Her mother came to sit down next to Henrietta and offered her an encouraging smile. “I am well aware, but I believe she would be miserable with Mr. Drew.”
“But she would have the protection of his name.” Her father stiffened. “I am growing tired of this conversation. It is going in circles.”
Her mother opened her mouth, but her father spoke first. “Henrietta will marry Mr. Drew, and that is final.”
Henrietta jumped up from her seat. “I will not!”
Her father cast his eyes heavenward. “In due time, you will come to realize that it is your best option,” he said. “We will post the banns tomorrow and you will marry in three weeks’ time.”
“You wish me to marry before Marjorie?” she asked in disbelief.
“Time is of the essence here,” her father responded. “With any luck, the scandal will be small, and it won’t impact Marjorie’s chances of securing a propitious marriage.”
Henrietta shook her head. “You can’t make me marry him.”
Her father rose from his chair. “You will not disobey me in this, Henrietta!” he exclaimed sharply. “I have made my decision, and it is final!”
Tears flooded her eyes, and she fervently blinked them back. She did not want to cry in front of her father. It would only prove to him that she was a simpering miss. Rather than continue this futile argument with him, she ran out of the room and headed towards the gardens.
After stepping outside, Henrietta hurried towards the rear of the gardens and found a spot where she could sit and cry without anyone seeing her.
She hadn’t changed her mind about Mr. Drew, but by refusing to marry him, she would defy her father. A sob reached her lips. How was she going to get herself out of this situation? It seemed hopeless.
14
CHARLES SATin the coach as he thought about his upcoming visit with Henrietta. He was rather eager to see her. Frankly, he had thought of little else since he had left her the day before. There was something about her that scared and excited him at the same time.
He had a plan. It was a simple plan, but he thought it would work nonetheless. He had been pretending to form an attachment, but what if he used this ruse to woo Henrietta? He suspected that she did hold him in some regard, but he couldn’t be certain about that. Perhaps he was just being hopeful.
Now he just had to get Henrietta away from Mr. Drew. Charles didn’t trust his intentions towards her. He had claimed to have an attachment with another young woman, but he had seen the gleam of interest in Mr. Drew’s eye as he watched Henrietta. It was most disconcerting.
The coach came to a stop in front of Henrietta’s townhouse. He waited until the footman opened the door before he stepped out. As he walked up the steps towards the main door, it was opened, and the butler ushered him inside.
“Good morning, milord,” Walters greeted.
Charles removed his top hat and extended it towards him. “Is Miss Henrietta available for callers?”
Walters was about to respond when Lady Finsbury’s voice came from the doorway. “Lord Charles,” she said. “What a pleasant surprise to see you this morning.”
He bowed. “Good morning, Lady Finsbury.”
She smiled cordially at him as she walked further into the entry hall. “If you are looking for Henrietta, then you shall find her in the gardens.”
“Thank you,” he said.
As he started walking away, Lady Finsbury remarked, “Don’t give up hope if you don’t find her right away.”
Charles’s steps faltered. That was an odd thing to say. He continued towards the rear of the townhouse and stepped out onto the veranda. His eyes scanned the gardens but saw no sign of Henrietta. He walked down the path and didn’t stop till he came to an end at the wrought-iron fence.
“Where could she be?” he muttered.
He was about to start back towards the townhouse when he heard someone sniffling near a tree tucked back in a corner of the property. As he approached the tree, he saw Henrietta abruptly rise and swipe at the tears on her face.
Henrietta’s red-rimmed eyes met his gaze. “Good morning, Lord Charles,” she said, softly.
Lord Charles? Why in the blazes was she back to calling him by his title?
He stepped closer to her. “Are you all right?”
