Eloisa James - Duchess by Night (17 page)

Harriet turned to Kitty, wanting to say something. But there was a deep excitement andyesenjoyment in Kittys eyes that stopped the words in her mouth. Kitty was perfectly happy with the idea of Mr. Cope, Lord Strange, and one solitary angel. Harriet swal owed.

Eleven oclock! Kitty said, trotting away.

Isidore dragged Harriet to the side of the room. Do you have any idea what Kitty is planning to do tonight, Harriet? Do you?

I just figured it out! Harriet said, panic making her head reel. I had no idea!

You must stay in your room, Isidore stated. Better: you can sleep with me in case Strange walks straight into your bedchamber.

She looked around, but almost everyone had left the dining room. Harriet, this is aa degenerate house! These people arearethey are doing things

Harriet couldnt help laughing a little. Isidore, you knew that. Why do you think that Jemma said she wouldnt come here, even though shed hosted al sorts of shocking parties in Paris? Her Paris events roused scandals because someones costume was a bit risqué, or a married woman paraded around with someone elses husband. Stranges reputationand his house partiesare on a total y different scale.

I didnt understand the reality of it. It makes me feel unclean to even be here! Where is Vil iers? I thought he was supposed to protect us. Harriet, what are you going to do ? Isidores eyes were bright and alarmed.

Wel , Im not going to engage in any sort of hankypanky with an angel, Harriet said, practical y. You neednt worry about that. Il figure something out. Perhaps Il claim to be il and just leave Strange and Kitty together.

Ugh! Isidore said. I dont like him at al now, Harriet. I dont like it here. Two men and one woman. She shuddered. So far Ive been bored to tears by half-clothed virgins and invited to hear madrigals sung by angels. I find the mixture of culture and nudity tedious. But youre having fun with Strange, arent you?

Its nothing to do with Strange, Harriet said, though she was lying. It was Strange. Half her pleasure, perhaps more, came from the time she spent with him, fencing with rapiers, fencing with words. Of course, it wasnt a real attraction. The pleasure had to be coming from the fact it was al so il icit to hunger for a man who didnt even think of her as a woman.

Not that she would ever consider going to that library to meet Strangeand Kitty.

Not even to see Strange unclothed.

Its because of how much fun Im having in male clothing, she told Isidore. Ive never been so free before.

I dont want to be this free, Isidore said. Im turning more and more staid by the moment.

I can lend you my breeches, Harriet suggested. And then: I forgot my appointment!

What appointment? Isidore exclaimed. Not another appointment with a woman, surely?

Its at the stables, Harriet said. A very nice stableboy is going to teach me how to mount a horse properly. I keep almost fal ing off the other side.

Isidore rol ed her eyes. I am going to bed. I think I may announce a case of infectious red spots tomorrow. Anything to keep the Graces out of my bedchamber. And Strange. I certainly dont want him bursting in on me while Im in my nightgown again. I hardly had my hair brushed.

Harriet watched her climb the stairs, thinking about just how much shed like Strange to visit her bedchamber, if he knew she was a woman.

She wouldnt care if her hair were brushed. She would just

She wrenched her mind away. That was foolishness.

Harriets Shock, Part Two

T wo minutes later she was walking into the warm stable. It smel ed of clean horses, leather, and manure. The horses poked their heads over their stal s and whickered for a carrot.

Good evening, Nick! she said, as the boy appeared around the end of the stable. This is so very kind of you. You must be exhausted after a days labor.

Its me good deed for the day, miss, he said. My mother would never forgive me if I let you be discovered. He hesitated.

Harriet smiled at him. You very likely want to give me a warning about Lord Stranges establishment.

Anyone can tel , miss, he burst out, that youre not the usual sort of woman who stays at the house. Its not the place for you.

Im a widow, she said. I promise you that Im not shocked, Nick.

Married is one thing, he said stubbornly. But youre a lady, and ladies dont have a place here.

She couldnt help smiling at that. She knew quite wel that Isidore would agree with him. I promise you I wont stay even a moment if my disguise is uncovered, she said. Would that make you feel better?

