Page 81 of When He Was Wicked
“It must have taken such courage to act against the wishes of her mother, even knowing the condemnation she might face from society. Your sister is very brave.”
Simon sighed. “Reckless and also impetuous.”
“Still brave,” she stubbornly pointed out.
The beginning of a smile shaped the corners of his mouth. “I agree, Henrietta; my sister is very brave, and I admire her tenacity.”
They strolled in silence for several minutes before she stopped, her belly fluttering for they stood only mere inches apart. Only a slight shift forward and the top of her head would brush against his chin. He must have heard her heart beating.
“Thank you for walking me home.”
“You are not yet there.”
“I am very close to my grandmother’s house. I am safe, Simon. I shall bid you a good evening.” Henrietta dropped into a quick curtsy.
“Good evening, Henrietta.”
She hastened away, refusing to glance behind her even though she could feel his stare on her. Instead, she thought about the painting and the work ahead of her. The first session with Simon had gone splendidly. He was a most interesting subject, and she was suddenly glad he had approached her. Smiling, she hurried across the lawns, pausing at the call of her name.
Turning around, she noted Lilli, an incurably romantic dreamer, using the telescope the earl had left behind to peer into the sky. Dusk had fallen alarmingly fast, and stars already twinkled against the velvet landscape of the sky. Henrietta ran over to Lilli.
“You are without a shawl,” she said. “It is rather chilly tonight.”
Lilli smiled. “How was your first session with the earl?”
Henrietta gasped. “How did you know I started?”
“We all know! Now tell me, did you wear the charm?”
Henrietta groaned, then sheepishly admitted, “Yes. However, I have no hopes the earl might fall in love with me. He…he is asking me to paint his picture for a lover!”
Lilli’s cheek flamed and her hazel eyes gleamed with mischief. “Is it a naughty painting?”
Henrietta cast her eyes upward in a roll. “Of course not.” She would die before she confessed it was to scandalously do a semi-nude portrait of a man! Though as the earl claimed, a mere chest was hardly naughty.
“You are blushing,” Lilli teased. “I must tell Eva and Annie. I have never seen you blushing before.”
Henrietta laughed. “It is the heat. Really you must return Lord Hardwick’s telescope, Lilli.”
Her cousin cast her eyes upward. “Truly? From what sun? Must I?”
Yip. Yip. Yip.
Her trusty companion saved her from the necessity of a reply and turning around Henrietta ran to greet her pug. She scooped him into her arms and kissed his smushed nose. “I am so sorry to have been away from you for so long. I promise to take you with me tomorrow, but you must behave.”
He panted as if he understood her words, and she took him inside with her. Once in her chambers, Henrietta called for abath, and tried her very best to not think about Simon. Painting him was an excellent diversion from thinking about her failed seasons, the uncertain future, and the pressure she knew her parents would bear on her to marry Lord Courtland.
Almost an hour later she went downstairs to dine with Gran and her cousins, and afterward they retreated to the drawing room to play parlor games. Henrietta felt their stares upon her, but thankfully no one questioned her. Still, she was aware of Gran’s probing regard upon her, and Henrietta fought to suppress those silly blushes.
Stifling a yawn, she excused herself and padded from the drawing room.
“Henrietta.”
Pausing, she turned around. “Yes, Gran?”
Her grandmother came over and cupped her cheeks. A heavy tension she’d not been aware of seeped from Henrietta’s shoulders.
“I wanted to give you some advice,” her gran said with a kind smile, her eyes crinkling at the corner. “Trust in the stone’s guidance.”
