A Cantata of Love (The Code Breakers 4) by Jacki Delecki

squeezed his hand and giggled. “You silent? That will be a first.”
    “You should be resting, not taking care of Edward and Uncle Charles. Maybe they should come home with me now.”
    Henrietta rolled her eyes to the sky. “We’re managing fine. Brompton looks after Uncle Charles, Mr. Marlow is still Edward’s tutor, and Cord is good with both of them.”
    Michael had witnessed Rathbourne’s obvious concern for his sister, brother, and Uncle Charles at dinner last night. “He is very patient with Uncle Charles and Edward.”
    “I wouldn’t marry him unless he accepted my entire family.” Hen tucked her fly-away hair behind her ear. “I know this has been a shock for you. I’m sorry I didn’t wait for your return, but I didn’t know when you would come home and I couldn’t expect Uncle Charles and Edward to live in Kendal house without me.”
    Michael had not yet adjusted to all the changes. His thoughts in turmoil, he couldn’t sit still. He did some of his best thinking when he paced. He jumped off the bench and went into motion.
    “It wasn’t the homecoming I had expected.” Michael didn’t mention his hurt feelings. “During my sleepless night, I realized how poorly I behaved last night. I knew at some point you would marry and leave Kendal House and that Uncle Charles and Edward would need to move with you. And even though Rathbourne does seem a bit peeved about the code book, I’m sure we’ll bump along fine.”
    “But you know no one will ever replace you in all our affections?”
    “Not yours, I hope,” he teased.
    Henrietta’s face flushed a deeper pink. “There are different affections for those we love.”
    This must be the effects of her pregnancy. Hen wasn’t the sort who blushed.
    “It is obvious that the stick-in-the-mud makes you very happy. And I saw at dinner how protective he is of you and the Harcourt family.”
    “When I finally got word that you were…” Hen brushed away her tears. “Since my pregnancy, I cry all the time.” She gulped. “When I learned you were on your way home, I planned that Uncle Charles, Edward, and I, with the Bromptons, would greet you at Kendal House and have a big dinner party to celebrate your return. But you didn’t tell us of your arrival. I hate that there was no family to greet you.”
    “It is totally my fault. I wanted to surprise you. And see the shock on your and Mrs. Brompton’s faces.”
    Hen’s eyes again filled with tears. “Can you forgive me for all the changes?”
    Hen didn’t need to ask his forgiveness for marrying Rathbourne. It was evident that his sister was deeply in love with her husband.
    “I also planned that you would come and work with us each morning like we did at Kendal House. I could use the help, since the load has gotten pretty heavy, thanks to the end of the peace treaty. And, in that way, you’d be part of our daily lives. You’d still have your gentleman’s life in the evenings.”
    He looked forward to the hours discussing the codes, Greek particles, and all the linguistic intricacies with his family.
    “But will Rathbourne approve of me in his daily life?”
    “With the war escalating, Cord is at Upchurch offices a great deal of the time. It will almost be like old times, except a different library.”
    “You’ll have to catch me up on the work. With my gunshot wound and then fever, I’ve been out of the game a long time.”
    “I’m glad you had Mademoiselle Gabrielle to tend to you. When you told me last night of her singing in French, I got goose bumps. I think our dear mama sent the lady to you.”
    “It is strange. I had the very same thought.” He didn’t add that he also thought his mother would have been very pleased to have Gabby as her daughter-in-law.
    Hen giggled. “I agree, but you must give her time.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Don’t pretend to me. You also thought that Mama would have been pleased to see you make a match with Mademoiselle Gabrielle, a