“Oh, Dom, that frown looks positively atrocious on you.” She laid her head on his shoulder. The imprint of her trust. He owed her more than he was able to give. “Are you thinking of Henrietta?”
“No,” he choked out.
“Well, you should be,” she said in a scolding voice. She straightened, turning her body to face him. She grabbed his chin and moved it so that he was forced to look into her eyes. “Henrietta hasn’t joined her uncle yet. He had to leave for the south of England on sudden business. She is staying with Lady Brandewyne, who is in town for the Season.”
He pulled away, rubbing his chin. “That was a little too forceful, even for you, Lou.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Finally you are learning to use the name I prefer. Now, Dom, I have made a plan.”
He groaned, but within, a tiny spark had alighted. “Your plans alarm me.”
“That is most unkind.” She stood and swirled around, then with a dramatic flourish, pulled another letter from her pocket. “This came four days ago. From Lady Brandewyne.”
“To you?” he asked skeptically.
“Not quite. To us.” She pressed the letter into his hand. “I shall summarize it for you. Henrietta mopes about the house and lacks any drive. She has gone to a few balls but failed to catch anyone’s eye, but that of Mr. Hodges. Who from all accounts is a good man with immaculate fashion sense.” She paused. “He follows Beau Brummell, you see.”
“Then he shall be broke in no time,” he said drily.
“They are great friends,” Louise persisted, waving the letter through the air as though brandishing a switching stick at him. “In fact, he has called on Henrietta several times. They have gone to plays—”
“Alone?”
“No, silly. All together. Lady Brandewyne approves of him.” Louise began to pace. “But, I ask you, dear Dom, if this is best for Henrietta? Who is this strange man?”
“I know him.”
“What does he want with our lovely doctor friend,” she continued as if she had not heard him. “We should investigate his intentions. Make sure they are honorable.”
“Honorable?” He scrambled to follow her reasoning, while a forbidding discomfort kinked his neck.
Her eyebrows crunched together and she put her hands on her hips. Her foot tapped the cobblestone. “Honestly, do you not understand what I’m saying?”
He must have looked somewhat befuddled because she threw her arms up in exasperation. She miraculously kept hold of the letter.
“Men,” she said in a voice that sounded just like Barbara’s. “I shall spell it out plainly for you then. This Mr. Hodges is courting Henrietta, and we must ascertain if he will make a proper husband.”
The discomfort spread to his shoulders. He rubbed his chin, eyeing the child who had suddenly blossomed into a young, clear-thinking lady before him. “Henrietta does not want to marry.”
“Oh, you silly, silly thing.” Louise tsked. “Women are susceptible to wooing, and according to Lady Brandewyne, this Mr. Hodges thinks very admirably of her unconventional skills. It is doubtful he will try to restrain her from doctoring. If anything, he is encouraging her. Thus ensnaring her in his malicious web of romantic intentions.”
Mouth dry, Dominic nodded. “What is your plan, imp?”
* * *
Balls were such tedious enterprises.
Henrietta smoothed her silk skirt, glancing about the room for Mr. Hodges. He had said he would be here tonight to get the ointment she’d made for him. She was certain his trouble sleeping was due to his lifestyle and food choices, but he refused to listen.
So she’d concocted a lavender liniment for his feet.
People swirled about, and she caught sight of Lady Brandewyne in the corner. The lady smiled at her, and Henrietta reciprocated.
She pushed her way through the crowd to the refreshment table. It had been almost a fortnight of boredom and loneliness. She missed Louise’s chatter and Dominic’s flirtatious grins. Sometimes doing the right thing involved pain, she told herself. She sipped her drink, struggling to believe that she was right to leave.
If only Uncle William had been in London when she’d arrived, but he’d been called suddenly to southern England for a consult.
She would see him tomorrow, though. Lady Brandewyne had confirmed that her uncle planned to teach a symposium at six in the evening. Henrietta would be there, bags packed and ready to begin her life again.
She pushed away memories of Dominic and Louise. She could not bear to think of them right now.
“Miss Gordon, have you the medicine I need?” Mr. Hodges sidled up to her, his crisp outfit and perfectly coiffed hair in keeping with all of Brummell’s guidelines. Rules Henrietta had recently become overly aware of, thanks to Mr. Hodges and his obsessive love of fashion.
“Indeed, I do. And will you stop drinking hot chocolate in the middle of the night?”
“Never.”
They laughed as she dug the small jar from her reticule. “Then do not expect too much from this.”
Mr. Hodges took the jar and then paused, his gaze shifting past her. “My lord,” he said smartly, and bowed before leaving.
Henrietta turned to find Dominic standing behind her, his clothing impeccably tailored. He looked every ounce an earl. She curtsied, her mind in a flurry, her heart pounding hard and rapid beats. Why was he here? Had something happened to Louise?
He wore a glower almost as dark as his hair.
She found her voice. “My lord, how good to see you.”
“And you,” he said, sounding very stiff and formal.
She contained her wince. “How do you fare?”
“I heard that you are staying with Lady Brandewyne,” he said, completely ignoring her question.
She dropped any pretense of lightheartedness as it was obvious he had some sort of purpose for coming here. Most likely to beg her to governess again. “Not much longer. My uncle comes into town tomorrow.”
“Does he know that you are coming to see him yet?”
“Really, Dominic. We’ve discussed this.” She fanned herself, looking away from his
