Seductive Lies (Secret Lives Series) (12 page)

He had come back to London to pick up the pieces of his disastrous marriage. Once more, Harriet had been correct in her assumption. He had failed not only her, but his wife. A woman in Sophia’s position expected that her husband would have mistresses, but he had not been discreet. Sophia deserved his respect. She carried his child.

“Arthur, did you not hear me come in? Sophia sent for me. She said you had returned.”

Arthur looked up. Anger raged up in his head.

“It would
be best if you leave, James.”

“Don’t be an ass, Arthur
.” Carlisle opened the door wider. “Bloody hell, why are you in the dark?”

Arthur didn’t answer, but rose and rounded the desk. Carlisle didn’t see it coming, looking to see where he could light a lamp. He turned
, only to be decked by Arthur’s right fist. Falling back against the floor, Carlisle pushed back on one arm. With the other, he held his eye.

Arthur stood over his friend. “You’re a damn bastard,
James. A damn bastard.”

* * * *

Harriet tucked the last of her clothes into the trunk. Looking up, she glanced around the room. A fortnight had passed since that dreadful day. She steadfastly refused to see Arthur. She had heard his rants outside her door and throughout the house, but he held to her wishes. Finally, he had withdrawn back to London with clear instructions on her care.

She had no doubt that he thought time would bridge the void that divided them. Never could
she ever imagine her Arthur different than what he presented himself: arrogant, confident, proud and… selfish. He would reason that their love would overcome any moral objections before Harriet. She could well see him reason to himself that it was not his fault. Circumstances forced his hand and he took what he wanted—consequences be damned!

He would not have to face the stigma attached to being a fallen woman. No, it was expected, she supposed, of a
man in his position to have a mistress. Society would not shun him as they would her and their child. In his arrogance, he assumed she would accept her fate.

Her heart sank. He was correct in his assumption that if
she stayed, she could not resist him for long. She had to leave before he returned. For no matter that she understood she had no choice, she could never do so if he was here. He was her weakness.

“I believe all is set, Miss Harriet,” Sadie said. She walked into the bed chamber beside
Toby and pointed to the trunk. “Take it down and load it into the carriage.”

Harriet studied Sadie for a moment. Her maid had dressed for travel herself
, wearing her coat, gloves, and bonnet.

“Oh, Sadie, you cannot come. I have nothing. I could never pay you,” Harriet said with all the composure she could gather.

“Miss Harriet, you’re not leaving me here with him. Lord Daneford’s going to be in a temper, I tell you. He’ll throw me out. In that he will, after all I have done the last few days to help you depart. I best stay with you, at least for the time being,” Sadie said.

“I will write Arthur and ask him not to take my actions out on you
.” Harriet reached over and squeezed her maid’s hand. “You have done an excellent job caring for me. I wish only I could write you a reference myself, but I fear it would do you more harm than good. But I cannot take you. I have not the room. The hackney I hired is not for long, only until I can catch the coach in Farnham.”

Harriet dared not tell her maid she feared she hadn’t enough money for herself. She prayed only the solicitor held an answer for her on her inheritance. Arthur had to be wrong she had nothing. He had to be misleading her.

To start her new life, she hadn’t much, only the money she had garnered from the jewelry she had Smithson sell… all she owned, including the cameo of her grandmother… except the ring Arthur had given her. She had left it in his room on the dresser. No note… only the ring.

“I fear the hackney you hired was canceled,” Sadie said in a hesitant voice. “Please do not be
angry with me. I have not betrayed you. I would not do so. It is not his lordship…”

“What have you done, Sadie?” Harriet interrupted.

“It is Mr. Carlisle. He is downstairs, Miss Harriet…”

Harriet did not wait for the foolish girl to finish her thought. She rushed passed her maid and down the stairs. To her dismay
, she found her maid had not lied. The man stood at the foot of the stairs.

“Mr. Carlisle, pray forgive me. I’m not prepared to entertain a visitor and fear I have not the time.” Harriet stopped as he looked up at her and gasped.
 She could not contain her shock at his appearance. His face—his eye to be exact—appeared quite swollen and discolored.

"Do not be alarmed. It looks worse than it feels," Carlisle said.

"Arthur?" Harriet uttered under her breath.

Nodding his head, he continued, "It seems we had a difference of opinions.
Although I hold that the truth needed to be addressed, I find myself offering my apologies for the unfortunate events that have occurred and hold myself responsible."

"It's of little matter, Mr. Carlisle. You were correct and I was wrong. One does not need to apologize for the truth."

"I fear that I must disagree with you once more," he said and motioned toward the drawing room. "I feel I need to explain myself. Please take a moment and hear me out. I believe I can help you in the circumstances you now find yourself."

"I doubt..."

"A moment only, Miss Burke. Please."

Harriet hesitated a moment,
and then obliged the man once more. She took a seat on the nearest chair. "You have my attention, Mr. Carlisle, but please make it brief. I am preparing to depart."

He did not sit, but walked to the window. He stared out into the garden briefly before turning his attention back to her. "That is what I wanted to talk with you about. After my confrontation with Arthur, I discovered that I have been under the wrong impression. I took it upon myself to further investigate his side of the story. To my shame, I have found that my family has done you a grave disservice
… I have done you a grave disservice.

“
Although I'm certain you understand the animosity that my uncle felt toward your father, it does not excuse the unfathomable deceit he participated in with the late Lord Daneford."

