Chapter 18
Late the next morning, for she had overslept, Alice stood outside her father’s door, gathering the courage for what she needed to say. No doubt her mother had already discussed Henderson with him, and she wondered what her father had said. Probably not very nice things, given how angry he’d been the night of the ball.
It had been five days since the ball, and from the laughter she occasionally heard from her father’s room, he was doing much better. He might not be hale and hearty yet, but certainly he could have a candid conversation with his daughter without falling ill again. She hoped.
In the wake of her glorious night with Henderson, Alice felt nothing could ruin her buoyant spirit. Even her maid had mentioned that she seemed to have a glow about her this morning, and Alice could not stop the blush from forming on her cheeks. She could still feel him there, between her legs, a soreness that she’d never felt before, that reminded her again and again of what she’d shared with Henderson.
Alice could hear the murmuring of voices and thought she recognized her brother’s chuckle, so she entered the room without knocking, still fearing that she would be sent away. Instead, her brother welcomed her with a smile and her father held out his hand for her to take. The relief nearly brought her to tears.
“Good morning, Oliver. Papa, you look nearly well enough to run to the village and back.”
“I am much better, thank you, and looking forward to seeing the doctor later this afternoon so I can convince him I’m more than ready to get out of bed. All this lying about cannot be good for me.”
“A couple days’ more rest will not hurt, Papa,” Oliver said, and Alice laughed at his stern voice. She realized with a twinge that Oliver had been small moments from being the man of the house, a position he fervently did not want. At least not yet.
“Oliver, would you mind giving Papa and me some privacy?”
“Of course.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead, completely surprising Alice and making her eyes shine with unshed tears. Though she knew her brother loved her, he had never shown her affection, unless tugging ribbons from her hair could be construed as affection, and Alice was touched far more than he could know. Perhaps he understood how dreadful she’d been feeling about the entire episode.
After he’d left, Alice sat down in the chair her brother had occupied and took a bracing breath. “I don’t want you to think ill of Henderson, Papa. I love him dearly and it hurts to think of you at odds with him.”
To her disappointment, her father’s smile faded and he turned his head away.
“I wanted him to kiss me. I knew when I went out on that terrace that he would. If you want to be angry with someone, be angry with me.”
Her father gave her a quick look before turning his attention back to the ceiling.
“A gentleman would never have taken such liberties—”
“—without the benefit of marriage?” she finished for him, her tone rife with meaning.
It took perhaps two seconds for Richard to understand what she was saying. He stared at her for two beats, then, “Agatha.” It was not a question, but a pronouncement, and Alice understood that he knew what she knew.
“I am sorry, Papa. I wasn’t supposed to know but I do and I fear I must save you from hypocrisy.”
He let out a sharp laugh, then quickly sobered and shook his head. “It is not only that,” he said. “It is that Henderson’s background is not what I would have chosen for you. You must realize how inappropriate a match with him would be.”
“I don’t care. I love him, Papa, and he loves me. And perhaps best of all, he already loves all of us, despite your awful snobbishness.”
“So.” He moved his hands atop the covers, smoothing them. “I thought you swore never to marry.”
“That’s because I’d never been in love before. It’s easy to swear you will never marry if you’ve never been in love.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “And if it makes you feel any better, Henderson is quite wealthy.”
“So I’ve been told. By more than one person in this family. It appears you are all conspiring against me in this. Somehow you’ve even won over your mother.”
Alice smiled. Her father’s words were like seeing a slice of sunshine splitting the clouds after a long rain. Waving her hand dismissively, she said, “Mama was easy to convince. She’s always adored Henderson. I think she just wanted to please you.”
“Hmm.” Alice held her breath, sensing that her father was about to make some sort of pronouncement. “You may have Henderson visit with me later today if you’d like.”
“Oh, Papa,” Alice said, leaning into him and giving him a long embrace. If he’d been well, she would have flung herself atop him, but she feared she might hurt him if she did that now. “You have no idea how happy you have made me.”
He let out a grunt, and Alice chose to take that sound as one of pleasure, not regret. “I cannot wait to tell Henderson the news. Thank you, Papa.”
She sailed from the room, and her father watched her depart, a fond look on his face, for it truly was impossible to remain angry at Alice for any length of time.
* * *
Henderson arrived in time for tea, and Mrs. Godfrey, having somehow learned he would be coming for a visit, served his favorite, cherry tarts. Elda, Christina, Oliver, and Alice sat expectantly when he entered the parlor, and used to being treated as a member of the family, he nearly laughed at the formal way they each greeted him.
“Thank you for inviting me,” he said to Elda.
“Thank you for coming. Lord Hubbard is still not well enough to join us, but has requested an interview after we’ve finished with tea.”
Henderson glanced over at Alice, who sat stiff and still, the oddest look on her face, as if she were bursting with some news but was unable to express it. The note inviting him to tea that afternoon had arrived at his hotel earlier that day, a cryptic message in the neat handwriting of Lady Hubbard. He’d studied the invitation for long minutes, not knowing quite what to make of it. Had Alice told her mother what had happened last night? Had something happened between the time he had left her standing on the terrace and the time her mother had written the note?
