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Authors: Kari Edgren
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and her mother this evening.”
“I assumed it would be something of that nature,” Cate said. “She wasted no time in staking her claim. How does the old proverb go? A tame wolf wears a short leash.”
“I am no tame wolf,” Henry said tersely. “And I will not leave Selah. Please summon a servant for parchment and quill so I may send my regrets.”
Cate looked at him for a moment. “Maybe not tame,” she agreed, “but highly unwise if you intend to offend Amelia. Go to Kensington this afternoon, I shall keep Selah occupied.”
Henry put his arm around my waist, apparently unconcerned about showing her ladyship the nature of our relationship. “She just got here, Cate. Don’t ask me to leave her so soon.”
I leaned closer to him, in complete agreement with his decision.
“You are just as familiar as I am with the Hanovers’ monstrous pride,” Cate said. “Make an enemy of Amelia, and Selah will be shunned from every respectable drawing room in London. Is that what you want? To turn her into an outcast among your own people?”
“Amelia and I have been dear friends since childhood. She would never hurt me by disparaging Selah’s name.”
“Henry, do you know the saying, ‘heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned?’”
Henry smiled. “I assure you, Cate, there’s not a man in England who hasn’t committed that saying to memory since Congreve first penned the words.”
“Then I advise you not to let your emotions get in the way of your better judgment. At this point there is no reason to risk an irreparable rift between the Fitzalans and the Hanovers. Go to Amelia if for no other reason than to see how she is adjusting to the news that Selah’s ship has arrived safely. You are a reasonable man, surely you understand that by refusing her request you have nothing to gain and everything to lose.”
While she spoke, I studied her face, particularly her eyes. Though similar to my own in color, they seemed to hold a wisdom I could never dream of possessing so early in life. Maybe this had something to do with her being a widow. Regardless the reason, I decided right then that I liked her, and that Henry and I would do well to trust her judgment.
“Cate’s right,” I said, glancing up at Henry. “You should go see the princess.”
“And leave you so soon?” he asked. “Let me at least send my regrets for hunting. Then I can stay for a few more hours until it is time to dine.”
“You must honor the entire invitation,” I insisted. “At present, I know only three people in London other than Beth and the Goodwins.” And one of them already hates me. “Please go hunting so I can be spared from becoming the town pariah before the day is through.”
“You can always come back once you’ve dined,” Cate said cheerfully.
Exasperated, Henry ran his free hand across his forehead. “Amelia will do nothing of the sort, but I see there is no use trying to change either of your minds.” He guided me through the vestibule to the front door where he folded me in his arms and kissed me. “You had better be awake when I return,” he whispered into my ear.
His breath touched my neck, and I wanted nothing more than to pull him closer. “I promise.”
“Very well then.” He kissed me again on the tip of my nose and left.
With a sigh, I leaned against the closed door, forcing back the urge to cry. Less than thirty minutes together and he was already gone.
A swish of apple silk appeared in the vestibule. “He’ll be back soon,” Cate said.
So far, this day had presented one trial after another. “Do you really think the princess will speak against me?”
“Heavens, no,” Cate said with a small laugh. “Some say she’s a prickly sort, but Amelia is a steadfast friend and would never purposefully harm Henry or anyone he may love.”
I stared at her, confused by her apparent duplicity. “Then why did you send him away?”
She handed me
“I assumed it would be something of that nature,” Cate said. “She wasted no time in staking her claim. How does the old proverb go? A tame wolf wears a short leash.”
“I am no tame wolf,” Henry said tersely. “And I will not leave Selah. Please summon a servant for parchment and quill so I may send my regrets.”
Cate looked at him for a moment. “Maybe not tame,” she agreed, “but highly unwise if you intend to offend Amelia. Go to Kensington this afternoon, I shall keep Selah occupied.”
Henry put his arm around my waist, apparently unconcerned about showing her ladyship the nature of our relationship. “She just got here, Cate. Don’t ask me to leave her so soon.”
I leaned closer to him, in complete agreement with his decision.
“You are just as familiar as I am with the Hanovers’ monstrous pride,” Cate said. “Make an enemy of Amelia, and Selah will be shunned from every respectable drawing room in London. Is that what you want? To turn her into an outcast among your own people?”
“Amelia and I have been dear friends since childhood. She would never hurt me by disparaging Selah’s name.”
“Henry, do you know the saying, ‘heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned?’”
Henry smiled. “I assure you, Cate, there’s not a man in England who hasn’t committed that saying to memory since Congreve first penned the words.”
“Then I advise you not to let your emotions get in the way of your better judgment. At this point there is no reason to risk an irreparable rift between the Fitzalans and the Hanovers. Go to Amelia if for no other reason than to see how she is adjusting to the news that Selah’s ship has arrived safely. You are a reasonable man, surely you understand that by refusing her request you have nothing to gain and everything to lose.”
While she spoke, I studied her face, particularly her eyes. Though similar to my own in color, they seemed to hold a wisdom I could never dream of possessing so early in life. Maybe this had something to do with her being a widow. Regardless the reason, I decided right then that I liked her, and that Henry and I would do well to trust her judgment.
“Cate’s right,” I said, glancing up at Henry. “You should go see the princess.”
“And leave you so soon?” he asked. “Let me at least send my regrets for hunting. Then I can stay for a few more hours until it is time to dine.”
“You must honor the entire invitation,” I insisted. “At present, I know only three people in London other than Beth and the Goodwins.” And one of them already hates me. “Please go hunting so I can be spared from becoming the town pariah before the day is through.”
“You can always come back once you’ve dined,” Cate said cheerfully.
Exasperated, Henry ran his free hand across his forehead. “Amelia will do nothing of the sort, but I see there is no use trying to change either of your minds.” He guided me through the vestibule to the front door where he folded me in his arms and kissed me. “You had better be awake when I return,” he whispered into my ear.
His breath touched my neck, and I wanted nothing more than to pull him closer. “I promise.”
“Very well then.” He kissed me again on the tip of my nose and left.
With a sigh, I leaned against the closed door, forcing back the urge to cry. Less than thirty minutes together and he was already gone.
A swish of apple silk appeared in the vestibule. “He’ll be back soon,” Cate said.
So far, this day had presented one trial after another. “Do you really think the princess will speak against me?”
“Heavens, no,” Cate said with a small laugh. “Some say she’s a prickly sort, but Amelia is a steadfast friend and would never purposefully harm Henry or anyone he may love.”
I stared at her, confused by her apparent duplicity. “Then why did you send him away?”
She handed me
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