Page 17 of The Reckless Love of an Heir (The Marlow Family Secrets #4)

Susan looked through the window at the grand houses lining the street. She had often come to her parents’ home in London, but she had not been for two years, and this year was different. This year they were to take part in the season.

‘I told Henry we are arriving today. I asked him to call upon us. I hope he calls…’

Henry had written to Alethea weekly since returning to town. He had changed his ways and begun acting with some responsibility and thought for Alethea, his intent and commitment to pursue their engagement clear.

Susan was looking forward to seeing him too. When Alethea shared stories from his letters, Susan remembered the amusing, charming Henry with whom she had danced and talked. She would shamefully even admit herself to be a member of the Henry Marlow Appreciation Society.

There was one small issue, though, she was not certain if it was really his dancing and conversation that had charmed her, or if, in fact, seeing his injuries when he had been half naked had swayed her, or watching him sleep in his shirt and trousers within a room with the door shut.

He had looked so vulnerable then. The sense of empathy she’d known in that moment hovered inside her.

The carriage rocked and creaked as it rolled over the cobbles, and from outside came other noises, other carriages, animals and people.

When they arrived at the town house, her father climbed out first. He helped her mother, then Alethea, and then with a smile he held his hand out for Susan to take.

She smiled too, excitement skipping through her nerves.

She was looking forward to the balls, and to visiting museums and galleries.

Alethea had promised to accompany her on some explorations.

Henry arrived at four. Two hours after they arrived. Susan leaned over the bannister and looked down as Alethea hurried down the stairs into the hall. He had come with his cousin, Harry, who was an officer in the army. Harry was dressed in his scarlet regimentals. Henry was in black and grey.

Henry took Alethea’s hands and kissed each one.

Susan walked downstairs more sedately than her sister. Her mother and father were in the hall too.

Harry had stepped forward to take one of Alethea’s hands and was bowing over it. Henry looked up. His gaze immediately caught on Susan’s and clung to it as she walked down.

She smiled.

He smiled in return and the emotion lit up his eyes.

Yes, she had joined the Henry Marlow Appreciation Society. Yet there was no need for him to know it.

When Harry let go of Alethea’s hand, he met Susan’s gaze.

He looked very smart in his uniform. Susan had not seen him since he had become an officer.

But he was the son of Uncle Robert’s brother, another of her father’s friends whom they called Uncle Edward.

Like Henry, Harry had been brought up so close to them it felt as though he were their cousin.

‘Hello, Harry, I have not seen you for an age.’ As she stepped off the bottom stair and held her hands out towards him, Harry came forward.

She sensed Henry was still watching her but she did not turn to look.

Harry kissed the backs of her fingers. His lips were warm and her hands cold.

Susan remembered the kiss Henry had given Alethea when they’d last seen each other, and wondered how warm a man’s lips would feel against hers.

Harry smiled heartily at her. He had always been a jovial companion, if perhaps a little wild. Very much like Henry, except less self-centred.

‘How are you, Susan?’

‘Very well, thank you, and you? How do you like the life of a soldier?’

‘It is nothing but revelry.’

‘You are entirely suited to it then.’

She glanced at Henry. He was still watching her.

‘Hello, Henry.’ Her cheery voice was cooled by a sudden awkward feeling as emotions hollowed out her innards.

She could not claim empathy, Henry was now healthy and virile and smiling at her in a way he never had before.

It bore a resemblance to the way he smiled at Alethea.

Harry let her hands slip free from his. She bobbed the slightest of curtsies in Henry’s direction, avoiding moving closer and offering her hand. She could not bear for him to touch her at that moment; the hollow feeling had made her queasy. If he touched her, she might vomit .

‘Shall we go into the drawing room and take tea?’ her mother invited.

‘Susan.’ Harry offered his arm.

She took it willingly, gripped it gently and they walked ahead. ‘Have you been wicked of late or has becoming a soldier dulled you?’

He laughed. ‘Not at all. I am still very capable of wickedness, but I suppose nothing has livened you up. I would wager you still have your head buried in books most of the day, and I suppose you have not come to London for the entertainments but to discover what might be learned. Well, I have a sennight’s leave so I shall offer myself up as an escort if you wish, to ensure you are pleased with your visit to town.

What about the new Victoria and Albert Museum, have you been there? Or would you care to go?’

She looked at him. ‘I have not been and I’d love to go, Harry, thank you.’

