Page 25 of Loving a Dowager
“Please do.” Theo’s voice was strained, and she huffed a short breath. Mere moments before the footman closed the coach door, her features contorted, one eye half closed and the other squinted into a pained wink.
Walter stood mulling over Henrietta’s mysterious niece. The lady had provided much to ponder. He didn’t fear rejection; Henrietta’s willing and enthusiastic responses to his touch had allayed any anxiety he may have had in that regard. However, he did fear the loss of two friendships he valued highly: those of a dead man and his wife.
Chapter Fourteen
Walter squinted in the direction of the tea shop and shook his head. The afternoon sun glinted off the shop windows to his left and caught his attention. Collins Confectionary. It wasn’t the favored location by the ton, but Collins was the only vendor of salted chocolate-coated nuts—Henrietta’s favorite. She would pop a sweetmeat in her mouth and close her eyes until all that remained was the nut.
He chuckled as he pushed the shop door open. Here he had thought Theo clever allowing him to disembark a discreet distance away from Gunter’s, when in fact, the lady had placed him right in front of the shop front where he needed to be. He had underestimated Theo, and he certainly wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Hallo, Lord Weathersbee. Been a long time since ye’ve shown yer mug around these parts. Wot can I get ye today? Peppermints?”
“Not today. I’m here…”
Lady Bertha’s excited voice from behind him stalled the rest of his sentence. The skin on the back of his neck rubbed against his cravat that suddenly felt too tight. Twisted at the waist, he beheld Henrietta, who stood with the sunlight glinting off the silver ribbon threaded through her pretty and very practical bonnet. Relief. Joy. Concern. All poured through Walter at Henrietta’s meek smile. There was no trace of the friendly smile that she normally greeted him with, nor there was a hint of uncertainty. Was she regretting the shift in their relationship?
Lady Bertha stepped forward and bobbed a curtsy, blocking his view of Henrietta. He turned fully to face the women, “Lady Bertha. Henrietta.” He tipped his head and bowed.
“Lord Weathersbee, what a delightful happenstance that you are here.” Lady Bertha was glowing, considering her brush with scandal. It didn’t appear she was suffering any ill effects of the abrupt ending of her courtship with Otterman. No signs of heartbreak or any other malady. She was obviously a very resilient woman.
“Quite a coincidence.”
The two women shared a glance that held some meaning that he was attempting to decipher when Lady Bertha linked her arm about his and stepped forward, giving him no choice but to follow. Ushering him to the far corner of the store, Lady Bertha lowered her voice to a whisper, “I prefer the sweetmeats at Gunter’s, but I understand for purposes of discretion why we must meet here.”
Blimey.He hadn’t orchestrated a meeting. Walter glanced about, searching for Henrietta, but the woman wasn’t in sight. Returning his attention back to Lady Bertha, he received sweet smile. Good lord, Lady Bertha was flirting with him.
Gently extracting his arm, Walter took a step back. “I beg your pardon, my lady, but I must set matters straight. I had no knowledge you would be frequenting this establishment.”
“Then why are you here?” Lady Bertha’s question was laced with disappointment.
Walter glanced around for the shopkeeper, hoping he could be extricated from this ridiculous situation. “I ventured in to purchase a bag of peppermints.”
Mr. Collins appeared, brows knitted in confusion. “But me lord, ye said…”
Henrietta appeared out from the aisle next to them, causing Lady Bertha to take a small step back. Henrietta’s warm, friendly smile had his heart doing somersaults in his chest. She turned to face the shopkeeper. “Ah, Mr. Collins, do you happen to have any of those chestnuts coated in chocolate and salt? They were most delicious.”
“Oh, me eyes must be deceiving me. Is it really ye, Lady Henrietta? Ye haven’t aged a day.”
“You are too kind, sir. My papa disowned me long ago; I’ve not been a lady in sometime. However, I’ve led a very happy existence as Mrs. Neale.”
It wasn’t a lie. George had successfully seen to her happiness and since his departure, she appeared to have rejoiced in leading a life of independence. Walter’s stomach began to churn. What could he bring to Henrietta’s life that she needed?
“Ye will always be lady, ma’am. Now let me get ye a bag of them chocolates yer wantin’.” Mr. Collins grinned, revealing a few missing teeth. Most likely the result of testing his wares.
Hiding behind Henrietta, Lady Bertha said, “I shall wait for you in the carriage.” The woman scurried out of the store so fast, Henrietta hadn’t managed to utter a reply.
Narrowing his gaze, he asked, “Why did Lady Bertha believe I had arranged for a surreptitious meeting?”
“She requested I inquire as to whether you…” Henrietta’s eyes darted about, no doubt hoping Mr. Collins would appear and save her. Thankfully the shopkeep did not return with her sweetmeats.
“Henrietta?”
“She thinks of you as her knight, her savior. You did rescue her from Otterman. She is rather hopeful that perhaps you might have an interest in… her… to marry.”
Walter inhaled sharply. “Marry Lady Bertha?” His roiling stomach clenched. Allowing Lady Bertha to believe that there was even a remote possibility he might entertain such a union was unlike Henrietta, unless she had decided not to further investigate which direction their relationship might take.
She placed a forefinger over his lips. “Shh.”
Backing away from her touch, Walter replied, “Madam, don’t shoosh me. I thought I’d made it quite clear who holds my interest.”
