Page 36 of Tempting Harriet
“I need to speak with you,” she said, feeling the color flood her cheeks, wishing that the floor would open up toswallow her.
He looked displeased and withdrew his arm under the guise of reaching for the ribbon of his quizzing glass. Hebowed again and smiled. “I think it unwise, ma’am,” hesaid softly.
“I cannot keep my appointment on Thursday,” she said hastily, wishing that for once she could be a blasé womanof the world.
“Ah,” he said. “Another more important engagement?”
“N-no,” she said. “I cannot come, that is all.”
“Smile,” he said. “It is wise when one is undoubtedly being observed. You are having your courses, Harriet?”
Not having a looking glass handy, she was not sure if there was a deeper color than crimson for her face to turn.
“My dear,” he said, “I have had dealings with women for many years and know that such an affliction has to be endured monthly. Smile. Ah, yes, and wave your fan too, mylittle blusher.”
“I will be well again by Monday,” she said.
“Alas.” His hands played with the handle of his quizzing glass. “It seems you cannot have had either your invitationor your letter yet. You and I will be at Barthorpe’s in thecountry on Monday, Harriet, you to save the earl from thetedium of having to repeat his every word—twice—to myesteemed aunt, me to move on to the next stage of mycourtship of Lady Phyllis.”
“I shall not be there,” she said quickly. No, not again. She would not allow herself to be drawn into such an embarrassing and painful situation again.
“You have not yet read my aunt’s letter,” he said. “I do not doubt it will reduce your tender heart to spasms of pity.I do not doubt that it would do the same if your heart wasas hard as rock.”
“I do not like it.” She raised her chin.
“But you like my aunt,” he said, the suggestion of a smile in his eyes. “We have conversed for altogether longenough. Your servant, ma’am.” He made her a courtly bowand strolled on to some other destination.
No, she thought. No, she would not be so manipulated. She was beginning to feel quite out of control of her life.She supposed that that was what she might have expectedwhen she gave up one of the most firmly held values of herlife in order to become his mistress. But that did not explainwhy she had become almost inextricably involved with hisfamily and his courtship. It was not right, she told herself. Itwas most definitely not right. She remembered in some distress the confidences to which Lady Phyllis had made her an unwilling listener the evening before.
The situation was becoming quite bizarre. She longed suddenly, as she seemed so often to do these days, for thesafety of Godfrey’s presence. She longed to be able to closeher eyes and find her head comfortably nestled on hisshoulder and his arms about her and her whole world secure.
Someone took her arm and patted her hand. “Gracious, Harriet dear, smile,” Lady Forbes said. “Whatever did hesay to you to make you look so forlorn? Someone has replaced you in his affections? It was bound to happen, youknow. You can do very much better, dear. You can findyourself a husband. What has happened to Mr. Hardinge?”
“I put him off,” Harriet said. “It did not seem fair to encourage him. I am being invited out to Lord Barthorpe’s country home, Amanda. Probably at Lady Sophie’s request.How can I go under the circumstances? It is like a nightmare. But it is so hard to disappoint Lady Sophia.”
“She is a veritable dragon,” Lady Forbes said. “Here comes Lord Sotheby.”
Harriet smiled brightly. If there had been one spot of brightness in her day, she thought, it was her discovery during the afternoon that she was not with child. She had worried about it, having no idea how conception was to beprevented. At least she would not have that particular concern for another month.
Chapter 12
She simply would not go, Harriet decided, the expected invitation open before her on the breakfast table. She did not want to go. It would be in very poor taste to do so. Howwould the Earl and Countess of Barthorpe feel if they knewthat they were inviting the mistress of the man they intended for their daughter's husband? For the moment Harriet ignored the other letter beside her plate, the one sheknew was from Lady Sophia Davenport.
“I’ll not go,” she told Lady Forbes. “I shall send a refusal immediately after breakfast, Amanda. I cannot leave Susanalone for so long.”
“I would, of course, be delighted to have her to myself for a few days,” Lady Forbes said, “But I think your decision is wise, dear. Clive and I are delighted with the way inwhich your circle of admirers seems to grow larger everyday. Even Yarborough has an eye to you. You must at allcosts avoid being alone with him, of course, Harriet, but hisadmiration can do nothing to harm your consequence.Sotheby is very attentive too, and he is a viscount, dear,with a very respectable fortune. He cannot have passed hisfortieth birthday yet.”
Harriet smiled. “Everyone is very kind,” she said. She looked back at her invitation. “I shall certainly not go,Amanda.”
“And you will give Tenby up too?” her friend asked hopefully.
Harriet reached for her other letter and opened it. “When the time comes,” she said quietly. Perhaps the time had already come. He would be moving on to another phase ofhis courtship, he had said. The gathering at Barthorpe Hallmust surely be for the establishment of a serious courtship,perhaps even for the betrothal. Harriet felt rather sick at thethought. She did not think she would be able to continue ashis mistress after he was betrothed. Even now her conscience was being stretched to the limits of its endurance.
Lady Forbes clucked her tongue and drank her coffee.
“Oh, dear,” Harriet said, reading. “Oh, dear.”
“She is a selfish old woman, Harriet,” Lady Forbes said firmly. “She would not think twice about taking you awayfrom your friends and even your daughter merely for herown comfort. She would use you as her servant.”
