"You have a visitor, Miss Barrett."
Henry looked up from her bed at the maid who had just made that announcement. Belle had come by that morning to keep her company, and the two of them were presently leafing through fashion plates.
"Who is it, Sally?" Belle asked.
"It's Lord Stannage, my lady. He said he wants to see how his fiancée is faring."
Belle frowned. "It's not really proper for him to come up here, but you are ill, and I am here to chaperone you."
Henry didn't have time to say that she wasn't certain if she wanted to see him before Belle added, "I'm sure you're just dying to see him. It will be all right for just a moment." She nodded at the maid, who went downstairs to fetch Dunford.
He appeared so quickly that Henry thought he must have taken the steps two at a time. "How are you?" he asked huskily, moving quickly to her side.
She swallowed spasmodically, trying to get rid of the lump in her throat. He was looking at her with such love in his eyes, she felt like a traitor for ever having thought, however briefly, that Lady Wolcott was telling the truth. "A—a bit better."
He took her hand and held it between his. "I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that."
Belle cleared her throat. "I'll just wait outside the door." She leaned down and said to Dunford, "Only two minutes."
He nodded. Belle left the room but did not close the door. "How are you really feeling?" he asked.
"Much better," Henry said truthfully. She did feel much better now that she'd seen him again. She felt like a fool for ever thinking he'd betray her. "I think it was mostly fatigue."
"You do look a bit tired." He frowned. "There are shadows under your eyes."
The shadows were probably entirely due to her inability to sleep the night before, Henry thought ruefully. "I think I shall spend the rest of today in bed," she said. "I cannot remember the last time I did so. I feel sinfully lazy."
He touched her chin. "You deserve it."
"Do I?"
"Mmm-hmm. I want you well rested when we get married." He grinned wickedly. "Then I intend to tire you out."
A hint of a blush crept across her cheeks, but she was not too embarrassed to say, "I wish we were married right now."
"As do I, my love." He leaned forward, his heavy-lidded gaze dropping to her lips.
"Hello!" Belle poked her head into the room.
Dunford cursed rather fluently under his breath. "Your timing is, as always, impeccable."
Belle shrugged. "It's a talent I cultivate."
"I wish you'd cultivate it a bit less," Henry muttered.
Dunford lifted one of Henry's hands to his lips and kissed it before rising to his feet. "I shall call tomorrow to see how you are doing. Perhaps we can go for a walk if you feel up to it."
"I'd like that."
He took a step as if to leave, then turned back to her, bending his knees slightly so his face was more on a level with her own. "Would you do me a favor?"
Henry nodded, startled by the serious look in his eyes.
"Will you promise me that if you feel the slightest bit worse, you will consult a physician immediately?"
She nodded again.
"I also want you to see one if you don't begin to feel better by tomorrow."
"I already feel much better. Thank you for coming."
He smiled, one of those secret smiles that never failed to turn her knees to butter. Then, with a slight bow, he left the room.
"Did you have a nice visit?" Belle asked. "No, don't even bother answering. I can see for myself. You're positively radiant."
"I know that ladies aren't supposed to go into trade, Belle, but if we could bottle one of his smiles as medicine, we'd make a fortune."
Belle smiled indulgently as she straightened her skirts. "Much as I adore Dunford, I feel obligated to point out that his smiles are not nearly as special as those of my husband."
"Bah," Henry scoffed. "Speaking from a purely objective standpoint, anyone can see that Dunford's smiles are clearly superior."
"Objective standpoint, my foot."
Henry grinned. "What we need is an impartial observer. We could ask Emma, but I have a feeling she'd simply say that both of us are mad in the head and that Alex has the nicest smile."
"I imagine that is the way it should be," Belle said.
"Mmm-hmm." Henry plucked at her blankets for a few moments before saying, "Belle? Might I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"It pertains to married life."
"Oh," Belle said knowingly. "I thought you might want to talk to me about that. Since you don't have a mother, I didn't know whom you'd turn to with questions."
"Oh, no, not that," Henry said quickly, feeling the now-familiar blush stain her cheeks. "I know all about that."
Belle coughed, hiding a bit of her face behind her hand.
"Not from firsthand experience," Henry lied. "But remember I grew up on a farm. We did a fair amount of animal breeding."
"I... ah... I feel I must interject here for a moment." Belle paused, looking as if she were trying to figure out the best way to proceed. "I did not grow up on a farm, but I am not wholly unfamiliar with animal husbandry, and I have to say that although the mechanics are the same..."
Henry had never seen Belle blush this much. She decided to take pity on her friend and quickly said, "The matter I wanted to talk to you about is slightly different."