Page 16 of The Duke of Scandal

“Are you with child?” he whispered.

“No, and we have made love only once. But he is the man I will marry.”

“You foolish child!” Edward raged. “Do you think that is your choice? I take it the man is not of our rank?”

“Of our rank? How ridiculous you sound, Edward. No, he is not. Though he is well educated and of a skilled trade. I intend to follow my heart.”

Edward turned away, fighting to control the anger that flared hotly within him. He had a vivid image of his father. A towering, black-haired figure who was terrible in his wrath. Edward had defied him once in order to follow his heart. He shuddered from the memory of the consequences.

“And what of your family. The family of the man that took you in, the poor illegitimate child that you were. You were welcomed as a Bolton and now would turn your back on us. Worse, you would risk engulfing us in scandal?”

He whirled away, flinging open the door. For a moment he stood, then looked back over his shoulder.

“After the ball has ended, I will be back and we will talk about who this man is that you are willing to abandon your family for. You will tell me and I will find him and make him regret his actions.”

CHAPTER 10

“Are you quite well, Harriet? You seem distracted?” Simon said with genuine concern alive in his voice.

Harriet forced her attention back to her partner for this round of dancing. It was true, she had been distracted. The truth was that she was in no mood for dancing or any of the other activities of the ball. There was a tingle running through her that had begun at the touch of Edward Bolton’s lips on her hand.

The memory of that chaste kiss set her heart racing. His deep, rich voice was enough, even in mere recollection, to make her knees feel weak. This was not like her. She was not flighty or fanciful in her thinking. But her attraction to this complete stranger was intoxicating. Simon, unfortunately, could not compare.

He attempted polite conversation. Tried to make Harriet laugh, but she could not give him her full attention.

“I’m sorry, cousin. I think I may have to sit out the next dance. A headache. I think it is all the people and music, I am simply not used to it.”

At that moment, the music came to an end and the dancers applauded the players who stood on a stage at the far end of the room.

“Of course. I should have thought that you were not used to social functions such as this. I should have been considerate,” Simon replied.

“Not at all, cousin. I think a turn in the gardens will put things right. I just need to clear my head. It is still a fine night outside, I believe.”

“Shall I accompany you, then?” Simon asked.

He was already offering his arm to escort her from the room. Harriet stopped for a moment, thinking how she could escape from the man. She was only partly lying about her reason for wanting to go outside. She did want to clear her head. Her omission was that he was partly the cause of the fog that permeated her brain. It was becoming increasingly clear that he saw her as a valid companion and intended to use this occasion to begin to woo her.

But, Harriet was at a loss to justify her not wanting Simon to escort her. She took his arm, walking slowly from the ballroom floor to the edges. As she did, she was thinking hard about the best way to break it to him. The decision was made for her when Captain Bingham approached.

“Erdington, old chap. Do you think I could have a word? It concerns young Eleanor.”

Harriet gave a wry smile. “Duty calls cousin. I will return presently though, have no fear.”

She released Simon’s arm and increased her pace as she began to weave through the other people present, heading for the tall, French doors at the rear which opened out onto the paved balcony. Simon looked after her as Bingham steered him in the opposite direction, talking quietly to him. Harriet hoped that the conversation would pave the way for Eleanor to be content with an engagement to the young officer. That might make her somewhat more bearable.

Outside, servants stood sentry, armed with trays of food and glasses of wine. A few people were taking advantage of the fresh air. Immediately as she stepped foot outside, Harriet began to feel somewhat better. She could breathe again. Ahead of her was a winding stone staircase that descended to a gravel walkway between an avenue of busts and sculptures. A number of couples slowly promenaded along the path, examining the statuary that they passed.

Hurrying down the steps, Harriet found a smaller path that led away at right angles to the main one. It was narrow and overshadowed by laurel bushes to one side and the brick wall of the patio above to the other. She followed it, passing a wheelbarrow loaded with the remnants of plants that had been cut back and a door painted in peeling and faded green bearing a substantial padlock.

She followed the path until she reached a shaded alcove under the branches of an oak tree. A wooden bench had been placed there, almost concealed completely by the shadows. A concrete slab sat just before the bench. Harriet looked at it curiously, even touching it. She could feel letters carved in its surface but it was too dark to see what. The thought occurred that it was a memorial stone, possibly a gravestone. She steered a wide berth around it and then sat on the bench.

“Oh, what a tangled web!” Harriet said to herself. “A cousin who seems to be in love with me and another who hates me.”

She chuckled under her breath, amused by her own situation. It felt a little overwhelming. Then she heard footsteps getting nearer. It seemed to be someone walking the same path that she had just taken. Not wanting to have to re-impose the facade she had been maintaining all evening, Harriet got up from the bench and looked around for a hiding place. Feeling somewhat foolish, she ducked behind the ancient and gnarled oak tree, crouching behind the fissured and stony-skinned tree.

The footsteps sounded heavy. She dared not put her head out from behind the tree for fear of being seen. This was ridiculous. First she had hidden in order to avoid having to make any more small talk. Then she had to continue to hide in order not to be caught out. Being discovered alone in the gardens was one thing. Being discovered crouching behind a tree like some child playing hide and seek was quite another.

The footsteps got closer and then she heard the creak of wood as the stranger sat down. Then silence. She had just made up her mind to step out and deal with the consequences. Until he spoke.

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