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Mr. Shepherd pulled back with a frown. “Blackstone’s? Heavens no. He differs now in his behavior toward you because of…” He hesitated. “Because of your marked interest in his niece.”

The blood drained from Henry’s face. “What?”

Mr. Shepherd’s mouth opened as he struggled to speak. “I…forgive me. I thought, well, it is rather obvious that you and Miss Fernside have taken a liking to one another. I could only assume that Mr. Haskett is attempting to decipher if you might be a good enough match for his niece.”

The air rushed from Henry’s lungs as if he’d been struck, the words swimming through his mind.

Rather obvious.

Taken a liking to one another.

Might be a good enough match.

Good heavens. What had he done?

“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Branok,” Mr. Shepherd said, looking truly repentant. “I did not mean to assume…”

Henry shook his head. This was his own fault. This was all his own doing. Flirting with Miss Fernside, singling her out, seeking her out. He’d hoped, being on this excursion—being so used to living out of Society’s notice on his own excursions—that his time with Miss Fernside would be ignored, chalked off as innocent fun. After all, the entire party had been made aware of his and Miss Fernside’s distinct desire to remain single.

But of course others would assume that their fun was a mask for something more between them. And of course Mr. Haskett would think the same.

Would the man press them to marry simply to save Miss Fernside’s name from ruin? Or worse…had Henry done anything to ruin her name? He would never forgive himself if he injured the woman—or forced her to marry when she so clearly did not wish to.

But perhaps he’d caught the rumors in time. Perhaps he could put an end to them now, at this very moment. Save them both from going through the same thing he’d experienced years before.

“There is no need to apologize,” he reassured Mr. Shepherd, who looked more and more regretful of his words. “I am grateful you have made me aware of what is being said about Miss Fernside and myself, but I must say, I am quite shocked. For she and I have both shared many times with nearly all of you that we have no interest in marriage—whether between ourselves or others.”

Images flashed in his mind as he spoke the words. He and Miss Fernside standing before a vicar, exchanging vows of eternal companionship. The two of them venturing forth to distant lands, discovering new birds. Smiles shared, love shared…

But he set them aside. That was in neither of their futures. They’d both made it abundantly clear from the start—and so had Lord Blackstone.

“Mr. Shepherd,” he continued, “if you would be so kind to tell me, how far have these rumors spread?”

“I am uncertain,” Mr. Shepherd said at once. “Most of the men here do not care about such matters. The women might speak more, but my wife…” He hesitated. “My wife speaks with me often. She notices things many do not. Miss Fernside’s eyes on you. The way she brightens when you are near. Perhaps she was mistaken, though.”

Was that true? Did Miss Fernside watch him from afar? Did she find happiness when they were together?

He pressed a hand to his brow to force these new images aside. He should not care at all what Miss Fernside did in regard to watching him or her feelings for him—other than that of friendship.

Anything else would force both of them to alter lifelong plans, and neither of them were willing to do so.

“Might I ask a favor of you?” Henry asked next.

“Of course. Anything, Mr. Branok.”

“I know rumors have minds of their own,” he began, “but if you were to hear any other words about Miss Fernside and myself, would you be so kind as to correct them directly? I do not wish for Miss Fernside to be damaged by any of this.”

Mr. Shepherd nodded at once. “Of course, sir. I will see it as my duty. Mrs. Shepherd will be more than happy to oblige, as well.”

Relief filled Henry’s heart, though he was not naïve enough to believe the rumors had not already spread. If one person noticed, many more would in time.

“I can’t thank you enough, Mr. Shepherd,” Henry said, delivering another nod of gratitude before excusing himself.

He strode away in the opposite direction of the others. He needed time to think. Time to decide how to best proceed.

And more than anything, he needed time to figure out how exactly he would tell Miss Fernside that their friendship was being sabotaged by the opinions of others, all while keeping to himself that his own wayward and confusing thoughts of spending the rest of his life with her were also to blame.

Chapter 26