Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Two Days Later
“Henry!” Beatrice exclaimed, her smile genuine as she came down the stairs.
Henry’s own smile was wide and eager as he turned and saw her, his sage green eyes alight with excitement as he held out his hands to her.
“Beatrice, I declare, your beauty grows each time I see you,” he praised.
Beatrice’s laughter felt natural as she reached the bottom of the steps and accepted Henry’s waiting hands.
Since the unfortunate visit from her family two days ago, Algernon commanded that no visitors were allowed in the house unless they provided their names.
Of course, Henry did not need to do so as he was recognized by everyone.
So, when Mira alerted Beatrice that he was there to seek a visit with her, she readily agreed.
To her surprise though, as she accepted Henry’s hands, he drew her toward him and kissed one of her cheeks then the other.
“Oh, my,” she blurted, blushing as she pulled away.
Henry’s smile remained on his lips as he gave her a quizzical look.
“That is how they greet one another in France, is it not?” he asked.
For a moment Beatrice floundered then she remembered Algernon explaining the rumor he’d created of her whereabouts.
“Oh- OH! Yes!” she stammered, fixing a wide smile on her face as her mind raced for an excuse for her confusion.
“Forgive me, no one has greeted me in such a way since I returned to London. I nearly forgot that was the custom.”
“No need for forgiveness, darling,” Henry answered happily, stepping to her side and taking her arm. “I do rather like it, though. The custom of kissing cheeks as a greeting. It is rather cheeky—pun intended.”
Beatrice laughed, grateful that was one of the language lessons she remembered from her brief time with a governess.
“Indeed, it is,” she agreed, “So, what brings you by? Business with your brother?”
“Actually, it is you I came to see,” Henry explained as they walked arm in arm toward the back of the vast mansion.
“It is a beautiful day out, and I thought I would like to spend it with a beautiful woman in a beautiful place. Algernon does not appreciate our gardens as I do, and I gathered that he had not even taken it upon himself to show you their splendor.”
Beatrice blushed at the mention of Algernon’s name. She had not seen him since she had fallen asleep in his arms the other night. When she had awoken later that morning, she found herself in her bed and alone, her curtains opened, so she would not awaken in darkness for a second time.
“He has not,” she replied, drawing back to the present. Now was not the time to think of such things. The fact that Henry was visiting on his own volition was a very good sign that Algernon’s plan was actually working, and she needed to focus on that.
“I have wandered some sections on my own but only briefly. I would love to have you as a guide,” she added as they reached the back patio doors.
The flesh on Beatrice’s bare arms warmed as they stepped out of the mansion and into the summer day, a shiver of excitement passing through her.
She had never been able to spend much time outdoors aside from completing chores.
Never even contemplated the possibility of enjoying the weather.
Yet after the other night on the kitchen patio, she was quickly starting to learn that she adored being outside.
“So, tell me about yourself,” Beatrice insisted as Henry led her down the garden path. “It has been days since you had dinner with us. What adventures have you had since then?”
Henry laughed by her side and patted her hand.
“I do love that you are so eager to hear me talk,” he confessed then looked over at her.
“And yes, I do in fact have adventures to speak on,” he said with a wink.
Beatrice laughed at the roguish gesture, feeling a genuine sense of friendship form between them.
“Tell, tell,” she urged.
As they walked through the gardens, Henry occasionally breaking from his story to point out a particularly beautiful flower or another, he told her what he had been up to.
Beatrice liked the way he told stories, even making the mundane parts of his day sound as if a great feat were accomplished, and when she laughed, she did so not to flatter his ego but because she truly found him amusing.
“I am once more taken aback by you, Beatrice,” Henry sighed dramatically as he ended his stories.
“Oh?” she asked as Henry stopped them before the rose garden. “Have I done something wrong?”
Henry chuckled as he drew his arm from hers and turned to the blooming red, pink, white, and yellow flowers.
“Not at all,” he answered, pulling a knife from his pocket.
“In fact, quite the opposite. If I had told any other lady about the parties I had just told you about, they would take on the sourest of expressions and pout that I did not invite them. You, however, seem genuinely happy for me that I had a good time.”
Henry then reached out to the flowers, using his knife to cut off some of the blooms.
“I am genuinely happy for you, Henry,” she answered truthfully.
“You are not disappointed that I did not take you along? Surely, with your beauty and grace, you were invited to many parties in France.”
Again, Beatrice blushed at Algernon’s rumor.
“I am not so much interested in parties,” she answered carefully. “In truth, I have quite enjoyed the respite your brother has offered me by allowing me to stay indoors. Though I do enjoy hearing about you enjoying the parties.”
Henry’s smile was charming. In fact, as she studied his youthful handsomeness, Beatrice found him quite pretty. Not rugged and masculine looking as Algernon was. Instead, there was a gentleness to his features which were almost as delicate as a woman’s.
“I have had a thought, new friend,” Henry said, his words pulling her from her thought. She returned his smile.
“Do share then, new friend,” she encouraged, feeling the ease between them grow.
Henry looked thoughtful for a moment, the expression a bit overdramatic in a way that made her laugh.
“I am, as I said, quite refreshed in knowing that you were not offended that I did not incline to give you an invitation to a party. And I did hear you when you explained that you felt rather done with parties. However, you have not yet experienced a true English royal ball yet. What if you were to accompany me to one? I assure you, I am an excellent companion at these things. I would promise you a night of fun and whimsy.”
Beatrice felt panic push into her veins, making her heart beat a little faster, and the fresh air suddenly was difficult to draw into her lungs.
So many things could go wrong. It had been years since anyone in the ton had seen her, but what if someone did recognize her?
Or worse, what if her old family was also there?
Then, of course, there was the fact that she was not overly confident in her etiquette or dance lessons yet.
