“Man to man, Your Grace—I know I said all those things about not hurting my sister. But I wouldn’t blink too hard should you see fit to give her a good leathering this once, for this stunt she pulled over on you.”
Court’s features hardened as he regarded the brash young man. “If you ever so much as touch your sister in anger again, I promise I shall destroy you, which I am quite capable of doing. Do you understand?” He glowered at him until a “Yes, Your Grace,” mumbled forth, which he answered with a nod of acknowledgement.
“I am glad that’s settled, Mr. Barrett. Now kindly get out of my sight.”
*** *** ***
Lady Darlington and two maids fussed over Harmony as if she were the survivor of some dire tragedy. “Are you certain you are all right?” Lady Darlington looked completely vexed. “He did nothing to…to insult you?”
“Oh, not in the least,” said Harmony. She outlined the main points of their adventure for her hostess, leaving out the humiliating part about the wagon leaving her in the middle of nowhere, and His Grace rescuing her from the moors, although it had been quite dashing and gallant of him. She left out the part about the spanking too, for that was too mortifying to be mentioned. “He was entirely a gentleman,” she finished on a weak note.
Lady Darlington became marginally less agitated, but she still frowned. “I am happy to learn His Grace did not take any liberties with your…your person, but there is still the unfortunate fact that the two of you were together, alone, all night!”
The maids’ eyes widened. Lady Darlington turned and shooed them off, sending them for a dinner tray to be delivered to Miss Barrett’s room.
“You poor thing,” Lady Darlington said, turning back to her. “Your sweet mother couldn’t explain to you. Your father ought to have, at least. Did you not learn from your friends? It is never acceptable for an unwed man and lady to be so long alone in one another’s company.”
“Oh, I know that.” Harmony squeezed her hands together in her lap. “But I wanted to see the Roman wall and he offered to take me. It seemed preferable to walking.”
The woman gaped at her. “Preferable to…
walking
?”
Harmony paused for a moment. “I understand what is to happen as a result. I know that everyone shall have to cut me now, including you.”
“My dear—”
“But he is a duke and I cannot possibly make demands on such a distinguished person. I am a woman of no consequence compared to him.”
“But he compromised you.”
“He was trying to be kind, Lady Darlington. I can’t reward his kindness by expecting him to marry me.”
Lady Darlington blinked and shook her head. “I don’t know that the choice is yours, my child. Whether he is your social equal or not, the Duke of Courtland compromised you. He is obligated to offer for your hand.”
“We did not do anything inappropriate,” Harmony said. “We did not even stay together at the inn.”
“That doesn’t matter. You traveled with him alone, in a closed carriage, to a town many hours distant. It was not proper. The duke understood that, at any rate. I cannot imagine what he was about.”
“He was being kind,” Harmony repeated. “He went out of his way to help me at great personal inconvenience.” Why must Lady Darlington frown at her so? It was such an embarrassing situation. From what she could fathom, everyone believed they had run off on some secret, libidinous assignation. How crude really, and how ridiculous. She tried to imagine herself and the duke locked in a fervent embrace, doing the lurid things everyone believed they’d done. Not that such an image was unpleasant…it was just beyond belief.
“Do not fret,” Lady Darlington said, patting her hand. “Your brother will insist the Duke of Courtland make things right. I believe His Grace would have anyway. He is not a man known for skirting duty. Even though… Oh, my dear.” Lady Darlington patted her hand again. “He may not be the
ideal
husband, but he is a duke and he is quite wealthy.”
“There is no need for marriage,” Harmony said, yanking her hand away. “To be honest, I would rather retire from society and live quietly somewhere for the rest of my days.”
“And what of the shame to your family? Your father and brother? And the duke?”
Harmony stiffened. She had not considered his reputation in this matter. “I have made matters very awkward for His Grace, haven’t I?”
“Why do you think the gentlemen retired to the library in such haste? There now, I am certain you shall be redeemed.”
“I don’t
want
to be redeemed,” said Harmony. “He was only trying to help me.”
