Annabel’s heart softened. She didn’t want to remain cross with Henry, but—
“Master Hudsyn!” Mrs. Teal’s shrill exclamation broke into Annabel’s thoughts. The portly woman jumped out of her rocking chair and straightened her bonnet, which had fallen askew during her nap. “Good afternoon, sir. I didn’t realize you’d slipped into the room.” Her face flushed pink as she tucked several stray hairs under her bonnet. “I’m afraid little Alice is still fast asleep. She’s an excellent sleeper, you know—has been since she was a babe,” the woman said proudly, as though she were solely responsible for the child’s sleeping habits.
“Not to worry, Mrs. Teal. I just came in to have a word with Mrs. Crawford.”
Mrs. Teal glanced at Annabel and flushed an even brighter pink as though she’d just realized her presence.
“Would you mind if I borrowed her for a minute?”
Annabel felt her face heat. What would Mrs. Teal make of this situation? Would she tell Mrs. Bastin? And what if she did? Mrs. Bastin was a very liberal-minded woman. Even the servants in her household seemed to operate on their own rules.
“I…of course not, my Lord,” she said and gave an odd little curtsy. “Take her. I shall remain here in the event the little miss wakes up from her nap.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Teal.”
“Of course, my lord.” She gave a little bow.
Annabel turned to Henry and frowned.
My Lord? What did she mean by that? Was Henry a peer? And if so, why did he call himself Mr. Hudsyn? What truth was he trying to hide?
Chapter Seventeen
She half enclosed me with herarms,
She pressed me with a meekembrace;
And bending back her head, lookedup,
And gazed upon myface.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge,Love
Anne looked pensiveas they strolled side-by-side in the garden, and Henry had felt her mood shift when Mrs. Teal addressed him in the formal. So he imagined she was wondering why he’d kept his title from her. He didn’t want her to think he was trying to fool or trick her, so he would have to try and explain. But her question came before he had a chance to speak.
“Why did Mrs. Teal address you as my lord when everyone else calls youHenryorMr. Hudsyn?”
“Not everyone,” he said. “My valet always addresses me as my lord.”
Anne’s forehead creased, and Henry imagined she was visualizing Jamison, whom she had not realized worked for Henry rather than his cousin. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.
“I’m a baron by birthright, but I asked Headmistress Thomas to introduce me as Mr. Hudsyn to the young ladies because I didn’t want to intimidate anyone. I wanted the students to feel open about approaching me. Do you think that incorrect?”
“That was thoughtful of you, but why keep up the charade outside school? Why not tell me the truth?”
Henry shoved his hands into his jacket pocket and worried a pebble with the tip of his boot.How can I possibly explain the whole sordid truth to her? What can I say that will make her understand?
He glanced up at her. She was still looking intently at him, waiting for an answer.
“I suppose I was trying to escape myself. There are things in my past—my family’s past—that I don’t wish to face.” He shook his head, thinking of a better way to explain. “Have you ever wished you could take on a new identity—become someone else entirely—start fresh?” He shook his head again. “Of course, you haven’t. Why would you?”
“I understand,” she said.
“Do you?” he asked, surprised. He couldn’t fathom how such perfection could ever wish to be someone else.
“I do. We all have things in our past that hurt—things we’d rather not remember or from which we wish to disassociate ourselves. Sometimes it’s easier to play a part and forget.”
He searched her face, looking deep into her lovely green eyes and thinking she was most likely referring to her husband and the hurt she suffered at losing him. “He’s a lucky man,” Henry heard the desire in his voice and wondered if she recognized it too.
