Page 46 of The Duke of Scandal

“You leap to your cousin’s defense quickly enough. A very distant cousin too. Do the two of you perhaps…?”

Harriet could feel her face turning scarlet at the very suggestion.

“No, we do not!” she spluttered, putting down her teacup with a rattle of china.

“There would be no shame in it. The connection is more of a legal definition than any meaningful blood tie…”

“Mother, please stop. There is no possibility of Simon and I marrying. Besides, that would do nothing for his circumstances. Or mine for that matter.”

Lauren gave a decisive nod. “No, it would not. Quite right. I am glad that your heads are ruling you and not your hearts. So, you allowed Middleton to court you because his wealth would pay Erdington’s debts.”

It was not asked as a question but said as a statement of fact.

“Yes, that is it exactly. Surely, I am not the first woman to undertake such an arrangement,” Harriet said wearily.

“You are not. Far from it. And hearing you confirm my suspicions, I am particularly glad to have taken certain actions recently.”

She smiled to herself and finished her tea, picking up a biscuit and nibbling on it delicately. Harriet was confused by the apparent change in the subject of the conversation.

“What action have you taken?” she asked.

There was a cold chill growing in her. She could not imagine what her mother had done, but instinct was telling her that she would not like it. At that moment, the door opened to admit Simon, pulling on his coat hurriedly.

“The Duke of Wrexham is currently riding up the driveway,” he announced. “Did you invite him here, Harriet?”

“Edward is here?” Harriet exclaimed.

Lauren remained quiet, looking smug. Eleanor appeared behind Simon.

“Did someone say the Duke of Wrexham? Here? Whatever for?”

“Is this your doing, Eleanor?” Harriet demanded.

Eleanor looked amused, but honest, as she shook her head.

“Mother?” Harriet rounded on Lauren.

“Me, dear? Of course not. Why would I? Are you sure that you did not?”

“No!” Harriet cried. “I didn’t. As I said. He must have reasons of his own for coming. Something to do with Rebecca perhaps.”

She was feeling flustered. Simon looked flustered. Harriet wondered if it was her imagination or if he was indeed looking at her from the corner of his eye, as though suddenly suspicious of her.

This is what I wanted most of all, of course, though I cannot tell anyone that. I must contain any excitement I feel and pretend to be as shocked as they are. Oh lord!

“Eleanor and I should make ourselves presentable for His Grace,” Harriet said.

“I thought you were on first name terms with Edward,” Eleanor replied with bite.

Simon rounded on her.

“That is enough, Eleanor! I will not have any more bickering between you. Now, both of you will go upstairs and change. We will receive the Duke in the front sitting room and he will tell us the reason for his attending us.”

Harriet hurried from the room without another word. She and Eleanor were crossing the hall towards the stairs when the front doors were opened and Edward strode in as though he were in his own house. A surprised doorman attempted to announce him, but Edward was already speaking, drowning the man out.

“I require an explanation! At once! Which of you is responsible?” he demanded, face red with anger.

CHAPTER 32

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