“I do,” she replied, finding immense comfort in his touch.
“Then say that you will marry me,” he pressed.
She met his gaze, and she felt as if he was staring deep into her soul. The whole world grew quiet for a moment, and she knew precisely what she wanted to do. “I will.”
A smile came to his lips. “I can assure you that you won’t regret it.”
Her father cleared his throat, breaking the spell that had come over them. “It might be best if you left now to secure the special license.”
Charles released her hand and rose. “I believe I shall.”
Rising, Henrietta said, “I will walk you to the door.”
She accepted his proffered arm, and they slowly made their way towards the main door in silence. Once they arrived, she removed her hand and took a step back.
Charles gave her an encouraging smile. “You need not fear. It will all work out.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, his lips lingering. “You don’t need to thank me, my dear,” he said. “We are engaged to be married.”
Charles left, and she remained rooted in place. She knew she was making the right choice in marrying Charles, so why did she feel like she had trapped him?
15
THE COACH CAMEto a stop outside of his townhouse, and Charles didn’t bother to wait for a footman to open the door. As he hurried up the steps, the door was opened, and Thorne greeted him with a smile on his face.
“Is my brother in his study?” Charles asked.
“He is,” Thorne confirmed.
“Excellent,” he replied. “Will you inform the ladies that I wish to speak to them at once?”
Thorne tipped his head. “As you wish.”
“Thank you,” Charles said as he started towards the study. He was preparing himself for a most difficult conversation with his brother. Frankly, he wasn’t quite sure how his family would respond to his engagement to Henrietta.
He hoped he’d made the right decision in offering for her. When Henrietta had told him of her plight, he’d felt a surge of protectiveness come over him, and he knew he would do whatever it took to ensure she was protected from Mr. Drew.
Charles walked into the study and saw his brother sitting at his desk, ledgers open. “I hope I am not intruding,” he said.
Roswell closed the ledger in front of him. “Not at all,” he replied. “I was just attempting to get some work done before I left for the House of Lords.”
Charles came forward and sat in a chair that faced the desk. “I was hoping to speak to you for a moment, assuming you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Roswell responded, leaning back in his chair.
Knowing there was no easy way to say this, Charles decided just to come out and say it. “I offered for Miss Henrietta, and she accepted.”
Roswell was silent for a moment. “I am flabbergasted.”
“I know it may come as a surprise—”
“A surprise?” his brother interrupted. “Last time we spoke, you told me that you were only pretending to form an attachment to help her.”
“That is true, but there were some extenuating circumstances that forced my hand.”
“Such as?”
