Henry grunted, shaking his head but choosing not to comment on that. There was no argument he could offer to it. He did. He just wished there were fewer interruptions already.
“Lisbet enjoys her company immensely, you know. Even more than she realized.” Simon snagged a drink off one of the passing drink trays, leaning forward to snag a second almost as an afterthought to pass on to Henry.
Despite his irritation at having lost Josephine at his side, Henry smiled as he took the drink. As much as her being stolen away annoyed him, he was glad she got on so well with his two closest friends.
“She seems to be a wonderful young woman,” Simon continued pointedly, staring hard at Henry over the rim of his glass as he lifted it to his lips.
Ah, the inquisition.
Henry said nothing, taking a sip of his drink and considering making Simon work even harder for any answer. But it was a brief thought. He wanted to talk about Josephine, he realized.
“She is very charming,” he admitted plainly. “Intelligent, witty, we share a great many things in common. I’ll admit to having made a good choice.”
Simon snorted. “Not at all arrogant to phrase it that way either.” He laughed. “You certainly seemed quite taken with her when we walked up.” His dark eyebrows rose suggestively, his smile turning devilish.
Henry rolled his eyes. That certainly bore no response.
“Have you changed your mind?”
Henry blinked, surprise filling him as he wondered at his friend’s sudden, unexplained shift. Hadn’t he just admitted to being taken with her?
“Why would I have changed my mind and still have everyone here ready to attend our wedding?” he asked sharply, worried for a moment that there was going to be another rumour to dispel.
Simon grinned, holding one hand up as if to stop Henry from jumping down his throat.
“I meant about falling in love with her.” Simon spared no words; his chin tilted to the side as he regarded Henry with a frankness no one else would be allowed.
Henry started to scoff.
It was impossible.
His chest tightened, the instantaneous ‘no’ dying on his lips as his gaze slipped from Simon and across the room to where Josephine walked arm in arm with Lisbet.
He wanted her. His body’s response spoke well enough to that. He desired her company. He enjoyed speaking with her, sitting with her, and simply being in her presence.
But love?
A frisson of guilt worked its way through him, his mouth going dry.
“Henry?” Simon looked worried when Henry’s eyes cut back to him, an apology clearly on the edge of his lips.
“I am … unsure,” Henry answered before he could say sorry.
Simon looked more surprised at Henry’s admittance than he was himself.
Did he love her?
It shouldn’t have even been something to put into question. And yet…
“You’re unsure?” Simon repeated belatedly, coughing past the words and finishing his drink all in one go. “As to whether you love her?” he verified.
Henry’s gaze slipped back to Josephine, his heart uncomfortably unsteady within his chest.
It didn’t feel like how he remembered it. It was different, more slowly spreading through his veins. He didn’t have the same certainty he had been so sure of before.
But could he say it wasn’t love?
No.
