The gentle gurgle of a baby’s laughter lulled him into sweet darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
One month later
Henrietta felt quite conventional as she stared at her reflection. The coral-colored silk dress pinkened her cheeks and somehow made her dark eyes look utterly exotic against the paleness of her skin.
She had never really felt pretty, and had never cared overly much to, but tonight she wished to look and be her best.
Tonight she would see Dominic for the first time since he’d been released from that terrible place called a hospital. Truly, London hospitals were a blight to England. She had seen many grievous places in her travels, but for a city of this size, with so much wealth available, there was no excuse.
She had already investigated several avenues of hospital reform and intended to be a part of changing the English methods of medicine. They were utterly archaic. It was as though no one had bothered to read the works of Hippocrates, or at least involve themselves with the Royal Society of Medicine, which published interesting although sometimes flawed articles.
In her opinion.
Which, she noted with an inner smile, was usually right.
She took one last look in the mirror, and then turned to go downstairs. Louise found her halfway there. She slipped her hand into Henrietta’s.
“Do you think Dominic will be happy to see me?” she asked quietly as they moved down the stairs.
“Thrilled,” Henrietta said.
“I have missed him so.”
“As have I.”
“Smiles missed him, too. He has already run ahead of me. I do not understand why we could not visit.”
“Your uncle had multiple injuries. A quiet, uninterrupted regimen of good diet and exercise was necessary to help him recover.” That, and other extenuating circumstances. In order to get him released into her care, Henrietta had to call in a favor from Mr. Moore.
Thankfully he had still been in London and negotiated Dominic’s release. However, he’d asked to take Dominic to Edinburgh to recover. While there, they could study his epilepsy together, weighing their observations against recent articles published by French scientists involved in epileptology.
Henrietta would have accompanied them, but because Louise’s governess unexpectedly quit due to a sudden marital engagement, she determined that it would be best to stay with Louise. To continue teaching her and to give her a home.
Seeing Dominic on that bed, strapped down and helpless...she could never forget the feeling. All due to an accident. One could not predict such a thing. And now he was back.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, greeted by quiet laughter coming from the parlor.
Louise raced ahead, but Henrietta found herself slowing as she neared the open door. What would she say? What if he had reconsidered all that he said he might feel? She wet her lips, stepping into the doorway.
Louise was laughing and hugging Dominic. No one noticed Henrietta at first.
When they did, both Uncle William and Dominic stood. In the candlelight, Dominic looked as startlingly attractive as he ever had. His eyes flashed a brilliant green, his eyebrows thick, black slashes over them. Perhaps he was a bit thinner, but that only chiseled his cheekbones into something more than handsome. When he smiled, his dimple curved like a second smile.
Meant just for her.
Her stomach fluttered, and she pressed her palm against the silk dress, embracing the feeling.
“Dominic,” she said in a strange, breathy voice that might have once embarrassed her. “How well you look.”
“And you,” he said, his voice husky as he came forward, holding out his hands.
“Oh, I must check on something.” Lady Brandewyne pushed to her feet.
“But we just got here,” said Louise.
“Come, come,” the dowager countess said, poking Uncle William in his shoulder. “You, too.”
He started to protest, but one look at Henrietta and he left with the others. She knew, of course, why they were leaving her alone with Dominic, but she was far too nervous to summon amusement. Indeed, the way Dominic stared at her was strangely fascinating, as though he was a dehydrated man who’d found a fresh spring.
“You have grown more beautiful.” He moved closer to her, his fingers reaching out to touch her bottom lip.
The words touched her deeply, for he had no reason to say such things other than that they were the truth.
“Before you say anything, I must tell you something,” she said, dipping her head.
“A confession?”
“Of sorts. Louise and I were at your estate for several weeks. I confronted the apothecary, and he decided to retire.”
“Miss Gordon, I’m appalled. Tell the truth. You scared him off.”
“You should not laugh. I told him you would never pay him another farthing. That he could take his threats and stuff them. He decided to go live with his daughter.” She shrugged.
“And you are telling me this because?”
“Well, I have been thinking a great deal.”
“As you are often wont to do.”
“You know me well.” The taut worry that had been perching on her shoulders eased. It was true. Dominic knew her and understood her, even when he did not agree with her. How very comforting that suddenly felt. “I came to the conclusion that I never want to be apart from you and Louise. Since the apothecary’s shop is sitting empty, perhaps you might be interested in hiring a female doctor?”
He broke into a wide grin, and she had a moment of fear that he was laughing at her.
“What a completely practical suggestion.”
“I thought so,” she said somewhat stiffly.
“What if I were to tell you,” he said, eyes crinkling, “that I have also been thinking?”
He stepped toward her. She did not step back.
“I would say that I am quite relieved that your brain has not atrophied after all. I would like to hear of your thoughts.”
“Will you be making a list on how to improve them?”
“My lord, I would not do such a thing.”
“Oh, but you would, my
