Page 25 of The Marquess and the Maiden

Chapter Seven

Harriet obviously hadn’t believed him, and instead thought he was jesting with her. He’d seen the tears shimmering in her eyes before she’d effectively disappeared into the crowd and he’d lost her.

He knew he shouldn’t have said those things to her. No true gentleman would ever speak in such a way to a lady. But he never claimed to be a gentleman in anything but title, and she’d strained his patience to its limits. Testing him, accusing him of teasing her or simply lying. He did want her, and he didn’t understand why she refused to believe that. Simply because of some asinine thing he’d said to her six years before? He’d kissed her. He’d pressed his very hard, very real desire against her. Still she hadn’t believed him.

She’d see he was quite serious soon enough. Which was why he currently sat in her older brother, Malcolm, the Duke of Lockwood’s study.

The man in question breached the doorway and stopped short. “Davenport, this is a surprise.”

“Lockwood.”

“I’d heard you were back into Society full force, but I don’t suppose we’ve run into each other outside of Benedict’s.”

“Yes, though I try to never venture farther than that fine establishment, it would seem my mother insists I have more of a presence.”

“Mothers,” Malcolm said with a roll of his eyes, but there was genuine affection in his tone. He came and sat in the chair next to Oliver instead of across the desk. “I’m assuming you’ve some purpose to this visit, or did you simply miss my handsome face?”

“I’ve come about your sister,” Oliver said.

“Helen? Whatever for? She’s expecting her third child, you know. Living quite happily just outside of Salisbury.”

“Don’t be daft, Lockwood. Not your married sister, your other sister.”

“Harriet?” He leaned back in his chair, lay his hands across his stomach, and did nothing to hide his surprise. “This ought to be interesting.”

“I wish to marry her.” He gripped the knob at the top of his cane. Despite how close he and Catherine had come to a betrothal, he’d never actually had to have this conversation with a father or a brother. “I am not here for your permission, nor your blessing, simply a courtesy of my intentions.” No one and nothing would deter him from this. He would have her.

“You want to marry Harriet?”

“I do.”

Malcolm frowned. “Whatever for?”

“Come now, man, she is your sister. Certainly you can’t be that surprised that a man would find her desirable.”

Malcolm schooled his features. “No, of course not, but she has never before had any serious suitors.”

“For that reason you believed her incapable of warranting one?”

“No, but I did wonder if perhaps the fact that everyone sees her as I do, the perfect little sister, everyone’s best friend, might have impacted her in the romance area.” Malcolm was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again. “Am I to believe that you’re in love with her, then?”

Love? That was preposterous. He wasn’t even certain he had a heart. “Good God no, I am incapable of love. Suffice it to say I want her.” He leveled his gaze at Malcolm. “Shall I elaborate?”

He held up a hand and shook his head. “Please do not. She is my baby sister, after all.”

“And a woman, nonetheless,” Oliver said.

The study door flew open and a fuming Harriet stormed in. “Is it not enough to mock me in private, my lord, but you must come to my home and do so in front of my brother?”

Oliver turned to Malcolm. “She doesn’t believe my intentions are true.”

“Harry, love, he’s just expressed an interest in marrying you and not once did he even inquire about your dowry. Don’t be a goose,” Malcolm said.

She blew out a breath. “He does not want to marry me.”

“Don’t frighten him away,” Malcolm chided. “It is your first proposal. Indeed, your first true suitor.”

She closed her eyes, and blush stained her from the top of her forehead to where her bodice rested against her glorious cleavage. “Splendid. Now the two of you can torment me together.” She turned to her brother. “Malcolm, for unknown reasons he is having fun at my expense. I certainly hope you did not give him your blessing.”

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