“Terrible,” Henrietta replied honestly. “I am dreading the conversation I must have with my father.”
“I can imagine.”
Henrietta glanced down at her hands in her lap. “Does the whole household know about what transpired?”
“I’m afraid so,” Abigail replied, her voice full of compassion.
Her heart dropped at that news. “I was hoping that wasn’t the case.” She rose. “I suppose I should go speak to my father now.”
“I wish you luck.”
“Thank you,” Henrietta said. “I shall need it.”
She felt distress growing with each step as she headed towards her father’s study on the main level. She couldn’t help but notice that the servants were watching her as she passed by them. She felt like a curiosity on display.
She came to a stop outside of her father’s study and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She hoped her father was in a reasonable mood this morning.
Her father’s voice came from inside the study. “You may as well come in, Henrietta.”
She stepped inside the room and saw her father sitting behind his desk. “How did you know I was there?”
“I have been expecting you all morning,” he replied. “Quite frankly, you arrived much later than I expected.”
Henrietta approached the desk and stopped in front of it. “I trust that you slept well.”
Her father gave her an expectant look. “You can stop with the pleasantries,” he said. “Say what you need to say and be done with it.”
She tilted her chin. “I have no desire to marry Mr. Drew.”
“I understand that, but you were found in a compromising situation with him.”
“That he orchestrated.”
Her father frowned. “Regardless, you must marry him.”
“You would have me marry a man who willingly entrapped me?”
Her father leaned back in his chair. “What would you have me do?” he asked. “Once word gets around that Mr. Drew was found in your bedchamber, you will be completely ruined. Your reputation will never recover from this.”
“Then I shall retire to our country estate.”
“Forever?”
“If that is my only choice. “
Her father sighed. “Is that what you want?” he asked.
“No, but it is preferable to marrying Mr. Drew.”
“I must admit that I am terribly disappointed by his antics, but he does appear to hold you in some regard.”
Henrietta arched an eyebrow. “If he did, he wouldn’t have attempted to trap me into marriage.”
“Sometimes men do irrational things to achieve their purposes—”
She spoke over him. “Are you truly defending him?”
“I am, because he is your only chance at happiness.”
