Page 70 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
Of course, Alethea had urged Susan to stay and then become distressed because she refused. Then angry because Susan would not tell her why. So their luncheon was eaten in silence.
Then the moment finally arrived. The carriage waited before the house. Her father settled her shawl over her shoulders.
Alethea’s eyes glittered, full of tears, and some tracked onto her cheeks.
Their mother wiped away tears too.
Susan embraced her mother.
Alethea had forgotten her anger now. She hugged Susan, then held her hands. ‘Do not go.’
‘I must.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I wish to.’ The whole shabby story hovered behind Susan’s lips. But confessing would destroy everything – she would lose Henry and Alethea.
‘Susan…?’ her father stated gruffly, asking if she was ready to leave.
She turned away from Alethea, biting her lip to hold back more tears. Her father lifted his hand to encourage her to walk ahead of him.
‘Goodbye!’ Alethea called, when Susan neared the door.
Susan looked back. ‘Goodbye.’
Her father offered his hand and Susan held it as he led her out to the carriage. He helped her climb up as her heart beatrapidly, fearing Henry might arrive before the carriage drew away.
She sat back in the seat and her father sat opposite. The tears that had trickled before, flowed. As the carriage rocked into motion he reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and passed it to her. He sighed when he sat back, as he had sighed this morning. ‘I do not know how to make you speak of what has upset you, but if it is to do with a man… If anyone has harmed you…’
A flush warmed her skin. ‘No one?—’
‘I am just saying, Susan. If it were so, then I will do whatever must be done to see this put right.’
Susan did not answer. Nothing could put it right.
18
Henry stood before the door of Uncle Casper’s town house and breathed in, his hands clasping into fists. His fingers flexed as he breathed out and his heart beat out an erratic pattern.
He had come to resolve the mess he had created. He was here to tell Alethea he did not wish to marry her. Then he would tell Susan he would not take no for an answer. Admittedly he and Susan would need to be mindful of Alethea, there could be no hasty proposal, but he needed time to adjust to this storm of emotions anyway.
He was tired. He had barely slept last night, thinking constantly of Susan, of the words that might persuade her to accept him.
He raised the large circular door knocker and dropped it down once, heavily.
As the door opened, nausea twisted through him. He had come here to escape the heavy chains of one obligation and yet to potentially snap another manacle about his leg.
He was still not certain he was ready for marriage, and yet hewanted Susan, and the only way he would ever wholly have Susan would be to marry her…
Dodds, the butler, smiled. ‘My lord.’ He bowed then stepped back, pulling the door wider. ‘Come in, sir. Shall I announce you in the drawing room?’
‘Yes, please.’
Dodds lifted a hand to take Henry’s hat and bowed again before he passed it to a footman. Henry handed his cane over too.
Henry walked across the hall at Dodds’s heels, with the eagerness of Samson, his heart thudding in his chest.
Dodds pushed the drawing room door open a little wider and knocked on it gently. Henry heard the women’s voices.
