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“You can,” Henry agreed. “But be prepared for the consequences this time, including an interrogation session with our Council once I tell them of your association with Phineas Marsh and how you lied about a task with the Council. I don’t think they will be pleased knowing you used their name as an excuse.”
The way Gunther paled told him there was more to the story than he thought, but Henry knew Gunther couldn’t run from Broom’s Isle, and with a few private investigations the truth would come out sooner or later. He banked on that. Maybe he could even ask Pearl to help him with the private task. Henry watched as Gunther processed what was happening, shooting Pearl an accusing glare and sending Henry another disbelieving one. When Henry didn’t budge, the man’s shoulders slumped.
“Fine. Whatever,” Gunther bit out almost petulantly.
The man didn’t need further prompting to turn and walk away, with the two following him at a conservative distance. Just as Gunther reached the doorway, Henry cleared his throat.
“Oh, and Gunther?”
“What?”
Henry looked him in the eye, conviction and his heart’s place clearer than ever.
“It’s not just sex. I intend to marry this woman. Perhaps you should start spreading the news during tonight’s family dinner, which I, unfortunately, have to miss.”
Chapter 13
After Gunther left, Pearl was still trapped in a daze and needed time to get herself out of it. But Henry being there, so close and so calm after the bomb he had just dropped, left her in a stupor of swirling emotions, and just a tinge of panic. Not having the time meant confrontation was the only thing next, which she did when she faced him.
“You can’t just say things like that, Henry.”
He glanced at her, then glanced at the door, as if debating whether to seal it or not. He came to the conclusion not to as he left it alone and finally replied to her.
“Why not? It was about time.”
She gaped at him, but he was already ambling away as if he was just talking about the weather. Refusing to let it go, she stalked after him, then walked faster until she could block his path. That he stopped willingly confused her further, but she was already locked in on the subject matter.
“You shouldn’t have said it,” she insisted.
Henry tilted his head, watching her expression.
“Are you so disgusted by the idea of someone like me liking you?” he asked. “To be honest, I don’t blame you.”
She blinked, not expecting the turn of conversation. “What?”
“One side of me is a coldblooded, arrogant jerk related to a family of coldblooded, arrogant jerks,” he recited matter-of-factly. “The other side’s a rough giant who has no business being here. Either way, it’s not a good option and you can do better—”
“It’s not that, you jerk.”
He went silent…expectant. “Then what is it?”
The words were stuck in her throat for some reason, unwilling to come out.
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“Complications are solvable. I live with a complicated family, and now that complication has become personal. I’m still working on it.” A pause. “Is it my brother? Is it my blood relation to him and the heinous thing he did?”
“I don’t associate people with other people like that,” she shot back. “At least, not anymore. And it’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“You can’t just tell people you will marry me without my consent.”
“I said I intend to, not that I’m forcing you. It’s a simple declaration of my goals, no matter what the outcome is.”
“Stop it, Henry.”
“Pearl, I don’t know what you want to hear—”
