Page 125 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
‘You are painting.’ He stated the obvious, but he liked watching her paint as much as Samson did. ‘I have a letter for you, from London.’ He lifted it and held it out to her as he walked across the room.
She wiped off her brush then set it down and straightened up, picking up another rag to wipe her hands. ‘From Mama?’
‘No. It is Alethea’s writing.’
Emotions spun through Susan in a whorl. She had not heardfrom Alethea since the day she married Henry. She put the rag down and held out her hand to take the envelope, then looked at the address. She had missed her sister so much. Her fingers shook, making the letter tremble as she broke the seal and unfolded the paper.
Susan had written once, on the afternoon of the day Henry had wept for William. She had written and told Alethea how much she loved her. But she had told her how much she loved Henry too, and explained she could no more have set Henry aside than she could Alethea. She had said she tried, but she loved him too much to live without him, even if it made her selfish and cruel.
Henry reached out and took the envelope from her, then set it down by her painting as she began to read.
‘She is to be married. The Earl of Stourton proposed and she has accepted.’ She looked at him.
‘I am glad, she will be happy too.’
Susan read some more. ‘She is forgiving us, and says I may happily have you with her blessing because she is more in love with Stourton than she ever was you.’
A chuckle rumbled from Henry’s throat.
‘She says she is glad now that she let me have you and did not fight.’ Tears filled Susan’s eyes, blurring her vision.
‘Susan.’ His hand lifted and curved about her cheek. ‘Sweetheart, do not take a single word of that to heart. I was never Alethea’s to give, you do not have me because she allowed it. You have me because you are the right woman for me, and my heart knew it.’
Henry’s fingers lifted her spectacles off the bridge of her nose, then he kissed away one of her tears, before wrapping his arms about her.
‘I am sorry. I am far too emotional these days. I weep over the slightest thing.’
‘That emotion is good.’ His chin rested against her hair as she leaned into his chest.
‘Will we go to London for the wedding? It is to be in St George’s.’
‘Of course. When?’
‘At the end of July.’
‘Then you will be very plump and our secret will be out in the open.’
She smiled against his chest. ‘I think it will be visible before then.’
‘I suppose. But I have enjoyed keeping it ours. Shall we go down to the drawing room? Mama just called for tea.’
‘Yes.’
As she turned away to tidy up her paints, his hand fell and caressed her stomach, the place where their child grew.
They walked downstairs together, with her holding Henry’s arm as he held the bannister. He had become ridiculously protective since they learned about the child. She was to walk downstairs either holding his arm or the bannister and banned from riding. He had told her bluntly he would not allow any reckless behaviour when this was their child.
She had laughed, because it was ironic that his recklessness had brought him home last year, and that had brought about this child. But she understood, he was afraid, and probably always would be, because reckless behaviour had killed William.
She had not fought against his riding ban as yet, for that reason, and because her stomach felt so constantly queasy. But at some point she would have to insist that some risks were small and must be taken.
They sat with his mother and sisters, drank tea and sharedAlethea’s news. When the tea was cleared away, Henry joined his father in the library. He had continued to help with the estate management, only now he worked with his father.
Susan returned to their room to rest, in the company of Samson, who always acted as her protector in Henry’s absence.
Henry woke her when it was time for dinner, and they changed together, with him lacing her corset because he feared a maid might secure it too tightly and hurt the child. She smiled at his image in the mirror as he stood behind her and lay both hands over her stomach.
He smiled too.
