SEASON OF THE MARCHIONESSA HISTORICAL REGENCY ROMANCE NOVEL

PATRICIA HAVERTON

Edited by

LINDA MIDDLETON

C O NT E NT S

A Sweet Gift For YouBefore You Start Reading…

Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29EpilogueExtended Epilogue

Preview: The Duchess GambitChapter 1Chapter 1Chapter 2

Also by Patricia HavertonAbout the Author

A S W E E T G I F T F O R Y O U

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Patricia Haverton

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A B O U T T H E B O O K

She, as no other ever could, reached every corner of his heart.

Powerful and influential Lady Harriet Windsor's pampered life takes a turn when shebecomes the guardian of her orphaned cousin.

Used to always getting her way, she comes to the jarring realization that she must nowsecure her young charge's future. And she is willing to pull every string at her disposal todo just that.

Playful and flirty with a certain disregard for social etiquette, Timothy Ramsay, third sonof the Marquess of Westbrook, has a reputation to match his mischievous ways. With hisfamily unable to control him and many a respectable lady warning their daughters to stayaway from him, he is a true heartbreaker. Or is he?

Unable to stay away from each other once they cross paths, Timothy's undesirablereputation is not the only trial they must face: a bet he made to conquer the challengethat is Harriet's heart comes to light. Thrown in the middle of a game they think they cancontrol, they belatedly realize they focused on the king and lost sight of the mostimportant player: the pawn.

I

C H A P T E R 1

t was the ball of the season at Almack’s Assembly Rooms, but Lord TimothyRamsay knew that it was not yet time to collect his dance. Timothy had beenwell acquainted with the usual life at Almack’s, where gambling went on in one

room, and the dancing took place in the great room. Occasionally, he preferred theincreasingly scandalous nature of Carlisle House, but the ball of the year took placeexclusively at Almack’s, also known as ‘The Marriage Mart.’

Not that Timothy was in search of a wife of good social standing. However, his longtimefriend, Lord Curtis Sutton, the firstborn of an Earl, had such inclinations. For the timebeing, the two men enjoyed the view that spread before them. Beaming debutants withflushed cheeks would whisper to each other, throwing coy glances at gentlemen who’dcaught their attention.

Timothy always believed that one of the most extraordinary advantages of being friendswith the host of the ball entailed the avoidance of being officially announced. Instead, hecould do what he enjoyed most on these occasions. He simply observed the gathering oflords and ladies, with his friend by his side, focusing on the blushing beauties.

“They all look so innocent, so prim and proper, don’t they, my good man?” Timothychuckled to his friend, who simply nodded. “So absolutely beautiful. A damnedimprovement upon the last ball we attended.”

“But there was still diversion enough, was there not?” Curtis elbowed his friend playfully.

“Very well put,” Timothy agreed, his eyes watching a young girl across the room, whose

dark curls framed her lovely face, as her eyes met with his. “Mere diversion, nothing else,I assure you. Unlike it is the case with you and Lady Coleborn.”

“Lady Coleborn will make a fine wife.” Curtis tried to defend his courting of a very suitablefuture wife. It was, after all, what the world expected of him. And, most importantly,what his own family expected. Timothy was also aware of that fact, and secretly dreadedthe possibility of losing his best friend. Surely, they would continue to socialize, but oncea man had gotten married, that was the end of the line. At least, in Timothy’s mind.

Timothy also knew that, unlike himself, his friend had a title to inherit, and with it, acertain bearing of character.

He quickly frowned. “Marriage is Hell.”

“Marriage to the wrong woman might be,” Curtis agreed up to a certain point. “But Ibelieve marriage to the right woman is-”

“Paradise?” Timothy laughed boisterously. “Do not be absurd, Curtis. I would expect thisof anyone, but you.”

“This is all fine and dandy, but you know that this can’t go on forever,” Curtis gesturedwith his hands all around him.

“It can go on for as long as I want it to,” Timothy snickered. “For I dread the other option.Having a woman lead me by the bollocks? I think not. Diversion is all I need in this life,and trust me-”

But he couldn’t finish his thought. Instead, he found himself staring at the couple that hadjust entered the ballroom. The lady in question looked absolutely ravishing in her violetsilk gown, decorated with dark purple flowers. Immediately, his throat went dry, andTimothy wished he had some whiskey, just to wet his tongue a little.

He recognized the young man as His Grace Harley Windsor, the Duke of Pickering. In thatcase, the young woman by his side, with her large blue eyes and hair the color of the sun,must be Lady Harriet Windsor, his sister. But he could barely believe it to be. Lady Harrietwas not of age yet. Or was she? He almost couldn’t believe it to be possible.

All eyes were on them. Timothy noticed they hadn’t approached anyone for a greeting.He watched her as they walked, her hand resting on her brother’s elbow. She was soshort, so petite. A funny thought occurred to him. He could just hide her in his waistcoatpocket and run away. No one would even see him do it.

“Why are you smirking?” Curtis asked.

Timothy fell silent as he gazed at Lady Harriet; her demeanor calm and composed. Therewas no giggling, no blushing. Her cheeks were a dignified shade of pale, her eyestraversing the room with detailed accuracy. And, yet not once did she look in hisdirection.

Timothy finally turned to his friend, seeing the profile of Curtis’ once long and straightnose, now rendered slightly crooked, courtesy of some ruffian they met in a place nogentleman should frequent. Curtis locked eyes with Timothy, both of them with the sameidea in mind.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Curtis shook his head.

“You couldn’t possibly begin to understand,” Timothy grinned. “She seems like she wouldbe quite a pleasant distraction.”

“She is breathtaking, I concur,” Curtis agreed. “However, I couldn’t even dare to entertainany such thoughts.”

“What?” Timothy chuckled wildly, stealing a quick glance at Lady Harriet. A man bowedbefore her, but she wasn’t smiling. It gave him hope. “Lady Coleborn has already

shackled you, even without the official papers?”

“It is too soon for me to cause another scandal,” Curtis sighed.

Both men remembered how the ton buzzed at the revelation that Lord Curtis Sutton hadceased courting Lady Inglewood and immediately professed his adoration of the recentlywidowed Lady Holliday. The shortness of period was shocking, even for Curtis himself.But, sometimes, a man was led by something other than his mind.

“Then, the path is completely open?” Timothy asked.

“Not only open, but I also issue a challenge.”

“A challenge?” Timothy’s curiosity peaked more than it had in ages.

“Indeed,” Curtis nodded. “I know how much you enjoy a good wager.”

“Do you remember when we took bets at White’s on that man who collapsed on thedoorstep?” Timothy laughed. “Luckily for the old fellow, he was alive, though not all thatwell. As for me, I walked out of White’s slightly richer that evening.”

“I do,” Curtis joined in. They laughed so rowdily that a few ladies glanced in theirdirection, wonderingly. “In that case, this is your challenge. Win the lady’s heart by theend of the Season.”

“Lady Harriet?” Timothy wanted to confirm. Curtis simply nodded.

Timothy watched as everyone’s attention was still directed towards the lady in question.His heart gave a pang when he thought she smiled at a young man, a different man thistime, who was now bowing before her. Still too far away from her, he tried to find a flaw

in her loveliness. From afar, there was none. He needed to get close, and not only forthat reason.

“I accept,” Timothy nodded.

In his mind, he could already see himself kissing her shamelessly, her body in a state ofintoxication, like so many other women before her.

“We shall arrange the details later,” Timothy dusted off his shoulder with the tips of hisfingers. “Now, I must act.”

Confidently, he strode towards Lady Harriet, with only one thing in mind.

The man who was approaching Harriet was infamous. She knew that much. In reality, sheknew much more than she was willing to divulge, and she had always found that to beone of her advantages in life, even at such a tender age.

She had learned much regarding Lord Timothy Ramsay from her brother, and she knewthat he was the kind of man mother’s usher their daughters away from. But she was notfrightened the least bit, of a man with a suspicious past. A man whose cards were all outon the table was far less threatening than a man who had much to lose.

Mr. Willis, the husband of the late Mr. Almack’s niece, approached her together with LordRamsay, whose confidence was visible from a mile away. He reminded her of a peacock.

“Lady Harriet,” Mr. Willis commenced, “if I may introduce Lord Timothy-”

“Ramsay,” she finished his sentence. Lord Ramsay’s surprise didn’t escape her notice. Italso didn’t fail to make her glad. She curtsied, mirroring Lord Ramsay’s bow of respect.

“May I have this dance, Lady Harriet?” he asked, offering her his hand.

To his surprise, she did not accept it immediately. Instead, she looked somewhere behindhim, but he didn’t allow this to confuse him. His hand still lay outstretched in the air,waiting for her reply.

“Now?” she asked, realizing herself the silliness of such a reply.

“What better time?” he smiled, revealing a row of pearly teeth; she knew that manywomen had fallen victim to that smile. She remained reserved, despite the fact that herheart skipped a beat at his charming chuckle.

“Well, I…” she started, but at that moment, the orchestra struck up and what followedwas a Viennese waltz.

“Lady Harriet?” he asked again, his voice urging her to accept.

The way he pronounced her name kept ringing inside her ears, like a long-forgottenmelody. She waited a moment longer, then realized that her brother’s eyes watched herfrom the other end of the room ever since they had been briefly separated. Still, sheplaced her hand in Lord Ramsay’s.

“Very well,” she nodded, but she did not return his smile.

She moved slowly, her every step deliberate, as he led her to the parquetted floor to jointhe other dancers. They stood facing each other, hands linked. His free hand found asuitably respectable position on the middle of her back. She made sure to keep a decentdistance from him, as she gently pushed him away with an outstretched arm, her handresting on his shoulder.

“I assure you, I am quite a good dancer,” he told her, as they started to move.

“I’m certain you are,” she replied, as he whirled her across the floor.

It seemed he was telling the truth. He guided them both through the music, following therhythm, his steps mirroring the tempo. He twirled her around, as they went down the linefacing each other, then they turned away. Every time she got closer to him color rose toher cheeks. She was enjoying this dance immensely, even though she had been waitingfor someone else before him.

All the air fled from her lungs, every time her eyes met his. If she had taken but a singlesip of wine, she would be happy to bestow the effects on the spirits and not him. But thedizzying response her body exuded was due to him and him alone.

“But that is not my only strength,” he added mischievously, so much so that her cheeksflared up at the insinuation.

“It seems that modesty isn’t one of them.” She couldn’t resist the urge to talk back. Afterall, she had never been the one to remain quiet in the face of adversity - of any kind.

Timothy chuckled once more. “A man needs to know where his strengths lay, does henot?”

It was obvious that he was enjoying himself, and what she had heard was utterly correct.He was not bothered much by what society thought of him. His was a reputation that notonly followed, but actually preceded the person in question.

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t know that for sure,” she replied, stifling a smile. “For I am not aman, my lord.”

“That is indeed true,” he nodded. “And call me Timothy. All my friends do.”

She wondered if they were friends. Or, at least, if he considered them such, after thismuch too brief a time spent together. All logic claimed otherwise.

“If you wish,” she responded.

He seemed a little disappointed at her reply. She supposed he expected her to be thrilledthat they were on first name basis so quickly.

“May I call you Harriet?” he continued, boldly. He was confident. She had to admit thatmuch. And, that confidence was highly amusing.

She didn’t reply immediately, as their bodies flowed together, fitting so well that sheherself was shocked at the realization. She never thought such a tall person would leadher so well on the dancefloor. But he wasn’t only tall. He was muscular. His jaw clenchedas his eyes shone every time he looked at her. She forced herself to look away.

“That would infer that we are friends,” she told him.

“Are we not?” He spun her wildly.

“Well, for one we have just met,” she elaborated. “People do not become friends just likethat.”

“What does it take then?” he urged, locking his eyes with hers.

“Common interests, time spent together,” she explained. “But I am not certain we couldbe friends, My L… Timothy.”

He twirled her again, and her gown flounced freely. She remembered his reputation oncemore and knew that once this dance ended, she would curtsy and then be led back to her

brother’s side. But something told her that she would not be rid of Timothy that easily.And she welcomed the idea.

“How can you be so certain of that, Harriet?” He used her name so freely, as if theirsupposed friendship had spanned across decades and not mere minutes.

“I have my ways,” she blushed.

She wanted to tell him all; her aim to get to know all the people of influence and wealth,the redeemable ones, that is, and employ them in her altruistic cause of helping thosewho could not help themselves. She was already privy to much information, and herdemure appearance concealed strong opinions.

She was well aware of the fact that her brother’s support meant much in the way ofkeeping her safe and well looked after. In addition to this, he supported all those causesshe felt passionately about, such as women’s education and the poor’s welfare in theHouse of the Lords. He always offered support, yes, but never so much as to be brandedextreme. And she understood why.

As a result, Harriet knew much of the rumors regarding Lord Timothy and his dandy ways.She was almost positive she knew what his intentions were, from the moment he bowedbefore her and offered a dance. She should be shying from him, like the Devil shied fromthe cross, and yet, she felt no such inclination. On the contrary, she was utterly confidentthat she could control the situation.

But, this time, he seemed to be the one in control, as he bent over, outrageouslydiminishing the proper distance that was to be kept between the dancing couples. Shewas caught off guard and did not even remember to pull away. Instead, she listened tohim singing, with a voice more melodious than any she’d ever heard before.

He started, following the melody to perfection.

“I once knew a lady whose countenance bore, a striking resemblance to a sandyseashore. Her eyes, they were blue, her skin was pale white, she promised she’d meetme by the seashore tonight. But, alas, she was gone, she was nowhere in sight, howshocking to find ladies so impolite!”

He pulled away, suddenly, once his mischievous song had come to an end, and she foundherself entirely amused by it. Her lips danced in a barely visible smile, and she wasfighting the urge to break into loud laughter. It was obvious that he had come up with thewords himself, and paired with his most harmonious voice, it sounded more thanappealing.

Still, she knew that controlling the situation meant that she should always be one stepahead of him. Her lustrous, pink lips parted to speak, but at that moment, the musicceased.

“Thank you for the dance, my lord.” She made sure to use his title and not the name heoffered, and be the first to thank him, even though that was always left to the man.

“It is I who should be thanking you, Harriet,” he bowed deeply. “I think perhaps -”

“I need to see my brother now.” She excused herself not overly politely, but graciouslyenough to be given a reason to depart.

She didn’t need to turn around to know that his eyes were burning a hole in the back ofher head. He was confused, probably a little upset at the way she had handled thesituation. She chuckled to herself, silently. By the time she reached her brother, she wasan epitome of grace and serenity, as always.

I

C H A P T E R 2

mmediately after his dance with Harriet, Timothy knew that he would bewatching this lady all evening. This maddeningly gorgeous and witty girl wasunlike anyone he had ever met before, and judging by her tongue, he knew

that courting her would be so much fun.

He returned to his friend and perched himself where they usually sat. It bestowed agracious overview of the whole ballroom, and it was easy to reach even the most hiddencorners with a mere glance.

However, Timothy wasn’t content with finding just any lady to marvel at. This time, onlyone would be desirable, but he knew that he was not the only one who thought that way.

“Have you tired of the dancing yet?” Curtis inquired.

He had always been a matter-of-fact sort of fellow. He believed what he saw, not whathe was told. And, strangely enough, he wasn’t all that fond of balls. He endured them, soto speak, simply because that was the only acceptable manner in which he could find asuitable young lady who would become his wife. Or, perhaps just a distraction - in themanner of his best friend.

“It is always an entertaining spectacle, you know that my good fellow,” Timothy nodded,with a lingering smile, not taking his eyes off of his newest object of desire. “Especiallynow with the challenge you have set before me.”

“Perhaps you are doubting yourself with this one?” Curtis asked again, as they bothwatched Lady Harriet closely.

Not a single hair was out of place on her blond head. Not a single emotion was revealedon that kind face, which occasionally resembled a mask. Timothy wondered what it wasshe was trying to hide so desperately. Or was it simply him?

It did not escape his attention that in the hour following their dance, she did not darelook in his direction once. Admittedly, his reputation was untrustworthy, but a singleglance would not have hurt anyone. Was she not curious?

As for himself, he was more than merely curious. Lady Harriet was more beautiful thanany other woman present, and this fact, together with the challenge that was broughtforth, made it impossible to look away.

“You must be sotted to think so!” Timothy chuckled. “There has not been a woman yetwhose reins I did not hold in my arms.”

He knew that he would hold hers eventually. He was certain of it. Despite all those eyesthat rested on her, that drank from the fountain of her beauty, he knew none of themmattered. Perhaps he himself did not matter to her at this moment, but he would changethat.

Suddenly, he remembered how he held her, how he guided her through the waltz. Sheliked his song. He could see that smile endeavoring to break through, but she would notallow it. She was fighting it.

I do love a good challenge. He thought to himself, grinning.

Now, he found himself longing for more. More of her witty comments, more of her effortto fight him, to push him back, even though an invisible magnetism kept pulling themtowards each other.

“You seem somewhat distracted,” Curtis noticed. “Or are you busy plotting?”

Timothy wondered how long it had been since their dance. Would it be too forward toapproach her again?

He tried to look away, but his gaze always returned to her, like a ship coming home to asafe harbor after a storm. She, on the other hand, did not share the sentiment. Her gazeremained coolly detached, focused on the other end of the ballroom, as if something ofcrucial importance was happening there, and she couldn’t resist its allure.

He wondered if this was a conscious effort on her part. He wished it to be so, becausethat would mean that she had been thinking about him all this time. The thought excitedhim.

However, he could not be sure of that. Her demeanor always remained calm and not asingle propriety broken. He couldn’t imagine her ever doing such a thing. Not her. Not theperfect Lady Harriet.

He watched her, and no matter how many hands she accepted, how many dances shehad danced, she remained equally quiet, equally shy, small like a dainty little doll. Andyet, that was what made her so approachable. She never shook her head at anyone.

The number of guests was staggering, and occasionally, Timothy would lose sight of her.But he would then see her take a moment to rest at the corner of the ballroom. She wasslightly flushed, and Timothy wished it was he who had put that blush there once more.

This time, his was not the only pair of eyes that followed her. Timothy didn’t immediatelysee His Grace Cecil Sydney, the Duke of Redfield. Once the man was only a few shortsteps away from Harriet, Timothy realized what was to follow.

The Duke of Redfield cut a striking figure, as he walked slowly, his every step deliberate.

His countenance was that of an army man. Once a man went to war, he never again gotit out of his blood or out of his mind. Timothy considered himself fortunate enough not tohave witnessed the horrors he had heard of.

