Page 74 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta
She shook her head slowly. “I do not.”
Relief seemed to wash over him. “I am glad to hear it.”
“Do you regret it?”
“I hardly dare admit it, but… no, I do not.”
“Then, kiss me again so that I may dress for dinner,” she said mischievously. “I am in need of further care to ease my pain enough to prepare for such an engagement.”
He laughed and rose from the chaise, moving over to her. She had forgotten how tall and broad he was, his arms encircling her with ease as he held her close. A flutter of anxiety made her heart patter, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for his kiss. With one arm clasped around her waist, he tilted her chin up and pressed his lips to hers. This time, she did not freeze, not even for a second.
I could get used to this,she thought, letting her worries melt away.
* * *
“We were starting to get worried,” Aaron announced, as Ewan and Henrietta appeared at the entrance to the lounge.
“You needn’t concern yourself, Papa,” Henrietta replied evenly. “I am here, as you see me, and I am feeling refreshed. My husband has seen to my injuries, and all appears to be well.” Her cheeks felt hot at the secret truth that bristled between her and Ewan.
Aaron cleared his throat. “Well then, shall we go into dinner?”
“I think that would be a splendid idea,” Ewan replied pleasantly, acting as peacekeeper alongside Tabitha.
They moved through to the dining room as a quartet and were seated by the window. Evening had fallen, a sliver of moonlight poking through the rainclouds that had gathered over the sea. Regardless, Henrietta thought Scarborough looked beautiful in the gloomy light. Lamps glowed in the near-distance, illuminating the seaside town in the most wonderful way. It looked positively picturesque.
As soon as they were seated, Henrietta gathered her courage. “Actually, Papa, it is somewhat fortuitous that you have arrived at this moment in time,” she said politely.
He looked stunned by the revelation. “It is?”
“Yes, because there is something that we must divulge to you,” she went on, knowing that if she paused, she would lose her resolve. “And it will require your assistance, in the near future.”
“You cannot be with child already. It is impossible!” Tabitha exclaimed, a fraction too loud. It drew the curious gaze of nearby diners and prompted Henrietta’s cheeks to glow like mortified beacons.
“No, Mama, it is nothing like that,” she replied. “It is something far more serious.”
Ewan nodded. “Yes, you see, a certain unpleasantness appears to have followed us to Scarborough. Indeed, I should say it is more than an unpleasantness, for it has put my dear wife, and your darling daughter, in a great deal of danger.”
Aaron paled. “What kind of danger?”
“He exaggerates,” Henrietta chided. “There have been… warnings. We did not want to worry you, but we felt we ought to tell you the truth, as Papa may be the only one who can help in this matter.”
“What is it?” Aaron replied impatiently. Henrietta eyed him, wondering what had caused this sudden terseness. He had been all sweetness and light, not a moment ago, and now he was practically on the edge of his seat. His demeanor was very unsettling, giving rise to Henrietta’s unspoken fears.
“A few days ago, Henrietta was almost crushed by a block of falling masonry. Although it was reported as an accident, we have since learned that there was no way that the stonework could have fallen on its own—it had to be pushed,” Ewan explained, as Henrietta continued to look at her father. She was desperately trying to figure out the whorl of expressions that twisted his face into a mask of despair.
“My goodness.” Tabitha clasped her hand to her mouth.
“The incident with the horse also appears to have been anything but an accident,” Ewan continued. “Gunshots were fired very close to where we were picnicking, and it spooked the horse. We knew there was a hunting party in the nearby woodland, but even so, the shots were much too close to be them. At least, these are our suspicions. We have no evidence, as yet.”
Henrietta nodded. “And I received a note, not too long ago. Initially, I kept it from my Lord Marquess, but I have since revealed its existence to him.”
“What did it say?” Aaron squeaked.
“It mentioned my interest in the medical profession and informed me that harm would come to me if I did not withdraw my letters. Whoever wrote the note also warned me to be careful, because they were watching me,” she replied. “They signed it with “A Friend” although the note was anything but friendly.”
“Yes, and we have reason to believe that we know who the culprit is,” Ewan added.
Aaron looked as though he were about to explode. “You do?”