This formal greeting confused him even more. Everyone seemed happy enough to see him, and he could see no censor in Lady Hubbard’s expression, but it was clear that something was up.
“Is Lord Hubbard well?” he asked, because he wasn’t supposed to know he was doing much better.
“As well as can be expected,” Elda said, and Alice gave her mother a look of disbelief.
“He’s doing much better,” Alice said. “Things are looking very positive.”
Henderson was about to take his first bite of cherry tart, and he paused, staring at Alice, who pressed her lips together and looked at him with eyes full of what could only be described as pure happiness. He put the tart down, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. “That is good to hear,” he said finally, then sat back as the meaning of his visit fully hit him. He was here to ask Lord Hubbard’s permission to marry Alice.
“Are you all right?” Oliver asked. “You look suddenly ill.”
“Quite the opposite, in fact. I do not believe I have ever felt better in my life.” He looked over to Elda, who’d been sitting across from him with a rather stern expression, and couldn’t help but notice she was smiling at him fondly with that old look that had always comforted him, always made him feel welcome. By God, if he’d been alone, he just might have wept.
“Well, I’m done with tea,” he announced, then glanced at his favorite treat, nearly untouched on his plate. “I expect I shall have a visit with his lordship now.”
He stood and the small group all followed suit, staring at him expectantly. Christina looked especially adorable, for it was clear she also knew the purpose of his visit. Henderson left the parlor, and a footman led him to Lord Hubbard’s room, even though he knew the way, another strange formality that only served to increase his nervousness. Surely he wouldn’t have been invited to tea if Lord Hubbard was going to reject his suit.
The footman entered the room in front of him and announced him. “Mr. Henderson Southwell to see you, my lord.”
“Send him in.”
At least Lord Hubbard sounded well and strong. And when Henderson got his first look at the man, he was vastly relieved to see him looking as he always had. He was sitting up in bed, wearing a robe over his night clothes, his hair neatly combed and his face freshly shaved. Lord Hubbard had prepared for this meeting, it seemed, and Henderson was glad he’d taken extra care with his own appearance.
“It is good to see you well, my lord,” Henderson said. “I want to apologize for any part I may have had in your illness. You should know it has been a heavy burden on me these last few days.”
Richard waved a dismissive hand. “I am on the mend.” Richard gave Henderson a hard, long look, and it took quite a bit of discipline not to squirm or look away. “My daughter believes herself in love with you.”
“For which I am eternally grateful. And I very much love Alice. I have for a long time, sir. I realize I do not have the pedigree you wish for in a son-in-law, but I am here to ask your permission for your daughter’s hand in marriage.” He let out a small breath of relief that he’d been able to get out the words without stumbling.
“What of India?”
“I must go back and complete my mission there, but then I will return to England and stay. I would like Alice to come with me as my wife.”
Lord Hubbard frowned at that, but he nodded. “Very well. You have my permission.”
The relief at hearing those words was profound. “Thank you, sir.”
“You have proven yourself a gentleman, more than once, Mr. Southwell. You have withstood my wrath, my disappointment in you, my doubts. And by doing so, you have gained my admiration. I think my daughter is a lucky girl to have found someone like you.”
Henderson swallowed thickly. “Thank you, sir. You have been a good example to me over the years.”
“Now go tell my daughter her father isn’t the ogre she thinks he is.”
Henderson grinned and held out his hand for Lord Hubbard to shake. “I will, sir. Thank you.”
Never in his life had Henderson felt as happy as he felt at that moment. It was almost beyond belief that he would finally have his Alice, forever. She would be his wife, the mother to their children. She would lie with him every night and he would wake up to her soft smile every morning. To be accepted, finally, was a gift he’d never thought to own. He flew down the stairs, propriety be damned, because he couldn’t wait to tell Alice the good news, even though he knew she suspected such a happy outcome. If he’d known what the tea invitation had been all about, he would have taken the time to purchase a ring. Having nothing, he stole a tiny white flower and stem from a flower arrangement and tied it into a small circle.
The family was still in the parlor, speaking in hushed tones, when he entered. He was grinning like a madman, so it must be evident that the interview with Lord Hubbard had gone well. As one, except for Alice, they left the room, Oliver patting him heartily on the back as he passed.
Alice had stood when he’d entered, but sat down with an audible flump as he approached. When he reached the chair, he dropped to one knee and she let out a small, happy sob.
“Alice Hubbard, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
With one hand pressed against her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears, she nodded. Then he took her hand in his and slipped on the silly little flower ring, making her giggle. “It’s lovely,” she said, gazing down at it as if he’d just handed her the largest diamond she’d ever seen.
Henderson stood, drawing her up with him, and pulled her into his embrace. “I shall get you the most beautiful ring I can find,” he said, and he could feel her shaking her head.
“I like this one.”
He chuckled. “Good, because that is all I have at the moment. This entire day was completely unexpected. However did you manage to convince your father?”
“I didn’t have to. My mother did. And my sister and brother. He does like you, Henderson. It’s just difficult for him to give up on traditions.”
“I am heartily glad he came around.” He bent his head and kissed her long and hard, sighing when he realized her mother could return at any time. He did not want either of her parents catching him ravishing their daughter again.