The Duke of Redfield approached from his place aside the dancing couples. Tall andstrong, it was impossible not to see him approaching. Harriet saw him, then lowered hereyelashes, looking down, her hands resting in her lap. She waited.

Did she welcome his advance as well? Timothy couldn’t tell. He continued watching thescene before him intently.

This man who was more than ten years Timothy’s senior had golden white hair, with afew streaks of black, as a memory of his fallen youth. The right side of his face wasadorned with a barely visible scar, one that he was not even trying to hide. Timothy knewa little bit of the Duke from the ton. The Duke served briefly in the army, but then atragedy struck his family, and he was forced to return, because there was no one else toassume the title.

Timothy wondered about the horrors the Duke had seen in the war. What happened to aman who went through that? Could he ever lead a normal life again?

But the time of the most important ball of the season was not the right moment for suchbleak thoughts. The Duke approached Lady Harriet and bowed before her. Timothylooked on; his jaw clenched.

Curtis could see it all, as well. The Duke’s advances. His best friend’s uneasinessregarding it. Yet, he chose to remain silent.

At that moment, the ex-military man took Lady Harriet’s gloved hand, and laid a soft,feathery kiss on it. Timothy thought that the man’s lips rested on it a little too long forgood measure, but all he could do was grind his teeth at the sight, because one thingwas obvious.

“I did not know she was being courted.” Curtis gestured at the couple with a few quicknods of the head, as both men stared.

“I doubt anyone here knew. Look.”

They glanced around the ballroom quickly. It seemed that all eyes were on them. Somegirls leaned over to whoever was by their side, and whispered directly into their ear,hiding their words with their hand. Truly, Lady Harriet and the Duke of Redfield were theobject of gossip. Still, it didn’t seem that either of them minded it the least bit.

“Looks like you’ve lost, my good man,” Curtis sighed heavily, feeling the burden of hisbest friend almost as his own.

“Only the battle,” Timothy corrected him, shaking his head. “Not the war.”

His tumultuous thoughts assured him of that. After all, Lord Timothy Ramsay had neverbeen the one to back down from a trial. And this was proving to be an increasinglyamusing one, something he wouldn’t miss for the world.

He watched as the Duke led Lady Harriet to the other dancers. They danced… properly.He couldn’t think of a better term for it. Her back stood arched. Her eyes never left his.There was no blushing of her usually pale cheeks. There was not even a hint of a smile.Everything about it was simply… proper.

He smiled. Lady Harriet already had a suitor, and that was fine. That was perfectly fine.He felt magically drawn to her, despite her obvious unwillingness to look his way.

A flame and a moth.

Would they both burn? He didn’t care. He wanted the hunt. He relished it. The moredifficult and unreachable the target, the more enjoyable the hunt.

As Lady Harriet’s petite frame swayed in proper distance from the Duke’s, a realization hithim. She was so innocent. Too innocent perhaps. Innocents were not his women ofchoice. He preferred experienced ladies. But there was something about this one. Theallure of incorruptibility that reigned in those sky-blue eyes was impossible to resist.Whether she knew it or not, she was beckoning him, and he was more than happy tolisten.

Patience was a much under-appreciated virtue. And he endeavored to exercise it.

I

C H A P T E R 3

t was a lovely, sunny afternoon which complemented the unclouded dispositionHarriet was in. All the sounds of spring chimed around her and Abbie, as thetwo of them rode on their barouche, around Hyde Park. The Duke was keeping

up on his stallion, by their side, not taking his eyes off of Harriet for a single moment.

“Oh, Harriet, what a grand idea to go for a ride!” Abbie, Harriet’s thirteen-year-old cousin,exclaimed with joy.

The two girls enjoyed the birds singing all around them, as well as the melody of thehorses’ hooves which click-clacked in unison.

“Indeed, it is.” Harriet smiled, as she gazed at her cousin.

Still at a very tender age of thirteen, Abbie had little of that cold, aristocratic demeanor,which she was urged to start developing. She seemed more interested in simple joys oflife, as a child usually was, and Harriet decided to nurture this for as long as she could.

Her cousin’s pale complexion was wonderfully complemented by a light green dress,which seemed to wrap her dainty frame to perfection. Sometimes, it seemed to Harrietthat Abbie looked much older than she was. In mind, that was certainly so.

Harriet still remembered the day when she received word of what had happened toAbbie’s parents. A relatively young couple who loved each other and their daughter

immensely, they were accosted one evening on the way back to London. The Constablehad deemed it a robbery gone terribly wrong, leaving an orphaned child. Harriet saw noother way but to accept this poor girl into her home and be whatever Abbie needed herto be at that moment.

It took Abbie a while to start opening up, but Harriet was patient. It was this patienceexactly which had led towards the blossoming of a most curious, most wonderful littlegirl, who had started to find joy in life once more.

“Perhaps, next time, we could ride together with the Duke,” Abbie suggested, her eyesshyly looking at the man beside them.

“You know that your riding skills still aren’t that good,” Harriet reminded her.

“But Lady Harriet,” the Duke interfered, his hard, grey eyes watching over the two ladieslike a hawk. “How do you expect her to get better, if she doesn’t practice?”

“See, Harriet?” Abbie giggled.

“I promise that after little more practice with your riding tutor, I shall take you ridingmyself,” Harriet promised.

“I hope you don’t mean to leave me out of such a pleasurable activity, Lady Harriet?” theDuke interjected.

“Of course not!” Abbie replied before Harriet could even part her lips.

But it seemed that this wasn’t enough for the Duke. He gazed on at Harriet, expectantly.She just nodded. This was what she always found herself doing with him.

The period of their courting had still been short, but everything regarding it was proper,done according to all the rules. In a way, she did not mind this. She welcomed it, in fact.But a part of her wished for something more, something completely different, somethingshe knew she could probably never have with a man such as the Duke of Redfield. So,she considered herself fortunate with things being as they were.

A slight breeze blew around them, and she raised her hand to her shoulder, rubbing herupper arm gently.

“Are you cold, Lady Harriet?” the Duke immediately asked.

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” she smiled. She had already come to expect this of him, toalmost predict her every need and act accordingly before even she herself had becomeaware of it.

“Perhaps, we could rest a little, if you are tired?” he asked again.

“But I am seated, Your Grace,” Harriet chuckled, and Abbie joined in. “You are very kindand attentive, but I assure you that I’m perfectly fine, and enjoying myself immensely.”

“Then, that is all that matters,” he nodded once quickly.

He tried to smile, but Harriet noticed that every time he did so, his right cheek tightened,and his scar, which was usually almost invisible, became more prominent. She was notbothered by it in the slightest. In fact, it only proved how brave he was, that he dared goso close in the face of the enemy.

Despite their unusual gap in age, Harriet knew that many women would give anything tobe her. The Duke of Redfield was not only well known and respected, but he also had thedemeanor of royalty, a touch of finesse, and she could not ever imagine him of anytrespass.

However, she wished that sometimes, he would show more than just a half-smile. Hisparents had believed that if one showed emotion, one could and should be accused ofvulnerability. And the Duke therefore believed that a man should never be vulnerable.

Once they reached the Serpentine, Harriet noticed that Abbie was staring into thereflecting pool of water.

“Is everything all right, Abbie?” Harriet inquired softly.

The horses neighed in unison and slowed down their pace. Abbie didn’t seem to hear herimmediately. Not until Harriet placed her hand on the child’s shoulder.

“Sorry, I…” Abbie smiled a little sadly. “My mother and I used to stop by here, wheneverwe were on one of our rides around Hyde Park. We would stop and sit over there.” Shestopped to point at an invisible spot in the distance, and even though Harriet wasn’t surewhat she was looking at, she still focused her gaze.

“Perhaps, we shouldn’t have come here then,” Harriet bit her lower lip, regretting herchoice of location. There were so many other places around London.

“Oh, no,” Abbie shook her head, taking Harriet’s hand into hers. “I’m glad to be here, withyou.”

“You sweet child,” Harriet smiled, wondering where on Earth did this little girl get all thatvigor from.

“I’ve accepted the fact that they are gone,” Abbie continued, “and the places we used tofrequent are now even more beautiful than they were before, because they are coloredby my memories.”

“That is a wonderful way of looking at things,” Harriet nodded.

“It absolutely is, if I may add,” the Duke said, in a most apologetic manner. “You shallmake a fine wife to a lucky man someday, my dear.”

“Do you really think so?” Abbie’s eyes sparkled with hope at such a possibility.

“I am absolutely certain of it,” the Duke nodded.

“If neither of you would mind, perhaps we could stop by the lake,” Abbie suggested. “I dowish to feel the touch of solid ground.”

At that moment, Harriet glanced over at the lake. There weren’t many people around,simply walking, even though it was a fine day for a stroll. Most of them enjoyedthemselves in their carriages or on horseback.

As soon as she realized this, she noticed a small, huddled group of four by the lake, justup ahead. The young man stood by a dark brown horse, holding it by the reins. On it, sata woman, whose face was completely hidden by a pink straw bonnet. There were twomore people present, chaperoning. Harriet supposed they were the girl’s parents.

But it was not that realization which made her heart skip a beat. Rather, it was the factthat she recognized the young man’s voice, which traversed the distance all the way tothem.

“Perhaps we should go to the other side of the lake,” Harriet suggested.

She didn’t wish to see him now. They had their little fun during the ball, and he hadalready crossed one line when he leaned over and sang that song right in her ear, foreveryone to see. She remembered how she had to tell her brother a little white lieregarding it.

Lord Ramsay had simply lost his balance and imposed upon my personal space. Then, heextended his sincere apologies, whispering them to me.

The thought of sincere apologies coming from that man amused her. She wondered if hehad a sincere bone in his body. But she was not particularly keen on finding that out rightnow.

“We certainly can,” the Duke agreed. “Let us head over there, and we could -”

But his voice trailed off, and she wasn’t listening to him any longer. She was focused onthe man in the distance. Her own bonnet was lowered over her eyes, but she knew thathe was looking in their direction.

Did he recognize me?

Her ears felt a little hot. She shouldn’t care less about it, about him, and yet, she wasexuberant with anticipation.

Finally, he raised his hand towards them, and waved cordially, as if he was waving atclose friends he hadn’t seen in years.

“Harriet?” Abbie’s voice found her once more, bringing her back to reality. “Is that man…waving at us?”

All three pairs of eyes laid upon a figure who quickly mounted his horse and startedgalloping over to them.

Of course, he is, Abbie.

But she dared not say anything. His horse kept on dashing, diminishing the distance

between them with every step. There would be no avoiding him now. Harriet knew thatwell. So, she awaited the rainstorm, without an umbrella, wondering what would happen.

T

C H A P T E R 4

imothy reached Harriet’s barouche easily, immediately ordering thecoachman to halt. He could see the amalgamation of anger and confusion

on the Duke’s face, and he relished in it. He knew exactly what would add insult to injury,and he immediately went along that path.

“My dear Harriet, what a surprise to see you!” Timothy acknowledged the lady in thecarriage, flanking the other side of her barouche, as if it were his own. “And, this must bethe lovely Miss. Abbie,” he purposefully addressed the girl so formally.

Abbie gave him a puzzled glance, but he could see that she, just like Harriet, was amusedby what was happening and waited to see what it would develop into.

“My Lord,” Harriet nodded, as she was seated and unable to curtsy.

Timothy didn’t mind. The very sight of her had already made his day a much better one.And, if he could be the reason behind the Duke’s distraught state of mind, then all thebetter.

“Oh, now,” Timothy shook his head, with a slight tsk-tsk-tsk of the teeth and the lips.“Aren’t we on first name basis, Harriet?”

He loved pronouncing her name, all the more so because it irked the man next to her tosuch a great extent. He doubted that even after a period of courting, they had reached

that point. Somehow, it made him glad to think that.

“I suppose so,” Harriet gave in. “And, yes, this is my cousin, Miss. Abbie Thornton, butyou already seem to know that.”

“My dear lady, the family resemblance is uncanny,” Timothy gestured at both of themwith his hands, purposefully exaggerating with both his words as well as actions. “Thereis no mistaking that unique beauty.”

He could see that flattery would get him nowhere with a woman like Harriet, but Abbiehad already blushed fervently, and he saw her as his path to Harriet.

“Abbie,” Harriet continued, “I would like to introduce Lord Timothy Ramsay, Third son ofthe Marquis of Westbrook.”

“Too many words,” Timothy winked at Abbie, and she immediately turned poppy red,something which obviously did not escape Harriet’s attention. “Please, call me Timothy.”

“Certainly… Timothy,” Abbie endeavored, and immediately shied away.

Suddenly, Timothy’s gaze fell upon the third and unwanted member of this gathering.Timothy cared little for official greetings. But he also knew that he could not ignore theman forever. Only when the opportunity called for it, and only when it aggravated theman.

“Lord Ramsay,” the Duke gave a curt nod, holding the reins of his horse firmly in hishand.

Timothy could see the faint line of his scar, now visible in the sun. The man wasn’tsmiling. Timothy wondered if such men ever did. If they did not, how would they evermatch well with someone as bright and hopeful as Harriet?

“Your Grace,” Timothy nodded in an equally offhanded manner.

Those were the only words the two men exchanged, and Timothy felt like they weremore than enough. Even, too much.

He turned to Harriet once more. “I assume you have plans for such a marvelous day asthis one?”

“We were just about to sit down by the lake,” Abbie replied hastily, apparently eager topartake in the conversation herself.

“And look at the swans?” Timothy asked.

“Are they still there?”

“I do believe I have seen some as we were passing by the other side,” he nodded,enjoying the silliness of this light banter, for the sole reason that it was making the Dukeannoyed so much that his jaw clenched at the mere sound of Timothy’s voice.

“My Lord,” Harriet interfered, “wouldn’t your company take offence at you leaving themfor much longer?”

“Do you tire of me so easily, Harriet?” Timothy snickered, leaning a little over to her. Shehowever, remained passive, her back arched. Defiant in the face of his taunting. He foundit even more amusing to continue.

“Some things we do tire more easily of, that is true,” she nodded, as the corner of her lipsdanced in a suppressed smile. “And some people are quick to take offence.”

“Well, that is none of my concern, now is it?” He shrugged, with a roguish gleam in hiseyes. “I cannot help it if my actions offend someone.”

“Then, who can?” Harriet chuckled, her face blushing in the sun.

Round two is mine, old man.

“Miss. Abbie,” Timothy turned to his little partner who was surely on his side. “Would youtake offence if say, I departed for only a short while, to greet a dear old friend?”

“I suppose not,” Abbie shook her head.

“There!” Timothy exclaimed, victoriously. “Even the little lady agrees with me. There isno offence to be taken.”

“But, you forget, we are not dear, old friends,” Harriet’s eyes flashed with rebelliousness.

If he didn’t know any better, he’d think she was having as much fun as he was. Surprise,surprise.

“My company does not know that,” Timothy replied, like a naughty boy who knew he wascaught doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing. He knew that he would beforgiven. All he needed to do was use his irresistible charm. “And what we do not know,cannot hurt us. Or, in this case, offend us.”

“That is one way of looking at things,” Harriet nodded. “And, speaking of looking, theyhave been throwing frequent glances in our direction.”

She lifted her index finger inconspicuously and pointed in the distance. Timothy realizedshe was right. The lady he had been entertaining gazed at him longingly. Her parents

were whispering something to each other.

However, he could not care less about those people. They were simply a currentdiversion. His main occupation for the time being was winning that bet, and with it, sweetLady Harriet.

Harriet wondered if Timothy had planned on spending the rest of his time at the parkwith them, in their barouche. It certainly seemed that way. He had absolutely no concernfor propriety, otherwise he wouldn’t have done any of these things. He could have simplywaved and left it at that.

And, yet she found herself entertained by his antics. Hiding her gaze under her bonnet,she occasionally glanced at him. His coal black hair was tousled, a loose lock falling overhis forehead. The strangest urge washed over her. She wondered what it would feel liketo run her fingers through those silky strands.

Now that he was seated, his commanding height was not so authoritative as when hehad held his hand on her back, leading her to the rhythm of music. But his appearancestill demanded respect, despite all his ridiculousness.

What a shame. He could have been such an accomplished man. He has all the attributesfor it. But he squandered them all…

Realizing that Timothy would not leave on his own accord, she decided to do somethingabout it. She also saw the look on the Duke’s face. His lips were pressed together so hardthat they almost lost all their redness. She knew that he would never allow himself to fallinto an altercation with Timothy, especially not out in public like this. But it was obviousas day that he not only disliked the young man. He loathed him.

She understood why. The Duke was jealous. Even though he would never admit such anemotion, Heavens no. The thought made her want to chuckle out loud, but it seemedinappropriate.

“Well, I believe it is time we head back,” Harriet suggested, believing that it would bebest to separate these two men, before they started snarling at each other.

“But I thought we would sit by the lake a little,” Abbie pouted, evidently not happy withthis change of plan.

“I’m sorry, but I feel a little light-headed. I wish to go back home and lie down awhile.”

“Do I need to fetch a doctor, Lady Harriet?” the Duke immediately asked.

“No, that will not be necessary, Your Grace,” Harriet shook her head. “I’m just a littletired. Nothing else.”

“All right, if you are certain,” the Duke cordially answered.

“The lady is certain,” Timothy interfered, and Harriet knew that if he continued in thismanner, it would not end well.

“I do not recall inquiring of you,” the Duke hissed at Timothy.

“I thought, perhaps you did not hear well, my good man,” Timothy chuckled. “After all,you are her senior by twenty years.”

“Are you trying to imply -” the Duke growled, but before he could finish his entirethought, Harriet interrupted him.

“Your Grace,” she smiled benevolently, “you are very kind to ask, and I assure you that Iam perfectly fine. I do feel bad for cutting this short, and I promise a much longer outing

next time, at your earliest convenience.”

The Duke seemed appeased by this sudden change of direction in which the conversationhad headed. He seemed to swallow heavily, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down justonce. Then, his gaze fell upon Harriet, with a half-smile.

“I shall hold you to it, Lady Harriet,” he nodded. “I am to travel to Brunswick on an urgentbusiness matter, and I shall be away for the next three days, but after that, I would behappy to meet you.”

“Splendid,” Harriet smiled. “Then, we shall arrange something upon your return.”

Harriet turned to Timothy, expecting to give him a quick but courteous farewell, and seehim on his way. However, what he said next left her completely stunned.

“Perhaps, you wouldn’t mind if I joined you and lovely Miss. Abbie for an outing in themeantime,” Timothy said casually, as if he was simply commenting on the weather today.

