Page 35 of The Duke of Scandal

“Here, here,” Simon said, raising a cup of tea in toast.

Edward sat at the head of the breakfast table. The Worthinghams sat down on one side of the table. Olivia sat on the other, opposite the Dowager Countess. Harriet sat between Eleanor and Simon. She found that she had little appetite and had not had much sleep after leaving Edward the previous night. What sleep she had managed was fraught with dreams of him that made her blush to think of.

Those dreams had left her feeling sad. They would only ever be dreams, and could never be reality. If she found a man to settle down with, he would only ever be a pale imitation of the handsome Duke.

“I’m only sorry the evening ended in such a way for you, Dowager Countess. I hope you enjoyed the ball up to that point?” Edward said.

“It was truly spectacular. Quite the achievement,” Lauren replied, sipping tea.

Harriet watched Edward while trying to disguise the fact from anyone else around the table. He seemed more in control of himself than the previous evening, with dark hair swept back from his temples and tanned face perfectly composed. He was the perfect attentive host, making small talk with all of his guests. Simon was talking to him; Harriet was only half-listening when Eleanor leaned toward her.

“A little bird tells me that you know a great deal more of this house than we do, cousin. You were seen wandering about last night even after the ball. Are you trying to create a scandal?”

Harriet caught herself on the brink of a startled reaction. Instead, she picked up a piece of toast and took a bite, taking her time before replying to Eleanor. Her cousin was hiding her annoyance behind a teacup.

“I did take a walk through the gardens during the ball. And last night I looked around the house. I could not sleep,” Harriet admitted. “What on earth do you mean by scandal?”

She put as much incredulity into her hushed voice as she could.

Was it her? Did she see? And if so, what possible good does she think it will do her? Harming my reputation is harming the family's reputation and that affects her too.

“I mean, wandering alone in your night things in a strange man’s house. I heard you go past my door and took a peek. I was quite shocked,” Eleanor said. “Were you going to meet the Duke?”

“Of course not! I barely know him and have exchanged a handful of words with him. Why would I be meeting him in the middle of the night.”

“Oh, Harriet. Don’t be so naive. His reputation precedes him. And your particular circumstances are quite obvious.”

“My circumstances?”

“You are a guest in what was your home but now belongs to my brother. You are unmarried and rapidly approaching an age where it seems unlikely that state will change. You must be feeling desperate. Is that why you came? I have never known you to enjoy mingling with society. It confused me why you would suddenly be so keen.”

“That is very insightful, Eleanor. I am keen to find a match, as it happens. Are you suggesting that I have my sights set on the Duke?”

Eleanor giggled softly. “Yes, laughable as that is. Having made some discreet inquiries, I believe I would have the better chance of catching his eye. Perhaps it would be best if you were to…step aside?”

Harriet couldn’t stop herself looking at her cousin with stark astonishment. She could not believe the brazen, bare-faced cheek of the woman.

She believes she can win Edward’s heart. She thinks that he will be swayed by a pretty face and a batted eyelash.

“I do not stand in your way, Eleanor,” Harriet mumbled. “I wish you all the luck in the world. Simon would be overjoyed to call Edward his brother-in-law.”

“Edward is it? You clearly got to know him better than I thought,” Eleanor crowed.

Harriet wanted to kick herself for the slip.

“You saw me going past your room. Presumably you followed me on my wanderings. So, you know as well as I do that I did not set out to meet with anyone. That I wandered the halls for a while and returned to my room when my candle began to expire.”

“I did not follow, actually. I have better sense,” Eleanor whispered.

Harriet felt a sense of relief. Her cousin’s words had the ring of truth. She found herself believing that Eleanor had not, in fact, followed her and had not been the individual that had spied on her and Edward.

Who then? A servant? His sister, Rebecca? His Aunt Olivia? My mother?

That last was a ridiculous notion. The idea of the Dowager Countess stalking about the house in the dark was ludicrous. The door of the breakfast room opened at that moment and Rebecca entered. She walked to Edward and dropped into a curtsy, acknowledging the rest of the company with a graceful bow of the head.

“Edward, I wanted to apologize for my silliness last night.”

Edward looked at her seriously, leaning back in his seat.

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