Nearly three weeks after meeting Amala, Henry awoke from yet another restless night, determined to see her again. He’d actually talked Chit out of accepting an invitation to dine with the Hepworth family, and another time Chit had gone there for tea and Henry had declined going along. He’d believed he couldn’t bear to see Amala, knowing how her edict had been meant to banish him from her life. But now he felt differently. Perhaps enough time had passed that he felt renewed courage. Perhaps he’d lost his mind. Whatever the reason, he knew he had to see her, but rather than showing up as a formal visitor, he decided instead to go and speak with Everett. And on the chance that Everett wouldn’t help him, or that Amala refused to see him, he wrote a lengthy and carefully worded letter to her that he would entrust Everett to pass along. At least then, one way or another, she would know exactly how he felt.

* * * *

Henry left his home after supper, knowing that with the time it took him to ride on horseback to Amala’s home, he wouldn’t arrive until after dark. He didn’t particularly want to be seen coming or going; he only hoped Everett might be willing to help him. As kind as the man had been to Henry, he had no idea if this friend of Amala’s would be willing to cross borders on Henry’s behalf that Amala had so clearly put into place.

When Henry arrived he didn’t even bother going into the stables, where he felt sure there would still be men working. Light coming from the windows and open doorway made that evident. But there was also light coming from the carriage house, which increased his hope of seeing Everett. Henry tethered his horse discreetly in the shadows and went to the door of the carriage house, taking a deep breath before he opened it as quietly as he could manage, wishing he didn’t feel so nervous. Whatever grain of hope he’d been holding on to that this situation with Amala might change could well be determined by the outcome of this evening’s visit.

Henry immediately saw Everett pausing in his task of sweeping the floor to look up and see who was there. He leaned on the broom and offered a subtle smile that increased Henry’s hope slightly as he closed the door behind him. “I’ve been wondering if you’d show up here again.” He resumed his sweeping.

“So . . . in your opinion . . . is my coming here a good idea . . . or foolish?” Everett didn’t answer right away, as if he were thinking about it, and Henry’s nervousness prompted him to add, “I assume you know why I haven’t been back?”