What if she made a mistake and brought embarrassment to Henry?
Then all of Algernon’s plans would be in ruin.
Even as much as a week ago, she would not have cared whether she would be married or become the independent woman Algernon promised her she would be if the plan failed, but now?
After all she had learned? After hearing and seeing just how much Algernon wanted for his little brother? She did not want to let him down.
“I- I do not know,” she managed to reply, feeling suddenly shaky and anxious over the thought.
She waited for the disappointment, for the chastisement that would come with not readily agreeing to his invitation, but Henry’s smile was kind and patient as he held out the freshly picked bouquet of roses to her.
“It is all right to take some time to think about it,” he encouraged, pressing the stems into her hand. “Perhaps in time, I could convince you.”
Beatrice mustered a smile in return, ready to thank him for his patience. Yet as she clasped her hand around the bouquet, her smile faltered as pain laced into her palm, and she hissed in a breath.
“Oh look,” Henry said with a bored tone.
“I’m al—” she began to murmur as she pulled her hand away and found the thorns had bitten into her palms.
“Here comes my brute of a brother,” Henry said before she could finish.
Her pain quickly forgotten, Beatrice’s head snapped up and followed Henry’s gaze.
Sure enough, Algernon was striding their way, his great height making him easy to track through the walking paths throughout the garden.
As always, he had a hard look carved into the handsome planes of his face, but even so, Beatrice still felt those butterflies erupt in her stomach.
“He is not doubt coming to chastise me for some thing or another,” Henry muttered in an exhausted tone. “That seems to be his way as of late.”
Beatrice forced her gaze from the incoming brother to the one standing before her.
“Algernon loves you very much, Henry,” she said softly, searching his suddenly guarded expression. “I am sure he does not mean to be scolding you so often.”
Henry let out a humorless laugh as he shook his head.
“You really are the sweetest young lady I have ever met, Beatrice,” he replied. Yet as he said so, even as he smiled, Beatrice was certain she saw a glimmer of pity pass briefly through his sage green eyes.
“Good day, you two,” Algernon’s deep voice greeted them.
Flashes of their night curled up and asleep on the chair outside of the kitchens erupted in her mind upon hearing his voice and catching his scent.
She pushed them away and smiled politely at him.
Although, even though she could tuck the thoughts away, she could not do the same with the blush that bloomed on her cheeks as he stopped so very close to her and Henry.
“Good day, brother,” Henry answered first, tone wry as he gave him a nod. “I suppose I owe you an apology for not letting you know that I was going to escort Beatrice to the gardens.”
“Not at all,” Algernon replied, his tone surprisingly cheerful as he looked from Henry to Beatrice. “This is indeed a nice sight to see. And I have not had the time to escort her through the gardens myself yet, so it is good that you have done so.”
Henry’s expression was one of astoundment as his jaw dropped. Algernon took the opportunity to turn his gaze upon Beatrice, and the moment his forest green eyes locked on hers, the butterflies in her stomach beat their wings even faster.
“Are you having a good time viewing the gardens?” he asked, his deep voice kind.
“I am,” she replied, holding up the bouquet of roses. “Look what Henry picked for me. Was that not so very thoughtful of him?”
She was still not sure what exactly the rift was between the brothers, but the more she got to know them, the more she felt determined to help mend it. She wanted them to see another in their best light as she did.
Algernon nodded, but as he looked down at the bouquet in her hand, he frowned and reached for them.
“Henry,” he murmured, his much larger fingers gently wrapping around her own to unfurl them from the bouquet. Again, the butterflies went wild as he touched her.
Not wanting either to see how greatly effected she was by his touch, Beatrice dropped her gaze to her now free hands and was alarmed to see that they were both spotted with small, bloody cuts.
“Oh, heavens, Beatrice, my apologies,” Henry gasped, his face going pale as he saw the blood.
“You should know better than to put thorns into such delicate hands,” Algernon chastised, plucking Henry’s kerchief from his jacket pocket and snapping it in the air, adding an extra bite to the words he’d spoken.
Algernon quickly wrapped the stems of the thorned roses with the kerchief and shoved them into Henry’s hands.
“All truly is well,” Beatrice attempted to say, but even as she tried to smooth over the exchange, Algernon stepped between herself and Henry, withdrawing his own kerchief in the process and tearing it in half.
With a great tenderness that had heat soaring through her veins, Algernon wrapped the black silk around first one wounded palm then the other.
“It certainly is not,” Algernon retorted, tying the kerchief securely to her hand. “A lady must never be in discomfort because of a gentleman, especially in the physical sense.”
“I apologized, brother,” Henry gritted out as Algernon stepped to the side once again. As he did so, Beatrice saw the embarrassment in Henry’s face, and her heart broke for him.
“It is a lesson learned,” she gently insisted, “and the sentiment was incredibly thoughtful. Please do not let us forget that.”
Henry looked up at her with a small, appreciative smile, and she quickly returned it, wanting him to know that with her, he was already forgiven.
“Let us move on,” she encouraged, glancing from Henry to Algernon. “Algernon, since you are already with us, will you not join us for the rest of our walk?”
“Yes, brother,” Henry encouraged, seemingly willing to move past the tense moment. “Stretch your legs with us. Take part in this beautiful day.”
Beatrice found herself holding her breath as she waited for his answer, realizing that she very much wanted him to say yes.
Algernon glanced from Henry to her, his features still most serious as he studied them both.
Then finally the left side of his lips lifted up into a half smile, and he put his hands into his pockets.
“I suppose I could stroll with you two a bit,” he agreed. “Besides, I came to bring you both something.”
Beatrice couldn’t help but look towards Algernon’s pockets, and as he pulled what he brought out, she let out a laugh when Henry gave off an annoyed groan.