charles break your attachment?”
Henrietta shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “We will both be free to marry a person of our choosing,” she replied.
“I’m afraid your reputation will suffer even more as a result,” her mother pressed. “A sensible girl would not willingly end a relationship with the son of a marquess.” She paused. “How long do you intend to continue this charade?”
“I am not entirely sure,” Henrietta said.
Her mother shook her head. “What is worse is that you have no idea the precarious situation that you have put yourself in.”
“How so?”
“Lord Charles’s reputation will not suffer from this, but yours undoubtedly will,” her mother said. “You are ruined.”
“More so than when I fell off my horse in Hyde Park?” Henrietta questioned.
