Eloisa James - Duchess by Night (28 page)

Harriet unlocked the door and swung it open.

He was standing there, hair on end, eyes fierce. Youl marry me.

No, I wont.

He narrowed his eyes. Wel discuss that later. If you stay, Il let you take Eugenia for a visit.

I cant stay here forever, in breeches. This wont work for me, Jem. Im not who you think I am.

I know exactly who you are, he said promptly. Youre the wife of a country squire, who died in some sort of accident.

Isidore made a sharp little movement but said nothing.

My husband didnt die in an accident! But she didnt want to tel him the truth, either. Benjamins death was stil her secret.

Cal it what you wish, Jem said. He died in his own bed, then.

It was more or less true, so she nodded.

You came here on a lark, and now you want to fly back to your tidy little nest. But Im not going to let you. Ive never asked a woman to marry me, ever. Do you realize that?

You didnt ask me, she pointed out. You issued an ultimatum. And while I am gratified to think you are having new experiences, I dont mean to marry you.

Jem, being Jem, instantly switched tactics. The real point at issue now is whether you want Eugenia to pay you a visit, or whether you can reconcile it with your conscience to leave her here, locked up in the west wing like a cracked, aging relative, vulnerable to rats and Lord knows what else.

You shouldnt use Eugenia as blackmail, Harriet said, frowning at him. Shes your daughter.

Shes my wild card, he said. Youre in a fair way to loving her, Harriet, which is a good thing because when we marry, youl be her mother.

I havent said Id marry you! Harriet said with some exasperation. You just wont He grabbed her. Youd think his kiss would have been as aggressive as his talk, not to mention the way he practical y beat down the door.

But it wasnt. It was so sweet it melted her heart. His lips were hot on hers, silent, delicate. But she was no fool. It was a diplomatic parley, his kiss. It was a shot over her bow from a pirate ship, a notice that she wasnt going to leave his territory without a fight.

And God help her, her arms went around his neck. He rewarded her by tightening his arms around her. She opened her lips to him like a starving woman, and what he brought herwhat he brought her made her heart bloom, made the current in her blood turn to sparks, hot and burning.

Wil you stay? he asked her a bit later, his voice quiet and steady. Please stay, Harriet. I know Im not very good at listening, but Im learning to be your audience. I remember everything youve said to me. Please.

Harriet heard Isidore sigh, behind her. Il stay with you, Harriet, she said softly.

Al right, Harriet managed.

His long fingers cupped her cheek. I cant let you go.

Wil you keep me locked in the west wing? She didnt know where that came from, but it made sense.

He froze for a moment, that long graceful body stil . I suppose you are giving me a lesson, Harriet mine.

Good morning, Lucil e! came a sprightly voice from the bed behind them. Just ignore these two.

Harriet turned, but Jem pul ed her back against him. You see, Lucil e, he said, bending to kiss Harriets neck, I have discovered your mistresss secret and I must say, it makes me very happy.

Im going to stay a few more days, Lucil e, Harriet said.

Il stay as wel , Isidore said promptly.

Lucil e looked bewildered. She was carrying a stack of perfectly folded stockings, ready to be packed in Harriets trunk.

I can send you home with outriders, Isidore, Jem said. Youl be perfectly safe. I could find a good woman from the vil age to accompany you.

But Isidore was giggling. No. Its like watching one of my favorite plays.

But Your G Lucil e began and then stopped, catching Harriets eye.

I plan to stay in my male clothing, of course, Harriet said calmly, as if Lucil e had said nothing. We shal continue our visit for a brief period of time.

Jem laughed. There goes my reputation.

Al you have to do is act in a normal fashion, Harriet said, twisting around to look at him.

How much you have to learn, love.

I shal enjoy watching it, Isidore said, with a honey-like satisfaction in her voice. I have a feeling that Lord Stranges reputation is about to dive to a new level of disreputableness, and I shal be here to see it!

Nonsense, Harriet said briskly. I shal stay away from Jem when in public, and al he has to do is keep to his normal impolite habit of ignoring his guests. I see nothing in that situation that should threaten his reputation.

