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‘He might. In which case, our visit will be a short one.’
‘Sebastian.’ She adopted the stern voice she used occasionally with the boys, exasperated by his refusal to see any problems. ‘What I’m trying to say is that if you’re having any second thoughts about any of this then I would understand. I don’t want you to feel any obligation.’
‘Obligation?’ He mused over the word. ‘No, I can’t say that I do.’
‘Especially considering what your family might think of us travelling together. I wouldn’t want them to get the wrong impression.’ She was starting to think that she might need to hit him over the head with a stick to make him understand. ‘They might think there’s more between us than friendship.’
‘Probably.’
‘Probably?’ She blinked.
‘It’s the likely conclusion.’ He looked remarkably unbothered by the idea. ‘And it’s the truth, isn’t it?’
‘I...’ She hesitated. ‘I don’t know. We haven’t talked about what happened. We’ve been so busy...’
‘Ah.’ He looked faintly relieved, reaching for her hands and twining their fingers together in a way that made goose pimples rise on her skin. ‘The truth is, I was afraid you might change your mind if we talked too much. And I suppose I’ve been preoccupied, too. I’m not thrilled about the idea of meeting my family. Seeing my mother, yes, but her mother and my uncle?’ His brows contracted. ‘I can’t help but feel as though I’m betraying my father.’
‘Oh, Sebastian.’ She slid her thumbs around so that they were on top of his hands. ‘Surely if your mother can forgive them...?’
‘Then I should, too, I know. Even Anna seems to have made peace with it all, but if it wasn’t for them...’ A muscle tightened in his jaw. ‘My father spent his whole life trying to make up for what my mother lost by marrying him. He never wanted her to regret their elopement. She didn’t and she told him so often enough, but the worry was always there underneath. I think it’s part of the reason he worked so hard. I’m not saying that her family were responsible for his death, but it’s hard not to resent them. And now it’s as though my mother’s gone backwards, as if my father never even existed. I know that’s not fair, but all of this has happened so quickly.’ He shook his head as if to clear it of unpleasant thoughts. ‘But I’m glad that you’re with me. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be with. Truly, Henrietta.’
‘Then I’m glad to be here, too.’ She caught her breath, her chest feeling too tight all of a sudden.
‘But I don’t want you to feel any obligation either.’ He looked serious again. ‘If you’re not happy or you want to leave for any reason, just say the word and I’ll take you back to Bath. You have my word on it.’
‘Thank you.’ She jumped at the sound of a loud thud from the chamber behind her. ‘In that case, while we’re staying with your family, I think that we ought to remain as just friends. I might not care what the shopkeepers of Bath think of me any more, but I do care about your mother.’
‘Just while we’re staying there?’ He quirked an eyebrow.
‘Until we can talk about things...properly.’
‘Ah.’ He glanced at the partially open door behind them, his expression inscrutable. ‘As you wish. Now I’d better let you go. It sounds like a herd of cattle in there.’
Chapter Fifteen
It was a perfect winter morning, Sebastian thought, the kind you might get only once or twice in a season. The December sun was blindingly low, gleaming off the river that ran behind the inn and bathing the trees alongside in bright yellow light. Aside from their bare branches, however, there were almost no signs of winter, just a light frost gilding the scattering of stones beneath. He stood by the window, admiring the scene for a few moments before turning around and clapping his hands together enthusiastically.
‘Shall we go for a stroll?’
‘Right now?’ Henrietta gave him a surprised look. They’d eaten breakfast and she’d just finished repacking their chest. ‘I thought you wanted to go and hire a cart?’
‘I do, but it’s such a lovely morning and the boys could do with some exercise.’
‘Of course, if you like.’ She appeared to bite her tongue as she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. ‘That would be ver
y pleasant.’
He watched as she bundled her nephews into their caps and jackets. Just friends. The words had rankled and rattled around his brain all night. They weren’t exactly what he’d been hoping to hear, though perhaps she had a point about not scandalising his family. Still, he was starting to regret his friendly behaviour over the past few days.
After what she’d told him about her previous romantic experiences, he hadn’t wanted her to feel under any pressure, especially when they were sharing a chamber, or to change her mind about accompanying him, but now it appeared, ironically, that he’d been too well behaved. She’d got used to them being just friends again. His only consolation was that she hadn’t said she never wanted to kiss him again...only while they were in Yorkshire, until they could find some time to talk...which made him want to get this visit over with quicker than ever.
They were halfway down the staircase when Michael let out a yelp and a small tin fell from his fingers, spilling marbles all over the corridor below.
‘Oh, no!’ Michael and Peter immediately sprang after them.
‘Careful!’ Henrietta kept a firm grip on Oliver’s hand. ‘Don’t slip!’
‘Do you know how many you had?’ Sebastian went to help, crouching on his haunches.
