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As she looked into his deep blue eyes, she saw the despair that lived there. He felt burdened by the expectations of his grandmother and theton. Really, if she recalled the way they had met in the garden so many months before, it was that fact that had brought them together. Eleanor had to marry so she wouldn’t keep embarrassing her family and Henry wished to marry so that he would no longer have to endure the scrutiny of theton.
By putting off this pregnancy, Eleanor was once again leaving Henry vulnerable to the mutterings and whispers of others. Additionally, she had become rather fond of Henry, and she wanted to see him happy.
“Do you swear that if I agree to this arrangement, you will help me find good homes for my pets?”
“I do,” Henry returned at once. “Nary a one will end up on our supper table, I promise you that much.”
“Henry,” Eleanor groaned. “It is hardly the time to make such jokes.”
A small smile crept onto Henry’s face, and that made Eleanor feel marginally better. “I’m sorry, Eleanor. I couldn’t help myself. But I do promise that I will keep up my end of the bargain. I will ask my steward to begin making inquiries at once, and as soon as we have families willing to take the animals into their homes, you and I shall set out and deliver them in person… if you wish.”
“That is a very nice offer, Henry,” Eleanor responded, allowing herself to smile back at him. She took a deep breath then and steeled her nerves. “And I promise you that we will try to produce an heir.”
His eyes lit hopefully, and Eleanor felt a chuckle rise in her throat. She put a hand on his forearm. “Don’t get too excited just yet. I’m only agreeing to start the process.”
Henry did not seem daunted in the slightest by Eleanor’s words of caution. He leaned forward and kissed her quickly and unexpectedly on the cheek.
“Henry!” Eleanor gasped playfully, backing away from him slightly.
“We have to start somewhere,” he teased, and then he winked at her.
It was good to see the spirited light return to Henry’s eyes, as the day had been very vexing. A moment later, when he offered her his arm, she laced her hand through his elbow. Together, Henry and Eleanor walked back to the manor, his thoughts and her thoughts fixed on two completely different topics.
I fully intend to see if he keeps his promise about my pets before I give into his charms. I can only hope Henry is a man of his word.
