The Fearless Miss Dinah by Laura Rollins
Chapter Twenty-Five
Henry was not in their sitting room when the ball finally ended and Dinah retired upstairs. She’d seen him frequently throughout the night, but not once after she’d spoken with her father.
Dinah crossed to the door that separated Henry’s private room from the sitting room. She knocked, and when no answer came, she knocked a second time. This time, she was sure she heard someone turn over in bed.
“Henry?” she called. “We need to talk.”
Still no answer.
Her hand lifted, reaching for the doorknob. She could just walk in. Demand he speak to her. But with the way he’d been acting as of late, would that just drive him away even more? Probably. If Henry was feeling he needed space, then she hated to disrespect that.
Still, she needed to speak to him tonight if she was going to have everything readied in time to depart with her family the day after tomorrow. Well, day after today truthfully, since it was nearly three in the morning.
Lifting her hand away from the doorknob, Dinah knocked again. “Henry, please, this can’t wait.”
This time she was certain she heard someone moving about. The bed groaned, then the floor replied with nearly the same moan as someone moved toward the door. Dinah stepped back just as the door swung open. Henry didn’t even look at her as he shut the door behind himself and, moving past her, crossed to the courting bench. He sat down heavily, facing the hearth.
Dinah followed him, sitting as well. She placed her hands on her lap and looked down at them. How to even begin?
“I spoke with my father tonight,” she said.
Henry only grunted.
Well, that wasn’t helpful.
“It was nice seeing him again.”
Another grunt.
All right, now he was just being annoying.
Dinah crossed her arms. “Rachel and her husband are traveling to Curio Manor tomorrow to visit the Dowager Fitzwilliam, and my father is going with them. They have invited me to join the party.”
“Very well.” Henry stood and moved toward his door.
“That’s it?” Dinah said, standing as well. “That’s all you have to say about it?”
Henry didn’t turn her way but spoke over his shoulder. “You want to go, don’t you?”
Well yes, but she hated the feeling of leaving Angleside Court when there was so much uncertainty between the two of them.
He must have taken her silence as an agreement for Henry added, “Then you should go.” He pulled the door open and stormed into his room.
Dinah sat back down. Just like that, the conversation was already over.
She was going, apparently.
Dinah would press the point, only, what would she say? Are you certain it’s okay if I leave? He’d already said she should. Why are you such a grouch? She knew him well enough to know he’d only scowl deeper at that.
Why can’t you love me?
That one she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to even ponder much less hear the answer to aloud.
Dinah slouched atop the small bench, her back toward the fire. It seemed a fitting allegory to her life—all the warmth of Angleside Court behind her, nothing but darkness in front of her. Dinah sat there until her back ached and the fire had burned down. Slowly, she pulled herself to her feet and made her way into her room.
Then she paused and walked to the opposite door, the one which led to Henry’s room.
She knocked, but he didn’t answer. She truly hadn’t expected he would.
“Henry?” she called. Hopefully, he would hear her all the same. She spoke louder just in case. “Henry, I’m sorry I pressed you to talk to David. It is your decision whom to tell and when. I am glad, though, that you told me.”
She waited.
No response came. Had he even heard her? She wasn’t sure how well her voice traveled through the door. Either way, it was clear he wasn’t going to respond. Dinah turned and moved back to her own door.
There seemed nothing left to do except ready herself to leave.