Page 103 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta
“I would not, my love. I truly would not,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “And I think a wedding sounds like a wonderful idea. I should like to kiss you at the altar and not run from the church this time. Moreover, I would like to see you smile as we commit ourselves to one another, instead of cry.”
“Oh, there may well be tears,” she warned. “But they will be the happiest of tears.”
“Then we shall make it so.”
A knock at the door distracted them from their cheerful reverie, bursting the bubble of their quietude. A moment later, Tabitha’s face appeared around the doorway. Without waiting for permission, she burst into the room and threw herself upon her daughter, cradling her in her arms.
“I was so worried!” Tabitha shrieked. “Your father told me what happened, and I have not been permitted to see you until now. Can you fathom it? Why, I almost beat that Ronscales fellow about the head with the morning paper for denying me entry. But here you are, awake and well. Oh, you cannot understand how glad I am. My dear, dear girl.”
Henrietta wrapped her arms tight around her mother and held her close. She smelled of rosewater and anise, the aroma familiar and nostalgic. Nothing more needed to be said between mother and daughter, for their mutual relief was tangible.
“You must never do such a dangerous thing, ever again,” Tabitha said, as she pulled away. “I do not know how I might have coped without you.”
“You do not need to, Mama. I am here, as you see me.”
“And have you heard what your foolish father has done?” she muttered. “Why, I have half a mind to live elsewhere until that vile man is gone from our home.”
Henrietta smiled. “He must be forgiven, Mama. It will take time, but if he is worthy of it, then he will earn it. Papa must earn some forgiveness too, for the errors in his youth.”
As if summoned by the mention of his endeavors, Aaron entered the room, looking suitably sheepish. Henrietta could tell that he had garnered an earful from his wife for deigning to accept Gerome into their house. No doubt, he had done so without consulting her first. A palpable tension bristled between them as her father approached, though Henrietta felt only gladness. They had all survived, and that was worth being joyful about.
“You are awake,” he said plainly. “I am pleased to see some color in your cheeks.”
Tabitha tutted. “No thanks to you and your useless men.”
“Tabitha, my love. I—”
“Don’t you ‘Tabitha, my love’ me. I will not hear a word of it, not until I decide to forgive you for this,” she said firmly. “You are fortunate that you have such a lenient daughter, for she has decided to side with you. I cannot comprehend why, but she has always been headstrong. Another trait of yours.”
Henrietta grinned, flashing a conspiratorial look at Ewan. “It is good to see you, Papa.”
“And you, my dearest girl,” he replied, relief visibly washing over him. “How do you feel?”
“As though I am on the road to recovery.”
He nodded. “That is splendid news. And the physician has been to see you?”
“He has,” Ewan chimed in.
Aaron cleared his throat. “Well… uh… speaking of physicians. I have something that I would like to tell you, Henrietta.”
She frowned. “Oh?”
“An acquaintance of mine happened to be visiting York, and I rode to meet with him this morning. His name is Dr. Arnold Fischer, and he is one of the most noted surgeons in the country. I spoke with him at great length, and I have persuaded him to tutor you in private at his facilities in London, upon the methodologies and practice of medicine. Although, you are not to speak of it to anyone. Once your studying with him has come to an end, he will personally vouch for a place at one of the educational establishments, in the hopes it will increase your chance of being accepted.”
She gaped at him in disbelief. “This is a trick? I died on the bridge, and this is heaven—it must be!”
“It is no trick, my dear girl. I realized that I have not been as kind to you as I ought to have been, nor I have shown any form of support towards your hopes.” He coughed awkwardly. “However, Lord Peterborough and I have spoken about these hopes of yours, and he persuaded me that they were not as outlandish as they may have seemed. Indeed, the only reason I rode out this morning is because of the discussion we had last night, whilst you were sleeping.”
She looked to Ewan, her eyes wide with admiration. “I do not know how to thank you—either of you.”
“Make something of it,” Ewan said. “Be remarkable, as you already are.”
Aaron nodded. “Yes… do not let it go to waste.”
“I will not,” she promised. “I will make you all so proud.”
“Which is infinitely better than bringing shame upon your house,” Ewan teased with a mischievous wink. “It will be your name that achieves this, not a borrowed one. I am certain of it.”
“I hope so. I really hope so.”
Ewan pressed his hand to his heart, showing her his love without saying it aloud for her parents to hear. She smiled back, pressing her own palm to her heart, returning the love in kind.
How could such good fortune have befallen me? Are you sure this is not heaven?It felt too good to be true, and yet, it was all very real. All the pieces were slotting into place, paving the way towards a happiness she had never expected.
Somehow, despite hardships and unexpected circumstances, she had ended up with a husband she loved dearly, and a means to pursue her dreams of becoming a physician. She would study under the private tutelage of one of the country’s finest surgeons, and shewouldbecome one herself, in the years to come. With Ewan at her side, and love in her heart, there was nothing she could not do.
The End?