Then she leaned to kiss his cheek because he was

But whatever thought she had flew from her head as the door at the end opened, letting in a swirl of snow and wind. She leapt back.

Strange stood in the door for a second, and then walked forward, throwing the door shut behind him. He pul ed off his gloves, one by one, with a silent precision that contained as much threat as a tigers slavering yowl.

Good evening, Harriet said. I thought you were with your guests, my lord.

I had the suspicion that I should watch you, he said. He turned his eyes onto young Nick. Off to your quarters, boy.

Nick hesitated, throwing a worried glance at Harriet. She brought out the coin she saved for him. Im most grateful to you for your tutelage, Nick. Thank you. And Il see you tomorrow.

But youl he said, but stopped. Obviously, he needed the position, and she could see chivalry and terror warring in his face.

Go, Strange said. There was something flat in his tone that made the boy turn and flee.

Harriet turned to face Strange. Hed been irritable with her before, but now there was true rage burning in his eyes. He slapped his gloves into the palm of his hand with a noise like a gunshot.

Is there some way that I can help you? Harriet asked.

Do you know, I thought the opposite? he said. I thought that I should watch over you , to make sure that you werent beguiled by one of the scum that sometime float around the house. But I didnt realize that you would be a predator.

Harriet blinked at him. Predator? I dont know what youre talking about. But I take umbrage at the insult, my lord.

You take umbrage, he sneered. I catch you kissing my stable boy, a good boy, and giving him money, and you take umbrage ?

She frowned at him. He was helping me

That sort of help isnt al owed in my house, he said, and his voice was as chil as a frozen knife. Never. Under any circumstances. Do you understand?

I

A simple yes or no is enough. Do you understand?

Harriet stood there for a moment trying to figure out if she did understand. The only possibility that came to mind was Her mouth fel open and she could feel her eyes growing round. You couldntyou didnt She spluttered. You degenerate beast!

There was a moment of panting silence in the stable, and suddenly Strange threw back his head and started to laugh. The noise of it rang in the rafters and made the horses prick up their ears.

You are a fiend, Harriet said, moving to walk past him. Your mind is as black as a privy. Il leave these premises tomorrow.

He caught her arm, stil laughing. Im not a fiend, Harry. Im not.

She glared at him. No one but the most dissipated rascal could have such a thought in his head. She jerked her arm away.

He was stil grinning. Its your face, he said, sounding utterly unrepentant.

My face! she said, feeling her cheeks go red. There is nothing in my face that would lead anyone to that conclusion. You, sir, are just as much a hel -hound as they say of you, and I was a fool to come near your estate. Il leave tonight!

Dont you see, he said, grabbing her arm again, I was just trying to protect young Nick? Youre damned beautiful for a man, Harry. It made me suspicious, and I shouldnt have been. You cant help the way youre born.

The very fact the thought came into your mind

Im an adult. I run a house party that makes no pretenses to fol ow the rules of decent society. Of course I thought of it. Among other things, Im the father of a lovely little girl. I have to think about such things.

Harriet shuddered. I pity you, then. Because my father and mother never worried about that.

Oh, they must have, Strange said. Not worry about you? With that beauty you have? The way your eyes look, so innocent and that brown-violet color? His mouth curled up. They worried about you, young Harry. Its to your mothers credit that you never encountered this sort of ugliness.

If you have, its because you live a licentious life, Harriet said, feeling as if the moorings of her rage were slipping away from her.

A moment ago she was about to leave the estate, and now he was looking at her, and there was a shadow of something on his face that made her feel odd. It was almost sadness, but how was that possible?

Quite likely, he said.

You shouldnt have such people around you, she snapped. Then you wouldnt have to have such invidious thoughts.

I would always have that kind of thought.

I pity you, then, she said. I know the friends who enter my home. I know their strengths and their weaknesses. I need not fear them.

No one knows whats in another mans heart. The greatest evil often lies under the prettiest face.

Something went across his eyes that was pure pain, but he shook it away, and the laughter was there again. Now, you must forgive me, young Harry. Real y you must. You see, I did think I knew you. And my rage was al the greater because I suddenly thought Id made a mistake.