Lucil e obviously didnt approve. Harriet saw al sorts of questions trembling on her lips, some stopped by Jems presence, others by the barriers between maids and duchesses.

Be off, she said to Jem, giving him a little push toward the door.

Look at Harriets lashes, Jem said, draping himself in the door.

Isidore and Lucil e looked in the general direction of her face.

Lushly feminine, he said, his voice deepening. I knew she was a woman the moment I saw her.

You certainly did not! Harriet exclaimed.

No mans lip has such an erotic curve.

When did you discover Harriets sex? Isidore asked curiously. Did you real y know from the beginning?

Vil iers told me, Jem said. Though I guessed before he confirmed it.

Il thank you to take yourself out the door before you ruin Isidores reputation, Harriet said. You might find yourself in a duel.

Remember, Isidore has a husband to protect her.

In a matter of speaking, Isidore murmured. I feel as if Im learning so much about men and women just from watching the two of you. I may shock my husband if he ever arrives.

His arrival is a given, Harriet pointed out. Stil , I would prefer that the household doesnt find Lord Strange standing in your doorway, and you in bed. Your husband wil arrive only to divorce you.

Isidores eyes widened. Out! she said, pointing to the door.

And this time, Jem obeyed, only sticking his head back in to say, Fencing at eleven.

February 10, 1784

I ts very frustrating, Isidore said, the next morning. I would have thought to receive at least an answer from my husbands solicitor by now. I first wrote everyone with my plans months ago. My mother-in-law should have been able to work her magic by now.

Your husband is a dunce, Harriet said. Are you coming to breakfast?

Isidore was lying on her bed, deliciously gowned in a French negligée, reading a book. Absolutely not. Ive just started Tacituss war manuals.

Who is Tacitus?

Was, Isidore corrected her. A Greek tactician. If I ever need to lead an army into battle, I am entirely prepared.

I wil keep that in mind, Harriet promised, and left Isidore happily sipping hot chocolate and wiggling her toes.

Nel was waiting for her outside the breakfast room. Harriet slowed when she saw her, but Nel took her arm and pul ed her to the side. I just want you to know, she said, that I dont blame you for it.

For what? Harriet asked, confused.

For taking him away from me, she said. It was as if my eyes opened up night before last, because after you left the table, he went al drab and silent. And I knew that he had been witty for you, but he couldnt be bothered for me. Harriet felt a terrible pang of guilt.

I

I just want to know one thing, Nel said.

Harriet blinked at her.

Did you laugh at me? Were the two of you making up that poetry and laughing at me al the time?

No! Harriet cried. Absolutely not. I wrote the poetry for you because I thought Her voice trailed off.

You thought he was interested in women, Nel said. I did too, obviously. You know, in a way that makes it easier? I real y thought he fancied me. I just want to say that if it had to be someone else, Im just as glad its you. Because its not another woman. Her eyes flashed. Id have to kil you if you were a woman, Harry!

Goodness, Harriet said faintly.

Ive been thinking about itthis is why no one ever hears of Strange actual y being with a woman.

Harriet gulped.

I should have known. I mean, I work in the theater. But I was just blinded by the way he is.

I know, Harriet said, feeling a surge of sympathy.

Were giving our final performance tonight, and wel be off to London, Nel said. And do you know, I was talking to Miss Linnet last night. She was the lead at Drury Lane last year, and she had a very nice understanding with a prince. I think a prince would suit me just fine. Dont you think so, Harry?

Absolutely, Harriet said, nodding. A prince would love you, Nel .

After breakfast, Jem crooked a finger, and they ended up in the gal ery, fencing. Except the fencing turned into something else.

They went to visit Eugenia, and on the way back, Jem suddenly whirled her into a spare bedchamber.

That night at the Game she won the patent to a curious calculating machine that cast sums. It was very pretty, but not useful, to Harriets mind. So later she al owed Jem, who thought he could make improvements to it, to win it from her at another kind of game they played at night.

I want to know exactly when you guessed I was a woman, she said, sometime near midnight.

Are you sure you dont want it to be a secret? I could tel you on your fiftieth birthday. As a surprise.

She snorted.

