Chapter 6

Chapter 6

That will show her…

Henry smirked and shook his head as he looked out the window at the busy street. He relished the thought of Miss Sutton’s face when she received the letter. She would more than likely want to take revenge.

He looked forward to seeing her response. Strangely, he enjoyed the little back and forth that added a smidgen of colour to his otherwise drab life.

“My Lord.” The butler cleared his throat from the doorway.

Blinking as if he hadn’t realized where he was, Henry turned to look and discarded his thoughts.

The tall man with thinning hair and long features often reminded Henry of a horse. His late wife had chosen the butler because he had been a footman in her parents’ house. The man had always been loyal to the Fitzgibbon family and had continued to serve Henry quite begrudgingly after Edith’s death.

“Lord and Lady Fitzgibbon to call, My Lord.” The proud look in the man’s sharp brown eyes sparkled as if he were receiving the king and queen.

“Send them in.” The pit of Henry’s stomach suddenly sank as he realized that the pleasurable morning was over. It wasn’t often that his in-laws called on him, but when they did, it was always by surprise and without invitation.

The butler disappeared around the corner and reemerged moments later with Lord and Lady Fitzgibbon in tow.

“Lord and Lady Fitzgibbon,” the butler announced again, bowing so low that his head could have touched his knobbly knees if he had been younger.

Henry fought the urge to roll his eyes as he stood and forced a smile. “Please, come in and have a seat.” He gestured to the dark green chaise longue and armchairs.

The countess came forward first while the earl lingered slightly behind her. His plump figure and short stature starkly contrasted his wife’s tall and lean figure.

“Henry, dear, it’s so good to see you up and about at this time of the morning. Lord Fitzgibbon and I feared that you would still be in bed. We didn’t wake you, did we?” She allowed Henry to kiss her cheek before looking him up and down as if she were trying to see a hastily donned shirt or discarded nightcap.

Barely arrived, and the remarks are already flying …

He kept the smile fixed on his lips as he greeted his father-in-law with a handshake. “It’s ten o’clock in the morning, Lady Fitzgibbon. I have always been an early riser. Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be looking for it all day, as my mother used to say.”

Despite what you may think of me.

The earl offered him a stiff smile in response before taking a seat.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Henry dear. It’s hard to say what goes on in your life these days. You never attend any balls or venture beyond the fine walls of this old house.”

The countess smoothed the layers of her satin dress as she pursed her lips beside her husband. Her already pinched countenance soured a little as she glanced at the books beside the armchair.

Her long, greying hair had been pulled back into a tight bun, as was customary for so many elderly women of the ton. The earl, however, still seemed to have retained most of his black hair despite being older than his wife.

“I was not offended, Lady Fitzgibbon. I merely wanted to set your mind at ease. I often spend my mornings reading before venturing out for a walk in the afternoons.” He took his seat once again and gestured for the butler to fetch them tea.

His in-laws pulled up their noses as if they had smelled something foul. They had never approved of Henry’s habits. They had tried to change him for several years but eventually gave up after their daughter had passed.

“Reading again. I never quite took to it myself. My dearly departed father always said that reading was for doctors and solicitors. There is nothing for the nobility to gain in those dry old pages.” She sniffed importantly and pursed her lips while her slender fingers ensured every strand of hair was in place.

Glancing to the side, Henry noted the time on his pocket watch beside him on the table. Five minutes had passed since their arrival, and it already felt like an eternity as he strummed his fingers on the armrests of his chair. “I don’t think that I would have made a very good solicitor, Lady Fitzgibbon, nor would I have been adept at treating ailments. I read simply to pass the time, and I enjoy it.”

“Yes, you must be so lonely without poor Edith. This house was meant for children, and here you are all alone. You must miss her so desperately.” Lady Fitzgibbon raised her shoulders slightly in a shrug.

The earl seemed more sullen now as his face fell and his eyes darkened. “It’s such a shame that she never had a chance to pass on our bloodline, if not the family name. It was quite disheartening not to have been blessed with a son, but even more so to lose our only daughter who could carry on our legacy.” He looked up at Henry with sad eyes that barely hid the accusation.

“She would have been such a great mother.” Lady Fitzgibbon’s voice broke as she blinked back a few tears.

“It is a shame that our marriage was never blessed with children, but I like to think that she is happier where she is now,” Henry added stiffly just as the butler entered with the tea tray. He never understood why his in-laws insisted on bringing up the past.

The butler placed the tray of tea and cakes on the table and served the countess and earl first before handing Henry his cup of tea and leaving.

“You know, I can still feel her presence in this house. I’m glad that you decided to keep things as she left them. Edith always had such impeccable taste when it came to decorating.” The countess sipped her tea thoughtfully and looked around the small parlour that still boasted the elegant French style.

The walls were covered in light pink paper that boasted hundreds of roses, while the vases and ornaments had all been imported from France. Money wasting, in Henry’s opinion, yet he had never interfered with his wife’s plans.

“She would have made a wonderful mother.” The earl nodded before sipping his cup of tea.

“May she rest in peace.” Henry clenched his jaw, tired of the sharp remarks that his in-laws never failed to fling in his direction. If he had been in a position to speak his mind, he would have told them that their daughter had never loved him enough to come back and haunt him.