"You have me at a disadvantage, Mr. Carlisle. It seems you know more about my situation than I do myself at this point
, for I do not know of what you speak. You sound as though you acknowledge there has been a conspiracy."

"I fear that is the case. I confronted my uncle. He confessed there was an agreement between Arthur's grandfather and himself on the marriage between Arthur and Sophia. The only obstacle to this agreement was you. It seems that
, too, was overcome. Arthur’s grandfather procured Arthur's promise that he would settle before his death…to marry Sophia, leaving you in the predicament you find yourself in at the moment when Arthur discovered the treachery.

“It does not ease my conscience that
although I was not in on the conspiracy, I was used to facilitate it. I fear I was manipulated. Easily enough done, given my intense feeling against your father. Instead of being objective, I reacted out of emotion. It was unforgivable.”

Harriet pressed her lips together tightly
, trying desperately to contain her emotions. It did nothing to change her situation. Arthur was married. There was nothing that could undo the fact. She drew in a deep breath. "I appreciate the effort you have made to apologize, but as you understand, there is little to be done to rectify the situation. Arthur is married to your cousin. You have no concerns. I will not interfere between them. What is done is done. I am leaving."

"It is why I am here.
I realize that you are attempting to go out on your own. Relieve my conscience and let me help you."

"It is not necessary, Mr. Carlisle. I
have already laid out my plans."

"Do you mind if I ask you what they are?"

"I do not believe it is yours to..."

"You forget, Miss
Burke, that I am quite adept at finding out information. I took it upon myself to look into your situation to the fullest of my ability. You hired a carriage to take you down to Farnham. From there, I would assume you would take a stage down to Exeter. You are going home. Are you not?"

Her chest tightened upon his words. "Not that it is
your concern, but why would I not?"

"You do understand that
to have been successful in arranging Arthur and Sophia's marriage, your family's silence would have been bought. There would be no other explanation. Your engagement to Arthur was announced. It would not have done to disgrace the Daneford's good name...but a name already associated with a scandal?

"Over the last week, I have dedicated my attention to your affairs. Your inheritance had a mortality clause within it. I assume due to your mother's
 behavior. If I was a betting man, I would wager the whole of the rumor associated with your elopement served two purposes. Your uncle saw that your father's will was vacated. His estate reverted back into his hands, leaving you penniless, and leaving Arthur the opportunity to save his honor when the engagement was broken."

A long
pregnant silence hung in the air. Harriet shuddered at the details he rattled off with confidence. Her fears were confirmed. She gripped tightly to the arm of the chair, hoping that her shaking hands were not noticeable. Trying desperately to compose herself, she breathed in deeply. She needed to think. She could feel his eyes boring into her. Gathering up all the resolve within her, she held her head high.

“I find myself once more indebted to you for your information. It seems a journey home will serve no purpose
, for I feel you are telling me they will turn from me, as I’m a tainted woman. They have nothing more to steal from me. At least I will not humiliate myself,” she said, steadying her voice. “I will have to find a solicitor to seek a legal recourse against my family if your words are true…”

“Miss
Burke, I do not want to be harsh with my words, but I do not feel that sympathy will be helpful at this point. The truth may be severe, but it needs to be addressed. You have limited options and legal recourse will not serve you in this situation.

“The easiest for you is to stay in your current situation,” Carlisle said. He paused a moment and studied her. “But I do not think you would have gone through all the trouble of the last week if your intention was to stay.”

“How do you know what I have done?” Harriet asked indignantly. She rose. “I believe this conversation is over. I thank you once more for pointing out my life’s failure. You can sleep tonight knowing that my life is in complete shambles. You have done your duty. Now please leave.”

“Sit down. You have not listened to me. I told you I’m here to help you,” he answered her in a tone not to be questioned. “Sit.”

Slowly, she sat back down. Her eyes glared at him. “You have my attention, Mr. Carlisle. What do you think you can do for me that you have not already done?”

“I deserved that,” he responded. He walked over and took a seat across from her. “I know you will find it difficult to understand that my intentions are only to rectify this situation in the best possible manner. After my confrontation with my former best friend, I made an assumption from his words that you might be with child.”

Harriet felt her face flame. She turned her head away so he could not see her eyes welling with tears.

“Miss
Burke, I do not think less of you. I believe you have endured a great injustice which I played a part. I want only to know whether this is what you want to do… leave. You have to know that Arthur will not let you go easily. This journey you have planned, I would assume he would know you would fail and be prepared to sweep in to save you. Make no mistake, he has his eye upon you at all times.

“But if you want to leave this life behind and start anew, I will help you. Is that what you truly want
… to leave Arthur forever?”

“Do I want to leave Arthur…
?” she uttered with a low voice. “No, Mr. Carlisle, I don’t want to leave, but I have to for the child… for myself. I’m angry. I’m hurt, but I do not have time for self-pity. I have to think of my child.”

“It is what I thought. Then know I have a plan.”

* * * *

Arthur awoke in the dead of night to a fearful shriek, a shriek that had become all too familiar. The cry faded into the stillness of the night, but he realized the quiet would not last. He rose from his bed.

The drawn curtain allowed the full moon to light the solemn room. The silver circle shone down over a façade of calm. He knew the calm would not last. It began again—the sharp, shrill cry.

Footsteps raced down the hall. He reached for his dressing robe. The cry died, but wailing ensued. There would be no more sleep this night.

Arthur walked out of his chamber and crossed the hall. The door was open and light shone out of the chamber, shadowing the occupants while they moved around the bed. Immediately upon his entrance, the cry renewed.