Harriet didn’t even know what to say to that at first. The Duke’s face reddened with rage,as his jaw squared from the pressure his teeth were putting on one another. Abbie herselfwas caught off guard by this, and simply gazed on, shocked, with lips parted, as if shetried to say something, but changed her mind in the last minute.

Harriet, the one who was supposed to offer a reply to that, remained stunned. Simplystunned.

“Lord Ramsay,” the Duke’s voice rose like the threatening smoke of a potentially activevolcano about to erupt, “does this infer that we are rival suitors?”

Harriet and Abbie looked on in horror at what might ensue. Harriet had never witnessed abrawl between two men, and she hoped she never would. But this was dangerously close

to it, even though one of the two men still appeared calm and composed. She wonderedhow on earth Timothy managed to succeed in this.

“In order to be able to offer a reply, I would need to get acquainted with the lady inquestion properly,” Timothy shrugged, as if his reply was nothing extraordinary.

Harriet felt her lips drying. The utter absurdity and rudeness of this reply did not escapeanyone’s attention. She half-expected the Duke to jump down from his horse and giveTimothy a piece of his mind. But the Duke remained seated on his horse, squeezing atthe rein so hard that his fingers turned white.

A moment later, Harriet felt washed over by a sudden wave of laughter, but she darednot part her lips and let it out. It remained stifled inside of her.

He thinks I shall deem his playful banter scandalous. He wishes to shock me. But hedoesn’t know me yet. Not one bit.

“So, what say you, Harriet?” Timothy urged, even daring to wink at Abbie. “The three ofus could have so much fun.”

With a blissful smile on her face, Harriet leaned out of the carriage. Her hand gentlypressed the Duke’s shoulder, in an effort to show him that a man like him had no reasonto fear such a dog. Timothy was all bark, and no bite. She was almost certain of it. Andthat meant he would be easy to predict, easy to control, and also, easy to be amused by.

“All right then… Timothy,” she made sure to say his name slowly, accentuating everysyllable. “Let us arrange an outing then.”

“Excellent!” Timothy exclaimed, bowing quickly just once, then jumping out of thecarriage and right onto his horse, galloping away in mere seconds.

Harriet knew they were all stunned. In all honesty, so was she, but she also felt thepromise of something new and exciting. Something she had never felt or experiencedbefore.

What she failed to notice were the eyes that loomed over her. Menacingly. Possessively.

Watching.

Waiting.

T

C H A P T E R 5

he following day Harriet and Abbie were in the parlor, partaking in afternoontea. Harriet was holding her cup of tea in her hands, enjoying the fragrance,

not paying much attention to the freshly made scones and pastries. She could not saythat she had much of an appetite, and she was not certain if Lord Ramsay had anythingto do with that or not.

“Harriet?” Abbie’s tiny little voice filled the room.

She had already treated herself to a scone, gently dabbing the corners of her lips with anapkin - exactly as she had been taught to do. Her hair was pinned up today. Harrietherself had helped Abbie with it that very morning, even though that was a usual duty oftheir lady’s maid, Anna.

“Yes, my dear?” Harriet smiled, putting her cup down, to focus all of her attention on thegirl.

Ever since she had come there, Harriet had felt that Abbie looked upon her with love andkindness, one that was to be expected of not only a cousin, but almost a daughter. AndHarriet was happy to provide whatever female role Abbie felt she was missing in her life.

“I am a little confused as to what happened yesterday, in Hyde Park.” She spoke softly,almost feeling that this was not a topic to be discussed, but Harriet wanted her to knowthat there was no topic that was off limits. Especially not the topic of men.

“What confuses you?” Harriet urged, even though she already knew the answer to thatquestion.

Still, Abbie had made a good point. Much of that interaction was highly irregular, and as ayoung girl who would very soon be out herself, she needed to know where a line was tobe drawn. Harriet was certain that she had everything under control and wanted toassure Abbie of this.

“Well, that man we met yesterday, Lord Ramsay, he was overly familiar with us, wasn’the?” Abbie wondered out loud.

“Indeed, he was,” Harriet agreed.

“And the Duke did not fancy that one bit.” She sounded a little worried about this.

“I should think not,” Harriet chuckled, remembering the Duke’s reddened face, as heconversed slightly aggressively with Timothy regarding the issue of courting.

“Then, how come you are so calm about all this?”

“Because, my dear Abbie, everything is going according to my plan.”

In all honesty, Harriet did not have a plan as of yet. She simply had a vague idea of whatshe wanted to have happen, and she hoped it would crystalize at some point. LordRamsay was amusing. That was obviously his only redeeming trait, and it seemed thatthey shared a sense of humor. The Duke barely had any, and only now did she realizehow much she had come to miss it.

“What plan?” Abbie asked, curiously.

“Well, you know of my desire to help others as much as I can. You know that I am verymuch involved in the local workhouse.” Abbie simply nodded to this, so Harriet continued.“My goal is to find as many people as I can, who are able and willing to help this cause.”

“Lord Ramsay doesn’t seem to be the type to be helping out in the workhouse,” Abbienoticed, and then both chuckled together. It felt good to laugh about it.

“You make a very good point, dear Abbie,” Harriet admitted. “And I doubt he himselfwould be a redeemable addition to my cause. However, others he knows might be. So, ina way, he is a bridge, which might be able to connect me with people, who could have abeneficial effect on what I am trying to do.”

Abbie pondered for a moment, then she asked out loud. “Is that all you want from him?”

This question caught her off guard. For all her childhood ways and behavior, Abbie couldreally strike a chord when she wanted to, asking all the right questions that even an adultwas afraid to ask.

Harriet knew exactly what she wanted from him. And she was also certain that she wouldget it.

“You know, it’s important to bear one thing in mind,” Harriet spoke a little more solemnlythis time, wanting to explain to Abbie in words a child would understand, and not get thewrong message. “Lord Ramsay is… different than other gentlemen.”

“Different how?”

“Just different,” Harriet decided on no further explanations of Timothy’s character. Atleast, for the time being. “And jests of such gentlemen are never to be taken seriously.For him, half of everything he does is a joke. Mere fun and games. And this is how hegoes through life.”

“That doesn’t seem appropriate, especially for a gentleman,” Abbie frowned.

“Perhaps not,” Harriet shrugged her shoulders. “But you had fun with him, did you not?”

Abbie didn’t reply immediately, but her blushing cheeks were enough of a response.

“See?” Harriet chuckled sweetly. “If we maintain a proper distance, and still keep him byour side, we could have fun with him all the time. Provided we take all the precautions,he would be just a fun addition to our days, something to pass the time. Nothing moreserious than that. You know that, just as well as I do.”

“But, what about Harley?” Abbie asked about Harriet’s brother.

Harriet’s mind conjured up the image of her brother. His hair had gotten slightly darkerwith age, but he still had that impish curl, which was equally blonde in his childhood ashers. His eyes, blue with a green tint, a physical trait belonging to their mother’s side ofthe family, only added to the overall impression of him being someone trustworthy andhonorable. Ever since they were children, she had always come to him for advice, and healways provided some.

“Harley is unlike many brothers who wish to further their lordship through the marriage oftheir sister, and I have my lucky stars to thank for that,” Harriet beamed, grateful at thisunspoken kindness on behalf of the universe. “So, as long as my reputation isunblemished and I am happy, there is nothing he wouldn’t agree with.”

Abbie seemed content with this reply, but Harriet just wanted to strengthen herconviction.

“It is nothing but harmless fun,” she repeated. “I have everything under control. We shallsimply spend some time with him, just like we do with the Duke, only we shall have morefun. Everyone likes fun, don’t they?”

“But Harriet…” Abbie suddenly seemed to think of something, something outrageous, andyet, possible. “What if you fall in love with him?”

Harriet thought she didn’t hear the question well at first. Then, her brows furrowed at thedispleasure of it. Finally, she burst into boisterous laughter, her hand pressed against herlips, trying to calm down an onslaught of more laughter to come.

“Fall in love with Lord Ramsay!?” Harriet was still fighting off the last remnants ofchuckles. “Dear Abbie, don’t be ridiculous. Ladies like me never fall in love with… well, Ishall refer to him as a gentleman for a lack of a more suitable word… such gentlemen.It’s too outlandish to even consider seriously.”

This much was true. At the same time, Harriet knew she wasn’t in love with the Duke. Itwas a courting out of convenience, and she allowed it to happen. She liked the way hemade her feel, and the way he called her his angel. She liked how he could anticipate herneeds. She liked that he was a well-respected member of society, and that he cared tolisten to her talk about the cause she was so passionate about.

And yet, there was not even a mention of love on her part. She had always been too busybeing certain that everything was proper, that all the right words were said in the rightmoment, under the right circumstances. She believed the Duke found this crucial, and soshe obliged.

But a part of her took pleasure in Lord Ramsay’s silly banter, and preposterously loud-mouthed suggestions. It was simply who he was. He could not be anyone else, just likethe Duke could never be anything other than a proper gentleman.

Out of the two, she knew exactly who was meant for what. And, keeping this in mind,meant that she would remain in control of the situation. The moment she lost sight ofeach man’s purpose would mean that control was no longer in her hands. And that wouldalso mean that she would start a downward spiral into the unknown.

O

C H A P T E R 6

n the second day after the events at Hyde Park, Harriet and Abbie agreed totake a stroll through the grounds of Yardley Manor, all the way southward,towards the small woods. They were accompanied by Lord Ramsay; whose

steady stride followed the pace of the girls he was with.

Harriet had opted for a classical flowing Grecian robe dress, long and effortlessly humble,the color of ripe peaches. Seeing it was for a walk during daytime, she had made sure tofill her bare neckline with a simple chemisette, adorned by a dainty necklace of redstones. Abbie’s dress was also a gown silhouette but with a higher neckline, and full-volumed skirt. Both girls wore bonnet hats, in an effort to shield their faces from the sun,which promised warmth throughout the day.

Harriet and Timothy walked side by side, his elbow remaining vacant, due to herunwillingness to lean on him, even though he had immediately offered. Harriet herselfpreferred the authority of her own step, instead of following the set pace of someoneelse.

Abbie’s step was the most untamed one, as she frolicked left and right, pickingwildflowers, and making a little bouquet, as she did so. It seemed that she managed tofind her inner child once more, even if it was for only this one short afternoon. Harriet’sheart was filled with joy to see Abbie like this.

“To be quite honest, I did not believe you would take me up on my offer,” Timothyadmitted, as he walked around a small puddle, as it had rained some the previous night.

“Is that because of your infamous reputation?” She smirked underneath her hat, half-assured that he would not see it.

His reputation was indeed scandalous. However, Harriet knew that rumors were simplyevents peppered with opinions of those who chose to share the story with others.Therefore, the truth was always hidden somewhere deep inside that lavishly decoratedinitial story, and she was certain that the same reasoning could be applied to Timothy aswell.

That, however, did not mean that she didn’t believe the stories were true. He was toohandsome for them not to be. And his behavior belonged to someone who was not proneto upholding the rules.

“It follows me, does it not?” he grinned.

“I’m afraid it precedes you,” she corrected him.

“Well, you know what they say, believe nothing you see and only half of what you hear.”He winked at her so self-assuredly that he did not see the next puddle and ended upstepping right into it.

“Oh, bother!”

He lifted his soiled shoe, trying to wipe the mud against the grass, but it was only makingmatters worse. Harriet couldn’t resist the urge to chuckle.

“May I remind you that it is highly unladylike to laugh at someone’s expense,” he toldher, pretending to be upset, but she could see right through it.

He would have laughed at her himself if the shoe was on the other foot.

“One should learn to laugh at one’s own expense,” she immediately had a comeback.

“You always have something to say, don’t you?” He shook his head, with a broad grin onhis face.

But, before Harriet could reply anything to that, they both heard Abbie shout. “I see thebrook!” Her voice echoed.

“Just make sure not to step into it!” Harriet instructed her little protégé. “Your dress willbe all dirty!”

“By all means, do it!” Timothy’s voice caught both girls off guard, especially by what hesaid. “Have fun, dear child. When will you do it, if not now?”

Harriet frowned at him. “Is that what you would teach your own child?”

“To have fun?” he repeated, shrugging his shoulders. “By all means.”

“Well, you certainly had your fun, and look at you now,” she replied, enjoying this littlebanter more than she ever thought she would.

“You know, Harriet, you have a quick wit about you,” he smiled mischievously. “Tell me,does the old Duke appreciate it?”

Harriet blushed fervently at that. “He is not that old.”

“You did not answer my question, Cherie.”

“Please, do not call me that,” she urged, as they both kept on walking towards the littlebrook.

For some reason, she did not wish to talk about the Duke right now, especially not withTimothy who seemed to dislike him greatly.

“Is it because he calls you that?”

He was obviously having immense fun with this, and she knew it. She sensed that mostconversations she would have with Timothy would be something of the sort.

“How is that any of your concern what the Duke calls me?” She flashed a row of pearlywhite teeth as she smiled amusedly.

“It’s not,” he shrugged. “We’re simply making small talk.”

She chuckled. If that is what he considers small talk, I dread to think what some of hisserious topics of conversation might be.

At that moment, she saw Abbie squatting by the brook, with her hands in the water. Thegirl was splashing in the shallow water, enjoying the sounds around her, fully immersingherself.

“Do be careful, Abbie. The water is mighty cold,” Harriet advised.

“Also, watch out for water rats,” Timothy added gravely, nodding for accentuation.

Both girls turned their faces to him, their faces pale as a sheet.

“Water rats?” Their voices cried out unanimously.

“They’re the most horrible of all amphibious carnivorous rodents,” Timothy continued,with an even more solemn look on his face, and he sounded like he was telling a ghoststory. His voice rose then dropped, adding dramatic effect. “And, they can be found alongrivers, lakes and streams, just like these.”

Immediately, Abbie pulled her hands away from the brook, as if she had been scorched,and jumped up, taking a step back. Now, she was standing by Harriet, her left handsqueezing the sides of Harriet’s gown.

“Don’t be silly, Abbie,” Harriet scoffed, assuring them both of the utter ridiculousness ofthe matter, even though she kept a close eye on her immediate surroundings. “There isno such thing as a water rat. Timothy just means to alarm us.”

Her lips trembled, feeling Abbie’s grip on the thin fabric of her dress tighten. She hadnever heard of something like that. She kept reminding herself that Timothy enjoyedthese kinds of tomfooleries, just to see how they would react. She decided not to humorhim.

“Oh, I do not wish any such thing,” Timothy lifted his hands to the level of his chest,making them appear as claws, his voice still with that same dramatic effect of horrorstory telling. “Just imagine… those small, beady eyes staring at you… those furry ears…those long whiskers… that thick grey fur… I hear it’s water repellent, too… the bald solesand webbing between its little claws…”

As he spoke, the girls took one step backward, then another, not even realizing that theywere actually moving towards the other side of the brook across a small, wooden bridge.

“You’re not telling the truth, Timothy,” Abbie shook her head at him, but the look on herface revealed that she believed him all right.

Harriet’s mind had surrendered to the story, unable to fight it off any longer. She couldalready imagine the furry little beast rushing at them, its teeth long and sharp, ready todig them into her soft flesh. She swallowed heavily, trying to erase the image from hermind, but it was impossible.

“Oh, they are nasty little buggers,” he assured them, his eyes wide and terrifying. “And,so good at hiding! You don’t even see that they are there… then, wham!”

As he said that word, his claw-like fingers reached out for both girls, as if in an effort tograb them.

“Aaaah!” Harriet and Abbie screamed at the same time.

Harriet instinctively took a step back, but she didn’t see a big stone right behind her. Shetripped over it, and almost fell back first, right into the brook. But Timothy reactedquickly, and within seconds, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her towards him sohard that she landed with her open palms against his chest.

Immediately, she felt overcome by a tidal wave of hotness, her cheeks flushed and poppyred. Her palm could feel the intense heartbeat of the man who had just saved her fromfalling right into the brook. She counted the beats silently, in her mind, trying to focus onsomething other than his piercing eyes staring her down. And, yet she couldn’t forceherself to step away right at that moment but remained as she was.

“I knew you would fall for me sooner or later,” he grinned playfully, his one hand stillaround her delicate wrist, while he used the opportunity to lay his other hand onto theindentation in her lower back.

He said it so boyishly, so impishly, that Abbie couldn’t resist laughing, with her handpressing on her mouth, in an effort to subdue a sudden onslaught of more laughter.

“You really are impossible.” Harriet pressed her lips together, biting the inside of her

cheek, so her smile wouldn’t reveal how not only flushed, but also utterly amused shewas.

He had absolutely no concern for propriety. She had already known that, but he madesure to fortify this conclusion every time he saw her, with new and even improvedexamples of his roguish behavior.

“Impossible not to like,” he winked at her, then let go of her hand as well as her body.

Harriet felt slightly disoriented for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. Abbiehad also stopped laughing by this point, but the look of amusement was still very muchpresent on her face.

“Inventing such a story only to frighten us,” Harriet shook her head at him, like agoverness scolding a child who had just misbehaved, both of them expecting for thatmisbehavior to continue, despite all the admonitions. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

“Oh, that was no invention of mine,” he shrugged. “Water rats really do exist.”

“Now that I think about it, I actually believe I read something about it in my Encyclopediaof Animals,” Abbie suddenly interfered.

Harriet gave her a shocked look, but it was all in good fun. “Are you conspiring againstme, Abbie? With him, of all people?”

“You said it yourself,” Abbie reminded her, to Harriet’s utter embarrassment, “he’s somuch fun.”

Harriet could feel Timothy’s stare on her face, her eyes, her lips, almost as if she wasn’twearing a single item of clothing to cover herself up. It was like he could see through thesilks and the muslins which hung around her, concealing her from the world. But, with

him, she felt like there was no need to conceal anything. He didn’t mind that she wasquick-witted and always had something to say. In fact, he seemed to relish it.

Then, she reminded herself of one crucial fact that she had forgotten for a singlemoment. He was no one important. That was what made this thin veil of decency andpropriety unnecessary when she was with him. She didn’t need to bite her tongue, inorder not to say something wrong, something that might be misconstrued by someonewho didn’t know her that well. She could let down her guard, without fear of being judgedor thought to be improper.

After all, it’s not like I shall marry the man.

“I say a lot of things, Abbie,” she replied, smirking, coming up with the perfect line in thelast minute. “And, with all this talk of rats, I’d rather we kept going.”

