Chapter 138 Grace, Does It Still Hurt?
In the dim car, their breaths were quick.
Grace was still on his lap, her skin looking even softer against his gray trousers. The stockings he had taken off hung loosely around her ankles, adding a touch of ambiguity.
After a bit, Henry snapped back to reality. He was going to be a dad! He'd been waiting so long; maybe it was a girl.
But right then, he couldn't even hug her. He remembered a month ago when she had something to tell him, but he was rushing abroad and didn't let her speak. They fought about Elodie, and he ended up slapping Grace.
Grace, pregnant, and he slapped her!
Henry's throat tightened. He gently touched her face, which had long since healed, but he still asked in a rough voice, "Does it still hurt?"
Grace didn't answer. Instead, she calmly said, "Let me sit back."
Henry's gaze dropped.
He focused on her, but it was clear Grace didn't want to meet his eyes. She turned her face away and repeated, "Put me down."
Henry suddenly wrapped his arm around her neck, letting her lean on his shoulder. Then he reached out to smooth her dress, his fingers quick from years of helping her with such things.
After tidying up, he didn't let her go.
His hand lingered on her flat belly, caressing it for a long time. His lips brushed her ear, his voice rough, "Grace, I'm sorry!"
Grace didn't resist.
Hearing this, her eyes welled up, but she didn't respond. The harm he had done was too much; a simple apology meant nothing!
Henry drove back to the villa; it was almost 8 P.M.
The black Rolls-Royce turned off.
Grace wanted to get out, but Henry gently held her hand. In the dim light, he looked at her and said softly, "Grace, I'll be a good father."
Grace forced a smile, pulled her hand away, and got out.
Her indifference left Henry disappointed. He lit a cigarette in the car before getting out and going inside.
The servants were setting the table, probably mindful of Grace's pregnancy. The dishes were light but looked and smelled great, showing care. But Grace didn't eat much, just a few veggies.
Henry put down his utensils and said softly, "Is this enough? What do you want to eat? I'll go make it."
This was a surprise! Grace had never seen Henry cook. She knew his current thoughtfulness was for the baby and to make up for that slap. There was nothing to be moved by.
She asked the servant for a bowl of soup.
She sipped it slowly, her tone calm. "I don't have much appetite, no need to trouble yourself."
Henry wanted to say something, but Grace had already put down the bowl and went upstairs. She was very cold to him, not much better than when they were separated!
Henry lost his appetite too.
He unbuttoned his cuffs, rolled up his sleeves, and leaned back in his chair to smoke. Pale blue smoke rose.
He got up, opened the floor-to-ceiling window, and quietly watched the servants clear the dishes. He asked softly, "Has Mrs. Montague had severe pregnancy reactions recently? Has she gone for a prenatal checkup? Did she cry that day, afterward?"
The servant didn't dare hide anything. "After you went abroad, Mrs. Grace Montague stayed in for a few days. She only went out once the mark on her face disappeared. She probably didn't tell anyone, or Ms. Davis and Mrs. Seraphina Montague would have made a scene."
The servant paused and added, "Mrs. Aurora Montague and Mrs. Seraphina Montague don't know she's pregnant! You should tell them, or Mrs. Aurora Montague will keep trying to set you up with Ms. Rodriguez. She seems to have forgotten you have a wife and are about to be a father!"
Henry felt a bit better and said, "Got it."
He put out his cigarette and was about to go upstairs when he saw a fluffy white ball running down. It was Sherry. Sherry hadn't seen Henry in a while and barked a few times.
Henry picked it up and took it upstairs.
He gave Sherry a bath, dried its fur, and placed it back in the bedroom, clean and tidy.
Grace had already taken a bath. She was in a silk nightgown, leaning against the bed, reading a pregnancy book. She was so focused she didn't notice Henry enter.
Henry unbuttoned his shirt, watching Grace's serene face, feeling she was different.
She was cold, but not cold enough. At least she still responded to him sometimes!
Some book said when a woman stops making a fuss, it means she's completely disappointed in her husband and doesn't bother to argue anymore.
Henry walked into the bathroom, and as the hot water poured down, he wondered if Grace was like that.
After his shower, he found the luggage in the dressing room already packed.
He was sure the servants hadn't come upstairs.
So it must have been Grace who packed it.
The better she did, the more complicated Henry's feelings became. He wished she would make a fuss, hit him, or scold him—anything but this lukewarm attitude.
Maybe to avoid him, Grace had gone to bed, leaving a small orange bedside lamp for him.
Henry lay behind her, gently wrapping his arm around her waist.
She was pregnant, so even if he had needs, he couldn't be too rough. But he still moved his hand gently, softly caressing her body.
Finally, he lightly pressed her beneath him.
Grace's nightgown was undone, and he buried his head, pleasing her.
When she was scared and resisted, he whispered in her ear, "I'll just kiss you. I won't hurt the baby."
Maybe to make it up to her, he didn't care about his own needs, only making sure she was comfortable.
Grace probably realized this too. She didn't resist much, lying there, looking up at the ceiling, calmly accepting the sensations Henry gave her.
She was very quiet, excessively so.
She didn't make a fuss, which made him uneasy; so, he kept a close watch on her.
But when Grace went back to the Windsor family, Henry didn't really interfere.
With spring fading into early summer, Grace was three months pregnant, her belly had a slight bulge when she undressed. Every night, Henry would almost always lie on her belly, listening for the baby's movements.
He no longer went to the club, nor did he see Esme. Even Elodie hadn't been heard from in a long time.
Henry acted like a responsible husband, accompanying Grace, always attentive to her needs, and going with her for prenatal checkups. He even helped her with some matters at the shop.
But Grace was never moved by him, not even once.