“I am aware.” Henry never spoke of her.
To my memory, no one did. There were no pictures of the second Countess Hartridge. The Earl had gone to London for an extended visit not long after his first wife—William’s mother—died. He returned eight months later, accompanied by a wife, and several years later, she was with child.
Henry was born and, within a few years, his mother passed.
“I have no memory of her.” He met my gaze. “Like Isabella will have no memory of her parents.”
“They will live through you, though.”
“My mother lived through no one.”
“For which I am sorry.” I offered a smile. “My father said she was a kind woman who kept to herself.”
“Oh?” He continued his journey. “I suppose she would have been shunned in society.”
“Perhaps not as the countess.” I understood what he said, though.
“No. As you say, I am the earl. The disgust might have been thinly veiled last night, but ithadbeen veiled.”
Whether because of the color of his skin or the extent of his injuries, I had no way of knowing. Depending on how gossip traveled—Lady Amaryllis had been one of the party—I might get a better understanding.
Perhaps the Marstons and the Thortons would be respectful. They had no way of knowing Henry would never strike back.Even when hurt, he did not lash out. He had never done anything to injure Caroline, despite the fact she had very much injured him. Although perhaps more his pride than much else.
Now, if disrespect of him affected Isabella, no doubt Henry would very much seek retribution. He would not let anyone hurt his niece.
He let out a long exhalation when we were inside his room with the door shut.
“A bath?”
“I do not think I could get in and out of the bathtub.” He blinked repeatedly.
“Then let me wash you properly, put you in a nightshirt, and get you into bed. The hour is yet early, but gentlemen are allowed to retire whenever they wish.”
“I thought that only ladies could beg off engagements by being ill.”
“Gentlemen should be able to claim sickness as well.” I undid his cravat.
“What would I do without you?” He let out a weary sigh.
“Well, you need never know. I shall serve you until I die.” I said the proclamation with little fanfare. Just a statement of fact.
Life rarely worked like that, though. He might die. I might grow infirm. He might decide he did not wish me around anymore.
Yet I chose not to obsess over any of those things. I would choose the sunnier disposition.
“I shall likely die first.” He said the words as I pulled his jacket from his shoulders.
“Why do you say that? You are a man of leisure.” I undid his buttons.
“I have hardly been that. Why must there be so many infernal buttons?”
“So I may get close and personal with you.” I grinned.
He rolled his eyes. Then he met my gaze. “You left.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