With those words, she headed around the brook, and back onto a clearing in the woods.Abbie and Timothy followed closely behind, which allowed Harriet to gather her thoughtsa little. His invasion of her personal space affected her much differently than she thoughtit would. She understood now why all those women fell prey to his charisma and charm.He was simply irresistible… to them.

Not to her. Most certainly not to her. Lady Harriet Windsor was a different matter, andshe would show him that, in case he didn’t know it already.

U

C H A P T E R 7

pon their return to Yardley Manor two hours later, the girls, still accompanied byTimothy, arrived to discover a landau carriage waiting in front of the main

entrance. Timothy himself didn’t recognize the landau, but it was obvious it belonged tosomeone high in rank. He wondered if it perhaps belonged to Harriet’s brother, who was,after all, a duke.

“Are we having guests?” Abbie wondered aloud, eyeing the carriage, which was cleanedand shined to perfection, and the coachman on it seemed more like a statue than a realhuman being.

“I don’t think so.” Harriet shook her head, looking around, but the pathway was devoid ofany other people apart from themselves.

Timothy endeavored to see if there was any spark of recognition on her lovely face, buteither there was none, or she was good at hiding it. However, his own mind worked hardat untangling the mystery of whose carriage it might have been, and he reached a logicalconclusion. One he didn’t really like, but one he could handle, nonetheless.

“Shall we?” Timothy offered both girls each of his hands, and still a little surprised at thisunexpected visit, the girls accepted his professed arms.

Together, the trio walked into the house to find the poor butler trying to explain to theDuke that no one had informed Lady Harriet of his arrival this afternoon, and therefore, itwas illogical to expect her to be home. Timothy could see the Duke standing there, withhis back turned to them, his arms in the air, in front of the butler who was still trying to

remain calm and helpful.

“As I have already explained, Your Grace, Lady Harriet has… oh, there she is. my lady.”The butler bowed down. The look of relief on his face was immense.

At that moment, the Duke turned, his gaze aimed straight at Timothy, who did not shyaway from this silent bout of extreme displeasure on the part of the Duke.

“Your Grace,” Harriet released the grip she had on Timothy’s hand almost instantly,curtsying politely. Abbie did the same. For some reason, Timothy found this displeasing.“I was under the impression that you were to be away on business. To what do we owethe unexpected pleasure of your visit?”

“My lady,” the Duke bowed briskly, his head lowering then straightening immediatelyafterwards. “Miss. Abbie.” Another quick bow followed. “It was not required of me toremain in Brunswick for longer than a single day, which is why I returned early thismorning. I wished to call upon you, but I see that you have already made other plans.”

“Indeed,” Timothy interfered before Harriet could muster a single word, once again takinghis stand between the two girls he had just held under his arms a moment ago. “Betterluck next time, old chap.”

He winked at the Duke so inoffensively, that Harriet had to suppress a chuckle, in aneffort not to insult the Duke even further.

The Duke’s ears flashed red, as his lips pursed. His whole body tensed, not seeing asingle funny note in this comment.

“Why, I should -”

His words oozed through the gaps in his clenched teeth, but Harriet once again

approached him in only two steps and disarmed his rage with just one smile. Timothygazed on, wondering how a single woman had so much power over a man. Once again,he vowed to himself never to give up his autonomy to a woman, never to fall prey to thistreacherous condition called love.

“Your Grace,” Harriet beamed. “It truly is such a lovely surprise to see you. But Abbie andI have just returned from a long walk, and we wish to rest. Perhaps you could call uponus in a few days?”

The Duke was not particularly satisfied with the fact that he was dismissed so quickly. Hewas even less satisfied with the fact that Harriet had already gone on an outing withsomeone the Duke obviously considered unworthy of her company. Timothy could seehow the Duke’s hands clenched into a fist, then almost immediately relaxed once more.

“If you wish, my lady,” the Duke nodded, his thin lips pressed against each other sotightly that his jaw clenched. “Perhaps you yourself would like to see me out, in thatcase.”

He accentuated yourself loudly, staring at Timothy, who could almost hear him growl.The idea of this man posing any kind of a threat amused Timothy. He was like an animaldefending his territory upon seeing a rival appear.

Timothy understood the feeling. But he also knew that he had a bet to win and he wouldnot back down, simply because of the Duke’s voiceless threat to stay away. If nothing,that only made the game more appealing, and Timothy was even more willing to play.

Just as Harriet was about to concur with the Duke’s suggestion, Abbie suddenlyinterfered. Her voice came completely out of nowhere, little but strong.

“Your Grace, I’ve seen that you have a landau carriage,” she gazed on at the Duke, as ifshe herself was mesmerized by him. Her voice started off a bit shy, but as she continued,she sounded more and more confident.

“Why… yes. Yes, I do,” the Duke was confused by this sudden interest in his carriage.

Even Timothy had to admit to this feeling of confusion.

What is she doing?

“Perhaps you would allow me to see you out so you could show me the exquisitehandiwork I saw on the sides?” Abbie batted her little eyelashes pleadingly. “My dear,late father had a similar one, but it was not quite as beautiful as this one. It would bringme much joy to take a closer look at it.”

She gifted him one more of those sweet, innocent looks of hope, the ones no adult cansay no to.

“Why… certainly, Miss. Abbie,” the Duke had to comply. “It would be my pleasure.”

Timothy raised his eyebrow at the swiftness of little Abbie’s brain. And he silently thankedher for it. She was turning out to be the best ally he could need under the circumstances.

Smart girl. I never expected that of her.

It was obvious to everyone that the Duke couldn’t refuse this endearing request, under nocircumstances. Certainly not unless he wanted to leave a horrible impression on Harriet,and quite possibly, ruin any future prospects of courtship due to his indecorous behavior.

Harriet herself just gazed on helplessly, with nothing to say to that, apart from offeringher hand for the Duke to kiss goodbye, then seeing him out with her eyes alone. Abbierested her hand on the Duke’s elbow, leading him out.

The butler had also excused himself and disappeared down the corridor. Harriet and

Timothy were, despite all proper social norms, left alone for a moment. That is, untilAbbie’s return, which was expected any second.

Harriet made sure to keep her distance from Timothy, her eyes daring him to speak up,and perhaps even apologize. He wanted to chuckle loudly to that expectation. He hadonly apologized once in his life. Apologies were meaningless words, just a jumble ofunnecessary patheticism. If one felt bad about something, one needed to show it, not sayit.

“It appears that the Duke does not fancy your company all that much,” she spoke first,almost teasing him. “And you do not make it easy on him.”

“Why should I make it easy on him?” Timothy snorted, taking a bold step towards her.She remained standing, defiant. Her nostrils flared a little, her cheeks glowed a morepotent red. “Besides, it is not him I’m interested in. What he deems of my companyconcerns me very little, if any.”

“Why do you enjoy irking him so, then?”

Abbie’s amazed voice was heard gasping from outside. Timothy doubted there wasanything even remotely that interesting on a carriage for a girl of thirteen, so heapplauded her show in his mind. She was simply allowing him some more alone time withHarriet, something he welcomed dearly.

“Because he seems to believe that you two shall end up getting married.”

He said it as if it was the most preposterous thing in the world. And he meant it as such.No woman of Harriet’s beauty and wit should ever be chained to such an old bore. Sheshould be with someone -

But here was where he stopped himself. It didn’t matter who she was destined to bewith. What mattered was that he would win that bet, and her heart along the way.

Perhaps, he would even have some fun. He certainly had been having fun so far. Harriethad proven herself to be quite worthy of the chase.

“Well, we are courting,” Harriet shrugged. “That is what happens when two peoplecourt.”

“We are courting,” he suddenly reminded her.

Eagerly, he awaited her response. But what followed surprised even him. Harriet burstout into loud, boisterous laughter, her face beaming with happiness and amusement. Shebent downward a little, her hand pressed on her chest. Seeing her like that, he couldn’tresist joining in. Her laughter was contagious, her joy even more so.

Together, they laughed so heartily that all the corridors inside the manor echoed withtheir glee. When she was finally done, she managed to catch her breath once more.

“I apologize,” she said, her lovely, luscious lips pouting just a little. “I meant nodisrespect.”

“You know, if I were any less of a man, I would probably take offence at that,” hewinked. “But do not worry your pretty little head. You are safe. I could never take offenceat you. As long as you keep me in your company, that is.”

“You amuse me, Timothy, more than anyone I’ve ever met,” she admitted, andsomething assured him she was telling the truth.

“Then, you shall allow me to irk the good Duke a little while longer, will you not?” Hetook another step towards her, but Abbie’s arrival interrupted whatever plan he had in hismind.

They both looked at Abbie, who beamed with the satisfaction of a job well done.

“The Duke has left,” she announced importantly.

“And have you taken a mighty good look at his carriage?” Harriet asked, which led to allthree of them bursting into loud laughter once more.

None of them said it, but they all knew it. They all felt it. The strings that tied them alltogether were strings of a newly formed friendship; strings of something that longed togo even deeper than that.

“Well, I do believe it is high time I took my leave of you lovely ladies,” Timothyproclaimed. “Even though I wish it were not so.”

“Will we see you again, Timothy?” Abbie rushed over, and stood right in front of him, notallowing him to go before he replied.

Timothy bent down and pressed his lips against her hand softly.

“That is a promise, Miss. Abbie,” he grinned. Then, he turned to Harriet. “My lady.”

He took her hand, squeezing it in his, caressing her palm with his thumb. Slowly, helowered himself and placed a lingering kiss on her hand.

“It is my promise to both of you.”

With those words, he bowed, then walked out the door. He was brought his horse, andquickly, he was galloping away from Yardley Manor.

However, he had not travelled far, and was about to enter the nearby woods when he

noticed a carriage standing there in the middle of the road. He slowed down his horse,pulling the reins hard. He had heard of such traps, when unsuspecting travelers stoppedto help someone in need, and then a whole gang of ruffians would emerge from thewoods, demanding money, and valuables. Most of the time, they left no witnesses totheir crimes. He had indeed heard of such stories but considered himself fortunate not tohave lived through one of his very own.

Timothy approached the carriage, and once he was close enough, he realized it belongedto someone he knew, someone whom he wouldn’t leave destitute on the road, no matterhow much he disliked him. It simply wasn’t a gentlemanly thing to do, and despite whatmany people thought, Timothy did consider himself a gentleman.

He stopped his horse and got down. The door to the carriage opened, and a heavyleather boot stepped outside first. A moment later, the Duke was standing beforeTimothy, his gaze deep and cavernous, threatening to swallow Timothy whole.

“Lord Ramsay,” the Duke spoke politely, but the tone of his voice assured Timothy thathe needed to stay on his guard. “It is nice to see you off your high horse.”

T

C H A P T E R 8

he very moment Timothy disappeared from view, Harriet turned to Abbie.Naturally, she had already guessed what that whole charade was all about.

However, she was still surprised at what Abbie had done, in the spur of the moment.

“Abbie,” she started, as they climbed up the curved, continuous staircase, carefullyselecting her words, “do you mind explaining what all that carriage business was about?’’

She immediately saw Abbie lower her gaze, as if she had her own little hidden agendaabout the whole affair. Harriet did not like it when people hid things from her, especiallywhen it was people she cared about. Therefore, she always endeavored to be truthfulwith others, and expected the same from them.

“Oh, you aren’t upset with me, are you, dear Harriet?” Abbie turned to her once they hadreached the upper floor.

Harriet smiled, taking Abbie’s hands into her own. She felt so much tenderness for thissweet child, so much love that she wanted to shelter her from all the evils of this world,even if it was only for a little while.

“I doubt I could ever be upset with you over anything,” Harriet assured her, “but, I wouldstill like to know why on earth you said you were interested in the Duke’s carriage. I’venever seen you interested in carriages before.”

“The truth of the matter is that…” Abbie paused before continuing, “I thought you oughtto say goodbye to Timothy properly, without the Duke’s interference.”

“How did the Duke interfere in anything?” Harriet wondered. “He had simply arrived at aninopportune moment, nothing more.”

“He wanted you to see him out,” Abbie reminded her.

“Is that not customary for two people who are courting?” Harriet shrugged.

Then, it all became clear. Obviously, her young and impressionable mind had taken aliking to Timothy. Harriet should have known that this would happen. It was only naturalthat she would like the amusing and charming Timothy much better than the Duke whoneeded to be reminded when to smile. Harriet herself had felt the difference quiteobviously on more than one occasion.

However, that still did not mean that she was ready to consider Timothy a worthyopponent to the Duke. It was simply preposterous.

“Abbie,” Harriet spoke kindly, “I know you like Timothy better, but there is no need tokeep me away from the Duke.”

“That wasn’t what I was trying to do,” Abbie quickly shook her head. “I simply wished foryou to stay with Timothy a little longer.”

The girl hesitated for a moment, as if she wasn’t certain if she should share her mind withHarriet, but she finally gathered the courage to do so.

“When you are with Timothy, you smile all the time,” Abbie told her. “Your whole facelights up, as if you are constantly carrying a candle with you, everywhere you go. But,when you are with the Duke, you are solemn. There is a cloud over your head, and you

smile so rarely.”

Harriet parted her lips, but no sound flowed from it. She couldn’t escape the inevitabletruth that Abbie was right. Today’s outing with Timothy had been the most fun she hadhad in ages. Their witty banter filled her with even more curiosity about him, and sheknew that she would keep seeing him.

As for the Duke, it was obvious he was not particularly fond of this idea. However, it wasnot his decision to make. It was hers. And she herself would make it.

“Well, the Duke and Timothy are quite different from one another,” Harriet tried toexplain in words a girl her age would understand. “You have seen this yourself.”

“I never had any fun with the Duke,’ Abbie admitted, looking down at her feet.

“I didn’t know that” Harriet replied, but she could have guessed as much.

The Duke had spoken to Abbie politely, that much was true, but Timothy was the onewho truly seemed to care about Abbie’s opinion on certain matters. The Duke wassimply… proper.

There it is. That word. Proper. Everything has to be so proper, and it is so annoying.

“But you do have fun with me, do you not?” Harriet smiled, squeezing Abbie’s hand inhers.

“Always,” Abbie beamed.

“Then, that is all that matters.”

The two girls hugged lovingly, then continued walking down the corridor, hand in hand.Harriet believed that Abbie was still too young to find out that marriage was no fun. Itwas simply an arrangement that worked for both parties, while fun was left to someoneelse.

Timothy stared at the man before him, undaunted by the figure the other man presented.The Duke walked over to him, marching almost, his back straight, and his arms barelymoving. Finally, the two men stood facing each other, as if they had previously set up aduel, in the middle of the forest, where no one would be able to interfere.

Only, Timothy knew that the Duke had certainly planned this. He himself was oblivious ofthis accostment. However, he would not allow himself to shy away, for no reason.

“Your Grace, you do know how much I enjoy my high horse,” Timothy replied in anequally sarcastic manner as he was initially spoken to.

“That is true,” the Duke nodded, eyeing him. “However, what you do not seem to know isyour place, Lord Ramsay.”

Timothy raised an eyebrow.

“I was under the impression that a man is free to wander wherever he pleases,” hereplied, purposefully trying to irritate the man opposite him. “Is this not a free country?Am I not a free man?”

There was no audience now, but the amusement was still present.

“I know your kind,” the Duke continued calmly without the slightest hint of anger. “Yourreputation is one that cannot be missed. I will not pretend to know why Lady Harriet isentertaining your advances, but I can assure you that neither I nor her brother willtolerate it much longer.”

Timothy felt attacked, even though the Duke hadn’t really threatened him with much. Heknew that Harriet’s brother probably didn’t approve of his sister spending time withTimothy, but that much was obvious and applied to any brother. Timothy’s reputationalways caught up with him, and there was simply no escaping that fact.

“This is why,” the Duke continued, seeing that Timothy had nothing to say to his previouscomment, “I would like to ask you, one gentleman to another, to simply remove yourselffrom Lady Harriet’s company, and cease calling on her. I’m sure you understand thatwould be best for everyone involved.”

Timothy watched as the man’s whole body tensed. It became much more rigid than a fewmoments ago. The Duke was slightly taller than Timothy, and now that the Dukestretched himself up to his full height, that difference was even more prominent.

Still, Timothy didn’t allow himself to get intimidated. The Duke glared at him,occasionally squinting, but it was not due to any sun in his eyes. The trees above theirheads provided enough shade.

“And, what if I refuse?”

Timothy had decided to make the bolder move and took a step closer to his opponent. Itwas not the first time he had found himself in a brawl. The Duke was older, moreexperienced. But Timothy had agility on his side. It would be a tough call, but if he did godown, he would take this man with him.

To his utter surprise, though, the Duke didn’t even blink. In fact, his lips suddenly spreadinto a smile, and Timothy realized only now that he had never seen the Duke do thisbefore. Smiling was as uncharacteristic of the Duke of Redfield as it was for snow toappear in July.

It caught him off guard, and that wasn’t a good thing. Timothy was ready for a suddenpunch, his own hands turning into fists, ready to be raised at any moment.

But no blow came. The Duke remained standing before Timothy, his lips frozen in only ahalf-smile now. But there was still no anger, no resentment. Perhaps, only milddissatisfaction.

“Lord Ramsay,” the Duke spoke again, “you seem to believe that I have accosted you outof some senseless desire for pugilism. I assure you that was not my intention. I amsimply letting you know, in case you are not familiar with it already, that the attentionyou have been bestowing upon Lady Harriet may seem welcome, but it is doing the ladymuch harm.”

“I don’t see her complaining.” Timothy felt rage rising inside of him, and he immediatelyfelt ashamed of himself for not being able to control his emotions more effectively.

This man had obviously wanted to get a rise out of him and had managed to do it mostsuccessfully. This was what enraged Timothy the most.

“She is a sensitive young woman,” the Duke continued. “You have had more experiencewith those than me.”

Timothy felt his blood boil at this insinuation, despite the obvious fact that it was true.

“But I shall not keep you away from your business much longer,” the Duke stepped back,signaling surrender, if only for the time being. “You are a free man to do as you wish. Ijust hope that Lady Harriet will not bear the consequences of your behavior, simplybecause you are trying to prove that you can do whatever you wish.”

“I can assure you that I -”

But the Duke wasn’t listening any longer. He had already gotten inside the carriage andgiven his coachman the sign to go.

Timothy watched as the landau slowly disappeared in the distance, his ears, and cheeksred with anger at his inability to control his emotions, something he usually had no issueswith.

The Duke had won this round, even though it was Timothy who spent the early afternoonwith Harriet. Now more so than ever, Timothy vowed he would not back down. It wasn’tabout the bet any longer. There was so much more at stake now.

