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Above all, Henry missed his niece. Even one day away from Agnes felt like an eternity, and he often longed to hear the youthful enthusiasm in her voice again. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for him to call upon her the moment he returned home from his travels.
Henry was granted a moment of peace to collect himself before a knock came at the door of his study, where he was tucked behind his desk with papers scattered about.The responsibilities put on hold during his travels often piled up by the time he returned, much to his dismay.
“Come in,” Henry replied, somewhat aggravated by the interruption. He put his quill pen down and gazed across the room at the butler, who had entered.
The butler bowed.
“Pardon the interruption, my lord. Your steward has arrived for a meeting.”
Henry released a breath and nodded once. He had almost forgotten about that. They were meant to discuss an issue with an account that required Henry’s attention.
“Very well, send him in.”
“Of course, my lord,” the butler returned promptly, and slipped out of the room. Not long after, Mister Harbinger entered.
The meeting with his steward took longer than he had anticipated. It dragged on terribly, although Henry hardly had the mind for such matters just then. Mister Harbinger was fine company, yet the awkward little details and necessary fine-tuning only Henry could provide meant time moved slowly.
He was more than glad to bid the man good day, and it wasn’t until teatime that he found himself able to sit and breathe, completely undisturbed. It was a moment of pure peace and tranquility that Henry certainly didn’t let go to waste. The quiet time was the opportunity to regain his energy before he tackled more of his paperwork.
Yet once tea came to an end and Henry wandered back to his study, he found himself missing Agnes more than ever. He had a maid fetch her at last, and, not long after, his young niece appeared within the threshold of his study.
Agnes was a bundle of excitement the moment she saw her uncle, and Henry braced himself for her warm embrace. She nearly jumped in his arms, thankful to have him safe and returned to her once again.
“Uncle Henry!” Agnes cried in between her giddy laughter, at which Henry chuckled, amused by her delight. It was in such moments that he felt especially grateful to have his niece by his side. She was a bright light in his life.
“Hello to you as well, Agnes, I hope you don’t miss your freedom from me,” Henry teased, grinning as he spun her around. When he finally set her down, the girl pulled back to gaze up at him, her youthful glow like a halo.
It was a relief to have her near again, for Henry found comfort in his niece, even when her excitement grew beyond her control. It was endearing.
“Of course not! It was rather lonely without you, Uncle,” Agnes admitted willingly. She found herself a seat in front of the desk, while he leaned against the dark colored surface. Her face sparkled with excitement upon the arrival of a new thought.
“Have you brought me anything?”
Henry pressed a pensive finger against his lower lip, pretending to consider the question.
“Hmmm. Have I brought you a gift? Let me see…”
Agnes was nearly at the edge of her seat, brimming with hopeful expectation. Henry often brought her gifts from his travels, and she was never disappointed. Henry prided himself on his skill at choosing what she would like best.
Henry feigned surprise, and he quickly shoved a hand into the pocket of his dark-green waistcoat. He paused and grabbed the hidden object inside, hesitating before finally revealing it.
“Why, yes, I did!”
Agnes’ eyes lit up, and she gasped at the sight. In his palm was a thin, dainty necklace made of gold and rubies that gleamed handsomely under the candlelight.
“Uncle, it is beautiful!”
Henry took in his niece’s amazement and smiled. He handed it to her gently. “I thought it might make a wonderful piece for your debut, when the time comes.”
Agnes, ecstatic by both the gift and her uncle’s return, leaped up once again to give him an affectionate hug.
“I am truly thankful. I will cherish it always.”
“Very well,” Henry returned softly, feeling blessed by her approval. He watched while she marveled over the gift and held onto it cautiously, making sure not damage it by any means.
“You didn’t get yourself into any mischief while I was gone, did you?”
“Of course not!” Agnes exclaimed. A warm expression settled on her features then, and she folded her arms neatly behind her back. “I would have been terribly lonely if it weren’t for Florence, my new governess. As I predicted, she is a wonderful teacher and companion. She is amiable and teaches every subject with such certainty, in the clearest way possible. Oh, and Florence has helped me improve my pronunciations in French as well!”
