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“That doesn’t necessarily mean fancy.”
“Fine. I’ll bite. What was your most casual date?”
“A picnic by the cliff watching the sunset.”
She scoffed in disbelief, then realized he was serious. “Really?”
Henry nodded…then, shrugged. “She wanted the romance. My family wanted her family’s influence and the union, so I gave her the romance to satisfy both parties.”
“Oh. You’re engaged?”
“I was. It didn’t work out.”
“Why not?”
“She wanted romance all the time and I just didn’t see her that way. It put a strain on our relationship and she eventually dumped me and married someone else.”
Henry and dumped didn’t feel real in the same sentence. “I didn’t know about this.”
“It was kept under wraps. My family made sure no one found out about the engagement, especially the disgrace on my part.”
“It’s not a disgrace if it wasn’t right,” she protested. “Neither of you would have been happy if the marriage proceeded, especially her. She would have been miserable.”
“I would have done my best to see to my duties as a husband.”
“She would have still been miserable.”
“Are you trying to point out just how terrible I am to be wed to?”
“No, but it’s fun to get you riled up.”
Henry startled, just comprehending that he had been about to turn and lay down his points of argument while facing her. He ended up looking ahead frostily, but there was no anger.
“I’m not riled up,” he said, a hint of defense.
“Hmm. I have a question.”
“Since you’re awake now and my distraction method seemed to work, I would suggest for you to focus…but I know you will still ask.”
“Yep. I’m still going to ask.”
There was a soft grumble. “Ask away.”
“What’s your dirtiest date?”
Silence.
“De Marco’s.”
Pearl made a face. “Fanciest restaurant on Broom’s Isle. Go figure.”
“Business deal. The family heads wanted a collaboration and they sent their daughter to dine with me.”
“Boo—”
“We shook on the deal, she dragged me to the powder room, and we…did things.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Define did things.”