“You have no mama to act on your behalf, but I shall do so for you, and tell you that this marriage is a necessity.” The woman nodded as if that settled things. “I know it seems frightening but he is a man of great prestige, and a formidable catch. You will realize all this in the morning when your mind is calmer. You just need a warm spot of tea and some rest.”
All of Lady Darlington’s words, all her assurances seemed completely bizarre. “I will explain to my brother that nothing of any romantic nature occurred between us,” Harmony said stubbornly. “I will explain that I don’t wish to saddle His Grace with any expectations. I told him so already, in as many words. Mr. Barrett and I will leave in the morning with many thanks for your kindness.”
There was a tap at the door. Harmony was relieved to see it was only the chambermaid returning with her dinner tray. It would have been terrible for His Grace to arrive in the midst of such a mad conversation. Lady Darlington touched Harmony’s cheek, gazing at her with a great deal of pity.
“It has been a trying day for all of us, my dear. I think…” She clasped her hands before her. “I think it would be best if you kept to your room unless you are called for, until this entire situation has been straightened out.”
“I agree, ma’am. I’m tired anyway.”
“Very good. I hope you will enjoy your dinner and take some rest afterward. Please call for a maid or footman if you need anything at all, or if you need me, dearest.”
Lady Darlington, bless her heart, was about to “dear” and “dearest” her to death even in her disgrace. “I will, ma’am. Thank you.”
With those words the lady swept from the room in a quiet swish of skirts, leaving Harmony alone. She began to laugh, soft chuckles that soon transformed to something more like sobs. Peculiar Harmony Barrett as bride to His Grace. It was too outrageous to imagine, but some small part of her still wished it might be.
But it could not be.
She hoped the duke stood up to her brother and Lord Darlington. She would hate for him to throw away all hope of future happiness only because she’d wished to visit a Roman wall. It was worth it for her, whatever happened, but him…
She had never meant for him to be punished too.
The next morning, Lady Darlington led Court into a little-used drawing room removed from the main area of the house. Muted sun warmed the space, rays of light arcing across patterned chairs and sofas.
“You will have privacy here.” She turned her head with a bit of annoyance. “You are both entitled to privacy, despite what the other houseguests think.”
“I am sorry, madam, to have caused such disruption to your gathering.”
“You have turned it into the social event of the year. But it is not my guests I worry about.” Lady Darlington’s children were grown up and launched, but the mother inside her was still in plain evidence. “Poor Miss Barrett,” she said, shaking her head.
He tried not to take offense, and she quickly remembered herself, flushing pink in the cheeks. “Of course I do not mean— Your Grace—”
“Of course not.”
“She is only so confused. I fear for her. Honestly, I do.”
“You needn’t fear for her any longer.”
She pondered the intent of his words and smiled. “Yes, of course. She will no longer be a woman alone, dependent on an absent father and that gadabout brother of hers. Just know that Miss Barrett will not come to you prepared to accept a marriage proposal. She does not seem to understand the gravity of her situation.”
“I will handle it,” he said with strained patience, “if you will kindly deliver her here.”
“Certainly, Your Grace.”
His hostess left, leaving Court to await the appearance of his future bride. Miss Chaos, the rampant new force in his life. He moved across the prettily decorated room to gaze from an oversize window. Such a bright, clear morning. Really, the weather thus far had been beyond reproach.
He hoped Miss Barrett had not spent a restless night. He had slept the sleep of the dead, the sleep of a man with no avenues left but the one he’d embarked on and thus must follow without question or thought. He would propose to her, she would accept, they would marry and have children, and that would be his life. It was not so very bad.
“Your Grace?”
He turned to find her hovering at the door. She was in pale pink, her hands clutched in a ball before her.
He bowed in greeting. “Miss Barrett, please come in and sit down.”
She hesitated for a moment but then obeyed, perching on the edge of an overstuffed divan. She did not look particularly well, but she wasn’t sobbing either. He walked closer, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Miss Barrett—”
“Your Grace, please, I—”
“If you do not mind,” he interrupted, “I would prefer to speak first.”
She swallowed hard and clamped her lips shut, her hands squeezing and fidgeting in her lap. Even agitated as she was, she looked lovely and fresh, her blonde hair coiffed to doll-like perfection.
