Henry went to bed that night feeling doubly depressed. He’d lost Amala, and now he was losing Chit. He reminded himself that it would be months before Chit actually left—but he still had to get used to the idea. He also reminded himself that Amala and her family were still there at Willenbrock House and he could go and visit anytime. He needed to adjust to letting go of his romantic inclinations and hopes in regard to Amala, but he found hope in thinking that she could always be his friend. In light of his feelings, it seemed like a sore compensation, but it was better than no compensation at all.

Deciding he’d stayed away from the family that felt like his own long enough, he made up his mind that he would go there tomorrow and spend the day. He thought of how glad Oliver and Viola always were to see him and how loved and accepted they made him feel. And Kat too would always kiss his cheek and smile at him, expressing how genuinely pleased she was to see him. Amala would kiss his cheek and smile as well, and they would both have to pretend that nothing more had ever existed between them. But at least he would be in the same room with her, with all of them. He felt at home there among them, and that’s where he needed to be. In spite of not being able to speak openly with Amala’s family about his grief, he knew that being among them would afford him the best source of healing he could ever find in the present state of his life.

* * * *

By the time Henry had ridden the distance between his home and Amala’s, he felt surprisingly prepared to be able to handle the situation and just enjoy the day as much as possible. Upon arriving, he went into the carriage house to say hello to Everett, as he often did, but Henry couldn’t find him. So he went to the house as usual, where a maid showed him to a familiar drawing room. He knew that he could relax and make himself at home here; he could even go to the library on his own if he got bored. Given his established habit of calling without any prior message or announcement, he knew there were occasions when it took time for any—or all—of the family to be ready to receive guests. And he was used to making himself comfortable.