comparison to our past adventures.”
Harriet followed them into the lavishly decorated room and sat in a chair between them near the roaring fire. She hadn’t realized how close an acquaintance Archie had with Nick. They were of an age and similar consequence, so it was likely they had become good friends in school.
Once they were settled, Archie began. “By some odd bit of fate, I stopped at the same inn where Lord Alderford and his family were resting for the night. Lady Harriet feared the duke had chosen a husband for her. When she saw my carriage, she assumed my sisters were aboard, so she snuck out of the inn to await their departure. By the time I discovered her, we’d traveled some miles alone before her father found us broken down on the road. After some consideration I came here to speak to Alderford. It took some convincing, but I was finally able to make Lord Alderford see that marriage is the best solution to protecting Lady Harriet’s reputation.”
His eyes narrowed on Archie as Nick asked, “And what of Lady Susan?”
“Lady Susan?” Gasping, Harriet brought a hand to her lips.
Archie shook his head, giving Nick a furious glance before turning to Harriet. “Lady Susan is of no concern to you. To any of us. She is a scheming, conniving wench who tried to entrap me when I visited her father’s estate.” His cheeks darkened. “Forgive me, Harriet, I shouldn’t speak of this in front of you, but you deserve to know the truth. Lady Susan slept in my bed on my last night there.”
The drawing room took a spin and Harriet flung her arms out to support herself, knocking a porcelain figurine off the side table. By some miracle it bounced on the thick carpet and landed without breaking. She drew in a deep, slow breath and forced herself to remain calm. Gentlemen were allowed to have their tête-à-têtes, especially before they married or became betrothed. They shouldn’t dally with a single young lady of Quality, however. Harriet suddenly grew warm as a wave of nausea hit her. This could ruin her chance of marrying Archie. “Her father is a marquess. Won’t he insist you marry her?”
“He’s trying to, and might have a leg to stand on if I had shared my bed with her. I was up all night playing cards with her brothers. I am honestly rather surprised this hasn’t already been resolved. Her brothers can vouch for my whereabouts. Dawn had already broken when I went to my bedchamber and discovered her there. I was still fully dressed when her maid walked in pretending to be shocked to find us together. With her reputation, I am astounded Boxworth hasn’t married her off to some ancient baron who’d put up with her assignations.”
He closed the distance between himself and Harriet and lifted her hand. “I assure you, Lady Susan will not stop us from marrying.”
Harriet noticed Nick continued to flex his hand, so she offered some assistance to change the subject to something she could bear more easily. “Shall I ring for some ice, Nicky? You appear to have hurt your hand.”
Archie chuckled. “Don’t tell me my jaw has broken your knuckles.”
Ducking his head and looking towards the fire, Nick admitted, “This wasn’t the first punch I threw this morning.”
“What?” Archie’s surprise echoed Harriet’s.
“I don’t understand what is taking place among my cousins,” Nick said, glaring at Archie. “And my friends. Sharing bedrooms and carriages with ladies of Quality with no concern for the repercussions. The damage they caused to the young ladies’ reputations. I found Trent in Lady Elizabeth’s chamber this morning.”
Harriet gasped, then fought to hide her giggle. All worries over Lady Susan fled. Elizabeth’s behavior was much more shocking than Harriet’s. Perhaps she and Archie would not be the main on dit at the ball that evening, after all.
She must try to speak to Elizabeth as soon as possible. She had so many questions about relations between a man and a
Harriet followed them into the lavishly decorated room and sat in a chair between them near the roaring fire. She hadn’t realized how close an acquaintance Archie had with Nick. They were of an age and similar consequence, so it was likely they had become good friends in school.
Once they were settled, Archie began. “By some odd bit of fate, I stopped at the same inn where Lord Alderford and his family were resting for the night. Lady Harriet feared the duke had chosen a husband for her. When she saw my carriage, she assumed my sisters were aboard, so she snuck out of the inn to await their departure. By the time I discovered her, we’d traveled some miles alone before her father found us broken down on the road. After some consideration I came here to speak to Alderford. It took some convincing, but I was finally able to make Lord Alderford see that marriage is the best solution to protecting Lady Harriet’s reputation.”
His eyes narrowed on Archie as Nick asked, “And what of Lady Susan?”
“Lady Susan?” Gasping, Harriet brought a hand to her lips.
Archie shook his head, giving Nick a furious glance before turning to Harriet. “Lady Susan is of no concern to you. To any of us. She is a scheming, conniving wench who tried to entrap me when I visited her father’s estate.” His cheeks darkened. “Forgive me, Harriet, I shouldn’t speak of this in front of you, but you deserve to know the truth. Lady Susan slept in my bed on my last night there.”
The drawing room took a spin and Harriet flung her arms out to support herself, knocking a porcelain figurine off the side table. By some miracle it bounced on the thick carpet and landed without breaking. She drew in a deep, slow breath and forced herself to remain calm. Gentlemen were allowed to have their tête-à-têtes, especially before they married or became betrothed. They shouldn’t dally with a single young lady of Quality, however. Harriet suddenly grew warm as a wave of nausea hit her. This could ruin her chance of marrying Archie. “Her father is a marquess. Won’t he insist you marry her?”
“He’s trying to, and might have a leg to stand on if I had shared my bed with her. I was up all night playing cards with her brothers. I am honestly rather surprised this hasn’t already been resolved. Her brothers can vouch for my whereabouts. Dawn had already broken when I went to my bedchamber and discovered her there. I was still fully dressed when her maid walked in pretending to be shocked to find us together. With her reputation, I am astounded Boxworth hasn’t married her off to some ancient baron who’d put up with her assignations.”
He closed the distance between himself and Harriet and lifted her hand. “I assure you, Lady Susan will not stop us from marrying.”
Harriet noticed Nick continued to flex his hand, so she offered some assistance to change the subject to something she could bear more easily. “Shall I ring for some ice, Nicky? You appear to have hurt your hand.”
Archie chuckled. “Don’t tell me my jaw has broken your knuckles.”
Ducking his head and looking towards the fire, Nick admitted, “This wasn’t the first punch I threw this morning.”
“What?” Archie’s surprise echoed Harriet’s.
“I don’t understand what is taking place among my cousins,” Nick said, glaring at Archie. “And my friends. Sharing bedrooms and carriages with ladies of Quality with no concern for the repercussions. The damage they caused to the young ladies’ reputations. I found Trent in Lady Elizabeth’s chamber this morning.”
Harriet gasped, then fought to hide her giggle. All worries over Lady Susan fled. Elizabeth’s behavior was much more shocking than Harriet’s. Perhaps she and Archie would not be the main on dit at the ball that evening, after all.
She must try to speak to Elizabeth as soon as possible. She had so many questions about relations between a man and a
Similar Books
