Tamed by Mr. Henry

Let Me Go, Sir

"How about it, Mira?" Maddy asked as soon as she entered the library after Henry had said goodbye.

Mira shook her head, a sign that their plan had failed.

"Thank God," said Maddy followed by Mary.

Mira's eyebrows rose. Confused because her sister and the daughter who served her house were actually happy because she did not succeed in canceling the proposal.

"He's very handsome, Mira. If the character in the romance novel was real, he would definitely look like him," said Maddy, unable to hide her admiration for Henry. She even added that if she was old enough, she would be willing to replace Mira to marry Henry.

"Was it not clear when I said he was a man with a lot of bad reputation?!" said Mira.

"At least your eyes are always amused by his handsome face." Maddy then giggled, "According to the novels I often read, even wild men can be tame when they fall in love."

Mary nodded at Maddy's words. "You just have to win her heart, My Lady."

Mira shook her head. Novel stories only exist in books, not in the real world. A man like Henry only changes when the sun has risen in the west. It's hard to talk to a child who loves novels like Maddy.

"I actually have a suggestion," Adeline said.

"What?" Mira asked, hoping that Adeline's input would be more useful than Mary and Maddy's absurd suggestion.

"If you're married and Henry has a mistress, you just have to look for one too. The industrial revolution should have brought a thinking revolution too, right, Mira? If a man can have multiple women, why can't a woman have multiple men? Just betray him like he would do."

Adeline's words made Mira feel as if she had no back. Of all the possible proposals, Adeline's was the worst and the most absurd. Just imagining it, Mira couldn't bear it.

"As long as you are Mr. Johnson's wife, you have to save a lot of money. If you get kicked out later, you still have money to live. Easy, right?"

A rough gasp escaped from Mira's mouth. She really wasted her time listening to the madness of her younger siblings. Just about to leave her place, she gasped when Maddy screamed while holding Mira's fingers.

"Very beautiful!"

Mira looked at the ring with the blue gem that Henry had pinned. She remembered Henry saying, "When I see this ring, I remember the blue of your eyes, My Lady."

Huh, that guy must have said such cheesy bullshit many times. Fortunately Mira is not a woman who is easily captivated by sweet words.

"Just take it if you want." Mira tried to pull out the ring, but she couldn't. She exerted his strength, but the ring only reached the middle of her finger.

"Looks like you two are destined," Maddy said, then smiled happily.

Mira scowled at Maddy. The girl was quiet, but when talking about handsome men she would be more chatty.

*.*.*.

Mira stretched out her arms according to instructions from Madam Guiller, the owner of a fashion house frequented by London's royals. Previously, Mira had never bought a dress from Madam Guiller because it was expensive, even though the design and materials were of high quality.

Minerva stood watching Mira being measured. She and her two other daughters had been measured beforehand.

"Mom, isn't it too much?" Mira looked at the things her mother bought.

"Mr. Johnson made it very clear that we could buy anything we wanted."

Mira is getting more and more annoyed with her mother's behavior. While Minerva was busy looking at the hats, Mira took the opportunity to sneak out of the fashion store. For a young girl like her, the unaccompanied path was not appropriate. However, the place was crowded, no rumors would be created. After all, she wasn't with a man, she was alone. Oh, that's the thing, girls don't seem worthy of walking unaccompanied.

Bond street is bustling as usual. Little people peddle their sales. Fashion shops and other goods lined up. She stopped at the bookstore. Rather than novels, she is very fond of poetry. Her favorite author is Lord Byron. She picked up Lord Byron's book and rubbed the cover.

"She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climates and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;"

Mira turned when she heard a deep voice recite the first line of Lord Byron's poem, She Walks in Beauty. In front of him was Henry standing in his coat and hat, dressed like a dandy royal.

Henry continued looking into Mira's eyes, "Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies."

Mira cleared her throat softly to cover her nervousness. He didn't expect Henry to know Lord Byron's poetry. His deep, deep voice was perfect for reading the poem.

"I believe you're sneaking away from your mother, Milady."

Mira denied her stuttering, "No-no, I already asked permission."

"Then I will accompany you, My Lady."

"No need, I can walk alone," said Mira. "Excuse me, Mr Johnson."

Mira put down her book, then continued walking. But, he could only groan in annoyance when he knew Henry was still following him.

"Henry, enough Henry, Milady," Henry said as a sign for Mira to call him by his first name.

"I think it's rude, sir."

"Impossible? We're getting married in three weeks, Mira."

Mira wanted to speed up her pace, but was afraid of violating public decency. She glanced narrowly at Henry, then continued walking.

