woman.
“Bennett?” Archie shook his head. “So he will be leg-shackled also.”
“To hear some of my other cousins tell it, the duke has arranged for special licenses for at least half the family,” Nick added. “And I believe the vicar will be attending the ball tonight.”
Archie winked at Harriet. “I doubt there is one with my name on it, although there might be one with Lady Harriet’s.”
She laughed, her eyes widening. She turned to her cousin. “Do you know if he had chosen a husband for me and the others? It must have come as quite a shock when Archie marched into the library. The poor man will be sent away without his bride.”
“Archie is it, now?” Nick glanced from Harriet to his friend.
“Lord Morley, I mean. Forgive me, but he has been Archie to me for so many years, even though we just met. Lady Eleanor and her sisters call him thus. I must remember to address him properly, mustn’t I?”
“Is there a license with your name on it, Nick?” Archie’s grin hinted that he hoped his friend shared his fate. “Some fine young lady waiting in the wings?”
“I should say not.” Nick laughed, then glanced towards the closed doors and tugged at his cravat. “There had better not be. You don’t suppose Grandfather bribed some poor girl to come all this way with promises of a title? A baron has little consequence, but to some mothers in the marriage mart, any title is a good one.”
Archie nodded. “Perhaps you should ask the servants. They know everything.”
Nick rose and bowed briefly before Harriet. “You both will excuse me? I do believe I feel a chill coming on. A fever. Some sort of complaint. I’m sure you both will make excuses for me if I am too ill to attend the function tonight?”
Harriet smiled, knowing if her grandfather had decided it was time for Nick to wed, the young man would be helpless to prevent it.
Chapter Twelve
The ballroom of Danby Castle glowed brighter than any could Morley recall, but he wondered if the light beaming from so many faces of the newly betrothed and married young ladies had something to do with that.
He raked his hand through his hair. Now he was waxing poetic about beaming young brides. What had happened to him? Had he hit his head when the carriage lurched into the mud?
Danby’s Christmas Eve ball was a crush by any society matron’s standards. Beyond family, it appeared most anyone of Quality in Yorkshire had joined the locals in dancing in the holiday. Word of his engagement to Lady Harriet must have spread quickly, because the matrons barely paused when their gazes landed on him in their perusal of the room.
Perhaps there were benefits to marriage that extended beyond what he once thought. The ability to enjoy an entertainment without constantly looking over one’s shoulder was a boon, to be sure. And once he and Harriet were married, they could retire to his country house and spend time away from the city.
The butler had been announcing arrivals, and finally Morley heard the one he awaited. “Lord and Lady Alderford, and Lady Harriet Thornhill.”
Morley turned to watch her descend the grand staircase. Her pale pink gown set off her rosy cheeks and golden blonde curls. Her smile gleamed as she nodded a greeting to those she passed. Then her gaze found him.
She nearly stumbled, but caught herself in time. Her eyes lowered as if suddenly shy, and he had to laugh. Lady Harriet, shy? He couldn’t believe it. Not the young lady who burst out laughing upon realizing she was alone in a carriage with a strange man.
But she wasn’t coy, either. The prospect of getting to know her many facets grew more intriguing by the hour.
Bowing when he reached the family, Morley greeted them. “Lord Alderford. Lady Alderford. Lady Harriet, might I have the next dance?”
She curtsied quite gracefully and took his proffered hand. “Of course, Lord Morley.”
Harriet fell in step beside him. She waved a gloved hand at a pair of young ladies
“Bennett?” Archie shook his head. “So he will be leg-shackled also.”
“To hear some of my other cousins tell it, the duke has arranged for special licenses for at least half the family,” Nick added. “And I believe the vicar will be attending the ball tonight.”
Archie winked at Harriet. “I doubt there is one with my name on it, although there might be one with Lady Harriet’s.”
She laughed, her eyes widening. She turned to her cousin. “Do you know if he had chosen a husband for me and the others? It must have come as quite a shock when Archie marched into the library. The poor man will be sent away without his bride.”
“Archie is it, now?” Nick glanced from Harriet to his friend.
“Lord Morley, I mean. Forgive me, but he has been Archie to me for so many years, even though we just met. Lady Eleanor and her sisters call him thus. I must remember to address him properly, mustn’t I?”
“Is there a license with your name on it, Nick?” Archie’s grin hinted that he hoped his friend shared his fate. “Some fine young lady waiting in the wings?”
“I should say not.” Nick laughed, then glanced towards the closed doors and tugged at his cravat. “There had better not be. You don’t suppose Grandfather bribed some poor girl to come all this way with promises of a title? A baron has little consequence, but to some mothers in the marriage mart, any title is a good one.”
Archie nodded. “Perhaps you should ask the servants. They know everything.”
Nick rose and bowed briefly before Harriet. “You both will excuse me? I do believe I feel a chill coming on. A fever. Some sort of complaint. I’m sure you both will make excuses for me if I am too ill to attend the function tonight?”
Harriet smiled, knowing if her grandfather had decided it was time for Nick to wed, the young man would be helpless to prevent it.
Chapter Twelve
The ballroom of Danby Castle glowed brighter than any could Morley recall, but he wondered if the light beaming from so many faces of the newly betrothed and married young ladies had something to do with that.
He raked his hand through his hair. Now he was waxing poetic about beaming young brides. What had happened to him? Had he hit his head when the carriage lurched into the mud?
Danby’s Christmas Eve ball was a crush by any society matron’s standards. Beyond family, it appeared most anyone of Quality in Yorkshire had joined the locals in dancing in the holiday. Word of his engagement to Lady Harriet must have spread quickly, because the matrons barely paused when their gazes landed on him in their perusal of the room.
Perhaps there were benefits to marriage that extended beyond what he once thought. The ability to enjoy an entertainment without constantly looking over one’s shoulder was a boon, to be sure. And once he and Harriet were married, they could retire to his country house and spend time away from the city.
The butler had been announcing arrivals, and finally Morley heard the one he awaited. “Lord and Lady Alderford, and Lady Harriet Thornhill.”
Morley turned to watch her descend the grand staircase. Her pale pink gown set off her rosy cheeks and golden blonde curls. Her smile gleamed as she nodded a greeting to those she passed. Then her gaze found him.
She nearly stumbled, but caught herself in time. Her eyes lowered as if suddenly shy, and he had to laugh. Lady Harriet, shy? He couldn’t believe it. Not the young lady who burst out laughing upon realizing she was alone in a carriage with a strange man.
But she wasn’t coy, either. The prospect of getting to know her many facets grew more intriguing by the hour.
Bowing when he reached the family, Morley greeted them. “Lord Alderford. Lady Alderford. Lady Harriet, might I have the next dance?”
She curtsied quite gracefully and took his proffered hand. “Of course, Lord Morley.”
Harriet fell in step beside him. She waved a gloved hand at a pair of young ladies
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