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Sarah looked away.

Henry, after a moment, said quietly, “I did not know.”

“I did not intend for you to.”

“I am glad to know now.”

She looked at him.

He was smiling. Not triumphantly, not even with amusement. Simply with a kind of quiet happiness that made it impossible for her to be embarrassed for very long.

Edward cleared his throat. “I think,” said he, “that Ned has been sufficiently destructive for one afternoon.”

From somewhere beyond the room came Ned’s voice. “I heard that.”

Edward shut his eyes. “Of course you did.”

After dinner, when everyone was beginning to retire for the night, Henry remained in the library doorway until Edward appeared in the hall.

“Sir,” said Henry, “may we speak privately?”

Edward followed him into the library and shut the door behind him.

“I want to speak to you about Sarah.”

“I assumed as much.”

“I do not want you to misunderstand me. I care for her.”

Edward said nothing.

“I know you know that.”

“Yes,” said Edward. “That is an excellent beginning. How sure are you of your feelings?”

Henry considered. “Enough that I have stopped expecting them to pass.”

Edward nodded.

“And I know she cares for me.”

“Yes. And what do you intend to do?”

“I would like to court her.”

“I rather thought you might.”

Henry gave a nervous laugh.

“May I?”

“You want my consent.”

“Yes.”

“You have it.”

Henry’s relief was plain.