Chapter 20

Henry didn’t know why he opened his mouth and asked to accompany the women to Dorchester. He never did shopping, preferring to give the task to his valet and housekeeper. The request had left his mouth before he could really think about it, but once he saw his sister’s excited look, he couldn’t go back on his word.

Rebecca had been notably surprised, but he couldn’t tell if she was alarmed that he was joining them or excited like his sister. In all consideration, she had no reason to be excited, but that didn’t stop him from wanting her to be thrilled at the thought of his company.

“You’re a fool, Henry Andrews,” he muttered as his valet helped him into his coat.

He had woken up to a blisteringly cold day requiring the thickest coat, gloves, and scarf. Despite the cold, he appreciated the crispness of the day, admiring the brilliant, clear blue skies that provided clarity for miles around. Henry could probably see a sheep in the furthest field from the house if he stuck his head out the window and focused.

“I wish you a good day today, Your Grace,” said Ian, handing Henry his gloves. “It has been some time since you travelled as far as Dorchester.”

The valet had been shocked when Henry informed him of his visit to Dorchester with his sister and Miss Barnes. Henry didn’t blame him. It was surprising to him, too.

“I have a feeling it’s going to be an interesting day,” said Henry.

His sister had spoken about nothing else that morning at breakfast, barely touching her food because she was too excited about the day ahead. Aunt Hannah had been disappointed she couldn’t join them, but she already had plans with Mr Cruikshanks.

Miss Barnes hadn’t joined them because she had spent the better part of the morning ensuring her hours away from Tommy would not upset his schedule. She almost seemed reluctant to leave him, a testament to her commitment to his nephew.

Initially, Henry had been uneasy about having a stranger in his home, but now he couldn’t imagine not having Miss Barnes in their lives. He was glad he didn’t make the mistake of chasing her off like he had wished to when he first heard about her arrival. That would have been a disaster.

Shaking his head at the troublesome thought, he bent slightly to allow his valet to adjust his cravat before grabbing his cane and leaving the room. It was an accessory his father had always insisted a duke should have with him, so now it was a habit.

His sister and Miss Barnes were already in the carriage when he stepped outside the house, their excited chatter meeting him as he approached them.

Juliana waved at him through the window, making him smile. “We’ve been waiting for a while,” she complained as he drew nearer. “What on earth were you doing?”

“Getting dressed for the weather,” he said, climbing into the carriage.

His nose was immediately met with two distinct perfumes, but only one made his mind spin. He smiled in greeting at Miss Barnes, hastily looking away when her pretty golden-brown eyes met his. Eye contact seemed a tad too intimate in their current setting.

“We’re also dressed for the weather, yet we were ready a while ago,” his sister boasted. “I was just telling Miss Barnes that men take far longer to dress than women, although it is traditionally accepted that women pay more attention to their appearance. I wonder who began that lie?”

Henry raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize it was a competition.”

“It’s not, but you certainly proved my point,” Juliana retorted. “We were just about to place a friendly bet about how much longer it would take you to reach the carriage.”

His other eyebrow went up as he turned to Miss Barnes. He hadn’t looked at her beyond a brief glance when he entered the carriage, with good reason. She looked stunning in a duck egg blue redingote with shiny gold buttons and white lace ruffles around her neck and wrists.

It was well-fitted, exposing the curves she hid under her dresses. A few wisps of shiny, chestnut-coloured hair had escaped the chignon secured to the back of her head with a gold comb, framing her lovely face.

“I would have bet that you would not have taken much longer, Your Grace,” she said, her eyes twinkling in mirth. “You’re not one to waste time unnecessarily.”

Henry swallowed harder than expected, the sound thankfully drowned by the rumbling carriage wheels. Something about being this close to her with no option to move away was toying with his mind.

“I am glad someone knows me well enough to bet wisely,” he replied in a thankfully steady tone.

Juliana scoffed. “We needed a counter bet to mine,” she said. “It’s only natural for her to choose an option in your favour. Regardless, you look dapper, Henry. I cannot recall if you ever put this much effort into your appearance when you courted Lady Ruth.”

Henry’s eyes widened, shocked by his sister’s statement. “What do you mean by that? I always look presentable.”

“That is the point,” his sister said. “You always look presentable, and your good looks make you get away with minimal effort,” she said. “However, today, you have a glow about you, and your clothes look wonderful on you. What do you think, Miss Barnes?” she asked, turning to her. “Does he not look more put-together than usual?”

Henry’s cheeks warmed as Miss Barnes tilted her head and observed him. A smile curved her lips, stretching them a tad too enticingly for his peace of mind. The woman was getting under his skin in ways he had never fathomed.

“I have always appreciated the human body,” she began, straightening her head, “and have come across many of them in all shapes and sizes. His Grace is a stunning representation of what the Good Lord can do because everything about him is in perfect proportion.

However, I will admit that his beauty has been devastatingly highlighted today. I think we might have a problem getting our shopping done if we remain by His Grace’s side, My Lady. He is certain to attract women who might waste our time in their endeavour to gain his attention.”

There was a brief silence as Henry’s jaw dropped before Juliana threw her head back and roared with laughter. The sound stunned him. He had never heard his sister laugh so freely and loudly.

“You should see your face,” Juliana said to him, wiping away tears of laughter.

Miss Barnes appeared taken aback, seemingly uncertain how to approach the matter. “Did I offend you, Your Grace?” she asked hesitantly. “That wasn’t my intention. Forgive me if I overstepped.”

