“Henrietta and I would have been happy together if it weren’t for you,” Mr. Drew declared. “You ruined everything.”
“I am happy to oblige,” Charles said dryly.
Her father interjected, “Enough of this.” He turned his attention towards Mr. Drew. “It is time for you to leave.”
Mr. Drew spun on his heel and stormed out without saying another word.
Charles placed a comforting hand on Henrietta’s sleeve. “Are you all right?”
“I am,” she said.
“I know Mr. Drew said some hurtful things to you, but I wouldn’t give them any heed,” he encouraged.
“I don’t intend to.”
He smiled, causing her heart to take flight. “I knew you were a sensible young woman,” he said.
Her father’s voice broke through their private moment. “Why don’t you both sit?” he requested. “We have much we need to discuss.”
Charles offered his hand as he assisted Henrietta into a chair. Once she was situated, he sat down next to her.
Her father threaded his fingers together and placed them on the desk. “I’m afraid Mr. Drew’s threats weren’t completely baseless,” he said. “You two will need to get married at once.”
“I will apply for a special license later today,” Charles stated.
Her father bobbed his head in approval. “That will work nicely, but it might not solve the problem entirely.”
“I am well aware,” Charles said, “but Mr. Drew has underestimated the power my family wields amongst theton. When my family rallies around Henrietta, I am confident no one will make disparaging comments towards her.”
“Excellent. I assume that you have an adequate income to provide for my daughter,” her father remarked.
“I do,” Charles replied. “I inherited a small estate from my grandmother, and it is profitable.”
“That pleases me to hear. Henrietta does have a dowry of fifteen thousand pounds that will be given to you once you are wed.”
“That is more than generous,” Charles acknowledged.
Her father shifted his attention towards her. “Are you in agreement, Henrietta?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to agree, but something held her back. Could she do this to Charles? He was saving her from a precarious situation with Mr. Drew, but would he grow to regret his actions?
“Henrietta,” Charles said, his voice low, “do you want to marry me?”
She shifted in her seat to face him. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I am.”
“What if you change your mind?”
“I won’t,” he assured her.
“But…” Henrietta hesitated, unsure how to voice her concerns.
“I am a man of honor and will not back out of our agreement,” he paused, searching her eyes, “assuming we have one.”
Henrietta knew that Charles was a solution to all her problems. Not only did she hold affection for him, but he was offering her the protection of his name. All she had to do was agree to this union. Unfortunately, that was proving to be much more difficult than she could have imagined.
As she was struggling with it all, Charles reached for her hand and said, “We will be brilliant together. You must know that.”
