Miss Bosworth smiled up at him, though her eyes were a little sorrowful.
“I suppose it would depend on how deep or difficult such circumstances were. If he believes that he was treated unfairly in some way, then he might be more than willing to take the crest from you.”
Henry shook his head.
“I should not like to think of it.”
“Then we will not.” Miss Bosworth tossed her head, her red curls bouncing. “Then who else might have done such a thing?” A moment or two of silence passed before she looked up at him again. “Might Lady Judith be involved?”
Surprise rippled through him.
“Lady Judith? I did not know you were acquainted with her.”
“I was not – Ihavenot been formally introduced – but she spoke to me last evening, demanding to know first of all why Miss Fairley and I were out walking together and secondly, what it was you and I had been speaking of.” A sudden smile spread across her features, stealing away Henry’s surprise. “I think shewas the one you were attempting to escape from when we first met, was she not?”
Remembering what he had done, Henry chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, she was. I am not sorry for doing such a thing, though you might wish me to be.”
“No, I certainly do not want you to regret it!” Laughing, Miss Bosworth leaned closer to him as the afternoon sun danced across the dappled leaves above them. “I enjoyed our waltz and, knowing now that our acquaintance has grown from such a meeting, makes my heart all the happier.”
Henry smiled back at her, aware of all that his heart was trying to say, but struggling to bring such words to his lips.
“I would quite agree.”
It was a far cry from what he wanted to express to her, but Miss Bosworth’s warm smile told him that she was grateful for what hehadsaid.
“I do not think that Lady Judith would agree, however,” she continued, making him laugh aloud. “Though, is there any reason forherto steal your ring?”
Quietening, Henry let himself consider it before he gave her his answer. It did not take as much thought as it had done for his first cousin, and Henry quickly shook his head.
“I am not very well acquainted with the lady – although I will say that she is my second cousin – so there could be no easy way for her to know of my talisman ring and how much it was worth,” he said, as Miss Bosworth’s lips flattened, her thoughts clearly rushing one over the other. “While I knew her name, I was not introduced to her until this Season. My father and her mother are cousins, but their family was not known to us.”
“She clearly has an interest in you.”
“Perhaps.” Henry smiled and shrugged one shoulder. “But I am afraid that I have no particular interest in her.”
Miss Bosworth’s cheeks flushed red, but she kept her gaze to his, their steps slowing as they continued to meander. Henry did not know what to say, his thoughts no longer fixed on his cousin, Lady Judith, or his talisman ring, but instead focused entirely on Miss Bosworth. She was everything he could have hoped for in a young lady, albeit a little more outspoken than he might have preferred. With a beauty all of her own, and a strength which had helped her with her standing in society thus far, he both admired and respected her – and that was not something he felt with such strength for any other young lady of his acquaintance.
“Is there anyone else you might think of?” Miss Bosworth’s voice had become a little quieter now, her gaze tugging away from his. “Any other young lady or gentleman of your acquaintance? Anyone eager for your company, even though you might be less than inclined?”
Attempting to think of those he had engaged with of late, instead of letting his thoughts focus on Miss Bosworth, Henry let out a sigh and shook his head.
“I cannot say. There was only one other young lady I considered at one moment, but it did not last for too long.”
“Oh?”
“A Miss Blakefield.” His shoulders rounded as a stab of pain pushed itself into his heart. “She suggested that I might have had a little happiness on the day that my father passed away since I was now to take the title.”
“Good gracious!”
Henry looked at her, seeing the way her eyes had rounded, the shock flaring through them, and felt his heart swell with affection for her all the more.
“Indeed.”
“I am sorry to hear that.” Miss Bosworth put her other hand on his arm, turning herself towards him a little more. “It must have brought a great shock to you to hear her say such a thing.”
“I could not imagine being wed to a lady who cared only for the title, and what it might bring her.” Henry shook his head, looking into Miss Bosworth’s eyes and knowing in his heart that she would never say such a thing to him. “I did not rejoice for a single moment over the loss of my father. My grief was, in fact, so painful that I did not think I would ever be able to find even the smallest relief from it. I would say, if I was truthful, that it hasnotleft me, but continues to linger, though I have just become a little more used to its presence.”