And Lord Timothy Ramsay was no stranger to winning.

I

C H A P T E R 9

t was around 11 am the following morning, when Harriet heard a knock on herdoor. She had been busy writing a letter to one of her dear friends, but shewelcomed the interruption.

“Yes?” she called out.

The door opened slowly, and her lady’s maid, Anna, peered through the half-open door.She was wearing a simple blue dress, and her hair was immaculately pulled up in a bun.Her simple, yet wonderful taste in clothes and hair fashion had made Harriet trust inAnna’s judgment for every important outing and social occasion.

“My lady,” Anna curtsied. “I apologize for the interruption, but the Duke of Redfield ishere, and he asks to be admitted.”

“The Duke?” Harriet frowned. “We haven’t arranged anything for today.”

Anna remained quiet, offering no response to that, but simply waiting for furtherinstructions.

Harriet sighed. “Oh, very well. Do let him know that I shall be down shortly.”

“Yes, my lady,” Anna curtsied again, then closed the door behind her.

She glanced at herself in the small mirror, adjusted her hair a little, then walked out ofher room. As she descended the stairs, she could see that the Duke was already there atthe bottom.

“Lady Harriet,” he bowed, offering her a hand as she was on the final step.

“Your Grace,” Harriet smiled, as he kissed her hand. “I wasn’t expecting you today.”

“I hope that does not mean that it is not a pleasant surprise,” he replied, one handbehind his back, the other still holding hers.

“Oh, by no means,” she shook her head. “It is simply that I find myself busy with myerrands of the day, and I’m afraid I cannot join you for an outing.”

“I am actually here because your brother has cordially invited me to lunch,” heannounced, letting go of her hand and adjusting his collar.

“Lunch?” she repeated, wondering when it was that her brother had seen the Duke.

As she said that, the Duke gave her a puzzled look, so she quickly collected herself. Shedid not wish to offend him by giving off the impression that she disliked the idea ofhaving him for lunch.

“That’s wonderful,” she smiled.

“Do not tell me that your errands prevent you from eating, dear Lady Harriet.”

“No, no, absolutely not,” she assured him.

“Sometimes, I do believe your complexion could benefit from a little more tangiblenourishment,” he eyed her face introspectively. Then, chose to leave the topic. “Then, allis settled. We are to have lunch together.”

She didn’t really like the sound of that, almost feeling like she was pushed into thisunexpected lunch, but in the end, there was nothing about it that she should mind.

“I shall go inform my brother that you are here,” Harriet took it upon herself. “You maywait for us in the library. It is just down that corridor, the first door to the left.”

“As you wish,” he bowed once more, then immediately headed to the library, as she hadinstructed him.

Harriet watched him leave, his dignified walk of a glorified soldier of war. He wascertainly a good choice of husband. He had truly been most attentive to her. She couldnot hold anything against him. And yet, he lacked that spark that she so desperatelywanted, and even more desperately needed in her life.

Harriet climbed the stairs once more and knocked softly onto the door of her brother’sstudy. He had just returned the previous week from a short business trip abroad, and shewas absolutely ecstatic to have him home, even though he, as any other man, requiredpeace and quiet to conduct his business.

She waited until she was called in, then opened the door. She found him seated at hisdesk, quill pen and ink stand right by his side. He lifted his gaze towards her, andimmediately smiled.

His Grace Harley Windsor, the Duke of Pickering, was the embodiment of masculinity andgood manners. Nature had blessed him with thick, luscious black hair and eyes that werethe color of fallen chestnuts. His skin always had a healthy olive tint, due to his frequenttrips abroad, to warmer countries more often blessed with the sun.

“Why, Harriet, you seem a little flushed. Is everything all right?” he asked, putting thequill pen down on the desk.

It was known to all those nearest and dearest to them that he treasured his little sistermore than anything in the world, and he would rather take his own eye out than see herto come any harm. Harriet shared the sentiment, and considered herself lucky to have abrother who, unconventionally, wasn’t expecting to use the means of her marriage tofurther his influence.

“It is,” she nodded. “It’s just that… well, the Duke is here.”

“Oh?” He seemed indifferent about this newfound knowledge.

“He has informed me that you have invited him over to lunch,” she said, not wishing toquestion her brother out right.

“I invited him?” Harley scratched the back of his head, looking up at the ceiling. Then, heseemed to remember. “Oh, I suppose he is referring to my invitation for lunch from twoweeks ago. I met him in town and extended an invitation for lunch.”

“But it wasn’t today?”

“No, I don’t recall mentioning a specific day,” he shrugged. “Well, if he has chosen today,then we shall gladly accommodate him.”

“Yes, of course,” she nodded. “I’ll inform Abbie, and let the servants know to set upanother place.”

“Thank you,” he smiled. “We shall lunch at 1 pm, as always. In the meantime, you andAbbie can entertain our guest until then.”

“Of course.” Harriet nodded once more.

Abbie had been left in her room to go over her morning lessons. Harriet had taken it uponherself not only the role of her guardian, but her governess as well, and always madesure to follow the set curriculum. This morning, it was geography, with the countries ofAsia and their biggest rivers.

Now, she would need to invite Abbie to continue with her reading in the library, whereshe could chaperone Harriet and the Duke.

“I shall see you at lunch, Harley,” Harriet blew him a kiss, then carefully closed the doorbehind her.

The following two hours were spent in the library, and Harriet simply responded toquestions about the weather and nodded to the Duke’s recounting of his travels andaccomplishments - as it was expected of her. She caught herself wanting to yawn morethan once, and with a rigid immobility of the jaw, she managed to prevent making itknown.

A few minutes before 1 pm, they were called to take their seats. All three of thementered the dining room, which had already been set up. Harley was there, standing atthe head of the elongated table, which sparkled with freshly polished silverware.

“Your Grace,” the Duke approached Harley, and cordially bowed before him. “I thank youmost graciously for inviting me to join you for lunch.”

“It is our pleasure to have you,” Harley smiled in a way only he could, to make sureeveryone under his roof felt welcome. “Please.” He extended his arms towards the table,gesturing at everyone to sit down.

The servants were instructed to start serving lunch once everyone was seated. There wasSoup a la Flamande, followed by individual portions of two breasts of fowl, larded and

glazed, alongside French beans a la crème and beetroot with Spanish onions. The dessertof the day were apricot tartlets, Harriet’s favorite.

The conversation flowed pleasantly, even though it wasn’t particularly entertaining.Harriet found herself focused more on her food than on the man seated next to her, andonce or twice, her mind had wandered away.

“Isn’t that right, Lady Harriet?” the Duke asked.

Harriet lifted her gaze from her now empty plate.

“I beg your pardon?” she asked back, realizing that she had failed to participate in aconversation, which obviously had something to do with her.

Abbie who was seated opposite her gave her a helpless glance. Whispering was out ofthe question. Harriet had to admit that she simply wasn’t paying attention.

“Is our conversation boring you, dear sister?” Harley teased good-naturedly, a silver forkstill in his left hand. Then, he continued without waiting for her to reply. “You mustforgive her, Your Grace. I’m afraid that Harriet doesn’t find business talk of much interest,not unless it has some altruistic aspect of it which she can employ in her selflessendeavors.”

“There is nothing I would not forgive your sister,” the Duke spoke confidently. “I assureyou of that.”

“I am glad to hear you say so,” Harley nodded, glancing over at Harriet.

Harriet knew that even though Harley had promised not to meddle when it came to thequestion of her marriage, he was certainly relieved when her courting with the Dukestarted. An older man had always been considered a good match for a younger woman,

especially if the two originated from the same social circle, as was the case with Harrietand the Duke.

“However, I also do not expect Lady Harriet to be involved in any business,” he added,casually, picking up the pristine white napkin, then proceeding to dab the corners of hismouth with it.

“What do you mean, Your Grace?” Harriet spoke up.

Her nostrils flared a little. Even though she was a woman, a young one at that, Harrietprided herself on being knowledgeable and competent enough in the field she had chosenfor herself, and that was to help the less fortunate ones. She honestly believed that theonly thing separating the poor and the gentry was luck. One was merely in the right placeat the right time for his life to start becoming better. At the same time, one could findoneself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his entire life would crumble down.

That was exactly what had happened to poor, darling Abbie, and Harriet knew that therewas more she could do than just take Abbie in and provide her with a loving family in aloving home. There were others out there, others in dire need of the same, and Harrietvowed to change the world and make it a better place for everyone, not just the gentry.

“Why, I mean exactly what I say, dear Lady Harriet,” the Duke spoke to her a littlecondescendingly, and it didn’t escape Harriet. However, she chose to see it as merely himbeing protective of her because he cared so deeply about her.

“You might want to watch what you say, old boy,” Harley chuckled. “My sister tends to bequick to take offence at times.”

“I see no offence to anybody when one is following his path in life,” Harriet explained.

“A woman’s path in life is to follow her husband’s,” the Duke continued as calmly asbefore. “That is all I meant.”

“But can’t a woman have her own path, alongside that of her husband?” Harrietwondered, deciding to make her point known. “Can’t she be an equal partner, and notsimply the one who follows?”

The Duke seemed a little taken aback by her suggestion. It was obvious that he belongedto the old way of doing things, the way that considered women beautiful creatures whoseopinion mattered little on things other than fashion.

“Equal partner?” the Duke repeated.

Harriet felt her cheeks flushing, but not because she was embarrassed. On the contrary,she was proud of who she was, as she had always been taught by not only her motherand father, but her brother as well.

“In some situations, I can see how that might function,” the Duke agreed, but he wasn’tparticularly keen on the idea. “However, in business, I see no situation in which awoman’s mind would be a necessary asset.”

Her large blue eyes lit up by an invisible, inner fire which urged her to not keep quiet byany means.

“I can assure you that I, a woman, am perfectly capable of organizing help for our localworkhouse, so we can aid those less fortunate than ourselves,” Harriet explained.

“I am certain that is so,” the Duke nodded. “I apologize if I have said anything whichmight have sounded to the contrary, dear Lady Harriet.”

Harriet felt disarmed by his apology, and her inner fire which aimed to prove him wronghad gone down to a mere flicker. He had apologized. That was enough to allow for achange of topic, and the conversation that followed was as pleasant as always.

However, there was something about that initial conversation which wouldn’t leaveHarriet’s mind. The Duke had indeed apologized. But what had he apologized for? Heapologized for his words, not for his opinion, which remained the same.

She felt that he had never spoken about women in that manner before. It was a side ofhim she hadn’t known. She wondered what else she didn’t know about him, what otheropinions were still inside his mind, waiting to come out and surprise her.

She didn’t like the sensation that enshrouded her, like a mist that made it hard to seeahead. She could almost feel the presence of some ominous secret which was waiting forthe right moment to reveal itself, and she carried that awareness within herself like aheavy burden.

H

C H A P T E R 1 0

arriet was still in her dressing gown, seated on a little bench by her bedroomwindow, enjoying her first cup of tea. The warmth of the cup felt soothing, asshe gazed outside the window, trying to come up with a suitable distraction

for the day. Perhaps she and Abbie could go to a museum, and see the latest exhibition,or visit the Botanical Garden again, as Abbie enjoyed it greatly last time they were there.

A knock on the door interrupted her flow of thoughts, and she almost spilled her tea intoher lap.

“Yes?” she called out.

The door opened, revealing her lady’s maid, Anna. She was carrying Harriet’s morningcorrespondence in her right hand, and only one single note in her left.

“This is for you, my lady,” she offered Harriet a small pile of letters. Then, she handedher the note. “This arrived just now, and I was told that an immediate reply wasneeded.”

“An immediate reply?” Harriet wondered, getting up and accepting everything, placingthe letters on her desk, and keeping the note in her hands.

She didn’t know who could be sending hasty notes in the morning, but she could venturea fair guess. She walked over to her writing desk, then sat down to read it. For some

reason, her fingers trembled.

It’s a fine day, Harriet, is it not? How about I take you ladies fox hunting this afternoon?

T.

Harriet read the message again. It had only been two days since she last saw him. Now,he wished for her audience once more. She didn’t want to admit it to herself, but sheneeded some fun, and so did Abbie. However, she did not agree with the practice ofhunting down a defenseless animal, only to have it torn to pieces by hounds.

“Will there be an answer, my lady?” Anna suddenly asked, sounding apologetic.

Harriet turned to her quickly. “Um, yes.”

She grabbed her quill pen and scribbled a few lines of reply.

You seem to believe that I am a lady with no obligations on a given day. Perhaps Ialready have plans with the Duke. Has that occurred to you?

On another note, I do not enjoy pastimes in which poor animals die.

Yours cordially,

H.

Harriet wondered if her reply was too bold, too familiar. Then, she decided that she didnot care one bit. She folded the note hastily, then gave it to Anna, who disappeared

immediately.

Harriet returned to the window, which overlooked the green distance of trees andtrimmed bushes. The blue skies seemed to melt into the treetops. The sun truly didpromise a lovely day.

The reply arrived in a little over half an hour. Anna returned a different note to Harriet,who read it with trembling lips and a fluttering heart.

You know he is an old bore. Spend the day with me instead.

T.

Harriet couldn’t suppress her smile, as she bit her lower lip. Her response was immediate.

Why should I choose to spend the day with you if I already have prior plans?

H.

Still smiling mischievously, she sent the note away in the trusting hands of her lady’smaid once more. Twenty minutes later, his reply had reached her.

Because no plans are complete without me, and you know it. As for the fox hunt, wecould simply go horseback riding.

See? You can’t say I’m not accommodating.

T.

Her own reply flowed out of her heart and onto the paper in an effortless stream of hopeand impish joy.

I would call you many things but accommodating would not be one of them. However, ahorseback ride does seem nice. Abbie needs to practice.

H.

This final note of his response arrived in only several minutes. Anna’s face was flushed,most probably from having run up the stairs so hastily. An unknown thrill ran straightthrough her body. She was eager to learn his reply.

Indeed, accommodating isn’t very flattering. May I suggest: the most handsome man inEngland, the wittiest gentleman you have ever met, and so on. The list is endless.

As for our outing today, I suggest you and Abbie get ready quickly. A man can only be sopatient. Just look out the window which overlooks the front gate.

T.

Harriet laughed out loud; her hand pressed to her lips.

So, that’s how he replied so quickly! He’s here!

The thought awakened a million little butterflies deep inside of her. How utterly charmingand absolutely ridiculous of him.

Harriet passed by Anna, who had no idea what was going on, then she rushed to one of

the guestrooms whose windows overlooked the front gate. She drew back the heavyplush curtains, and peeked from behind them, hiding most of her silhouette from plainsight.

A dark carriage rested just in front of the gate, politely remaining on the outskirts of theproperty, at a proper distance, yet close enough to the main house to be visible from awindow.

She pulled the curtains all the way, and at that moment, the door to the carriage opened,and Timothy peered out, waving. He was too far away for their eyes to meet, but shecould still feel his burning gaze longing to see through her, into her very soul.

This whole thing was absolutely mad. Perhaps she was taking too many risks with thisman. Perhaps, she was having a little too much fun. She reminded herself that in orderfor this to work, she needed to remain in control. Right now, she wasn’t certain if thatwas so. And yet, there was no other sensation inside of her apart from excitement, froma willingness to take as many risks as needed with him, to live her life to the fullest.

That was, only until she became a married woman, and started her life as a prim andproper wife of a duke. She knew he had no objections to her having some fun, as long asit remained within the confines of propriety.

Marrying him was what she had been planning on doing all along before Timothy hadcome into her life and rearranged her plans somewhat. But the outcome of those planswas still the same, even if she had decided to prolong the fun.

Closing the curtain, she returned to her room to find Anna still waiting.

“Will there be another reply, my lady?” Anna inquired.

“Yes, Anna,” Harriet nodded, walking over to her writing desk. “This will be the final one.”

“Yes, my lady,” Anna nodded.

Harriet smiled as she wrote.

You win this time. We shall be ready in half an hour. A man can wait that long, can henot?

H.

She smirked, then handed the response to Anna. Once she was alone in her room, shetook a deep breath, feeling the hotness of her cheeks. He had made her blush withshyness and anticipation with his comments and messages, something the Duke hadn’tbeen able to do since the first day of their courting.

She decided not to dwell on it, but rushed immediately to Abbie’s study room, and walkedin without knocking. Abbie was nestled in a small armchair, surrounded by soft pillows.Both of her feet were hanging from one of the armrests, as she gazed at the book in herlap.

“Am I interrupting?” Harriet asked, as she walked over to her.

“Of course not,” Abbie shook her head, shifting focus from the book and to Harriet. “I’mjust going over yesterday’s lesson.”

“That is very diligent of you.”

“Thank you,” Abbie smiled.

Harriet hesitated, wondering how to tell Abbie what just happened. Usually, their plansfor a certain day were known in advance. Such unusual circumstances as the ones

Timothy liked to put people in were highly irregular. However, Harriet didn’t mind. In fact,she welcomed such a change in the face of propriety.

“Timothy has invited us to go horseback riding with him today,” Harriet announced.

“When?”

“When what?” Harriet asked, blushing again, thinking that Abbie was inquiring about theinvitation itself.

“When are we to go?” Abbie smiled. “Is everything all right?”

“Quite all right,” Harriet replied quickly. “The fact of the matter is that he is here now,and we need to get ready immediately.”

“Immediately?” Abbie’s eyes widened in disbelief. Then, she burst out into boisterouslaughter. “I’ve never met anyone like him,” she added, once her laughter calmed down alittle.

“Neither have I,” Harriet admitted.

Abbie jumped up from her armchair, closed the book and went over to the bookshelf toput it back.

“I guess we’d better get ready then,” she beamed. “We don’t want to make him wait.”

“Perhaps, we needn’t rush that much,” Harriet shrugged. “Sometimes, it is good for a ladyto make a man wait.”

“Why?” Abbie’s little mind still did not grasp the complex balances that made up arelationship between a man and a woman.

“Because…” Harriet struggled to find the right words. “How do I explain this? Well, themore you wait for something, the happier you are when you receive it.”

Abbie seemed to ponder for a few moments.

“So, you want Timothy to like you?” Abbie asked, obviously trying to make sense ofsomething Harriet herself wasn’t certain of any longer.

“No,” Harriet was quick to shake her head. “Absolutely not. Such a thing is irrelevant. I’vealready told you our reason for socializing with him.”

“Then, why does it matter whether we make him wait?”

