Henrietta's Own Castle by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

IT WASN’T easy at all; after a couple of days during which she did her best to be detached and cool and pretend that she didn’t love Marnix at all, she reverted to her true self once more, which allowed her to think of him all the time if she wanted to, and imagine a number of happenings which would culminate in a happy ending, instead of the real life finale, when she would have to find a home for Henry, pack her bags and go back to England and work again. It might be a good thing, she reasoned during her more sensible surveys of her future, if she were to let the house and later—years later, when she had grown used to the idea of Marnix and Loes being married—she might come back, but in her more irresponsible moments she saw herself remaining at Gijzelmortel, working at some hospital nearby, miraculously sprung up overnight to accommodate her, with Henry for company, and Charlie—most certainly not garaged at the castle, carefully preserved so that she could go to Tilburg whenever she wished. The job would have to be something not too demanding at hours to suit herself and she would live very comfortably, avoiding Marnix at all costs. Which brought her back to thinking about him again.

The weather didn’t help either; it was still cold, with a sneering wind and icy rain, not the weather for long walks. Henrietta was forced to content herself with visits to the shop for exercise and a great deal of piano playing. But within a few days the weather brightened so that she decided to spend the morning out of doors. There were several small villages she had heard of and never seen; she would take the opportunity of seeking them out before the rain started again. She put on slacks and a thick sweater and the boots, ate her breakfast quickly, and was on the point of washing the dishes when someone thundered on the door knocker. Jan with news or the postman—it was far too early for a social visit. She went to the door, a tea towel in her hand, and opened it.

Marnix van Hessel stalked in, took the door from her grasp, shut it and swept her back into the dining-room.

‘Good morning,’ said Henrietta pointedly, and when he didn’t speak: ‘Have you lost your tongue, Jonkheer van Hessel? Do you know that it vexes me very much that you can never bring yourself to wish me good day or good-bye? Such a lack of good manners in a man of your position is to be deplored.’

He turned to stare at her. ‘Good God, you sound like a schoolmarm! I’ve come to take you to see some of the patients who were here.’

She bristled. ‘Is that an invitation or an order?’ she wanted to know.

He smiled suddenly and his whole face changed so that her treacherous heart bounced against her ribs. ‘My dear good…’ He saw the expression on her face and laughed outright.

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