The only reason he had kept the house unaltered was because he couldn’t have been bothered to change it. The house was more a means of living for him than a home.

Lady Fitzgibbon seemed to sense his tone as she placed her cup back in its saucer and smiled. “Never mind all that now; Edith is happier where she is, as you say. We have come to see how you have been getting on. Just what do you do on these little walks of yours, Henry dear?”

“I visit the Evergreen.” Henry sipped his tea, hoping their visit would pass sooner rather than later.

“And what is that, some kind of holiday resort?” the earl asked sharply, shutting one eye as he glared at Henry. The implication that Henry was spending their daughter’s inheritance on frivolous nonsense was only too apparent in his tone.

“It’s a circulating library, My Lord.” The teacup clinked loudly against the porcelain saucer as he placed it back down.

“I have never heard of such a thing; does one have to pay for their services?” Lady Fitzgibbon matched her husband’s sharp tone.

Sighing heavily, Henry ran his tongue over his lips. “Yes, one pays a small yearly fee for the privilege of borrowing the books. It is far more cost-effective than buying books.”

A moment of awkward silence passed as his visitors eyed Henry with disapproval.

“I suppose there are worse things that the money could be spent on,” the earl grumbled and clenched his jaw, averting his gaze back to his lap. The sour look never seemed to leave his pudgy face.

Breaking the uncomfortable silence with a high-pitched laugh, Lady Fitzgibbon cleared her throat. “Quite right, Byron dear. Rather he spends his time and money at some book circus than entertaining some little piece of muslin,” she said, meeting Henry’s gaze while speaking to her husband.

Miss Sutton wandered into his thoughts despite the irritation he was feeling. What would his in-laws say if they knew he had not only met but started a game of sorts with a young lady?

There was no hint of romance between them, but seeing their reactions would have been interesting. Lord and Lady Fitzgibbon had often hinted at their disapproval of having Henry marry again. The money, in their eyes, still belonged to their daughter, even if she had died seven years prior.

Truth be told, he found Miss Sutton quite interesting and pretty in an unassuming manner. She didn’t seem to be the type of woman who would spend her time throwing frivolous parties or gossiping over other members of the ton. He wouldn’t have minded getting to know her better through their little game.

“You know, all the young ladies of the ton want money and status. None of them are after love. You are far better off spending your days at the Evergreen, even if it means you become a recluse. Just the other day I heard of one of the young ladies who married an older duke.

The poor man is utterly miserable while she spends his money and flits about the ton.” Lady Fitzgibbon’s voice dripped with sweetness that echoed her falseness.

“I agree, Lady Fitzgibbon,” Henry suddenly snapped, having had enough of their pointed remarks. The tea in his cup almost splashed over the rim as he banged it back down.

“You do?” The earl raised an eyebrow before exchanging a look with his wife.

Henry sat up straight and placed his cup and saucer back on the tray. “I do, as a matter of fact. I think it’s about time I left this life behind me.”

“Whatever do you mean by that, dear?” The countess parted her lips slightly as she raised her nose in the air, looking down at him as if he were an insect.

“I simply mean I no longer wish to reside here in London. If I am to spend the rest of my life as a widower, which I intend to do, then the life of a country hermit will be for me. I have been toying with the idea for a while. My ancestral home has long been empty. It’s about time I take up residence there,” he lied, having only come up with the idea in the heat of the moment.

He reasoned with himself that anything was better than having to suffer these constant visits from his departed wife’s parents.

Lady Fitzgibbon seemed shocked for a moment before nodding. “I think that’s a marvellous idea. You will be much happier in the country. A quiet life suits you.”

The earl seemed pleased as well as he merely nodded his approval.

“Good, I am glad that my plans meet with your approval. I no longer wish to live in a house where the ghosts of my past haunt me whenever they choose.” He left out the fact that he viewed them both as ghosts rather than their daughter.

“Perhaps you will even be able to save some money on all those books. Does your family home possess a library?” the Earl asked more enthusiastically as he ran his tongue over the tea on his lips.

“It does.” Henry rubbed his finger against his thumb, fighting back the frustration as his leg began to ache from sitting in one position for too long.

Never missing a beat, Lady Fitzgibbon narrowed her eyes when he ran his hand over his thigh. “Is your leg still troubling you? The fresh country air will do you good. You will see, as soon you arrive on your estate, the better you will feel. You will more than likely never wish to leave again. Your afternoon walks will be so much more invigorating with the fresh country air.”

Henry took a moment to compose himself as he humoured them both. “Yes, you did mention the fresh country air.”

“When are you thinking of leaving?” the earl asked quickly, sitting up a little straighter.

“As soon as possible. I will only need a few days to put my affairs in order, then I shall be glad to see the back of London Society.” Henry quickly removed his hand from his thigh and flexed his fingers.

Lord and Lady Fitzgibbon exchanged a triumphant look as they sipped their tea. They hadn’t said as much in so many words, but Henry knew they were relieved he was leaving.

With him tucked away in the middle of the country, they would no longer have to worry about what he was doing. Their daughter’s precious inheritance would be safe from the clutches of the villainous young ladies.

An ounce of regret set in when he realized that the game with Miss Sutton would come to an end. He had been looking forward to seeing her response. Yet missing out on the back and forth was preferable to having these visits.

Dark eyes flashed across his mind, making him wonder what she was doing.