“Well…” Harriet pursed her lips, then chuckled. “You’re absolutely right. It doesn’t matter.We shall get ready and as soon as we do, we are going outside to meet him.”

“All right then,” Abbie smiled. “Will you help me choose a nice dress?”

“Certainly,” Harriet nodded, wrapping her arm around Abbie, as they walked out of thestudy room.

Soaking in the joy from the child she was hugging, Harriet allowed herself to be washedover by a tidal wave of happiness, the likes of which she had never felt before.

S

C H A P T E R 1 1

eeing that Harriet and Abbie had thoroughly enjoyed their time with Timothy,another outing was arranged for the following day. Harriet considered herself apatient person. An understanding person. A person who could comprehend when

something would come up, rendering someone incapable of being in the designated placeat a designated time.

However, right now, she wasn’t very understanding. On the contrary, she believed shehad every right to be upset, as if it was obvious in the redness of her cheeks and the wayshe nervously bit the inside of her lower lip.

“I’m sure he is on his way,” Abbie suddenly spoke up, as if she was reading her mind.

Both girls sat in the library, pretending to read the books in their laps, opened and lineseven traced with the tip of the index finger. Nonetheless, neither of them was reading.Harriet kept looking at a big clock in the corner, which kept counting the passing minutes.With each second, Harriet was more and more certain that their plans were ruined.

Abbie on the other hand, would read a few sentences, then she would lift her gaze andfind Harriet even more unsettled.

“At this point in time, he is not supposed to be on his way,” Harriet scoffed. “He issupposed to be here already.”

Her usually tranquil face was now blushing at her own inability to simply let this go, or atleast offer a plausible explanation to his tardiness. The fact of the matter was that shewas offended. He had forgotten. She was sure of it.

In a way, she should have known Timothy was like this, promising something, but thenneglecting to keep his word. His reputation had already warned her of this. Even thoughsecretly, she was hoping that she could change him.

“Maybe something happened,” Abbie’s hopeful voice filled the room, but the words thatreached Harriet were devoid of that hope. “And he’ll be late. I’m sure there is a goodexplanation for all this, and he will be happy to share it once he arrives.”

Harriet sighed. “It’ll be too late,” she replied. “The good cheer is gone. I don’t even wantus to go horseback riding any longer.”

Even to herself, she sounded like an offended child, but she couldn’t help feeling this way.She was hurt. Deeply hurt.

Despite her own pride, she couldn’t help but see the look of disappointment on Abbie’sface. Abbie had been waiting for this outing with great anticipation. Of course, they wouldgo. If Timothy would come, but that was yet to be determined. Harriet was willing toswallow her pride for the sake of Abbie. But she was bound to give Timothy a piece of hermind in private.

“I don’t think he did this on purpose,” Abbie continued, and Harriet had to admire herhopefulness. She was still a child. She didn’t know that men gave promises they neverintended to keep. And she was still too young to reach that realization.

“Maybe you are correct,” Harriet agreed, but only for Abbie’s sake. “We shouldn’t judgeothers, lest we want them to judge us.”

But, inside, she was fuming, her little heart offended and bruised.

Who does he think he is, to keep me waiting like this? To forget all about our arrangedouting.

At that moment, the sound of a carriage approaching could be heard from the openwindow, which overlooked the entrance to the mansion. Harriet’s ears pricked up, in aneffort to catch every single moment of the oncoming sound. Both girls jumped up at thesame time.

“There he is!” Abbie cheered, quickly rushing to the shelves, and putting the book back. “Iknew he would come!”

She was thrilled that their outing would be able to continue as planned. Harriet however,remained quiet. She glanced at the clock again. She wanted to know exactly how manyminutes he was late, so she could tell him all about it later on. An apology would be toomuch to ask from him, but an explanation surely would not.

“Come on, come on!” Abbie called as she rushed out the door.

Despite her initial irritation, Harriet could feel herself infected with Abbie’s joy at hearingthe arrival of the man they had been waiting for. Her jaw slowly relaxed with every stepshe took, and she wasn’t grinding her teeth any longer.

Perhaps she had been too quick to judge him. People were sometimes late for reasonsthat were out of their control. Harriet herself had never been late in her entire life andconsidered it the ultimate act of rudeness. However, she was willing to let this one timebe forgotten. After he offered a proper explanation for this, naturally.

She followed Abbie outside, and they both watched as the carriage stopped right in front.The moment the door opened, both girls were on the verge of waving happily, but theirhands remained impassive, as they watched an unfamiliar man exit.

Harriet’s eyes followed him closely. He was no dandy, like Timothy. There were nofashionable clothes, no high-top hat. The man was obviously a servant in the house. But,whose? And why was he here in the first place?

She waited for him to approach her. He bowed respectfully before her, then gave a quickacknowledging nod to Abbie, who was equally baffled as Harriet herself was.

“Lady Windsor,” he started elatedly, “my master, the Duke of Redfield, sends you hismost humble regards, in hopes that you will accept this small gift.”

Harriet hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by not only Timothy’s lack of presence,but also the Duke’s good timing at sending this gift. She nodded, accepting it.

“Please, send him my regards,” she replied.

“Certainly, Lady Windsor,” the man bowed down respectfully once more. “Good day toall.”

With those words, the carriage headed down the path and outside their property, leavingthe two girls alone once more.

“Oh, bother!” Abbie shook her head. “I really thought it was him.”

“Well,” Harriet sighed, “I suppose this is a good lesson to learn.”

She wasn’t particularly keen on opening her present. A sense of disappointment washedover her. Even though she would never admit it out loud, she was also hoping that thecarriage belonged to Timothy, and that he had arrived, although late. Now, she wascertain that he wouldn’t be coming. The reason for that was irrelevant, as the result wasthe same.

“What lesson?” Abbie wondered curiously.

“Men like Timothy usually are not to be trusted with their word,” Harriet spoke solemnly,feeling strangely displeased by her own words.

Timothy had indeed presented himself as a dandy who cared mostly about fun, but shebelieved, at least she had hoped that he was a gentleman. No gentleman would make apromise to a lady, and then go back on his word without giving any notice of that. Never.

“He had probably forgotten all about us,” Harriet continued, her heart skipping a beat atthis realization.

“Oh…” Abbie sounded even more disappointed. At least, she was not bashful aboutshowing it. Harriet herself decided to bury her own disappointment and simply go on.“That isn’t very nice. I thought he liked us.”

“I doubt it has anything to do with that, dear Abbie,” Harriet smiled, trying to soften theblow, but still make Abbie realize that Timothy might not be coming around for muchlonger. “I’m certain he likes us. Especially you. But that still doesn’t mean that he wouldkeep his promises. Some people don’t value their word and give it away without muchconcern.”

“I really wanted to go horseback riding,” Abbie frowned, disillusioned.

“Well, we could still do that,” Harriet replied, determined not to succumb to melancholy.

“Could we really?” Abbie’s face lit up immediately.

“Well, we shall need to be careful, and not ride too quickly, but we certainly could. Andwe shouldn’t let someone else ruin plans for such a lovely day, is that not so?”

“Yes!” Abbie started jumping up and down, and it was in these moments that Harriet wasfully aware that Abbie was only a child still, despite everything that had happened to her.

“Come now,” Harriet took her by the hand, and the two girls headed to the stables, thegift still in Harriet’s hand, but completely out of her mind.

“So, how is the courting coming along, my good man?” Curtis inquired of his friend, as thetwo men found themselves seated in his study, enjoying a morning glass of brandy.

Timothy was no stranger to liquor at any given point of the day, even though the older hegot, the less accustomed to its aftereffects he would be. He was staring out of Curtis’study window, which overlooked the impressive greenery of his estate.

“Splendidly,” Timothy snickered. “I swear, by the end of the season, I shall have hereating out of my hand.”

“What about the other suitor?” Curtis remembered, adjusting his collar a little, thenresting backward into his chair, with his legs crossed.

Curtis had always been the less aristocratic of the two, but he didn’t seem to mind it.Unless dressed for the occasion, his broad shoulders and sturdy legs led some to mistakehim for a mere laborer. Still, his aristocratic poise quickly improved that impression, andthe ladies found it appealing. As of now, one lady in particular with whom he had properintentions, the likes of which he had not known before.

“The Duke?” Timothy replied with a question, but his countenance darkened immediately.“I do not believe the old boy likes me all that much.”

“Does he have a reason to?” Curtis chuckled.

“I suppose not,” Timothy shrugged. “But he doesn’t concern me. In fact, I find it quiteamusing to irritate him in Harriet’s presence.”

“He is the Duke of Redfield, right?” Curtis seemed to remember something, changing thedirection of the conversation.

“Yes. Why do you ask?” Timothy’s eyes widened curiously.

“It just occurred to me that I heard a story regarding him, just around the time he hadreturned from the army.”

Timothy leaned closer. Any information he could gather on his rival would come in handy.Especially if Harriet did not know it. And this was usually the case that women wereoblivious to many things that happened in the streets or inside a murky tavern. Although,the Duke didn’t seem to be the kind to frequent taverns of ill repute. But one could neverbe sure.

“What is it?” Timothy curiously wondered.

“Well, apparently, he was playing cards at Almack’s one night, and he lost everything hehad on him. He asked for a loan, but no one was willing to extend any, not out of anydisrespect, but simply because there were no big players in that night.” Curtis paused. “Itwas made clear that it wasn’t anything personal against him.”

“And?” Timothy urged on.

“He suddenly got up and lifted the table, with everything on it falling down. The cards,the money, the drinks. Men sitting around it pulled their chairs back, watching him inshock. His face got all red, his hands rolled up into fists. Everyone thought he would starta brawl right then and there, as he seemed quite ready for it. But then it all changed. Hesimply cursed loudly, then marched right out, without a single word of apology. Ratherstrange, don’t you think so?”

“Rather strange indeed,” Timothy nodded, remembering their little meeting on the road.

At one point, the Duke seemed like he would explode, but he quickly calmed himselfdown. Obviously, this story meant that the good Duke couldn’t always pacify his rage, nomatter how hard he tried.

Timothy suddenly felt a strange sensation of fear, but not for himself. His ego neverallowed such feeling to form inside of him. His own heart cared only about himself. But,this time, it was different. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to Harriet. And, with aman who had a short temper that just might be the case.

“Timothy?” Curtis called out, seeing his friend lost in thought.

“I’m here,” Timothy nodded.

But that was only partly true. There was something about the Duke that just didn’t sitright. He had always enjoyed irking him and seeing that irritation on the Duke’s face. But,deep down, a man could recognize a dark secret in a face that was hiding one.

Timothy was sure the story Curtis had told him was true. There was a darkness to theDuke that was yet to surface. Timothy knew he had to be ready for it. And, even moreimportantly, he had to be by Harriet’s side when that happened.

I

C H A P T E R 1 2

t was around 11 am the following day, when Harriet and Abbie were in theparlor, embroidering. Harriet wasn’t all that keen on it, but she still believed itto be a skill that needed to be mastered, and similarly, wanted Abbie to

possess that same skill.

Women needed skills. Everyone kept reminding her of this, and it was exactly those setsof skills which made a woman a desirable wife. Harriet was very different in that respect.Naturally, she wanted to become someone’s wife. But she didn’t want that happiness tocome at the expense of her own personal satisfaction. In other words, she believed that awoman was entitled to her own life, outside of the household, and she intended toexercise that right.

Unfortunately, the man whose advances she had been welcoming didn’t share herconviction. Namely, the Duke’s opinion on the woman and her place was not somethingHarriet looked upon kindly. However, she hoped that, out of love for her, he would beable to understand her need to fulfill herself and her role as a human being, and not onlyas a woman bound to the household.

As for Timothy, she had no idea where he stood on that matter. To him, it seemedwomen were a matter of fancy, simply an object to be awed in, to be amused by,perhaps conquered, and then… she dreaded to think what happened to all those womenwho fell for the charms of a man who never did what he promised to do.

Well, when she saw him next, she would assure him that she was not such a woman, andhis charms didn’t work on her.

Only, they did.

A barely audible voice from deep inside her heart revealed the truth she had been tryingnot to hear. Her mind and her heart seemed to be at odds about him. But his latestendeavor had proven to be his last. Whatever the reason behind his absence was, shewouldn’t forgive it. He could be sure of that.

Both girls were intently focused on their embroidery. Then, a knock on the doorinterrupted the silence that reigned within. The butler was called forth, and he spoke witha respectful bow.

‘My lady,” he started, “Lord Ramsay is here and wishes to be admitted.”

“Lord Ramsay?” Harriet’s eyes widened in disbelief. Abbie also lifted her gaze, surprisedto hear his name.

The nerve! Not only did he not appear yesterday, but now he expects us to admit him likenothing happened?

Harriet was beside herself, but she wouldn’t let it show. She would admit him, of course,out of sheer curiosity as to why he was nowhere to be seen the previous day. Then, shewould extend her gratitude and let him know that they could simply not socialize anylonger.

Yes, that would be best. She assured herself of that, suffocating that little voice whichreminded her how happy she was in his presence.

“Send him in, Cummings,” she finally spoke, realizing that the butler had been waiting forher reply.

‘Yes, my lady,” he bowed, then disappeared behind closed doors.

“Aren’t you very upset with him?” Abbie wondered, with the hoop still in her hands.

“I most certainly am not,” Harriet replied in a dignified manner, raising her chin just alittle higher in the air. “He does not concern me one bit.”

“Why did you admit him then?” Abbie’s questions were so sweetly naïve and straight tothe point that Harriet couldn’t be upset with her.

“So that we could let him know that we shall not be seeing him again.”

“Oh…” Abbie’s face saddened at the idea. “Just because he was late once?”

“He wasn’t late. He didn’t show up at all. You don’t understand, Abbie. This would only bethe beginning of -”

But before she could continue, the door swung open and Timothy appeared before them,wearing the out-of-fashion tightly fitted leather riding breeches and a cutaway coat with ashort tail behind. Harriet had gotten used to his less conventional manner of dress, whichseemed to fight respectability and boredom, so this civilized version of himself amusedher.

“I apologize, my lady,” the butler appeared immediately after him. “I bade Lord Ramsaywait, but he - “

“He did what he usually does,” Timothy chuckled.

“It’s quite all right, Cummings,” Harriet nodded, but she wasn’t smiling.

Abbie, on the other hand, had already fallen under Timothy’s spell, despite his rudebehavior from the previous day. She was not only ready to forgive him. She had alreadydone so.

The butler bowed, then excused himself, leaving the three alone.

“Why, ladies, why aren’t you ready for our mid-day horseback riding?”

Harriet and Abbie glanced at each other in shock and confusion. Once more, Abbielightened the mood simply by her childish understanding of the events, revealing theslightly comical nature of the situation they had found themselves in. She burst out intoloud laughter.

“Did I say something funny?” Timothy wondered, a smile adorning his handsome faceframed by a lush set of sideburns.

“No,” Abbie shook her head, still laughing. “I do believe this is a comedy of errors!”

“As much as I enjoy a good reference at the bard,” Timothy knew she referred to a dramaby Shakespeare, “but I would like to know what is so funny. One likes to join in thelaughter, you know.”

“I do not know why Abbie believes this is so funny,” Harriet wasn’t nearly as amused byall this. “I myself do not. So, if this is some kind of a game you are playing on us, I mustask you to stop.”

“A game?” Timothy gawked. “I assure you, Harriet, I am playing no games. I am merelyhere as per our agreement.”

“Our agreement had been for yesterday.” Harriet scoffed. “Not today. Today we haveother plans.”

“But” Timothy dug his hands into his pockets, then extracted a small piece of paper withhis left hand, “you sent me a note that you would find it more suitable to move ourmeeting for today at eleven. And, as you can see, I am not late.”

Harriet’s jaw tensed. What on earth is he talking about? What note?

“Here,” he seemed to read her mind, offering her the note to see for herself.

One closer look revealed the message to be true. Someone had indeed written him anote, asking to move the meeting, signing himself or herself as her. Harriet Windsor. Butit was not her handwriting. It was not even close. In fact, it resembled a male hand, butHarriet couldn’t be certain. What she was certain of was that she hadn’t written it.

“I didn’t write this,” she spoke softly, as if her voice was betraying her.

“What do you mean you didn’t write this?” Timothy asked. “Then, who did?”

Harriet shook her head before replying. “I honestly don’t know.”

“We were waiting for you yesterday,” Abbie acknowledged with her wrinkled nose. Shesounded as if she had been a little hurt by his absence.

Harriet was still focused on the note in her hands. She had no explanation for it. Whywould anyone write a note to Timothy, pretending it was her? She could think of noreason for this.

“It seems that this is partly my fault,” the girls heard Timothy say.

Harriet thought she heard it wrong at first. But a glance in Timothy’s direction assuredher she wasn’t mistaken. He had indeed taken the blame for this. Perhaps, he would evenapologize, although that would be too much to ask of a man like him.

“I… I apologize for this miscommunication,” he continued. “And, for wasting your timeyesterday. If I had known this wasn’t you, I would have rushed over.”

“But it’s not your fault,” Abbie reminded him. “We should blame whoever wrote that note.Isn’t that right, Harriet?”

“Um, yes,” Harriet was caught a little off guard, but she couldn’t deny the truth. It indeedwasn’t Timothy’s fault, unless he himself had written that note. But she had no reason tobelieve that. “I suppose that is true. And, besides, our time wasn’t wasted. We did end upgoing horseback riding and had a lovely time.”

Her eyes shone defiantly. She wanted him to be completely aware of the fact that theywere perfectly capable of having a wonderful time with or without him. He was simply anice addition.

A very nice addition. A small voice inside of her added. The thought made her smile.

“It seems you have come for nothing today,” Harriet shrugged.

“Coming here is never for nothing,” he retorted, making her blush despite all herconscious efforts not to. “Every time I get to see such lovely ladies, no trip is wasted. Thisis also a good opportunity to ask you if there is a way, I could make this up to yousomehow.”

Harriet didn’t say anything at first. She was thinking. The note was still in the back of hermind, but a new idea was blossoming inside of her. A better idea. An idea that wouldtruly reveal Timothy for who he was and what his beliefs were. He would be able to hidethem no longer, and she would finally know him. The real him.

“I do have an idea,” she said, a little mysteriously. “But I refuse to elaborate on it now.Think of it as a game of trust. If you trust me, you shall agree to it. If not… well, then,there isn’t much else to say.”

Abbie gazed on as the couple before her locked eyes, neither willing to look away first.Harriet knew Timothy had lacked seriousness, but she had come to enjoy his companyimmensely. She felt at ease with him. She couldn’t imagine the fun side of her life withouthim in it.

