Page 98 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
‘Thank you.’ He looked back at Susan only for an instant, then followed the footman, as though he did not know where the library was. When they reached the open door the man stepped out of his way. Henry passed him and shut the door.
‘Uncle Casper,’ he said when they faced each other.
‘Henry… What might I do for you? Can I be of some help?’
‘I have not come to ask for help, but to ask for something else, Uncle.’ Henry set his upturned hat down on a side table, then stripped off his gloves and threw them into his hat. His hands were shaking, but whether it was nerves or a hangover from yesterday’s liquor he did not know.
‘What is it you need?’
Henry walked across the room. Uncle Casper was still sitting behind his desk. ‘I wish to ask for the hand?—’
‘Now, Henry?’ Uncle Casper interrupted, standing up, surprise twitching his pale moustache and distorting his brow. ‘I am sure Alethea is willing to wait until?—’
‘Not Alethea’s.’ Henry swallowed hard against what felt like cowardice in his throat. ‘I wish to ask you for Susan’s hand.’
‘Susan…’ Uncle Casper walked about the desk, looking utterly perplexed.
‘Yes, sir, Susan.’ He did not think it necessary to explain, it was just a fact. He loved one sister and not the other. Not the one they had tried to force upon him.
‘Is she aware of this?’ Uncle Casper asked.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Good Lord.’ He leaned back against the desk. ‘And Alethea?’
‘She is not aware. I have not had opportunity to discuss my feelings with her.’
‘Well, this is going to be a to-do, then, is it not?’
‘I know. I am sorry for that, but I cannot help what I feel for Susan.’ Henry’s voice was deep and his throat dry, as the emotion stacked so tightly beneath his skin that if he let himself yield to it he might go literally mad.
Uncle Casper nodded, his gaze looking into nowhere as though he were already thinking about the consequences.
It would mean a lot of upset, both in Susan’s family and his, but there was nothing else for it. He had been reckless again, they both had to face the consequence of that and he refused to regret it. He wanted this, and so did Susan, even though she would not admit it. She had admitted it on the grass in the rose garden when she did not say stop.
‘But why now, Henry? Surely now is not the time. Surely it is better to wait until the end of your mourning. It would be better for us to tell Alethea, too, and then give her a few months to become used to the idea of you courting Susan before you become engaged.’
Henry swallowed. He knew he would be asked to wait. He thought of nothing else during his ride over here, and there were no words with which to explain the urgency without telling Uncle Casper the truth. So he spoke the truth. ‘We have anticipated the vows, sir. I am sorry. Susan has no choice but to marry me, and we need to be married now.’
‘You…’ Uncle Casper’s mouth dropped open and his skin flushed with anger. ‘Well, now that explains much,’ he barked. ‘For instance, why Susan plans to look for employment and why she ran away from London. Yes, Henry, you had better marry her quickly.’ He walked to the door while he spoke and pulled it open. ‘Would you send for… Ah, I see you do not need to. Come in, Susan.’
Guilt and shame challenged Susan as her father glared at her, holding the library door wide and beckoning her in. She had been listening outside.
‘I am sorry,’ she said as she walked past her father.
‘I should hope so,’ he snapped back. After he shut the door he added, ‘I am disappointed in you.’ Then he looked at Henry. ‘I am disappointed in you both.’ He lifted his hand. ‘Susan.’ Her name was a sharp order, telling her to walk across the room to join Henry.
She was going to be scolded for stealing Henry from Alethea.
‘You have shamed yourselves and I hope you know it.’ When her father was unhappy he was like an army officer; his pitch heightened, sharpened and became barked words. His hands clasped together behind his back and he glared at them.
‘You must marry within the month in case there are consequences.’
He meant in case there was a child. Susan’s fingers pushed her spectacles further up the bridge of her nose as heat flushed her skin. Why had Henry told him that?
‘I know, sir. I will not have Susan suffer that,’ Henry answered.‘We will marry as soon as I can arrange it.’
‘You will require my consent,’ Susan complained.
