Page 38 of Tempting Harriet
“She has not answered my letter yet,” she said as the carriage started on its way. “Depend upon it, Archibald, the delay means she doesn’t know how to refuse. I shall haveto persuade her in person.”
He had not really thought of her refusing, though she had said the night before that she would. His aunt’s letter wouldpersuade her, he had thought. She was fond of the old girl.He could not bear the idea of her refusing, though the realization alarmed him. He should not want her there, surely?His mistress—his lover—in residence while he courted hisfuture duchess. He wished fervently that matters had notproceeded so far, that his courtship had not developed a lifeof its own quite beyond his control. He wished he had insisted at Kew that he wanted marriage with Harriet insteadof falling in with her seemingly more convenient idea thatthey become lovers for what remained of the Season. Couldhe really have believed that possessing her body regularlyfor two months or so would leave him satisfied and contentto give her up?
“Do you think you will be able to persuade her?” he asked his aunt.
“Eh?” she said. “Persuade that sweet little child? I persuaded Barthorpe, did I not, Archibald? The very prospect of having me without her was giving the poor man anapoplexy.” She barked with laughter.
“Aunt Sophie,” he said, chuckling fondly, ‘‘you are a manipulator.”
“And aren’t you thankful for it, dear Archibald,” she said. “Fancy my little pet yourself, don’t you?”
He sobered instantly. “What do you mean?” he said. “I am practically an engaged man, Aunt.”
She clucked her tongue, “Sadie gave up love for duty more than sixty years ago,” she said. “For more than sixtyyears she has been obsessed with duty. She might havebeen a viscountess instead of marrying my brother, andhave taught her grandchildren to love. I never had eitherchildren or grandchildren, Archibald, but I loved. Oh, howI loved. One does not forget, you know. Your uncle was theworld’s greatest lover. Not that I could compare, ofcourse.” She rumbled for a moment “I was virtuous even ifI was a brazen flirt as a gel. Do you think there are featherbeds and privacy in heaven, eh, boy? I don’t have so longbefore I’ll find out though, I suppose. Maybe your unclewill have everything ready for me.”
It was strange, he thought, how one tended to forget that elderly people had a whole life behind them, that at onetime they had been young. He could not imagine his grandmother in love—and with someone other than his grandfather. Poor Grandmama. But he frowned out of the window.How many other people had guessed his feelings for Harriet? He had obviously been very indiscreet indeed.
She was at home. She joined them in the salon to which they had been directed only a couple of minutes after them,hurrying into the room and bending over his aunt’s chair tokiss her cheek before curtsying to him.
“I was writing letters,” she said breathlessly. She was holding one in her hand. “I am sorry that Amanda—LadyForbes—is not here. Sir Clive has taken her for a drive.”
“It is you we came to see, child,” Lady Sophia said, reaching for Harriet's free hand and drawing her down tosit beside her on a sofa. “It does my heart good to see yourpretty face. Is she not the prettiest child you have ever seen,dear Archibald?”
The duke bowed without replying, looked appreciatively at Harriet’s blush, and seated himself.
“Is that letter mine, my pet?” Lady Sophia asked.
“Oh, yes.” Harriet held it out. “It is not finished, ma’am, but I believe the meaning is clear. I am sorry.”
“Have you replied to Barthorpe’s invitation yet?” Lady Sophia asked.
“No, ma’am,” Harriet said. “It was to be my next task.” She was still holding out the incomplete letter.
She had decided not to go, the duke thought. Her brief apology and the look of regret on her face told him that.
“I cannot read it without my eyeglasses, child,” his aunt said. “Read it to me.”
Harriet bit her lip. “ ‘My dear Lady Sophia,’ ” she read, “ ‘I deeply regret—’ ”
His aunt’s hand had reached out to tap Harriet’s. “There, there,” she said, “that is enough, pet. Tear it up.”
“Ma’am?” Harriet said.
“Archibald,” Lady Sophia said, “ring for tea, dear boy.”
Harriet sprang to her feet, dismayed, and flew to the bell pull. “I do beg your pardon, ma’am,” she said. “And yours,your grace. My manners have gone begging.” She gave instructions to the servant who appeared at the door.
“Now, child,” Lady Sophia said when Harriet had resumed her seat, “tell an old woman why you must disappoint her.”
The wicked old fiend, the duke thought over the next few minutes as he sat silently watching Harriet being effectivelywound about one gnarled finger. Her eyes were big withtears by the time she promised faithfully that nothing couldkeep her from spending four days at Barthorpe Hall. Andthen she was suitably rewarded.
“There. Kiss me, my pet,” his aunt said, offering one withered cheek. The old devil. He would wager that shehad led his uncle a merry dance during the forty-five yearsof their marriage. He almost smiled suddenly as he caughthimself hoping that his uncle would be waiting with afeather bed for her in heaven.
Why was she so insistent that Harriet accompany her to Barthorpe Hall? he wondered. Was it just that Harrietseemed to be the one person who was able to cope with herdeafness? Was she as deaf as she sometimes seemed to be?Why had she insisted that Harriet be invited to his dinner?Was she dying to matchmake? Was she hoping to see herfavorite become a duchess? It would be as well for her ifshe realized it was far too late for that, he thought. Her littleHarriet had a heart that might be broken.
He wondered what his aunt would have to say if she knew that Harriet was his mistress.
But he had sat silently contemplating Harriet for long enough. He drew her into conversation as she poured thetea and as they drank it and ate the tarts and currant cakesthat had come on the tray with it. He had learned somethingof her trick of sitting facing his aunt and enunciating herwords clearly rather than bellowing them. He had to repeathimself no more than twice before his aunt appeared to nodoff and he could talk more naturally.
