“Is something wrong?” he asked, though he assumed they were waiting for him to announce that he was now betrothed.
“We waited supper for you,” Judith said as she came to her feet.
“That was not necessary.” Henry wasn’t even certain he was hungry.
“Come along and tell us what has happened.” Bernice linked her arm into his and practically dragged him to the dining room.
“You have helped us so much, Cousin Henry, now it is our turn to assist you.”
While he appreciated the effort, there was nothing his five cousins could do to make Lady Penelope marry him.
The conversation ceased as servants placed the meal before them, poured wine, then left them in peace.
“The first thing that we have done is that I sent letters of apology to cancel the last scheduled teas,” Judith advised. “I gave the excuse that the preparations for the ball were more than we had anticipated as we have never done so before and that we must dedicate all time to seeing that it is perfect.”
Henry arched a brow. Under normal circumstances, such a ruse would have been believed. “Why?”
“We assume that any guests after today will be here for more gossip about you and Lady Penelope and not so much befriending us.”
They had the right of it.
“They also do not suit you,” Jael announced to which her sisters glared at her.
Henry chuckled. “Were you by chance playing at matchmaking?” He would not let on that he already knew.
“Yes, except none of the women who called on us would suit,” Damaris offered with disappointment.
“Though, I have to wonder if that was not intentional,” Bernice said after a moment.
“Why would you say so?” he asked out of curiosity.
To which Bernice grinned. “Why would Lady Penelope invite anyone who might intrigue you when she wanted you for herself.”
If only that were true, but it wasn’t. Penelope had wanted his cousins to have friends before the ball and had not been part of their matchmaking…except, they did not know that.
Did he dare tell his cousins, or let them believe what Penelope had wanted them to?
“She was the one to suggest the tea each afternoon as a way to bring misses and ladies into the home for Cousin Henry to meet,” Jael reminded them.
“She also didn’t seem at all interested when we wondered if you would find interest in any of the guests,” Judith returned. “Her answer was always perhaps and would then discuss something else.”
That could have meant that she did not care.
“Maybe she wasn’t even aware of what she was doing? There are times people have made decisions or taken an action that they are not even aware of because it is hidden from them in their own mind,” Bernice suggested.
“How can a mind not know…how can we do something and not know why or even know that we are doing it?” Chloe asked in confusion.
“I do not know how it all works,” Bernice answered. “I just know that I have read about it and there is something inside that can cause us to do something when we do not realize we are doing it.”
Of all his cousins, this is what he expected from Bernice. The one who loved to read and fill her mind with knowledge.
“So, what you are saying is that when Lady Penelope was helping us decide which guests to invite that she did unintentionally not invite those who Cousin Henry might come to like?” Judith asked for clarification.
He found it difficult to believe any of this.
Except, why hadn’t she ever invited someone her age? They would have been more fitting as friends for the eldest sisters since Judith was a year older than Penelope and Bernice was a year younger. Instead, the women who had come to tea were nearer to Chloe’s age, five years younger than Penelope.
Were his cousins correct?