Harriet smiled, a bit stiffly. Its quite al right.

His charm was a potent weapon. He walked back to the house, talking of inconsequentials. But Harriet felt faintly nauseated.

This was not the house for her, not a place where Strange clearly expected that sort of thing might happen to little Nick. She needed to leave. And whats more, she would take Nick with her. She could easily employ him on her estate. She had about sixty people there, and not a single lecher that Nick needed to fear.

When they entered the house she started toward the stairs, but Strange stopped her with a hand on her arm. Surely you havent forgotten Kitty?

Im sure the two of you can entertain each other, Harriet said, not impolitely. Wil you give her my excuses, please?

So you can go upstairs and instruct your man to pack your bags?

She hesitated. It seemed so bald. And yet, why prevaricate? Yes, she said. This is no place for me.

He dropped her arm. Of course, I cannot stop you. Wil you bid Vil iers goodbye tonight or tomorrow morning? I was bid to his room this evening.

Then I wil join you and make my farewel , she said. And I do thank you for your hospitality, my lord. Its not your fault that I am more naïve than I thought. I belong at home.

In the country? Do you live in the country, Harry?

She nodded. I thought it was a boring existence, but now I am changing my mind.

I wish you would change your mind about Kitty. How often does one get to see an angel perform?

Harriet didnt bother to answer that. He walked up the stairs beside her.

Vil ierss chamber was hung with blue velvet and had the lush atmosphere that Harriet imagined one would find in a courtesans drawing room. Vil iers was lying on a settee next to the fire, wearing a dressing gown of rich black embroidered with pearl.

Candlelight threw shadows on his face, on the exquisite drape of his gown, on the lavish velvet on the wal s.

He put down his book when they walked in. Thank God youve taken pity on me, he said. Im thinking of hobbling to the window and throwing myself out into the snow from pure ennui .

Alas, I bring il tidings, Strange said, throwing himself into an armchair. Ive insulted young Harry here, and hes determined to leave the house since my mind is black as a privy . I do have that phrase right, dont I, Harry?

She scowled at him.

Black as a privy! Vil iers said, his eyes showing some interest. I agree, I agree. What on earth inspired such a diatribe?

There is no need to go into particulars, Harriet said stiffly.

I have an uncommonly pretty stable boy, Strange said, ignoring her. Im afraid that I assassinated your protégés character by jumping to the conclusion that Harry was interested in an intimate relationship with the boy. To do myself justice, he was kissing him. Such a neophyte as I am, Ive never seen a man kiss a man, except in France, of course.

I kiss men often, Vil iers said. Just to make them flustered. Remind me to kiss you on our next meeting, Strange.

I shal look forward to it, Strange said.

You real y should forgive him, Vil iers said to Harriet. The man lives in the country. How does he know how civilized people behave to each other?

But he suggested Harriet said.

Vil iers lifted his hand. Just so. One abhors to mention these things, dear Harry, but that does not make them disappear.

Strange is right to look out for his people, stable boys and al .

If put that way, Harriet had to agree.

The proper thing to do in this circumstance, Vil iers continued, is to tel Strange that if he plays the fool with you again youl pummel him so hard that hel fart crackers.

Fart crackers, Harriet said, laughing despite herself. You mean fire-crackers? Right.

Like to see you try, Strange said.

Please dont leave tonight, Vil iers added. I was sadly brought down by the journey here, but this afternoon I felt the first glimmer of hope that I might actual y be able to emerge from this damned velvet nest.

I thought you liked this suite, Strange said.

Inexorably vulgar, Vil iers said. Blue velvet. Paugh!

I am learning so much tonight, Strange said. But heres another little problem for you to solve, Strange. I dont think youve met the Graces. Theyre a lovely troupe of young women. If youd like to paint them, theyre agreeable. If youd like them to sing or dance or otherwise inspire you, theyre capable of doing that too.

Wonderful, Vil iers said. Im not up to being inspired, but I grieve at my loss, truly I grieve.

At the moment they are rehearsing an inspiring performance of madrigals to be sung while dressed as angels, Strange said.