Page 90 of The Sisters of Sea View
“Very well.”
When Georgiana had hurried away, Mr. Henshall lingered. Sarah’s gaze moved from his expressive eyes to his slightly upturned nose to the prominent dimple in his chin.
She said, “I am surprised you are back so soon. How was Branscombe?”
“Charming. But Effie wasna feelin’ well, so we came back early.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious?”
“Just the collywobbles, I think. Too many sweets in the carriage is my guess. She went to lie down.”
Sarah prayed that was all it was.
He looked up at the large painting in its gilded frame. “I like it.”
Sarah nodded. “So do I. It’s one of the few we brought with us. It was not included in the entail because Mamma commissioned it using her own money. That is Finderlay. Our former home.”
The grand house was set among lime trees, with a lovely garden and parkland rolling away into the distance.
“A bonnie place,” he said. “I gather ye miss it?”
“I do. I have many happy memories there ... and a few sad ones too. Despite them, it’s a comfort to have this here.”
“It looks well where you’ve placed it.”
“Thank you.”
Studying the image, he said, “It is grander than our home, although the estate is entailed through the male line as well. I had hoped to have a son to leave it to, but sadly, no.”
“Maybe one day, you might...” She broke off, feeling her neck heat.
He regarded her with interest. “Might what?”
“Never mind. I almost said something foolish. Something I would not like said to me.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You intrigue me. What has ye blushing like that?”
“I only meant ... It’s not my place. I just thought ... well, you might marry again and have a son.”
His gaze bored into hers. “And why is a suggestion of marriage and children something you would not like said to you?”
The heat rose to her face. She forced herself to keep her chin up and explained, “When Peter died, I was grief-stricken, of course. And some well-intentioned people tried to comfort me. Within a matter of weeks, if not days, they began saying, ‘You are young. You will find someone else. You will fall in love again and marry.’ I hated it. He is not so easily replaced.”
“I agree those sentiments were premature, but there was truth in them. Ye might yet marry and have a family of your own.”
She shook her head, throat tightening. “I have had one great love in my life. I don’t expect to have another.”
He stilled, taking that in. “How long ago did he die?”
“Just over two years.”
“And you still feel that way?”
Sarah hesitated. Did she?
Instead of answering, she huffed and said, “As a man, you might remarry and have children at any age. But as a woman...”
“Come, you are not so ancient. Ye canna be more than thirty.”
