Page 10 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta

“You did what?” Aaron snarled, striding toward her. Henrietta flinched, worried he might strike her.

“Dear Lord, Henny,” Tabitha whispered. “Why would you do something so…so…”

She was stuck for words; Aaron spared no insult.

“Foolhardy? Imbecilic?” he stated. “Ridiculous? Childish?”

“I am none of those things, Father!” Henrietta howled. “I am intelligent enough to be a physician! I have read all about anatomy and—”

“NONSENSE!” Aaron roared. “You are a woman. Your place is at home, not running amok in London.”

“But Father,” Henrietta breathed. “You must understand—this is what I long to do!”

“It will never happen!” Aaron snapped. He turned to Seth. “Who could possibly have put this in her head!” The question was clearly rhetorical, but Seth didn’t seem to notice.

“No doubt that surgeon she has befriended in town, sir” he offered.

“I was not inviting suggestions,” Aaron shot back, peeved that Seth would interrupt his fury.

Henrietta’s mouth parted in shock.He knows I have seen Dr. Ranstandt? Has he followed me?

“Although, now that you have mentioned it—which surgeon might that be?” Aaron posed his question directly at Seth and not his daughter.

Henrietta could not have her father confronting the only man who had taken her pursuit of education even slightly seriously. And so, she maintained her protectiveness for the kind doctor. “There is no surgeon!”

“Is this true, Henrietta?”

“You have been seeing a man unchaperoned?” Tabitha choked. “I…I cannot imagine it!”

“Because it is not so!” Henrietta turned to face the butler. “You lie! Before you tarnish a good name, where is your proof?”

Seth calmly spoke, “Miss, it is not required that I show you proof of what you already know. I have given my honorable word to the General of what I have seen. I don’t understand how you can be so ungrateful.”

Henrietta looked at him and then to her father who was still focused on his butler.

“You will not speak to my daughter in such a fashion,” Aaron growled. Henrietta exhaled in relief. It was difficult to gauge who her father held in higher esteem at times and who would be censured.

Aaron pointed to the door. “How easily it seems you forget your place. Now, off with you before I see you flogged for insubordination, Seth Booth, and do not expect a recommendation!”

“But, sir, I was—”

“Henrietta’s heart fluttered, a whirlwind of emotions coursing through her body. She doubted very much that her father was finished with his lecture, but she was grateful he had stepped forward to defend her.Or did he merely do it to show his authority?

Aaron clenched his fists and spoke to the ceiling. “She is beyond control, yearning to do men’s work. Will my daughter wear pants next?”

Seth cast Aaron one final imploring look. But the General had already returned his attention to Henrietta, his eyes flashing with anger

“I have not forsaken you, girl,” he growled. “Sit down.”

Henrietta watch Seth leave the room; she was tempted to do the same.

“Sit!” the General snapped.

“Now let us not overreact, Aaron,” Tabitha began to say but he gave her a warning look which silenced her at once.

“Father, I—”

“I will not hear one word out of you, Henrietta. This has gone on long enough. Your mother indulges your whimsy, but I will not stand for it. You have a finer chance of going to the moon than you do becoming a physician, do you understand me? If there is a man you have been consorting with, I will have his head, I swear it!”