The thought frightened her a little. The fact that he had become an indispensable part ofher life meant she had started to care, much more than she thought she ever would. Wasthis still just a game? She herself didn’t know it. But she was willing to find out.

“My dear Harriet,” Timothy walked up to her, and took her hands into his, “I lay my trustfully in you. I concur with whatever your little head has concocted.”

With those words, he laid a gentle kiss on her hand, then let her go. Harriet could feel thewild flutter of her heart, as if a million little butterflies had been released in her stomach,and now they needed to find their way out.

“I am glad to hear that,” Harriet smiled, allowing the redness of her cheeks to wash overher completely. “I shall inform you of everything by tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it already,” Timothy bowed down. “Now, I won’t take up any more ofyour time. I bid you ladies a good day.”

Slowly, he walked out of the parlor. Abbie turned to Harriet.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked.

“Something he wouldn’t imagine, even in his wildest dreams.”

“I

C H A P T E R 1 3

don’t understand why I needed to soil my face with coal,” Timothy grumbled, asthe two walked through the narrow, cobbled street, avoiding the crowd which usuallyappeared in the late afternoon.

Harriet was wearing a dress uncharacteristic of someone who belonged to her socialstatus. When she appeared wearing a dark grey servant dress and a scarf that coveredmore than half of her face and head, Timothy first thought that she was someone whohad mistaken him for someone they knew. But, when she spoke, he recognized her voiceimmediately. Her further instructions were to wear a coat she had brought him, a bigdark overcoat that covered his regular clothes. Not only that, but she had also urged himto dirty his hands with coal and then press them, open-palmed, against his own face.

Timothy dared not think what he looked like. But that didn’t matter. He had actuallytaken quite a liking to this game Harriet plunged them both into. A game of disguise. Agame of mystery. He wondered what their next step would be, as he tried to keep hispace in rhythm with hers.

“Because I don’t want anyone to recognize either of us,” she explained. “That would ruineverything.”

“And what is this everything?” he whispered, as they passed unsuspecting people in thestreets, most of whom were dressed in the same ragged and dirty clothes. None of thempaid any attention to either Timothy or Harriet.

Timothy finally realized it. They had blended into the crowd. They were like everyone

else. Was that what she wanted?

“You shall see in a moment,” Harriet replied, still unwilling to give an explanation.

They walked for a while longer, and Timothy had stopped asking questions. This certainlywasn’t the kind of an outing he was expecting, but he considered himself a person alwaysready for everything. Even if that everything was something completely unknown.

“Here we are.” Harriet finally stopped in front of a crumbling building, whose walls werepeeling, and the bareness of the brick was showing on all sides.

The windows were grimy. Timothy doubted that, even if he pressed his face against theglass, he would see anything inside. Three stairs led to a door which was wide open. Awoman with a wrapped-up bundle in her arms rushed outside, right past them, bumpinghim on the shoulder.

“Oh, sorry,” she lifted her head as she spoke.

Her face was as dirty as his, her right eye seemed bruised, half-closed. She reeked ofrotten fish, as if the very smell had oozed from her. The bundle in her arms stirred, thenstarted crying. Timothy only then realized that the woman was carrying a baby whocouldn’t be more than a month old. She was tiny, lost in all that bandaging.

He himself felt lost, unable to say anything. Harriet, on the other hand, immediatelyreacted.

“Here,” her hand dived into her pocket, extracting a shiny coin. “Take it.” She urged thelady with the baby, who looked at the coin, then at Harriet. Then, back at the coin again,as if she had never seen such a thing before; as if Harriet had been holding the sun itselfin her hand.

“It’s all right,” Harriet assured her, with a motherly voice.

It was then that the woman’s hand extended, her fingers like a net, grabbing the coin,before her curious benefactor decided to change her mind.

“T-t-thank you, ma’am,” the woman babbled, bowing. “Thank you.”

Harriet didn’t stay longer to listen to the woman’s expressions of gratitude. Timothy stillgazed on, completely stunned. But, before he could ask her anything regarding theirunusual excursion, Harriet headed on inside, and there was nothing else left to do butfollow.

The inside of the building looked even more horrendous than the outside. Timothy’snostrils were filled with the smell of something that resembled cooking, but somethingtold him no decent person would ever eat whatever came out of that kitchen.

They went down a narrow corridor, with a door on each side that led into what seemed tobe a common room, filled with people. They all looked miserable, destitute, as if they hadno hope left in them.

Harriet turned to him once they reached the end of the corridor. She seemed to wait forhim to ask her where they were, what this place was. But Timothy had alreadyrecognized this place for what it was. He didn’t even need to ask.

She stopped in the doorway to a room which housed only children. Some of them werebarefooted, others with socks or shoes that didn’t seem to be the right size for their smallfeet. Some were running about. Some gazed out the window. Some shouted. Others justsat there as if they waited for someone to come and take them away, far away from thisplace.

Timothy swallowed heavily looking at this scene. Then, he felt Harriet’s hand on hisshoulder. A touch so soft that it had the power to remind him who he was.

“This is the local workhouse,” she started, speaking under her breath. He wondered whyshe did so. But she obviously didn’t wish to be overheard. Then, he understood why. “Mybrother and I are the benefactors of this place, though no one really knows it. We providethe means for it to continue to work.”

She wasn’t looking at him as she spoke. Her gaze was fixated on the children, especiallythe ones that seemed to be there only in body, while their mind was a million milesaway. A veil of sadness fell on her beautiful features, and he realized why she hadbrought him here. She wanted to show him who she was, what she was fighting for. Awoman who cared little for fancy dresses and jewelry. A woman who wanted to aid thoseless fortunate, who didn’t simply speak loudly of it during balls, so everyone could hearhow altruistic she was presenting herself to be.

No. On the contrary. She followed her own advice and risked so much by coming here. Hecouldn’t help but admire her bravery.

“People can be very mean,” she continued, her voice trailing off, then resuming. “Evileven. You wouldn’t believe how money changes them, how it affects them. That is why Icome here every week, to see if the guardians are staying true to their word; if they arereally using the money, we send to help the poor, the injured, the little ones.”

She was interrupted by loud laughter that came from inside the room. A small group ofgirls giggled, apparently at something one of them had said. Timothy wondered aboutthem.

Do they have mothers? Fathers? Do they go to bed with a full stomach? Do they smileoften?

Timothy had never asked himself those questions. In fact, he had never walked downthese streets, unless it was to frequent a tavern. Never a workhouse. Never. Heconsidered it beneath him. Those poor unfortunate souls who were housed here didn’tneed to be gawked at. Only now, he could see it all in different light. He certainly had themeans to help. Why didn’t he? Why did it never occur to him?

“I’ve heard that the conditions in these workhouses were appalling,” he said.

“Indeed, they are,” she nodded. “The guardians of these places are usually local menwho simply see profit in these places, not the means to help. They divide families,keeping the children away from their parents. Some of these workhouses have conditionsworse than a prison. Barely any room, as the beds would be so tightly placed together inthe sleeping rooms, little light. Also, people would get sick, and others would get infectedas well, with no possibility of a doctor ever coming to such a place to see them.Absolutely horrendous.”

She shook her head, almost as if she herself could barely believe that all of it was true.But it was. Timothy had never been to a workhouse, but he had heard enough to knowso.

“That is why I come here so often,” she tried a little smile and it worked. “To oversee theguardian of this particular workhouse, and to make sure that he is doing his best inhelping these people, and not making their conditions even worse, due to his own greed.These people aren’t the means for anyone’s profit. They are human beings, just like youand me, and they need to be treated as such.”

He didn’t say anything to that. His mind was overtaken by what he had heard, what hehad just seen. He wondered if these people knew how fortunate they were to havesomeone like her watch over them.

“Perhaps, I shouldn’t have brought you here,” she suddenly hesitated.

He gazed at her; his eyes wide open for the first time in a long while. He was no longergoing through life asleep, merely wishing for more entertainment. He realized he washere, where there was sadness and misery all around him. And, yet there was nowhereelse he would rather be. No one else he would rather be with.

“We could go back if you’d like,” she added, biting her lower lip, the little of her cheeks

that was visible from the scarf, blushing right in front of him.

“By no means,” he shook his head, speaking softly. “You know, I think my late motherwould really like you.”

His own comment surprised even himself. Timothy hadn’t spoken of his mother to thosehe didn’t know well. His mother was his own dearest, well-kept secret, and he onlywished to share her memory with someone special.

“She would?” Harriet wondered, smiling.

Even when she was trying to hide her beauty with drab clothes and big scarves, her innerlight shone even through the fabric. Timothy could see it as plain as daylight. Herkindness of heart could never be concealed. She was so much more than just a merebeauty. He knew that now. He also knew that his heart would not be able to fight thesefeelings for much longer.

“You remind me so much of her,” Timothy nodded. “So outspoken. Stubborn. She alsowanted to help others, like you. And she was fortunate enough that my father alwayssupported her, no matter what. I think that is what true love means. Not crazy love andfun all the time. But support and respect of the one you love.”

Timothy had never been the one to gush, but with Harriet it was easy to open up,without any fear of ridicule. All he could ever see in her eyes was compassion andunderstanding.

A little boy suddenly rushed past them, and Timothy couldn’t resist the urge to pet himsoftly on the head. The boy didn’t seem to mind. He simply chuckled at them, thencontinued running, as if he were terribly late to get somewhere.

“I’m glad you brought me here,” he admitted.

“Me, too,” she smiled.

They remained there for two more hours. During that time, Harriet had spoken to severalpeople about their treatment at Frankins Workhouse, and only once after she had heardeverything - the good and the bad - she agreed to head on back.

A few streets down, she threw off her scarf, and she allowed Timothy to take off the bigovercoat he had been wearing, feeling more than a little hot in it. But he didn’t mind. Thisexperience had opened his eyes to more than just the conditions in workhouses. Herealized that there were still people who wanted to change the world, unlike himself, whowished to forget all his woes in fun and games.

He realized that the moment had finally come for him to speak to his own family and stopwith this lifestyle. He would demand the respect he deserved, despite his ill-reputablepast. People make mistakes, and he was no different. But people also learn from thosemistakes. And this was exactly what had happened to him. That, in addition to thefortune of meeting someone like Harriet.

Suddenly, on their way back, he remembered the bet.

She must never find out. Ever.

He would make sure of it. He would call upon Curtis and tell him that the bet was off. Hewould finally open up his heart to someone who saw the real him, and not the falseimage he had been portraying to the world.

A cold claw of fear tapped him on the shoulder, awakening tiny gooseflesh all over hisbody.

What if she finds out somehow?

Hush. Be quiet. That can never be. Never…

A

C H A P T E R 1 4

few days later, Harriet was enjoying the greenery of the landscape thatextended towards the back end of their grand mansion. Abbie had set up a littleeasel and had been seriously immersed in painting the scene before her, while

Harriet and the Duke gazed on at her brush strokes.

Harriet held her teacup in her hand, opting for cream and honey today. A tin of gingerbiscuits rested on a small table before them, but no one had taken a single one. Thosewere Abbie’s favorite, and Harriet made sure to always have them on hand, but today,Abbie was too immersed in her newfound passion.

Harriet wished to share her little adventure at the workhouse with the Duke, butsomething told her he could not possibly understand her need or desire to do any suchthing. He had made his beliefs known. So, she refrained from mentioning anything.However, the silence had lasted too long, and she felt the urge to share something withhim. Anything that would make this silence more bearable.

“Abbie’s brush strokes are truly poignant,” she mentioned, as he watched the pictureappear on the empty canvas. “And, she has only taken it up recently.”

“Indeed,” he nodded, without much interest. However, rudeness was never somethingthe Duke could have been accused of.

“The strangest thing happened to me a few days ago,” she suddenly started, wishing toshare more with him, to include him in her life, and to see whether he really would be asuitable man for her.

“Oh?” the Duke raised an eyebrow. He was curious.

A part of her wanted to make him jealous. She wanted to see if he could scratch thatsurface of propriety and do something which was solely based on the way he felt right atthat very moment. She doubted it, but at the same time, she wished to see it for herself.

“I arranged an outing with Timothy… I mean, Lord Ramsay and -”

“I honestly do not know why you entertain him,” he scoffed, and for the first time, Harrietcould see the outlines of something hiding underneath that peaceful exterior. However,he said nothing else, nor did he offend Timothy in any manner.

If he had asked her that two weeks ago, she would have a completely different reply thanthe one she had now, which was also the one she dared not say to anyone, not evenherself.

“It is just a game, Your Grace,” she shrugged.

“Games stop being amusing once we grow up,” the Duke reminded her. “You are nolonger a child, Lady Harriet.”

“I know that, but -”

Once more, her thoughts were cut short. He might have said that she was no child, buthe was surely treating her as such.

“You know I have watched you grow up into the beautiful young woman I see beforeme,” the Duke spoke highly of her, as always. “I cannot tell you how many times I wishedfor time to pass by more quickly, so I could commence courting you the way proper rules

dictate. You are not a child any longer, and yet, you yourself choose to act as one.”

Harriet could feel herself getting mildly irritated, but she managed to bite her tongue intime. This wasn’t the first instance of him treating her as if she could not make her owndecisions, while in fact, she was more than capable of that. Still, she was taught never totalk back, especially to someone like him. So, all she could do was reach a boiling pointquietly, on the inside, while remaining perfectly prim and proper on the outside.

He saw the look on her face, and immediately took on a more defensive stance, as if hewas capable of reading her mind.

“I do apologize for being so blunt,” he bowed his head quickly and respectfully. Harrietthough, was not appeased. “I simply know more about Lord Ramsay than a woman suchas yourself would know, and I would hate for him to soil you with his immorality.”

“Lord Ramsay is not immoral,” she scoffed, regretting the swiftness with which shejumped to defend him.

But her heart was ready to do it, and it was faster than her mind, which urged her not to.She had no reason to defend him so fervently. No reason other than the one burningdeep inside of her, reddening her cheeks, and making her heart skip a beat at the verymention of the man’s name.

The Duke looked at her, his lips parted as if in an effort to say something, but he seemedto change his mind. His facial features softened once more. He was allowing her to winthis argument.

“If he amuses you, then that is all that matters,” he nodded.

Harriet wasn’t certain how to understand this conclusion. Was this man all right withsomeone else courting his beloved? Somehow, she was sure that Timothy would neverallow this. She was able to explain to the Duke that Timothy was no one important, just

a friend who would occupy her time occasionally. The Duke understood it and accepted itas such. Only, now, there was no friendship. Things had transformed into somethingmuch deeper, much more personal. And she was certain that Timothy would fight for theone he loved. He surely would.

Then, why isn’t he fighting for you?

She felt her lips drying up, unable to answer this question. Maybe, he was. In his ownway. In a way she wasn’t able to see yet. Hope peered through the darkness, like asingle star on a dark stormy night.

“But do go on,” he urged suddenly. “I interrupted you and for that, I apologize. Youarranged an outing with Lord Ramsay, and something happened?”

Harriet did not have the least willingness to continue with her story, but she felt shecouldn’t simply refuse to tell it now. It would be rude. It would be improper.

“It seems there was some miscommunication in our arrangement, and it turned out thatsomeone had written him a note in my name, changing the day and hour of our outing,”she explained, narrowing the story as much as she could.

She took another sip of her tea, not because she was particularly thirsty, but because herlips were dry as if she had been eating sand.

“A miscommunication, you say?” he repeated, pondering the idea deeply. “I do not wishto speak ill of anyone, especially not someone who amuses you to such an extent, butare you certain he did not write the message himself?”

Harriet’s whole body resisted that idea. Her fingers started to tremble lightly, so she hadto put down her cup of tea and rest her hands in her lap. Although, that didn’t help much.

“What do you mean?” she spoke as calmly as she could, but inside her whole body andsoul wanted to defend Timothy.

“I do not mean anything for certain,” the Duke assured her. “Only that men such ashimself are not men of their word. You cannot trust what they say. So, if I were you, LadyHarriet, I would consider the other option, which in this case, is the mere fact that itwould have been all too easy for him to write that note himself and bring it to you asproof of someone else having written it.”

Harriet had never even thought of such a version of events. But now, having heard it insuch a way as to make her feel small and insignificant, she couldn’t escape thispossibility. It was certainly possible that Timothy had written it himself. It didn’t look likehis handwriting, though. She had read and reread his notes from before several times.However, he could have changed his handwriting some, to make it look like someoneelse had written it.

She didn’t want to think that way. She refused. Her heart assured her that Timothy wouldnever do such a thing.

“It is not Lord Ramsay,” Harriet released something that resembled a whisper more thanan actual statement. “I’m certain of it.”

The Duke sighed. “I know you do not wish it to be so. But the truth is that you cannot becertain of that.”

Harriet’s blood boiled, but she did not wish to contradict the Duke. It was simply notproper. So, she simply calmed down, then reached for her teacup once more, her fingersgripping at the handle firmly and decidedly.

“Abbie, dear, how is the painting coming along?”

As she listened to Abbie explain which colors she had used and why, she could feel the

piercing gaze of the Duke burning her cheek. But she didn’t look his way.

“Try to catch me, Timothy!” Abbie giggled with sheer joy, as her horse galloped throughthe mansion grounds.

The wind had already ruffled her hair and her cheeks were flushed with excitement.Timothy made sure not to ride too quickly, and Harriet appreciated it, as her horsegalloped last. She was afraid that Abbie might get hurt, as her riding skills were still notthat good, but she remembered Timothy’s words. How do you expect her to get good atanything if you don’t let her try it?

She had to admit that he was right. She was often overprotective of Abbie. That wasn’talways good. Abbie should be given the freedom to make her own choices, in line withher age and capabilities, of course. Harriet had vowed to be less of a mother hawk, hereyes always on her young. Abbie was not a little child, and she needed the excitement ofnew accomplishments.

That was exactly what Harriet saw on Abbie’s sweet, flushed face as she rode in front ofthem, towards the little lake. Abbie had indeed followed all the instructions she hadlearned regarding horseback riding. Her body was a perfect elongation of the horse’s, andthey moved together in wonderful harmony.

“Do you see this?” Timothy turned to Harriet. “I have no idea what you were so worriedabout. This girl is a natural born rider!”

Hearing that, Abbie giggled, and Harriet felt yet another tidal wave of motherly pride. Butthat was not all she felt. Timothy’s mischievous wink made her forget all about herunpleasant tea with the Duke from the previous day.

