They ate both lunch and dinner in their bedchamber. In between meals, Henry helped distract Viola from her troubled thoughts in the best way possible. He hated seeing her hurt and upset and despised Robert for being the cause.
“I love you,” Viola murmured as she sank back against the pillows with a sigh. Henry lifted his head from between her thighs and pressed a kiss to her hip. “The way you make me feel...” She watched from beneath lowered lashes as he moved up the length of her body. “Perhaps I ought to return the favor.”
Henry froze. “Do you mean—”
“Yes.” She gave him the coyest smile he’d ever seen. “I daresay you’ll enjoy it.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” She gave him a nudge and he rolled over onto his back, allowing her to have her wicked way with him for a change. He’d fantasized about this for weeks, but it wasn’t the sort of thing a gentleman broached with a lady.
To Henry’s immense satisfaction, Viola approached the task with the same determination and diligence she applied to everything else in her life. Her focus was entirely on him and he, in turn, was in heaven.
He made love to her one more time before they both collapsed with unsteady limbs and the kind of languor that would not permit them to rise from the bed. Viola’s breaths gentled and Henry realized she finally slept. She did not wake when he rose at seven, so he left her to sleep when he quit the room half an hour later, fully dressed and intent on checking up on The Red Rose.
“I told Mr. Faulkner I’d let myself in,” a familiar voice said a short while later.
Henry looked up from the wine orders he’d been going over and instantly grinned upon seeing his brother. “Good God, it’s great to see you again, Florian.” He stood and rounded the desk to give his brother a rough embrace. “So much has happened while you’ve been away. I scarcely know where to begin.”
“How about the part that involves you marrying Viola?” Florian’s head tilted and a lopsided smile teased his lips while he studied Henry. “I stopped by Armswell House to announce my return and was rendered entirely speechless when Mama told me. Congratulations, by the way. I wish you every happiness in the world.”
“Thank you, Florian. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind romance, to be honest, but I know she and I are right for each other. I can feel it right here.” He pressed his hand to his heart.
“Shall we drink to your wife?”
“Definitely.” Henry turned to the sideboard and prepared two glasses of brandy. He handed one to Florian.
“And here I was, certain my experiences this past month would have outdone yours,” Florian said. He sipped his drink with a solemn expression. “In all seriousness though, I’m sorry to hear of the difficulty Tremaine has put Viola through. It must have put a terrible strain on her, so thank you for helping her deal with it, Henry. I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“Not at all,” Henry said. “If anything, I owe you one.” When Florian frowned, he added, “If you’d remained here, then you would most likely have helped her instead and she and I wouldn’t be where we are today.”
“So there’s a positive outcome in spite of a loathsome duke’s interference.”
“A very happy one,” Henry said. He drank from his glass and studied his brother. “Now that Robert will be taking charge of the hospital, he may not want to keep you on.”
“I may not choose to stay,” Florian said. “It all depends on whether he sells it as you suggested he might. At least my shares in the rejuvenation center outnumbered hers,” Florian said. “He’ll never be able to trump my vote or make decisions without my authority.”
“We must appreciate the small victories, Florian.” Henry raised his glass to his brother and took a long sip of his brandy.
Henry spent the next few days either at home or at The Red Rose, though he kept his business to a minimum in favor of spending time with Viola. She’d taken to helping his gardener plant lavender next to the terrace. In spite of the old man’s protestations, Viola claimed she enjoyed getting her hands dirty, and since Henry understood her, he refused to deny her the pleasure.
“I’m thinking of buying a jasmine and a trellis for it to climb on,” she said to Henry when they arrived home a few days later after a lovely evening out with Florian and Juliette.
Henry escorted her up the steps to their home and started unlocking the door. “Don’t you think that will look too busy?” He’d started the whole garden project because he wanted it to be simple.
“Not at all. I’ll have it placed right against the house wall by the terrace. The scent will be divine during the summer.”
Henry chuckled and pushed the door open. How could he deny her when the work gave her such joy? He helped her remove her bonnet and gloves before removing his own. A sharp noise coming from the library drew his attention. He glanced around. Where were Rex and Newton?
“Stay here,” he cautioned Viola. “I just want to check something.”
“You heard the noise too?”
Henry nodded. He went to his study first, collected the pistol he kept in his desk drawer and continued toward the hallway. His hand settled upon the door handle, fingers curling tightly around it. He paused to listen, his body poised for action while blood pumped rapidly through his veins. Intent on catching a potential intruder off guard, he shoved the door open and aimed his pistol at the first living thing he saw. And stilled.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Guthrie raised both hands, one of which held a tumbler, in surrender. “Good evenin’ to ye as well.”
“Who’s he?” Viola asked from behind Henry’s shoulder. She’d come up behind him and was now considering their uninvited guest with interest.
