“Lord Charles seems to be an honorable man, and he will do right by you.”
“That he will,” she agreed.
After a long moment, Abigail stepped back and asked, “Are you pleased with your hair?”
Henrietta turned to the side as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was piled atop of her head and small curls framed her face. “I am,” she replied. “Have you thought more on whether or not you will accompany me to Lord Charles’s townhouse after we are wed?”
“I have, and I think it would be best if I came along with you.”
Henrietta clasped her hands together. “That is wonderful news,” she declared. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Fortunately, you won’t have to find out.” Abigail retrieved Henrietta’s gown. “Shall we dress you?”
As Henrietta rose, the door opened, and her mother stepped into the room. “Goodness,” she said. “You’d best hurry if you don’t want to be late to your own wedding.”
“I don’t believe they can start without me,” Henrietta joked.
Her mother frowned. “That is not the least bit funny,” she replied. “It is a bad omen to be late to one’s wedding.”
“I don’t think that is true.”
While Henrietta was getting dressed, her mother commented, “It is a shame that we didn’t have time to commission a gown for your wedding.”
“I do not think Lord Charles will mind.”
“No, he will not.” Her mother sat down on the settee. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“About what?”
“The wedding night,” her mother replied.
Henrietta froze. “I do not wish to talk about that.”
“It is perfectly normal to feel anxious about it, but it is an expression of love between a man and a woman,” her mother said.
“You seem to forget this is a marriage of convenience,” she remarked. “Lord Charles and I do not love one another.”
“No?” her mother asked. “I can’t help but notice that your eyes light up whenever you see him, or how you watch him whenever he is in the room.”
“I am just curious as to where he is.”
“Interesting,” her mother remarked.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you are full of drivel.”
“I am not.”
Her mother gave her a knowing look. “It is all right to fall in love with your husband, my dear. In fact, it is encouraged.”
“I am not in love, Mother,” Henrietta said. “To imply so is ludicrous.”
After she was dressed, Abigail stepped back and asked, “Will there be anything else?”
“No, thank you,” Henrietta replied.
Abigail gave her an encouraging smile. “I wish you luck today, miss.”
