He ran a hand through his hair as he made his way to his chamber.
“Brandon!” he called, and his valet looked up from where he had been brushing a top hat. “Fetch my best morning coat and shine my shoes. I am accompanying Her Grace to the ball tonight.”
“Your Grace, I thought you were dining with your uncle tonight?” Brandon asked, surprised.
“My uncle has changed his mind—as have I, regarding the ball. So please, make haste. I do not want to keep Her Grace waiting.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Brandon said and immediately set about collecting Harry’s finest attire.
“We shall need two carriages,” Harry added as Brandon was about to leave the room.
The valet paused, turning back to him. “You are traveling separately from Her Grace?”
“No, of course not.” Harry frowned. “That would look terrible. Besides, I would much rather travel with her. It is the return journey I am concerned about. I will be leaving the ball before Her Grace, as I have?—”
“Miss Helen?” Brandon interjected.
Harry looked up sharply. “Yes.” He noted the way Brandon furrowed his brow in concern. “What is it? Clearly, you have something on your mind.”
Brandon shrugged slightly. “It is just that I was thinking perhaps it is time you tell Her Grace about Miss Helen.”
Harry rounded on him, his expression darkening. “I can never tell her about Helen, and you know this. That is one of the reasons I must find a home for her.”
Brandon pressed his lips together, deep in thought. “It is clear that you are very fond of Her Grace, and she seems a reasonable woman, full of empathy. We all see and admire how she cares for her sisters, despite the difficulties posed by her father. Do you not think she would?—”
“Brandon,” Harry interrupted, taking a deep breath, his hands curling into fists. “I trust you and have always valued your service, but there are matters here of which you are unaware—things I cannot share, not even with my wife. They remain within these walls because we do not divulge them to others.”
He shook his head, frustration evident in his expression. He wished he could share his innermost thoughts, feelings, and darkest secrets with Arabella, but he knew he couldn’t. Not this. Not now. Perhaps never. All he could do was try to make their life together as smooth and comfortable as possible, even if it meant taking certain secrets to the grave.
CHAPTER 27
“Lord Farnsworth is positively dreamy,” Hanna sighed as she settled into a chair beside Emma and Arabella that evening.
Her face was aglow, her eyes shimmering with a light that had been absent for a very long time. She was dressed in a taffeta ballgown that rustled softly with every movement, the material catching the light of the chandeliers and gleaming with every turn of her head. She had styled her beautiful hair in an elegant half-up, half-down fashion, and pearl earrings dangled gracefully from her ears.
Emma forced a smile. “I am glad. At least, you have a gentleman who values you enough to attend.”
“Pray, do not be in such a high dudgeon,” Hanna replied. “Lord Hennessey may yet appear.”
Emma shrugged. “Perhaps. Perhaps not.”
They had been at the ball for nearly two hours, and Lord Hennessey, who had been explicitly invited to meet Emma, had yet to make an appearance. Lady Morley had apologized repeatedly, but her words offered little comfort.
Arabella had done her best to console her sister, but the truth was, she herself was too troubled to be of much help. Her mind kept wandering back to the dreadful conversation she had overheard, which had confirmed her worst fears.
She had remained civil to Harry as they made their way to the ball, though the silence during the carriage ride had been unbearably tense.
Presently, Harry was conversing with Lord Farnsworth, the gentleman whom Lady Morley had chosen for Hanna.
“You’ve hardly spoken at all,” Hanna remarked. “Is something the matter?”
Arabella turned to her sister, clearing her throat, prepared to share the truth of what had transpired. But then she hesitated. Hanna was happy for the first time in a long time, and Emma was already miserable. There was no need to add to their burdens.
“Sir Richard came to call today,” she finally revealed, “and he was rather unpleasant. It seems Father went to him to bitterly complain about us keeping you both at Ridlington Manor.”
“Of course, he would do that,” Hanna sighed. “Pitiful. It is no wonder that none of his peers want anything to do with him. Indeed, if it weren’t for Harry, Emma and I would stand no chance of finding husbands. We were fortunate you made this match, even if it was…”
“Indeed,” Emma agreed. “Father is the cause of all our sorrows, but at the same time, he has given us a glimmer of hope, even if it wasn’t for our benefit.”
