Chapter 14
Henrietta frowned down at the tear in her hem. The sturdy fabric should not have ripped, but it had, and it seemed symbolic of her life. Ripped. Torn asunder. In need of repair. Unfortunately, repairing a ripped life took much more effort than repairing a ripped gown. She couldn’t very well go back in time and mend the relationship between Grayson and herself, no matter the revelations of last night.
“Good Lord in Heaven, Henrietta, your frown will scare the children.” Ada strode down the hill toward Henrietta, one hand holding a bonnet on her head. “Whose idea was it,” she called, “to hold a boat race on such a windy afternoon?” She stopped beside Henrietta and frowned a frown to match her friend. “I do hope the children are careful.”
“Are Pansy and the twins here?”
Ada nodded. “For the day, yes.”
Henrietta watched the small boats with their pint-size occupants in the distance. They would be fine. She, however, might not be.
“I assume you’re not scowling over the wind,” Ada mused.
“No.”
“I assume you’re scowling over Lord Rigsby.”
She could not hide it. Ada knew all. “I am.”
“Well, I’ve come to help. I spoke with Lady Stonefield. I have a list.” Ada slipped a piece of folded paper from her pocket and handed it to Henrietta.
“So soon! Well done, you.”
“Well it was exciting, wasn’t it? A bit like being a spy. A covert mission. A list of names.” Ada shivered her approval. “I’ve not had such fun in ages.”
“You need an adventure.”
“Yes,” she said solemnly. “Tell me, what are you doing over here when everyone who is anyone is over there?” She nodded toward the tents Lady Stonefield had erected near the shore.
Everyone who needed to see and admire Henrietta’s exquisitely-detailed day gown milled about under and around the tents or sprawled on blankets enjoying a picnic. Happy and sated, they were perfectly placed to admire her dress, to desire it for themselves, to follow Henrietta in droves to her shop in London. And they would admire it! How could they not with cunning little pictures of birds and leaves embroidered on its hem?
Yet, Henrietta avoided them.
“Don’t you need to socialize and ingratiate yourself with them?” Ada reminded her.
Of course, she did. Buthewas over there, so here she was, hiding. “I’m too tired to deal with it all right now. I might insult Lady Pendleson’s pug or roll my eyes at the Duchess of Valingford. Have you met Lady Willow, by the way?” Guilt gnawed at her belly. Another reason Henrietta kept her distance from the other guests today. Surely, they’d be able to look at her face and tell—not only did she still love Grayson Maxwell, Lord Rigsby, but she’d kissed him. Twice. Not simply kissed, but shamelessly thrown herself at a man all but promised to another woman. And a woman she liked, too. Her stomach tumbled about like the boat on the lake. She felt sick.
“I had planned on avoiding Lady Willow out of loyalty to you.”
Henrietta glanced sideways at Ada, slanting her friend a small smile. “Is there a more loyal friend in the world?” She laughed, a sad thing. “No need to avoid her. She’s lovely. A bit shy perhaps.”
“I agree,” Ada said.
She should tell her what happened with Grayson a year ago—the misunderstanding—as well as what had happened last night—Grayson whispering to her through the door and the darkness. Mercy, she’d not slept a wink, thinking he’d meant to literally not leave her, sitting sentry all night outside her door. She’d listened for his breathing, but she must have fallen asleep before hearing the booted steps that had taken him from her doorway. She’d opened the door to an empty hallway this morning and tried not to feel disappointment.
Even now, memories of his deep, determined voice shivered up and down her spine.
How could the world be so different yet so much the same? Grayson was right, everything had changed, but she, too, had the right of it—nothing had changed as well. Her mind swam with confusion, warred with her heart’s scream to throw caution to the wind and run right into Grayson’s obviously willing arms. “Ada, I need to tell—”
“Good Lord in Heaven! That’s Pansy’s boat!”
Henrietta snapped to attention at Ada’s breathless exclamation. A small boat tossed on the water, and a smaller figure tossed about within its short walls. Ada ran and Henrietta followed closely behind. They were halfway around the lake when Ada gasped and screamed. Henrietta jerked her head to the lake. One boat floated upside down on the rippling surface.
They hitched up their skirts and ran.
When they reached the water’s edge, Henrietta lost sight of Ada, who’d disappeared into the crowd.
A man stepped from the crowd, stripping his jacket and tossing it to the lakeshore. Grayson. He lifted a foot and wobbled, trying to pull the boot off. The crowd around him goggled as if he were a performer at Astley’s.
