Page 10 of The Reckless Love of an Heir (The Marlow Family Secrets #4)

He turned and walked a couple of steps backwards, with his free hand cradling his poorly arm.

‘ I truly am sorry…’ He mimicked her voice.

‘Your words ring with guilt, Susan, as they did yesterday when you saw my bruises. Did you think I was acting out my pain, and wearing a sling for my pleasure? You… The rescuer of every wounded thing, wild or tame…’

‘No.’ Her instinctive denial cut through the air. It stopped him moving.

He smiled in that hideous mocking way, that said, I know I am right.

Oh, be honest with him, he would be honest with her.

‘I thought you deserved to be injured. You are the reckless one. It is you who needed to be taught a lesson. But I would not have wished your life endangered. I came to your room yesterday as much to apologise for the meanness of my thoughts as to fetch Samson.’

The rogue looked at the ceiling and laughed for an instant before looking back at her.

The amusement had brightened his eyes again.

‘Think as meanly as you wish, it will not do me any greater harm than I have done myself. I dare say, on this occasion, I may have finally learned the lesson you wished me taught.’ He turned away once more .

‘Where are we eating?’ she called before he left the room.

‘In the formal dining room. Papa is home.’

When they ate, she had intended to sit beside Sarah, but Alethea drew Susan’s attention, and so she could not then walk around the table to sit with Christine and Sarah. She ended up taking a seat on the opposite side of Henry to her sister.

Alethea spoke to Aunt Jane as Henry silently fought to eat his food one-handed.

Susan swallowed. She wished to make conversation, to stop herself from suffering with the awkwardness that hung over her. ‘How are your bruises today? Are they improving?’ she said lamely in a quiet voice that would not rise about the other conversations about the table.

‘Turning from almost black to a lighter purple, but perhaps I have a new one since you struck me,’ he replied as quietly.

She looked at him. ‘Sorry.’

He smiled. ‘If we are on the grounds of apologies, then I owe you one too. I am sorry I did not tell you to go away the other day. I should have done,’ he continued their conversation in a hushed tone.

‘I did not mean my teasing to discompose you earlier, but I can see it has done because every time you look at me you turn a greater shade of pink.’

Oh, now she wanted to smack him again.

‘You are forgiven for striking me, if I am forgiven,’ he concluded.

‘You are forgiven only if you agree never to mention that I went to your room again.’

A half laugh rumbled from his chest.

Alethea turned and said something to him. But before he turned to reply, he said to Susan, in a louder voice, ‘Are we friends again then?’

‘Henry! Alethea asked for your opinion,’ his father interrupted before Susan could answer. They had lost track of the greater conversation about the table.

Henry responded.

When they finished eating, everyone stood. Susan would have walked on ahead to return to the library, but Henry touched her arm.

‘Wait a moment. I have not yet secured your agreement on our pact.’

He had not forgotten his desire for a truce.

Alethea walked on with Aunt Jane, and his father walked with Christine and Sarah.

‘I would like to think of you as my friend, Susan. I do not think we have really been friends for years.’

She hated the way he said her name, his enunciation made her stomach twist about with strange sensations, as though it was a knot of grass snakes.

He held out his left, good, hand, which was gloveless. She accepted the gesture.

She wore no glove either. The warmth and the softness of his skin surprised her as his hand surrounded hers.

Yet he had not held her hand in the way he held Alethea’s hand.

He held Susan’s in a firm gesture, his whole hand gripping her whole hand, not merely pressing her fingers.

He shook on the agreement, then released her.

The queasy feeling in her stomach tumbled over. She had only ever held her father’s naked hand.

‘May I escort you to the library? I wouldn’t mind another look at your painting, we might even persuade Alethea to stop by…’ His good arm had lifted as he spoke. He was offering it to her, encouraging her to lay her hand on his arm.

She glanced at his forearm, before self-consciously resting her hand on his shirt sleeve. The cotton was so fine she could feel the hairs on his skin.

Her tummy squirmed and coiled.

‘How many flowers have you attempted so far?’

Susan swallowed before answering. Her throat had dried. ‘I am only on my second.’

‘And how many are in the book? I seem to recall about fifty. You will be here for a year.’

She smiled at him. ‘Or two.’

This was Henry at his most persuasive, he could turn this side of himself on and off so easily. She usually found his charm annoying, but it was never solely directed at her.

It felt… complimentary… and he was surely doing it to make her feel at ease with him again after her embarrassment, which was kind. Although it must be embarrassing for him if she was blushing at every moment.

His charm was working, though, she did feel more at ease.

For the second time in her life, she felt wholly in charity with him.

Perhaps he would not make such a bad brother-in-law after all.