Il take that as a no, Jem said. This is a bit embarrassing. I didnt know from the very beginning.

Obviously.

In fact, it was utterly demoralizing, the way I kept looking at you andwel desiring you, and there you were, a man.

She laughed.

Youre going to think Im a fool.

She just turned her head and looked at him.

Al right, I am a fool, he said with a groan.

Lets take that as a given and move on, she suggested, smiling at him.

He started kissing her and they both forgot the subject of conversation.

I was idiotical y slow in discovering your secret, he said, some time later.

Lets take that as a given as wel , Harriet said. Just when did it first occur to you?

The moment I accused you of kissing the stableboy. You were so horrifiedand yet you had kissed him.

Harriet snorted. Degenerate beast that you are. I remember you suddenly got very cheerful.

I was. Do you know, I was actual y starting to contemplate the unthinkable?

She laughed. For me?

Theres something about you thats justmine, he said. Male, femaleIm not so sure it would real y have mattered.

Im glad Im a female. So what exactly did you and Vil iers say to each other in Latin?

He frowned. I can hardly remember. I thought up the test. Obviously, if you didnt know Latin, you were a woman. And you didnt.

But then Vil iers took the opportunity to tel me that if I al owed Kitty anywhere near you in a state of undress hed take off my head.

I love Vil iers, Harriet said with satisfaction.

Now love me, Jem said, rol ing over.

Days passed like strings on a pearl necklace: luscious, erotic, sweetly spaced, beautiful.

Harriet understood the Strange household now. Its secret revolved around the Game. No wonder Jem rarely came downstairs to meet new guests. It was the Game that mattered, and half the new guests were merely there to provide entertainment for the players.

And now Harriet knew why the Graces stayed so long at Jems house, though Jem himself showed no interest in their talents.

And how sundry other young ladies came by their jewels and the smiles in their eyes.

Sometimes the Game continued until two or three in the morning. One night Lord Sandwich started a conversation about how to raise three hundred thousand pounds for the use of the Home Secretary. Vil iers suggested a pol tax. Jem shook his head.

Harriet suggested a wine tax.

And why is that, young man? Sandwich said.

Wine is a luxury, Harriet said. Alcohol is the primary cause of most criminal incidents adjudicated in the family courts.

I dont know who you are, Sandwich grumbled.

You must study your Debretts more closely, Vil iers said, with a cutting edge to his voice. I have very few relatives, Sandwich. I cant afford to have any ignored.

Its scurvy few relatives you have on the right side of the blanket, Sandwich said.

Young Cope is one of them, Vil iers said, unruffled. A wine tax is a fine idea.

I dont like it, a man said, who turned out to be the Lord of the Privy Seal.

But conversation evolved around Sandwichs love of fine claret, and in the end the idea of the wine tax carried. It was a heady sensation. She, Harriet, had influenced the policy of England.

Jem began coming to dinner every night. And luncheon, many days. Some nights he sat beside her, and others he sat at the head of the table and flirted with Isidore.

The heady pleasures of being maleof being able to ride freely, fence, and arguegrew more and more dear to Harriet. She found every conversation interesting. One night she got into an argument with one of the scientists about the recent discovery of a new planet cal ed Uranus. Mr. Peddle argued that the head of the Royal Society shouldnt have given Herschel, the man who discovered the planet, a Copley medal.

What did he real y do? The man spends his time stargazing, thats al . And now hes elected a fel ow of the Royal Society! For nothing. You know, Sir Giles, down there He nodded down the table at bespeckled professor. Sir Giles identified the genus of the Purple Swamphen. Now thats a good reason to become a Fel ow. This man just looks at the sky and notices a star. Bah!

But we need to map the night sky, Harriet said. We have to understand our world. And stars are no different than wings on a butterfly, to me.

I disagree, Peddle said. When youre older, youl understand how very different it is to spend a lifetime doing exacting scientific analysis, versus sitting outside of an evening with a glass of wine and waiting for a star to catch your attention!

Jem elbowed her. Turned down as a Fel ow of the Society, he murmured into her ear. Migratory habits of the grasshopper not considered an adequate topic. The study took him seven years.