Page 24 of Tempting Harriet
“I do beg your pardon, Grandmama,” he said, his voice stiff and haughty—just like his grandpapa’s. “I did not realize you and Aunt Sophie were entertaining. I suppose Ishould have asked Knowles.”
“Dear Archibald,” Lady Sophia boomed.
“Allow me to present my grandson, the Duke of Tenby, to you,” the duchess said, smiling at her visitor. “LadyWingham, Tenby. Or perhaps you have met before?”
Her grandson bowed stiffly and Lady Wingham sank into a curtsy. “Ma’am?” he said. “I met Lady Wingham in Bath,Grandmama, at Freddie Sullivan’s wedding, and have mademy bow to her on one or two occasions this spring.”
“Eh?” Lady Sophia said.
He repeated loudly and distinctly what he had said.
“Have you come to take us driving, Archibald?” his aunt asked.
“It was my intention, Aunt Sophie,” he yelled. “If you and Grandmama feel up to it, that is. The sun is quite warmand there is scarcely any breeze.”
“I do not blow away easily in the wind, lad,” Lady Sophia said with a rumble that her sister-in-law recognizedas a laugh. “You shall come with us too, my pet.”
“I?” Lady Wingham flushed to the roots of her hair. “Oh, no, indeed, ma’am, I was about to take my leave. The carriage will be waiting for me. I—”
“We will not take no for an answer, will we, Sadie?” Lady Sophia said. “You shall sit on the seat opposite me,child, and tell me who everyone is. I can hear you far betterthan I can hear dear Archibald, for all that he shouts veryloudly. And you are too young and too pretty not to ride inthe park for all the young sparks to see. Can you give meone good reason why you should not come?”
“I must go home to my d—” The girl bit her lip. “I really should go home, ma’am.”
Sophie had embarrassed her, poor child. “If you have no pressing reason to return home, you really must favor uswith your company, Lady Wingham,” the duchess said graciously. “It will please Sophie so. And me too. Do say yes,dear. Tenby shall have your carriage sent home and weshall let you down at Sir Clive Forbes’s door when we areon the way home.”
The girl did not want to accept, the duchess could tell. Doubtless she felt somewhat beyond her depth. Theduchess smiled kindly at her.
“Thank you, your grace,” she said quietly.
It would be amusing, the duchess thought, to have a pretty little girl with them when they drove in the park. AndSophie would indeed be pleased. But it was not somethingthat should be encouraged again. The girl was altogethertoo pretty and charming. Tenby appeared to have beenstruck dumb by her beauty, though he claimed already to beacquainted with her. And she, of course, was far from indifferent to him. She had not stopped blushing since his entryinto the room. It was not uncommon for women to blush inTenby’s presence, of course. He had his looks all from his mother’s side of the family, the dear boy, his father and hisgrandfather not having been renowned for handsome features.
It would not do, the duchess decided. Lady Wingham was a charming girl but hardly an eligible connection forTenby. Now that he seemed to have fixed his interest onLady Phyllis Reeder—eminently eligible—he must not bedistracted. Not that he was likely to be turned entirely fromhis purpose. He had been a good and dutiful boy ever sincehis grandfather had taken him in hand. Her husband hadbeen strict with the boy and had turned him into an obedient grandson. He would not disgrace the Vinney name orhis ducal title either.
“We will sit here while you have the barouche brought around, then, Tenby,” she said, seating herself and motioning Lady Wingham back to her pouf. He bowed and left theroom without another word.
He handed her into the barouche after his grandmother and his aunt—she kept her eyes lowered and did not griphis hand at all—and then climbed in after her. He wasforced to sit beside her since his aunt had asked her to sitopposite so that she could hear her. His aunt apparently listened to her lips since Harriet did not speak above her usualsoft volume. And his grandmother had settled herself beside Aunt Sophie, facing the horses. His sleeve brushedHarriet’s arm as he seated himself, and both of them edgedslightly to the outsides of the seat.
To say he was furious was to understate the case quite drastically. If he just had her alone, he was convinced thathe would do what he had never done to any woman and hadnever thought to do. He would bend her over his knee andwallop her until she cried for mercy. Until she could not sitdown. Perhaps that was how he would begin proceedingstomorrow afternoon, be thought grimly.
How dared she! How dared she set foot beneath his roof? And wangle an introduction to his grandmother, using whatwas doubtless a fleeting acquaintance with his aunt in Bathas an excuse. When he had told her that his grandmotherand his aunt were coming to town, she must have realizedimmediately who the aunt was. Obviously she had her spieswho had informed her that they had arrived the afternoonbefore, and had wasted no time at all in coming to pay herrespects. And she had used her sweet charm to such effectthat she had drawn this invitation.
Good Lord. His hands felt clammy with sweat for a moment. His mistress had arrived at his own home and been presented to his grandmother, the Duchess of Tenby, andhis aunt, the Dowager Marchioness of Davenport. And nowhe was seated beside her and opposite them for a drive inthe park. For all the world to see.
Tomorrow she would explain herself. And if she was not quick about it, he would encourage her with the flat of hishand. He just wished he really could. He wished he couldbring himself to use violence on her. She had asked for it.
She was leaning forward in her seat, pointing out to his aunt various landmarks on their way to the park, landmarksthat Aunt Sophie claimed to have forgotten. His grandmother was looking steadily at him. He smiled at her andlaunched into a discussion of the weather before he remembered that Harriet beside him would hear and perhaps beamused.
Let her show amusement at her peril. Good Lord! He had fleeting and graphic memories of Monday afternoon andsmiled harder and talked more determinedly.
Harriet was wonderful with his aunt. He admitted that grudgingly to himself over the next hour. She talked to herconstantly, relieving him and his grandmother of the rathertedious necessity of yelling out everything they said andoften having to repeat themselves even then. And shesomehow succeeded in both looking and sounding as if itwere no trouble at all, as if she actually enjoyed talkingwith the old girl.
And of course she looked quite remarkably pretty and made his aunt’s references to her as a child and a pet seemnot as nonsensical as they should have seemed consideringthe fact that she must be close to thirty years of age.
They certainly did not lack for attention in the park. Several older people recognized his grandmother and drew close to pay their respects and be presented to his aunt. Afew people who were familiar with Bath society came togreet her. Some of his acquaintances touched their hats tohis relatives and a few drew near to chat. And of courseHarriet attracted her usual court. It seemed to be growingwith time. He wondered which one of them she wouldmarry when the Season was over. It seemed reasonable tobelieve that she would not wait longer. He knew from personal experience that she was a passionate woman whomust feel the need of a man. She would not have him toserve that need beyond July. He glanced self-consciously athis grandmother just as if she might have read his thoughts,but she was too busy looking about her.
They must present a strange picture, he reflected, intercepting more than a few curious glances from the members of the ton who were riding or walking in the park. Hisgrandmother, his aunt, and himself—with Lady Wingham.But he could console himself that the glances could be nomore than curious. He had avoided being alone with Harrietfor even a single minute in public since she had become hismistress. It was bad enough that Bruce seemed to haveguessed. He certainly did not want any other speculationalong those lines. The tiniest whisper of gossip had a nastyhabit of becoming a great thundering in no time at all—especially in London during the Season.
But today he did not have to worry. Even the most evil mind would not dream that he could possibly have the audacity to drive his mistress with his grandmother and hisaunt. His fury returned.
