Henry by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books

Chapter 8

“Henry,” Mary slipped an arm through her brother’s as she came up beside him. “I do believe you have danced with half the wallflowers in the last week and a half. Surely, you could find better partners than that.”

“Good evening, Mary.” Henry spared her a quick glance.

“What? You are not going to defend your decline in taste of partners?” She laughed lightly.

“No.” He had no desire to enter into any extended conversation with his sister about whom he did or did not choose as a dance partner.

“You are becoming a great bore.”

He kept his eyes forward, but he could well imagine the pout that accompanied such a tone. “Being respectable is not the same as becoming a bore.”

She once again laughed. “Respectable is so dull.” She sighed. “I did not come over here to argue with you about your recent disturbing behaviour, nor did I come to scold you for the way you spoke to me the last time we met ─ although I should, you know.”

“I know nothing of the sort.”

She made that particular sound in her throat as if holding back a huff, the sound that very clearly let him know that she was not pleased with him.

“What do you truly wish, Mary?”

“You are missed by our friends. Can you not accept just one invitation to a soiree from me?”

He knew the hurt in her voice was affected. He had heard her do it many times over when attempting to get what she desired. Still, it tugged at his heart.

“You know I cannot. If I am seen in the same company as I was before the incident with Mrs. Rushworth, my chances of securing the kind of wife for which I wish will be greatly diminished.” He turned toward her and smiled. “You could join my company. I may be able to secure you an invitation to any soiree to which I am invited.”

“I should think not! I do not wish to be thought of as dull.”

“You could never be dull, my dear sister. You shine no matter the circumstances in which you find yourself.” He patted the hand that still held his arm. “Do you not wish for a happy marriage? You will not find it amongst your friends. There is not a one of them that is content.” His mouth tipped up in a roguish smile. “I can assure you of the correctness of that fact if you wish.”

She feigned shock at his comments just as he knew she would. “I shall find an acceptable marriage and all that goes along with it.”

“Houses, carriages, money, lovers? Really, Mary? You would wish to have such a life?”

She shrugged. “It is the way of things. What you are chasing is an illusion. You will find a girl to please you for a time, but then another shall come along and you will realize that the same porridge every day is not satisfying. That is just how it is.”

He shook his head. “No, I do not accept that.”

“Accepted or not, it is what it is, Henry.

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