His tone was comforting; it implied that Henrietta should want to be speaking to her mother and looking forward to when she settled in and was more herself. Henrietta wasn't sure. She wasn't sure whether Mama would ever want to take more notice of her, now that she had moved out of the house and was no longer a daily reminder of her unfinished business as matron of the family. She wasn't sure whether she wanted Mama to notice her more or talk to her more.
The question about Hermione confused her. There were no nuances to her relationships with any of her siblings. She got along with Hermione because they were sisters; it had never occurred to her that there was another alternative. They had hardly spoken to each other for most of the social season, since Henrietta's debut, but wasn't that just what was expected for grown sisters? Hermione had her own responsibilities, in her own household. Henrietta was not one of her responsibilities. At least, she hadn't been until their mother died.
"I, ah — yes," she decided. She didn't sound particularly sure about it, but she had no reason to say no. "She's been very good to open her home to me."
The question about Hermione confused her. There were no nuances to her relationships with any of her siblings. She got along with Hermione because they were sisters; it had never occurred to her that there was another alternative. They had hardly spoken to each other for most of the social season, since Henrietta's debut, but wasn't that just what was expected for grown sisters? Hermione had her own responsibilities, in her own household. Henrietta was not one of her responsibilities. At least, she hadn't been until their mother died.
"I, ah — yes," she decided. She didn't sound particularly sure about it, but she had no reason to say no. "She's been very good to open her home to me."
