Page 55 of Tempting Harriet
“Harriet.” Clara came across the room toward her and knelt in front of her. She took her hands in a firm clasp.“Oh, Harriet dear, it did not fade during all those years, didit?”
“I—” Harriet drew a deep breath. “No.”
“And he has come pursuing you here?” Clara said. “Just as he did before? Has he been making you improper proposals again? Shall I have Freddie send him away? He willif I tell him you are being harassed, even though Tenby ishis friend. I’ll not have you upset in my own home, Harriet.”
Harriet looked at their hands. “Perhaps it is me you should send away,” she said. “I was his mistress for almosta month, Clara. But no longer. I ended it last week.”
“Oh, Harriet.” Clara squeezed her hands more tightly, “Oh, my poor dear. He is quite unscrupulous where womenare concerned. I’ll have Freddie ask him to leave.”
“No,” Harriet said. She swallowed. “Don’t do that. I ran six years ago—back to Bath rather than go with you andFreddie to London and perhaps have to see him again. AndI ran last week rather than risk having to see him every timeI went to another entertainment. I am going to stop runningand stop avoiding him. I have to learn to live with the factthat he inhabits the same world as I and that sometimes—when we are both in London or when we are both here or inBath—we move in the same circles. I am going to learn tosee him just like any other man.”
“Oh, Harriet.” Clara set her head to one side.
“I am,” Harriet said firmly. “I am going to fall out of love with him if it takes the rest of my lifetime to do it.”
She got to her feet and Clara rose also. “Let's go down to dinner. I am starved.”
Clara laughed despite the look of continued sympathy in her eyes. “I like your spirit,” she said. “And he is a gentleman, after all. He will not harm you in our home, Harriet. He was very good with Susan.”
“I don’t want him near Susan,” Harriet said, marching rather belligerently toward the door and opening it. “Susanwas Godfrey’s. And she is mine. I don’t want her smiling athim and carrying her books for him to read.” She stoppedsuddenly and looked back at Clara. For a moment she hadto bite her lip again. “I should have chosen a new father forher when I was in London. She needs a father so badly,Clara. Telling her how Godfrey used to play with her is nosubstitute for having a father to play with her now.”
Clara tutted. “Susan will have a new father soon enough,” she said, “and you a husband, Harriet. It will happen, dear. I promise.” She linked her arm through Harriet’sand moved her in the direction of the staircase.
Chapter 17
He was almost reluctant to get her alone. Perhaps it was that he did not know quite how to approach her. Or that hewas afraid of rejection. One never knew with Harriet. Onecould certainly not count on her jumping at the chance tobecome a duchess.
He did not press matters during the evening. He was content to have Freddie and Clara as chaperons and to draw some wry amusement from the fact that although Harrietwas not silent she conversed exclusively with them and didnot once look him in the eye. She made polite noises whenever he called on her to confirm some observation he hadmade about London and the Season or else pretended not tohear him at all.
He was content to look at her, golden in contrast to the very dark coloring of both Clara and Freddie; dainty, elegant, refined, beautiful. He was content to look at her withlonging and cautious hope and a certain fear.
Obviously his looks were as transparent as they had been at St. James’s Square and at Barthorpe Hall.
“Well, Archie,” Frederick said when the ladies had left them alone and retired to bed. He handed his friend a glassof brandy and settled comfortably in a chair with his own.“To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Of my company?” the duke asked. “Does there have to be a reason? Is not the call of an old friendship enough?”
“Let’s be blunt.” Frederick chuckled. “Clara is concernedabout your intentions toward Harriet. They were somewhatbase a number of years ago, I seem to remember.”
“Do I have to have any intentions?” the duke asked.“Could it not be pure chance that has brought us both here at the same time?”
“You have been undressing her with your eyes all evening,” Frederick said. “And liking what you see, Arch.”
The duke set down his glass on the table beside him. “Ithink not, Freddie,” he said quietly. “I believe you insultthe lady by suggesting that she invites such impertinence.”
“This is interesting.” Frederick hooked one leg over thearm of his chair. “Very interesting indeed. Perhaps weshould move on to other topics of conversation before Ifind myself with an engagement to meet you at dawn. Clarawould not be amused. I will say this, though, Archie. A legshackle is not at all bad. In fact, I would not free myself ofmine if I were offered all the inducements the world has tooffer. You would enjoy one too, my lad—with the rightwoman, of course.” He chuckled.
The duke did not press the matter the following morning, either. They were all to ride out together—the children too.Paul was mounted on his own pony and preened himselfwhen the duke leveled his quizzing glass at him and complimented him on his seat. Freddie had the baby up beforehim. Susan was to ride with her mother. Harriet mountedfirst and then reached down for a groom to lift the child up.
“It would be best if she rode up here with me, ma’am,” the duke said, moving his horse over beside hers. “Yoursidesaddle will make holding her difficult.”
She stiffened but did not look at him. “We will manage perfectly well, I thank you, your grace.” she said.
“Susan,” he said, looking down at the child, pretty in a green velvet riding habit and jaunty little feathered hat, “thechoice will be yours. Would you prefer to ride on yourmother’s sorry hack or on this splendid black stallion? Ishall not try to influence your decision.”
She looked from her mother to him, from her mother’s horse to his. And then looked up at her mother and pointedat his horse. “May I, Mama?”
It was a mistake, he knew. Harriet rode out of the stableyard without a word, her back rivaling his grandmother’s for dignified straightness. He bent down without thegroom’s assistance and lifted her daughter to sit before hissaddle. She settled there and looked primly about her. Solike Harriet that he wanted to laugh.
