simple. Gentlemen of business are expected to abide by certain unspoken rules. One of those rules has to do with having a lovely lady by our side while we entertain our associates. Since Miss Birmingham has proven herself unfit for that position, I’m in need of a replacement, a lovely bit of femininity, if you will, to hang on my arm and my every word as I go about the tricky business of negotiating a deal with a duke. I’ve come to the conclusion you would fit that role admirably.”
For a moment, words were impossible to produce, but onlyfor a moment. “Am I to understand you believe I’m a ‘lovely bit of femininity’?”
Mr. Addleshaw had the audacity to grin. “Well, not at the moment. You’re more of a sodden mess than a lovely bit of anything. But I imagine with the proper clothing and a fashionable hairstyle, you’d be a charming asset, one the Duke of Westmoore would appreciate.”
Harriet yanked on her skirt, effectively pulling it away from Buford, who’d been gnawing at the hem, before she bobbed a curtsy in Mr. Addleshaw’s direction. “You’re delusional, and no, I won’t be accepting your offer.” With that, she spun around and walked as quickly as she could through the stream that had once been the sidewalk.
“I’ll give you five hundred dollars.”
Pride warred with practicality as Harriet’s steps faltered. Practicality won and had her turning. “Five hundred dollars?”
“Indeed, which, for someone . . .”
“If you finish that sentence, I assure you, Mr. Addleshaw, our conversation will be at an immediate end.”
Mr. Addleshaw frowned. “You’re very touchy, aren’t you.”
“And you’re very insulting and condescending.”
Waving her words away with a flick of his wrist, a motion that almost caused one of his jacket seams to come completely apart, Mr. Addleshaw stalked closer to her. “So will you do it?”
Harriet considered him for a moment. He seemed so sure of himself, so very arrogant in his belief that she’d accept his offer that, instead of nodding—something she knew she should be doing—she shook her head instead. “No.”
“What do you mean—no?”
“I thought my answer was self-explanatory.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You’re a hat girl, one who is soon to be without a position. I can’t imagine opportunities like this come your way often.”
Her hands clenched into fists. “Miss Birmingham was right. You, sir, are a complete and utter boor, and . . .” Her words trailed off when she noticed an elderly gentleman dressed in black hobbling toward them through the rain, clutching a large umbrella in his hand. He stopped a few feet away from her, bent over as he drew in a few gasping breaths, straightened, wheezed a few times, and then opened his mouth. “I say, I could not believe . . .” He stopped speaking as another wheeze racked his aging body.
The irritation that had been pouring through Harriet ever since she’d made the acquaintance of Mr. Addleshaw evaporated into thin air. Here was clear proof there were still good people in the world. The elderly gentleman had obviously witnessed her quarreling with Mr. Addleshaw and was coming to her aid. Moving closer to the man, her lips curved into a smile, until she caught his eye and found herself pinned under the man’s beady glare. He released a sniff, one that, annoying enough, didn’t cause him to erupt into sneezing, and then edged closer to Mr. Addleshaw, placing the umbrella directly over that insufferable man’s head.
“Shall I summon the authorities, sir?”
Harriet’s temper roared back to life. “There is absolutely no reason to summon any authorities,” she snapped before Mr. Addleshaw could respond. “I’ve done nothing wrong, whereas Mr. Addleshaw . . . Well, I hardly believe now is the appropriate time to discuss all of his transgressions, since it does seem to be raining harder than ever.”
The elderly gentleman somehow managed to look down his
For a moment, words were impossible to produce, but onlyfor a moment. “Am I to understand you believe I’m a ‘lovely bit of femininity’?”
Mr. Addleshaw had the audacity to grin. “Well, not at the moment. You’re more of a sodden mess than a lovely bit of anything. But I imagine with the proper clothing and a fashionable hairstyle, you’d be a charming asset, one the Duke of Westmoore would appreciate.”
Harriet yanked on her skirt, effectively pulling it away from Buford, who’d been gnawing at the hem, before she bobbed a curtsy in Mr. Addleshaw’s direction. “You’re delusional, and no, I won’t be accepting your offer.” With that, she spun around and walked as quickly as she could through the stream that had once been the sidewalk.
“I’ll give you five hundred dollars.”
Pride warred with practicality as Harriet’s steps faltered. Practicality won and had her turning. “Five hundred dollars?”
“Indeed, which, for someone . . .”
“If you finish that sentence, I assure you, Mr. Addleshaw, our conversation will be at an immediate end.”
Mr. Addleshaw frowned. “You’re very touchy, aren’t you.”
“And you’re very insulting and condescending.”
Waving her words away with a flick of his wrist, a motion that almost caused one of his jacket seams to come completely apart, Mr. Addleshaw stalked closer to her. “So will you do it?”
Harriet considered him for a moment. He seemed so sure of himself, so very arrogant in his belief that she’d accept his offer that, instead of nodding—something she knew she should be doing—she shook her head instead. “No.”
“What do you mean—no?”
“I thought my answer was self-explanatory.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You’re a hat girl, one who is soon to be without a position. I can’t imagine opportunities like this come your way often.”
Her hands clenched into fists. “Miss Birmingham was right. You, sir, are a complete and utter boor, and . . .” Her words trailed off when she noticed an elderly gentleman dressed in black hobbling toward them through the rain, clutching a large umbrella in his hand. He stopped a few feet away from her, bent over as he drew in a few gasping breaths, straightened, wheezed a few times, and then opened his mouth. “I say, I could not believe . . .” He stopped speaking as another wheeze racked his aging body.
The irritation that had been pouring through Harriet ever since she’d made the acquaintance of Mr. Addleshaw evaporated into thin air. Here was clear proof there were still good people in the world. The elderly gentleman had obviously witnessed her quarreling with Mr. Addleshaw and was coming to her aid. Moving closer to the man, her lips curved into a smile, until she caught his eye and found herself pinned under the man’s beady glare. He released a sniff, one that, annoying enough, didn’t cause him to erupt into sneezing, and then edged closer to Mr. Addleshaw, placing the umbrella directly over that insufferable man’s head.
“Shall I summon the authorities, sir?”
Harriet’s temper roared back to life. “There is absolutely no reason to summon any authorities,” she snapped before Mr. Addleshaw could respond. “I’ve done nothing wrong, whereas Mr. Addleshaw . . . Well, I hardly believe now is the appropriate time to discuss all of his transgressions, since it does seem to be raining harder than ever.”
The elderly gentleman somehow managed to look down his
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