"Is there anything you want, My Lady?"

Mira's steps stopped hearing Henry's question. She remembered how his mother shopped like a madman at Madam Guiller's shop.

"I hope you don't spoil my mother with your money, Sir."

"I didn’t see it as a matter, My Lady? She will be my mother too, won't she?"

"Still, that's not a wise thing."

"Don't worry, My Lady, there's still plenty of money left for you even though your mom is shopping a lot."

Both turned their heads when Adeline in a relieved voice called out to Mira.

"Mama has been looking for you, Mira." Adeline ignored Henry's greeting.

Mira glared at Adeline, hoping her sister wouldn't tell Henry that she was sneaking away from her mother. However, Adeline is not the type of sensitive woman who understands glaring.

"Sorry, I forgot to ask the Dowager Duchess for permission," Henry defended, then threw a grin at Mira who glared at him.

Adeline seemed not to hear Henry's words, immediately asked Mira to leave immediately. However, William who came with her pulled and forced him to buy ice cream.

"I want a penny lick! Come on Adele, let's buy it!"

"Will, Mama said no ice cream, right?" Adele whispered.

William turned to plead with Mira, "Mira, can you?"

Mira shook her head and confirmed that many people were sick after eating the ice cream. The boy pouted.

"I know a great ice cream shop, would you like me to take her to have an ice cream?" Henry offered.

William instantly let go of his grip on Adeline. He moved to Henry's side, unconcerned by Adeline and Mira's ban.

"I'll take your brother home safely."

"Will, you can't go out with strangers!"

"Mr. Johnson is no stranger, Adele!" William scowled, "he's Mira's future husband. Isn't he, Mira?"

Adele wanted to reply to William's words, also intended to scold the child. However, she was silent after Mira gave permission to William as long as the child didn't stay away for too long.

*.*.*.

That afternoon Mira was in the garden, cleaning the weeds in her flower garden. In the past, the garden was overgrown with flowers and well cared for, both grass and flowers. However, ever since their park ranger quit, the park wasn't as beautiful as it used to be. In order to take care of the rest of the plants, Mira was forced to learn how to take care of the garden. That was after she pleaded with Minerva because her mother didn't want Mira's precious hand to be scratched. For Minerva, her eldest child is the key to saving their family.

Mira's clothes are dirty, full of dirt. Sweat dripped from her forehead to his cheeks. Every now and then she wiped her face with the back of her hand so that her face was covered with dirt. She tugged at the grass that trailed purple roses with their petals arranged close together, almost like a carnation. It was a Louis Odier rose, one of the most beautiful roses the garden had ever seen.

Busy pulling the bushes, Mira's hand was accidentally scratched. Her forefinger was dripping with blood. She grimaced softly while pressing down on the source of the wound. Then she widened her eyes as his hand was pulled, then wrapped in cloth.

"Thank you," Mira said without looking at Henry who was wrapping his wound with a handkerchief.

"Every time I see a rose I think of you, My Lady," Henry said.

Mira's brow furrowed.

"Equally beautiful, but prickly. And that's what makes you both attractive."

Mira looked up, her eyes met Henry's. Glance at admiring the emerald-like green framed by thick black eyelashes. She then looked down as her cheeks warmed instantly.

Slowly, Henry put his fingers on Mira's reddened cheeks. "How could God so unfairly created you?"

Henry had seen beautiful women many times, even spending the night with them. However, Mira's beauty surpassed anyone. A beautiful mix of the Duchess and the late Duke. Reportedly, the Duchess when she was young was a debutant who was in great demand because of her beauty and lineage. Then the late Duke Wellington was also famous for his good looks. A perfect match that is supposed to be true. However, who would have thought that their family lives were destroyed because of the Duke's actions.

Besides Mira's big blue eyes, Henry liked her sensual lips that kept teasing him. Often he wondered what it would be like when their lips met. He sometimes had to avert his eyes so as not to bite Mira's lower lip right away.

How does it feel? He wanted to feel it, right now. Henry brought his face closer to Mira. Her emerald green eyes gazed into Mira's deep sea-like blue eyes, drowning her in boundless passion. His hands grabbed her hips, and he could feel the breath coming out of her mouth.

"Let me go, sir," Mira pleaded with her head down.

Henry's hand slowly slipped from Mira's hip. A small grin appeared on his face. He would wait because soon, he would claim every inch of Mira's body.

"I just wanted to remind you, tonight I'll be picking you up to Lady Elisabeth Wilson's party. We'll be appearing together in public for the first time there."

*.*.*.