The last thing Henry wanted was for her to feel terrible about giving her honest opinion, especially when she had admitted she found him handsome. Women tended to flock around him because of his looks, but Miss Barnes had never looked at him that way. Well, unless one counted their surprising reaction the previous day. He still hadn’t come to terms with what had happened.

He just knew that his body had been affected when their skins touched, filling him with a heat he had never experienced before. It was like a raging furnace had opened, bathing him in a scorching heat almost painful because it wanted to be released. A reminder of who Miss Barnes was seemed to be his saving grace because his ardour had cooled quickly and cleared the mist in his head.

A woman shouldn’t be able to draw such a reaction from him, but Miss Barnes did, which was worrying. She was a commoner employed by his sister, not a lady with the right upbringing and family. Henry couldn’t afford to allow his mind or body to be swayed by the siren before him, no matter how enticing he found her.

Juliana was still trying to control her laughter, but she couldn’t seem to stop the guffaws spilling out of her mouth. Miss Barnes watched him with apprehension, something he wasn’t accustomed to seeing her do.

“No, you didn’t offend me, Miss Barnes,” he assured. “I’m merely surprised by your opinion. It was ... informative.”

“My brother is right,” said Juliana, finally more sober. “You were not remotely offensive, although now I will always ask for your opinion on people’s physical appearances. You’re refreshingly honest.”

Miss Barnes offered a small smile. “I wouldn’t put much importance on my opinions, My Lady,” she replied, her eyes briefly darting to his.

She still seemed a little disturbed, as though she was embarrassed. Perhaps she felt she had been too honest and was ashamed. In that case, he was pleased. He liked knowing she found him attractive, although he really shouldn’t linger on the thought too much.

“So, what do you have on your list?” his sister asked her companion. “I’d like to compare. Perhaps we have similar items on our list.”

The women settled into cheerful chatter about what they planned to purchase while he subtly observed Miss Barnes. He hadn’t done a good job staying away from her these last few weeks. Henry had wanted to understand what it was about her that set him at ease so effortlessly.

The more he was around her, the less uptight he felt. Each day brought little changes that loosened the binding around his heart and lightened the load on his shoulders. While these things made him feel good, they also worried him. Having walls up was what made Henry invulnerable.

Part of Henry found Miss Barnes too good to be true. She was a brilliant nursemaid, had stolen the hearts of his sister, nephew, and servants, and was always cheerful. He had never heard her raise her voice, speak unkindly, or show annoyance, even when that reaction would have been understandable.

Henry believed taking a step back and watching her would show him her faults, but he found her no less intriguing than the first time he met her. In fact, his opinion of her had only grown in her favour. It was like he couldn’t help it, which was why he had made that silly excuse about bringing her letters.

Henry had taken them from the foyer earlier that day and kept them in his study until he worked up the courage to see her again. Even being the fool he was, he could not leave the room immediately because he felt drawn to her. He was aware he was slowly losing his control where Miss Barnes was concerned, so being in her company for much of the day would not help matters.

Her gaze slid to his before he could look away, catching him staring. Flustered, he felt his face grow warm, his breath hitching when she smiled sweetly with just the tiniest of frowns marring her otherwise smooth brow.

“Do you have any ideas for your nephew’s first Christmas, Your Grace?” she asked. “We have already missed St Nicholas Day, but I’d like to still go ahead with as many festive traditions as I can. If it’s acceptable,” she added.

“Our family has not really followed any traditions,” said Juliana. “Unless you count going to parties and hosting. Of course, there was church on Christmas morning and dinner later that day. My parents didn’t think other festivities were important, so we never did them. However, I’d love to start new traditions for Tommy’s sake.”

“There is so much we could do, My Lady,” said Miss Barnes, her excitement palpable. “We can find a fir tree and decorate it like we do at home. I can still bake the Christmas pudding, but we can have it for our New Year’s Eve dinner instead. Oh, and we can still exchange little gifts like we would have done on St Nicholas Day.”

Henry felt his sister’s need for activities that brought the family together, but what really struck him was Miss Barnes’ enthusiasm for the festive season. It made him look forward to the festivities she mentioned. He couldn’t recall feeling this way since his childhood, before his responsibilities grew so heavy that he had to leave behind childish activities, and Christmas no longer held the warmth and excitement it once had.

“We can do whatever you wish, Jules,” he said. “I’m sure Miss Barnes will be a fountain of knowledge regarding traditions and such.”

His sister couldn’t attend social engagements because she was still in mourning, but she could still have a lovely Christmas with her family, and it would all be thanks to Miss Barnes. He looked at her gratefully, earning him another sweet smile. It struck square in the chest, tempting him to rub the area to relieve the pressure.

“I cannot wait!” Juliana cried. “I cannot recall being this excited about Christmas. Thomas wasn’t very knowledgeable of festive traditions, but I still enjoyed myself. However, I feel this Christmas will truly be one to remember. We must tell Aunt Hannah about our plans.”

Henry nodded, agreeing with her. Christmas with his family would be one to remember. He paused, realizing that when he had thought of his family, his mind had also conjured up Miss Barnes’ image. Perhaps he had unconsciously accepted how important she was to his family, but that was unwise, considering she would one day leave them. Henry’s stomach clenched painfully, communicating his mild panic at the thought. He didn’t want her to go.