Free Reckless Angel by Jane Feather Page B

to keep me here.” Will managed to get the words of truth out eventually. “If ye will return with me, Harry, I will enlist my parents to speak for you. My mother does not hold with the way Lady Mary has treated you, and she is not in favor of your marriage to Sir Reginald. She will be your advocate.”
    Henrietta said nothing. Tears blinded her for a minute and she kept her eyes on her platter until she was sure she had overcome them. “Your mother has always been kind to me, Will, but I fear I have need of a more powerful advocate in this instance.” She raised her eyes and smiled. It was a brave effort that deceived neither of her companions. “I did not mean to plague ye, Will. If ye truly do not wish to wed with me, then there’s no more to be said. I had thought ’twas just our parents that stood in the way. But I will shift for myself now.”
    Instinctively, Will looked at Sir Daniel, who moved one finger in a near-imperceptible movement that nevertheless made clear to the young man that he need take no more upon his shoulders.
    â€œMore wine, Henrietta?” Daniel refilled her glass.“If you care to, we will visit the lions at the Exchange tomorrow.”
    â€œI think I should like that.” She sipped her wine. “But I should like of all things to lie abed in the morning. ’Twill be such slothful luxury. No journeying to make, no duties to perform.”
    â€œI had not thought ye a slugabed,” said Daniel, laughing. “But if you wish it, then it shall be so. I’ve some commissions to execute in the city in the forenoon. I will return for dinner, and then we shall go out upon the town.”
    â€œA pleasing plan, sir. When will you leave, Will?” Her voice was quite steady, her expression composed. They could guess, but only Henrietta could know the wasteland as she faced the loss of the last tenuous strand of hope. Will was to have been her salvation. It was not to be, so she must rely upon herself. With the knowledge came a renewal of strength. False hopes drained one of strength, she decided, helping herself to a cheese tartlet. They diverted the attention. From now on, she would deal with reality.
    â€œMayhap I will visit the Exchange with ye,” Will said, boyishly eager once more. “I’ve not seen the lions and ’tis said they’re a marvel to behold. Brought all the way from the Africas. I could leave for Oxfordshire the following day.”
    â€œThen you may bear Henrietta company in the morning,” Daniel said easily. “Once she has decided to smile upon the day.”
    â€œI shall frown until at least ten of the clock,” declared Henrietta, entering the spirit of the discussion.
    â€œTo ensure that it is no later, I suggest you stand not upon the order of your retiring.” Daniel rose and lit a small candle waiting on the oak sideboard. “Y’are weary, child. Sleep well.”
    She took the candle, waited for a second for a salute that seemed appropriate, but when it did not come and she received only a smile, she bade them both good night and left the parlor.
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    The damned animal wasn’t up to his weight, Sir Gerald Ashby reflected for the tenth time in the last hour. He should never have bought from Wetherby. The man was no judge of horseflesh. Sir Gerald’s spurs dug cruelly into his mount’s lathered, heaving flanks and saliva frothed around the curb bit as the horse struggled to respond.
    Sir Gerald cast his choleric eye around the London streets. He couldn’t abide the city. Oxford was bad enough, but the capital was a foul-smelling den of thieves. And who the devil was this Daniel Drummond, Baronet, who had the disgraced Henrietta in charge? The letter had been civil enough, well penned, but uninformative as to the circumstances. If Sir Gerald had had his way, he would have consigned his whore of a daughter to outer darkness. But Lady Mary would have it that the