Page 41 of Restored

He’d never admitted that to anyone, not even Christopher himself. After they’d entered into their arrangement properly, he’d brought those encounters to an end, telling Christopher he wanted him all to himself—which was not untrue. But nor was it the whole truth.

All in all, he’d taken a great deal from Christopher during their time together, and what had he given in return? Christ, he hadn’t even met the most basic terms of their agreement. That thought made his stomach twist with shame.

So, if Christopher wanted to humiliate Henry—to give him taste of his own medicine as Christopher would see it—was that really such a surprise?

Pathetically, part of Henry just wantedsomethingwith Christopher, no matter what he had to do to make that happen. Even if it meant getting down on his knees and begging for the privilege.

When he’d walked into Christopher’s drawing room earlier this afternoon, and seen him for the first time in near enough two decades, his heart had quickened in his chest like it was stuttering into rude and painful life for the first time in years and years.

He had felt—not so much young, asalive—as though new blood filled his veins.

A terrifying and wonderful feeling.

When Henry returned to the townhouse, he found Marianne and Jeremy in the drawing room, both reading. Henry smiled to see their easy companionship. They were a very well-suited pair.

“Papa,” Marianne said, looking up. “Did you have a good day?”

He smiled, joining her on the small sofa. “I suppose so,” he said. “I met with my solicitor and… dealt with some other business.” His smile felt strained. “What about you?”

“Oh, I’ve been perfectly idle,” Marianne said happily. “I stayed in bed all morning and spent all afternoon reading. It’s glorious having an excuse not to pay calls—or accept callers for that matter.”

Henry laughed. “I thought that was why you liked living in town!”

“It is,” Marianne said. “Only not so much now that I’m size of a house.”

“Don’t be silly,” Jeremy said. “You’d barely make a gazebo!”

She laughed. “Wretch!”

“Only a dainty, charming little gazebo,” Jeremy said. “Barely big enough for one, standing!”

“You are an absurd person,” Marianne told him, blue eyes twinkling and lips twitching with humour. “Isn’t he, Papa?”

Before Henry could reply, she exclaimed, “Oh, I almost forgot! I had a letter from George today. I’ll let you read it later—it’s in my bedchamber.”

“How is he?” Henry asked.

“He sounded in reasonably good spirits,” Marianne replied. “But you know George—he’s not exactly one for those sorts of confidences.”

That was certainly true. Marianne shared her every thought with everyone, but George was quite the opposite.

“It sounds as if he’s been going round the estate with Mr. Holland quite a bit,” Marianne said. “And reading lots of his old Greek stuff.” She rolled her eyes.

“Different people enjoy different things, Marianne,” Henry said mildly.

Just then the door opened and Freddy entered.

“I’m starved,” he announced, flopping into a chair. “Can you ring for some tea and cake, Mari?”

“We’ll be having dinner soon. Can’t you wait?” she replied irritably.

“I’ll eat both, easily enough,” Freddy replied. “I missed luncheon, on account of my adventure.”

“Adventure?” Marianne echoed, interested now.

“A small one,” Freddy said, shrugging. “I had to rescue a lady in the park.”

Marianne gasped. She closed her book and set it aside, leaning forward. “What happened?”