Page 115 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
‘Good evening, Susan,’ Aunt Jane intervened.
As she stood with the women, she watched Henry talking. Uncle Robert kept shaking his head.
‘Dinner is ready to be served!’ Davis called.
‘Susan.’ Percy was at her side. He had been talking to the boys but now they were talking with their mother.
She accepted his arm and lay her hand on it rather than held it. ‘How are you? You have been busy entertaining Stephen and Gerard.’
‘I do not mind. Henry has enough on his shoulders, he needs someone to help.’
Susan looked back. Henry was walking towards her.
‘Percy! That is my wife, of one day. I hope you will be gracious enough to let her take my arm to walk to the dinner table.’
Percy laughed and lowered his arm.
Henry raised his.
She held it.
They walked ahead of the others, leading the way into the dining room, and at the table, Henry withdrew a chair for her, before a footman could. He sat beside her, as everyone else sat down around them.
‘Your Uncle Edward is going home in the morning,’ Uncle Robert said as the footmen began serving.
‘Why?’ Henry looked shocked.
‘Because I told him to go. There is no point in him kicking his heels here. I told him to leave Rob and Caro in peace and go home.’
Henry sighed, and picked up his wine glass. It was as if he wanted to say something and did not.
As she was served, Susan slipped her hands underneath the table and rested one on Henry’s thigh. He glanced at her and they shared a smile. Then he sipped his wine and set the glass back down.
‘Is Harry leaving too?’ Percy asked.
‘He had to go back to his regiment. He left today.’
The conversation moved on, but both Uncle Robert and Henry were quiet from that point forward. Susan spoke more frequently, compensating for Henry’s silence, to stop others noticing. But there was definitely something wrong.
As the crockery for the dessert course was removed Aunt Jane stood. ‘We will leave you now.’ Sarah, Christine and then Susan rose too, to leave the men and Stephen and Gerard, alone with the port. Susan lay her hand on Henry’s shoulder before she walked away, and for a moment his hand lay over hers and he looked up with gratitude in his eyes.
In the drawing room, she offered, ‘Shall I play the pianoforte, Aunt Jane?’ It would give her something to do. She could not sit here with nothing beyond conversation to occupy her mind.
‘That would be pleasant. But please, nothing boisterous, and please stop calling meAuntJane.’ She walked across and hugged Susan for an instant. ‘Please call me Mama now, or just Jane at least.’
Susan held her in return, seeking to offer comfort as much as gratitude.
‘Shall we play together?’ Christine proposed.
Susan smiled. ‘If you would like.’
‘I will choose the music and might I sing…’ Sarah offered.
Perhaps they all needed other things to occupy their mind.
‘Then I shall sing too,’ Aunt Jane said.
There was some debate over which sheet of music to choose, yet by the time Percy entered with the boys, they were gathered about the instrument, playing and singing a love ballad in a very reasonable harmony. Percy joined in, as Stephen and Gerard excused themselves and left the room. Aunt… Mama… smiled and waved goodnight, but did not stop singing.
