Page 65 of The Duke of Scandal

“I’m not injured but I can’t swim,” Harriet said.

Now that the initial shock was over, panic was beginning to set in with a vengeance.

“Where is Edward!” she yelled.

“On top of the boat. He was thrown clear when it went over, but an oar caught him a crack on the head and he’s down. It was him that made me look for you. The other fellows are clambering aboard my rowboat, except Bert who’s up there with your Duke who refuses to leave yet.”

“I can’t swim out of here!” Harriet said, clinging to the upside-down seat above her and thrashing with her legs, trying to stay afloat.”

“You don’t need to. Just take a deep breath and hold onto me. I’ll swim for both of us,” Lucius said calmly.

Harriet shook her head, and momentarily dunked under the water as the weight of her dress continued to drag at her.

“No option. You’ll be under the water for five seconds, then Edward will be there to pull you out. I’ll swim to my boat with a rope and tow you back to shore.”

Harriet took a deep breath, then nodded. Lucius positioned himself behind her with one strong arm about her waist. He counted down from five and then Harriet took the biggest lungful of air that she could, closing her eyes tight. She didn’t open them until she felt the chilly air on her face. Edward was above her, stretched out on the upturned hull of the boat, reaching down for her. She grabbed at his hand and he hauled her out of the water beside him.

EPILOGUE

Harriet huddled before a blazing fire while a storm raged outside. She held both hands around a steaming mug of tea and had a thick woolen blanket wrapped tightly around her. Edward sat beside her, with his own mug and blanket. Rebecca fussed over them both while the man that had been introduced as her husband, Lucius, stood on the edge of the firelight, watching pensively. Harriet’s mother and Edward’s Aunt Olivia sat in armchairs that had been dragged across the room to the circle of light cast by the fire. They watched with unreadable expressions.

The conversation so far had revealed that Harriet’s mother had been behind the public announcement of Harriet and Edward's engagement. A plan hatched with Eleanor and Olivia, Eleanor being promised that it would certainly drive the Duke away from Harriet and leave him easy pickings. Lauren had been scornful about how easy it had been to take Eleanor in and exploit her greed.

She and I will be having some frank words about that.

Edward suddenly stood, casting aside the blanket, and ruffling his wet hair. Lucius watched him warily, Rebecca moving to his side.

“I thank you for the courage you showed today, Mr. Worthingham. To row out into the teeth of the storm to warn us was brave. To dive into the water when you saw the boat go over was more so.”

Lucius nodded graciously.

“That aside though. I am far from happy at your exploitation of my sister.”

“Oh, Edward! I am not being exploited!” Rebecca protested, “I entered into this with my eyes wide open. I know everything there is to know about him and about how the world works. I am an adult.”

“Barely. And you are my responsibility. This man has lured you from your family. Is that the actions of a man with honorable intent?”

“…Actually, Edward, it was my idea,” Olivia spoke up.

Lauren hushed her but she would not be silenced.

“I saw how happy these two young people were and realized it was your goal to thwart that happiness. It was you, not Lucius, who sought to exploit Rebecca. Just like my father sought to exploit me, marrying me off to a man I didn’t know and did not love just for political gain.”

She stood, stepping into the orange glow, cast by the fire. There was pain on her face and passion in her voice.

“How could you?” Edward demanded. “She was your niece. You were trusted to raise her as a daughter.”

“Sheismy daughter!” Olivia cried out.

Silence fell across the room. Lauren got up and tried to urge Olivia back to her seat. Rebecca was staring at the woman with a look of pale shock on her face.

“Aunt Olivia…?” she said in a small voice.

“Mother,” Olivia replied. “I fell in love with a young man just like your Lucius. My father forbade me from seeing him when he discovered that I was with child. I was forced to give you up in order to protect my father’s reputation. I was married to Henry Bolton and you were raised by Frederick and Helen, Edward’s parents. I took on the role of Aunt. But, I will act no longer. Everything I have done is to help you avoid the misery that I suffered. Helping you escape Edward’s clutches so you could marry your true love and not be imprisoned forever in a loveless marriage.”

By the time she had finished speaking, she was breathless. Harriet stood, quietly taking Edward’s hand and squeezing it. He slowly approached Olivia, looking into her eyes. Harriet could see tears shining in the older woman’s eyes. Her face was resolute and proud. She was determined to stand by her actions.

“You did not love Uncle Henry?” he asked quietly.

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