“Miss Barrett, I am not a particularly sentimental man,” he began, “but I find you have touched me in some way that is rather…unexplainable. I have developed a great fondness for your unique and amiable nature.”
“Your Grace—”
Again he held up a hand. “Kindly allow me to finish. I confess I have become so taken by your charms that I have asked your brother for the honor of your hand, that I might make you my wife.”
He was rather proud of the way his speech had turned out. He believed he sounded quite sincere in his proposal, but she was on her feet, shaking her head until her curls trembled.
“No, please,” she said. “This is absurd.”
“I promise you, it is not absurd. I have come to feel a deep regard for you. You have brought a light to my life that is…quite…unmatched by any other light.”
“No more of these preposterous endearments,” she cried. “None of what you’re saying is true. All of this, because we rode to Newcastle together? Has the entire world gone mad?”
He wished this was not so difficult for her. His own temper had cooled, his practical side demanding that he make peace with this match. Of course, she had no such practical side—or if she did, he had not yet seen it. Court stepped closer, reached out and touched, very softly, the downy curve of her cheek. “I have besmirched your reputation, and things must be put right.”
She shied away from him. “I told you, I do not care for my reputation. You cannot mean to marry me.”
“It would be most disrespectful to you if I did not.”
“But—”
“There is nothing to discuss. I only await your acceptance of my suit. We will be wed in London, as soon as can be done, in a large and respectable ceremony.” He reached for her, troubled by the way she backed away from him.
“But…if you will only wait and…and let me speak to my father…”
“I will not bend on this, I’m afraid. Nor would he. Perhaps you’ve no care for your reputation, but I am the Duke of Courtland and I do have a care for mine. I will not be seen as a less than honorable man.”
At that, Miss Barrett burst into tears. Court reached into the pocket of his coat for yet another handkerchief and offered it to her, but she did not take it. She collapsed back into the divan, hiding her face against its padded arm and weeping with alarming vigor.
“Come now,” he said, kneeling beside her. “Are you so distressed at the idea of marrying me? Here, look at me.” He touched her chin, made her raise her head up.
She gazed at him through tears. “Please. This cannot be. It is so ridiculous.”
“And what if it is?” He stroked her brow, her little thought lines. “You told me once you did not believe I was a cold man. Have you come to think otherwise? Why this hysterical display?”
“I did not think it would come to this. I did not. I made this terrible mistake, and now you are forced to pay for it for the rest of your life.” She bawled some more, wetting the arm of Lady Darlington’s divan until he finally managed to press the handkerchief upon her. “Your Grace, I am so mortified. I’m so sorry to have caused this disaster for you.”
Two days ago, a week ago, he would have agreed they were barreling toward disaster, but somewhere along the way his feelings toward her had softened. He thought it odd, but in the end he was not one to question things he could not change. He tried to catch her gaze, to reassure her. “It is not a disaster. We will make the best of things.”
She waved his handkerchief about in agitation. “How shall we do that? I never meant to entrap you. Somehow I never imagined…” She threw up her hands. “I never imagined anyone would force such an uneven match.”
“You believed you would be allowed to creep off to the country in disgrace?”
“Yes!”
“While I went about my life without a thought to your lost virtue?” He frowned at her. “You must think me a scoundrel.”
“Not a scoundrel, but a great personage above me. A duke!”
“The fact that I am a duke does not signify. All gentlemen and ladies must follow proprieties.”
“That’s what Lady Darlington said.” Miss Barrett released another barrage of tears.
He eased onto the divan beside her with a sigh. “It is very provoking to have a proposal of marriage reacted to in such a way. My feelings are bruised.”
“I’m sorry!” she wailed.
“Miss Barrett, let there be no more apologies between us. May I hold your hand?”
She sniffled and nodded after a moment, but kept her eyes fixed on her lap. He wished to calm her, to see her smile again as she had the day before at the Roman wall. He first removed her glove, then his. He took her delicate hand and trapped it in his own. “You see, what is done is done. We cannot go back now and change things,” he said, leaning his head to hers. “Allow me to fix this muddle we’ve created. Please agree to become my wife.”