‘We should go as a four,’ Henry said behind them.

Susan glanced back at Alethea. Museums and galleries were not her favourite places and yet she had promised to accompany Susan.

Alethea smiled at Susan, then looked at Henry. ‘That is a wonderful idea.’

Of course, his presence would mean Alethea need not look at the artefacts or the art, but focus on enchanting Henry.

Harry began educating her on what she should expect of her visit to town.

Perhaps the balls would be more fun than she had imagined, with Harry to play escort.

He had numerous cousins on his mother’s side too, whom she knew to various degrees, so she might even have enough partners to keep her dancing.

When they sat in the drawing room, drinking tea, Alethea talked with Henry and occasionally threw a teasing comment at Harry.

But mostly their conversations remained separate, except every time Susan looked at Alethea and Henry, Henry always happened to be watching her and caught her looking.

On occasions his lips quirked up at the corner, yet at other times he merely looked back at Alethea.

‘We should leave,’ Henry stated after almost an hour, and rose. ‘I would not wish to outstay our welcome.’

‘You are welcome to stay for as long as you wish,’ Alethea answered, standing too.

Henry gave her a warm, charming smile. ‘I must go, though. Harry and I are due to meet others at our club.’

He arranged to take Alethea out driving in his curricle the following day. Then Harry suggested the day after should be for their excursion to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

‘Yes, please.’ Susan’s hand rested on Harry’s as it lay on the sofa between them. His hand embraced hers in return.

‘But that will be the morning after Mama’s ball and I shall be too tired to do the outing justice,’ Alethea complained.

Susan looked towards her sister, but instead her gaze caught Henry looking at hers and Harry’s joined hands. She slipped her hand free of Harry’s and Henry looked up.

‘Then the next day,’ Harry said.

‘Yes, if you wish,’ Alethea agreed.

Susan turned sideways on the sofa to face Harry, so she would not be inclined to look at Henry. ‘I will look forward to it more than the ball.’

‘I thought you might like the idea, book-head.’

She smiled as Harry stood, then stood too.

Alethea wrapped her arms about Henry’s neck and kissed his cheek. It was a forward gesture but they were to be engaged. Henry pressed a kiss on Alethea’s cheek in return.

Susan looked at Harry .

He held her hand and bowed over it. ‘Thank you for your pleasant company and conversation, Susan.’

‘I might say the same.’ She gave him a bright smile.

‘May I claim the first dance at your mother’s ball?’

‘Oh, do. Then I will know I shall not be left to stand awkwardly at the edge of the room at least for the first dance. I know no one in town but you, your family and Father’s and Mother’s friends.’

‘Then I promise I will shower you with introductions and ensure you are not left to stand awkwardly at the edge of the room. As you know, the Pembroke family are a horde and I know many people in town.’

‘Thank you.’ She wished to embrace him. It was so long time since she had seen Harry, she had forgotten how nice he could be. His mother and father did not live near hers, so she had not seen Harry’s family as much as Henry’s.

‘Susan.’ Henry stood beside her. He had come across the room to take his leave of her.

Harry turned to Alethea as Henry took Susan’s hand.

How could his grip be so firm and yet so gentle?

He bowed and lifted the back of her fingers to his lips.

‘It is a pleasure seeing you again. May I have the second dance tomorrow evening, before Harry introduces you to half of London? I am to dance the first and the supper dance with Alethea.’

Susan bobbed a very slight curtsy. ‘Why, thank you, my lord. I graciously accept.’

A smile broke his lips apart then he laughed uncertainly. ‘I shall look forward to it, Susan.’ He let her hand go and bowed again, then turned to Harry. ‘Come on.’

They strode from the room, talking to each other in low voices, the aura of virile energy surrounding them leaving the room too. Susan looked at Alethea .

‘He came, just as he promised.’ She smiled.

Yes, it seemed Henry had turned over a new leaf.

Susan and Alethea sat down again and discussed the preparations for the ball, while Susan’s heartbeat skipped in a fast rhythm.

Her spirits had never been so keen for the date of a ball to come, but she refused to attribute it to Henry’s offer to dance with her; she would not accept she had become that far absorbed into the Henry Marlow Appreciation Society.

Henry flicked the straps and set his horses off into a trot. Beside him, Harry leaned back in the seat of Henry’s racing curricle and lay an arm along the seatback behind Henry.