Page 61 of Married to the Lord

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Our families will be most upset.”

“But will you be?”

He smiled vaguely. “I am afraid to say I will not.”

“Do not be afraid. I think fear is what got us both in this position.”

He nodded and chuckled. “I think so too.” He gestured again to one of the chairs. “Please sit, Augusta,” he insisted.

She relented and perched on a high-backed red velvet sofa.

Henry seated himself opposite, leaning forward with his elbows upon his knees. “You are certain about this?”

“I am.” She tilted her head and eyed him. “You do not seem all that surprised.”

His lips curved. “I had rather picked up on some reluctance on your part, and shall we say...some feelings toward another person.”

Augusta sucked in a breath. No, how could he possibly know?

“It is Miles, is it not?”

She stilled, unable to fathom a response.

“When we were younger, I always had an inkling you rather liked Miles.”

“I liked you too,” she protested.

“But not as much as Miles, and I would wager he likes you immensely. Always has, I suppose. If I'd have realized it sooner, I might not have been such a fool about this whole thing.”

“Whole thing?”

He grimaced and rubbed a hand over his face. “I was wrong to propose in the first place but I was also wrong to leave you. And then...”

“Then?”

“I fell in love.”

“Love?” she echoed.

He blew out a breath. “I met a woman in Hungary—Gizella.” His eyes warmed at the mention of her name. “I fell in love with her but I knew nothing could come of it. Not just because I could not break our engagement and ruin you but because she is poor, with no connections.” He shook his head. “Could you imagine how my family would be should I break things off with you and bring home a poor Hungarian?”

Augusta bit down on her lip. “I was rather hoping not to disappoint my family too, but, Henry, you have a loving family, as do I. They will want the best for us.”

“Even when we tell them you have ended things, they shall want me to look for a nice society girl. At least if you marry Miles, your family shall be quite content.”

Tears bit into the corners of her eyes suddenly and she swiped it away.

“Augusta?”

“I do not think that will happen anyway. He...he does not want anything to do with me.” She stared at her hands. “Something about his past.”

“That damned fool,” he muttered. “I have no idea why he thinks he should be haunted by it so. He's determined to pay penance until the end of his days.”

“Was it really so bad?”

“It was,” Henry confirmed. “He was involved with some very dangerous people. So much so that I unfortunately ended up in a little trouble.”

“Trouble?” she echoed.

---