The baroness brightened. "Miss Bellamy is very good. The girls have taken to her quickly."
Bella nodded. "She is clever. Honest too. She is… refreshing. I think she would suit me."
"When would you like to return?" Henry asked.
"Next week."
"Fine," he said. "Give Lionel her name and he will inform the guards at Whitehall."
The baroness gathered the girls then. "Come along," she said, clapping her hands softly. "His Highness did not come here to listen to you all breathe at him."
Anne lingered near the tea tray, eyes shining. Henry smiled at her once more, and the poor girl looked ready to ascend straight into heaven.
"Go," Bella told them, amused.
One by one, they filed out, curtsying again before leaving. Henry gestured for Bella to take a seat.
She did, smoothing her skirts carefully.
"How are you doing, really?" Henry asked.
Bella looked down at her hands. "I am healing, my lord. I took someone's advice and decided to embrace my grief as mine."