She finally realized what the most obvious difference between these two men was. Itwasn’t their age. It wasn’t their outward appearance. It wasn’t the way they treatedthose around them. It was the way they treated her. It was the way they made her feel.Validate and not validated. Appreciated and unappreciated. Accepted and not accepted.

There was no middle ground. Only complete approval or not.

With Timothy, she felt like herself. She didn’t have to behave all prim and proper just forthe sake of it. He himself had no concerns for any such things, and it was only now thatshe realized how constricting some of the social rules were.

Harriet could see Abbie as she reached the lake, and easily stopped the horse rightbefore it. Timothy, however, wasn’t so fortunate. All Harriet could do was watch thefollowing scene in horror.

She saw him try to halt the horse, and the horse obeyed. But the moment the horsestopped, Timothy seemed to let go of the rein and tumbled over the horse and right intothe lake; his body as light as a puppet as it flew through the air.

“Timothy!” Abbie and Harriet shouted at the same time.

The horse neighed in response, following a loud splash. Harriet quickly jumped off herhorse and rushed over to the banks. Her heart was beating wildly, afraid of the worst.The lake wasn’t that deep. He could have fallen on his head and hurt himself severely.The thought of something happening to him sent Harriet into a spiral of anxiety.

“Timothy!” she called out once more, hopeful that he would emerge from the cold water.

Abbie stood by her side; half of her face covered by the palms of her hands. Secondspassed by slowly, as if every single one of them was a whole eternity. Harriet’s eyes hurtfrom the strain she put on them, staring into the water, which was treacherously silent.

“There!” Abbie shouted, pointing her finger into the distance.

A few bubbles appeared on the surface. Then, a whole head emerged, as Timothy gaspedfor air.

Without thinking, Harriet rushed into the water, without the slightest concern for hershoes or her dress. Her arms reached out to help him.

He managed to get himself close to the shore, where Harriet and Abbie helped him out ofthe water. Fortunately, it was a sunny day, but despite the weather, Harriet could feelhim trembling.

“My goodness, how did that happen?” Harriet gasped, as Timothy seated himself onto thegrass, resting his elbows on his knees.

He was still breathing heavily, as his hair fell all over his face, in long tresses. Abbie satdown next to him and pressed her hand onto his. He smiled at her, still a little pale.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he finally said, turning around, and glancing over at the horse.

“Are… are you all right?” Harriet mustered, watching him get up and walk over to theanimal, which stood by the lake peaceful, occasionally grazing.

He didn’t reply. His hand caressed the animal first, which again neighed softly,recognizing his voice.

“You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” he spoke to the horse. “You didn’t do that on purpose.Let’s see what happened here.”

Harriet and Abbie patiently waited for Timothy to finish inspecting the horse and thesaddle. He bent down, feeling the billet straps, then stood up once more, triumphantly.

“Here,” he explained, showing the left strap. “This seems like it’s been cut.”

“Cut?” Harriet turned pale. “You mean it wore itself out?”

“No,” he shook his head, still holding the strap. “I mean, it’s been cut. The separation istoo clean. Too neat. It looks exactly like someone had cut it here. If it wore itself out, itwould be ribbed. The line wouldn’t be so even. See?”

Harriet approached, and focused her eyes on the strap. Once he explained what sheshould be looking at, it was easy to see it. The line was indeed cut perfectly straight.

“So, someone did this on purpose?” Harriet asked, unwilling to grasp the full extent ofthis insinuation.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, ladies,” Timothy was as always, his positive self.

“But, what else could it mean?” Harriet wondered again.

She turned to Abbie. She seemed as worried as the rest of them. And rightfully so.

“Honestly?” Timothy scratched the back of his wet head. “I don’t know. But, with thatnote in mind, and now this, perhaps it would be best if we all paid close attention to whathappens around us.”

“Harriet?” Abbie sobbed. “Does someone want to hurt us?”

“No, no,” Harriet hugged the girl softly, her arms promising the safety which her lips couldnot. “Nothing will happen to us. I promise you.”

Indeed, Harriet had promised, but she wasn’t sure if she had just unintentionally lied tothe sweet girl who trusted her more than anything.

T

C H A P T E R 1 5

imothy was standing by the window of his accommodation at White’s,agreeably located on St. James’ Street. The view overlooked St. James’

Palace, with its Tudor red brick exterior, Boodles and Crockford’s which was infamous forits gambling quarters. Timothy had to admit that he used to frequent it a lot in his daysof youth, but now much less so. The opposite window, the one where his father wasstanding now, had a view across Green Park, with its large trees and lush green bushes.

“I did not expect you until the end of the Season,” Timothy acknowledged, seeing thatnone of them was willing to divulge the reason for their unexpected visit. “Did you cometo see if I were as extravagant as Baron Alvanley?”

Timothy chuckled, though none of the other three men did. Timothy had referred toBaron Alvanley, one of the most famous residents of White’s who was well known forthree things: he never paid cash, he always read in bed, and he never blew out hiscandle. Needless to say, his dandy ways caught up with him eventually, leading him tolose much of his wealth.

Timothy might have seemed to lead a life of extravagance, but the truth of the matterwas that lately, he was increasingly more careful with his expenses as well as his profits.But this was something he was not keen on divulging just yet.

“Do you do anything else but joke and loiter?” Joshua, Timothy’s oldest brother was thefirst to speak.

He was fifteen years Timothy’s senior, and the two had never gotten along, even as little

boys. The difference in age always seemed to be too much of a gap. However, theirmiddle bother, William, had always been some kind of common ground, the one whowould be putting out the fire set up by the two other brothers. The peacemaker.

“Well, you have taken up most of the responsibility,” Timothy shrugged, already used tothis kind of talk from his family who considered him a no-good dilly-dallier. “What is theyoungest brother to do in that case, but have some fun?”

“One would have thought that the time for fun was over,” his father finally interfered witha demanding voice that came from an old, worn-out face, framed by thick thoughcompletely grey hair. “After all, you remain the only one who is still to get married.”

“You also remain the only one with a reputation that follows not only you, but your entirefamily,” Joshua added, cross as always.

Timothy had occasionally believed that Joshua envied him for the simple fact that Joshua,as the firstborn had inherited all the responsibilities. Everything he did was watchedthrough close scrutiny. Timothy understood it as someone constantly breathing downone’s back, without a single moment of relief. But that was what came with the privilegeof being the firstborn son to a family with a name.

Timothy, on the other hand, never felt the weight of that responsibility. Surely, using hisname had a lot of perks which he didn’t shy from taking advantage of, but at the sametime, it allowed him to escape the burden of accountability as the third son. Initially,during the time that his dear mother was still alive, his shenanigans brought forth little tono punishment. In a way, she had been the gentlest with him and the strictest withJoshua. William had always been somewhere in the middle.

As a result, Timothy faced almost no expectations while growing up, so he turned tomischief as means of getting the attention he craved for. However, this also didn’t bringhim what he was yearning for. He was simply left to his own accord, even more so afterthe sudden death of his mother. There was no one left to be gentle with him. Life hadbecome just an endless row of mischief, of events that initially brought him pleasure. But,as time passed by, this pleasure lessened, until it was barely present. Now known as aheartbreaker, a man not suitable for a decent young girl to marry, Timothy had stopped

caring about his reputation, and simply dredged through life aimlessly. That is, until now.

“This cannot go on any longer, Timothy,” he heard his father announce gravely. “Yourreputation has started to affect my investments in trade.”

Timothy suddenly felt helpless, as if his own body was bearing him down, and hisnegative thoughts kept him there, locked, and chained. He wanted to tell themeverything. He wanted them to know all about Rosemary, how she lied about everything,creating this false image of him, which he jumped into because he saw no other means ofescaping it.

Rosemary, his first love, whom he promised to cherish and protect. Rosemary, who hadaccepted his ring of commitment to marry. Rosemary, who after a short time of officialcourting, had fallen in love with someone else. Rosemary, who wanted to be theblameless one in the public eye, so she spread the rumor that he had cheated on her witha woman of ill-repute, therefore staining her name and reputation for the rest of her life.Rosemary, who was solely responsible for him becoming who he was and forgetting whohe used to be.

But he said nothing. He saw no point in telling them any of this. In fact, he doubted theywould believe him. His mother surely would. But the three of them? Probably not.

“You need to stop this nonsense,” his father continued. “You need to start behaving like aproper member of this family, and not just when the circumstances are agreeable for youto do so.”

Timothy’s nostrils flared. He clenched his jaw tightly, hearing it crack barely audibly. Heshould have known that a sudden visit would mean exactly this.

“Your only option is to marry a woman from a good family, but who would want you?”Joshua hissed at his brother venomously. “It is your own bloody fault. Actually, it’s all ourfault, for allowing this to go on much longer than we should have.”

“Joshua don’t be too harsh on him,” William’s kind voice interfered, the voice of justice,the voice of fairness.

But Timothy didn’t want his brother to defend him. He could do it on his very own. So,then why were his lips sealed shut? Was it the burden of guilt?

“Why not!?” Joshua growled. “Perhaps if we had been harsh on him in the past, he wouldnot be the dawdler we see before us. He would understand that even though he was bornthird and did not have to bear much of the burden, he was still a member of this family,and with this comes a certain responsibility. He seems to think there is none for him, andthis makes me so mad!”

“We have not come here to argue, lads.” Their father’s voice rose again, less solemn thistime. It sounded as if he was endeavoring to reach a solution to this problem that wouldbenefit them all. “We have come to tell you that things must change. They must,Timothy. Otherwise, your behavior threatens to ruin this family, and…” he sighed heavilybefore continuing, “I shall not have it. I shan’t.”

Timothy had last seen his father only two short months ago, but it seemed that the oldman had aged ten years in those two months. Timothy wondered what had happened.Perhaps his investments weren’t doing as well as expected. His father had always beenmore immersed in his finances than in his family, so this result would be quiteunderstandable.

His father rested on the cane in his hand, then gracefully walked out of the room, withouta goodbye. That was his manner in which he portrayed the gravity of the situation.

William rested his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Just try, all right?”

William smiled at Timothy, but Timothy didn’t feel like returning it. Then, Williamfollowed his father. Joshua approached Timothy last, his face grave and ominous. Heseemed to hesitate before he spoke, as if he was carefully choosing the words to conveythe right message. This was strange, because Joshua usually said the first thing thatcame to mind and was completely unapologetic about it.

“We were all more than willing to look past your mistakes while mother was alive,”Joshua said, less maliciously.

All three sons were very fond of their mother, and during her lifetime, expressed theiremotions freely. Timothy felt that with her death, a part of all of them died with her, apart that made it three times more difficult to express their emotions and work on them,if necessary. Instead of laughter and joy, silence reigned in their home. Silence andunease.

“But now, it’s just the four of us. You know that father won’t live forever. Become theman he always knew you could be, before it is too late.”

Timothy’s lips parted in shock at hearing these words. This was the most cordial thingJoshua had told him in a long time. The only words they would exchange were onesduring a heated argument, which would always lead to someone slamming the door.

But, this time, it was different. Joshua was angry. If he chose to think about itreasonably, Timothy could understand why. He honestly could. These words came from aplace in Joshua’s heart that wasn’t governed by malice or hatred. It was governed by thatlittle part of kindness and love left by their mother.

Still, Joshua didn’t wait for Timothy to reply. After all, there was nothing to say to that.Timothy needed to show it with his actions, not assure them with his words.

A few moments later, he was left alone once more. His lips were dry. He felt in need of adrink, but he resisted the urge. He wanted his mind to be clear, not fogged with liquor.

His life needed to change. Timothy knew that. But he also knew that the only way hecould change his life was if Harriet was in it, by his side, as his wife.

So far, he had only considered it a joke courtship. In a way, so did she. She never showedsincere interest in their potential future, but then again, neither did he. All that needed tochange. He needed to open himself up to her, to become vulnerable and tell hereverything. No holding back.

Right now. There was not a single moment to lose.

T

C H A P T E R 1 6

he following day, Timothy checked his horse and the straps twice, makingsure everything was tightened properly and no part of the equipment was

old or worn out. He noticed the young stable boy, shoveling outside, and thought ofsomething.

“Say, you man,” he called out to the stable boy, who immediately dropped his shovel tothe ground, and pulled his dirty, grey hat from his head.

“Yes, my lord,” he bowed down, not daring to look Timothy in the eyes.

“Let me ask you something,” Timothy started. “And I want you to think long and hardabout it.”

“Yes, my lord,” the boy nodded.

“Apart from Harry, the usual man who takes care of my horse, has there been anyoneelse here, around him?”

“What do ye mean, my lord?” The boy looked up, and Timothy realized that he was notmore than perhaps ten or eleven.

“Has anyone been grooming him or feeding him?” Timothy wanted to clarify, but he didn’t

want his question to be too obvious.

If there had been someone fiddling with his equipment, he wanted the boy to rememberit on his own, not because Timothy had led him into that conclusion.

“Harry’s been feedin’ yer horse, my lord,” the boy nodded. “No one else’s been allowednear it, as per yer orders.”

“I see,” Timothy replied, a little disappointed.

But he should have known that whoever had cut his straps would not do it in plain sightof anyone here. He would do it hidden by the veil of darkness.

“Do let me know if you see someone unfamiliar around the horses, all right?”

He extracted a shiny coin from his pocket. The boy’s eyes reflected the sparkle hungrily.Timothy offered it to him, without a word. The boy grabbed it, without needing to beurged twice. He pocketed it quickly, like a hungry man pocketed a piece of bread.

“I will do, my lord,” the boy nodded, his grateful gaze now chained to the man who hadjust made not only his day, but his whole week.

Timothy returned to the stables, and within minutes, he was galloping towards YardleyManor. On the way there, he could think of nothing else but Harriet. She had occupied hismind in the most delicate manner possible, without the slightest effort at doing so. Andyet, she had managed what all others had failed, and that was to capture his heart, andhis entire being with it.

He did not worry about the Duke. That old man, revered or not, would pose no threat.Timothy had already shown Harriet his charming side. Now, he would show her the sideto him few had ever had the privilege to see. Curtis, his longtime friend, had been privy

to this side of him. Not even his brothers had seen him with his guard down for many ayear now.

But Timothy realized he had grown tired of constantly hiding his true self, out of fear ofdisappointing those around him. What about himself? Was he not afraid of disappointinghis own self by pretending to be someone he was not?

He fought through an onslaught of chilly spring air, on the way to see Harriet. Nothingwould slow him down or keep him away from her. Nothing.

He arrived there challenging the speed of the wind, his horse sensing the need forurgency. Within the hour, Timothy had arrived at his destination, politely asking to beadmitted. Before, he would not even ask. He would simply barge in, all because he hadno concern for propriety or any such societal measure of decency. However, now, hewanted to show her that there was more to him than this silly, charming buffoon he hadbeen playing the role of for her. She could rely on him for anything. He would be there forher, no matter what.

The butler ushered him in, knocking on the door to the library, which upon opening,revealed Harriet comfortably seated in an armchair by the window. She looked as ifsomeone had spilled fairy dust all over her blessed face, and it now shone like thesunlight itself.

“Timothy,” she smiled, closing the book in her lap, and putting it onto a small table in thecorner, by a big, gift wrapped box.

Timothy smiled back, but he instantly wondered if that box was from the Duke. Evenwhen he was not around, he wanted to make his presence known, to ascertain hispatriarchal rule over this household and its potential bride.

“What brings you here?” She walked over to him, after the butler had closed the door.

“Are you alone?” he asked, looking around.

“Abbie should return from the study room in a minute,” she replied curiously. “Why doyou ask?”

“Because I could not possibly imagine a minute being long enough for me to tell youeverything I came here for, but I shall do my best and try,” he spoke, breathing heavily,taking her soft hands into his and showering them with soft, butterfly kisses which madeher face beam poppy red.

Her deep blue eyes gazed at him, waiting, expecting. The last thing he ever wanted to dowas disappoint her.

“I am listening,” she giggled.

“I know that all this time you’ve seen me as nothing but mere entertainment…” hestarted.

“Timothy, I -”

“No, please,” he smiled at her, “let me continue.”

“All right…” she agreed, her hands still resting in his.

“I know I’ve been mere entertainment to you,” he repeated, “and, believe it, it all startedlike that with me as well. But things have changed. Oh, how they have changed!” hechuckled, shaking his head, not resisting the urge to lessen the drama.

Fortunately, she understood that this was not his way of diminishing the worth of hiswords. On the contrary, he was revealing his heart in a way that was truly him.

“I found myself waking up every morning, counting the days to my outing with you andAbbie,” he continued. “Your company means more to me than anything else in theworld.”

“Your words are very kind,” Harriet replied with a coy smile, as he felt her fingers gentlysqueeze his hands.

“I do not wish to be kind,” he corrected her. “I wish to be everything to you and for you.”

He finally said it out loud, gazing into her star-struck eyes, knowing that he had been inlove with her from the first moment he laid his eyes on her. He dared not admit it tohimself, but the feeling managed to overpower him. The strength and the warmth of hersmile, her kindness and her unselfish nature proved to him that she had been the womanhe had been looking for all of his life.

“I know that your brother doesn’t think me the right man for you,” he remembered themain obstacle that might position itself between them. “I think he is even right inbelieving the Duke a more suitable candidate for a proper husband. But you deserve somuch more than someone who is just proper, Harriet.”

“Is this your way of telling me you are not proper, Timothy?” she giggled again, teasing.

There it was. The reason why he had fallen head over heels for this woman, who couldmake him laugh and feel relaxed even in the most tense and dramatic moments.

“Well, when one says proper, one does not immediately invoke an image of myself, thatis true,” he chuckled.

Then, he continued a little more solemnly, because he knew that he needed to share hissecret with her, the shameful truth which he had agreed to carry upon himself like a

cross.

“And, regarding my reputation,” his voice trailed off for a moment, but he quicklyregained his courage. He couldn’t back down. Not now. “Everyone knows it. It seems tobe the gossip at every table. But not many know its origins.”

She gazed at him, even more curiously now. He prayed that Abbie would take just asingle minute longer, so that he could tell Harriet this one last thing, and then, they couldbe prim and proper once more, behaving according to societal rules.

“There was this young woman. Her name was Rosemary,” he spoke slowly, cognizantthat he was sharing a story that would explain everything, so he needed to tell it right.He would never get a second chance to do it. “Rosemary and I were betrothed. I lovedher, and I believed that she loved me, too. However, that was not so.”

“What happened?” she asked, with sadness in her eyes, and he knew that he loved hereven more for that.

“I found a letter from another man,” he explained, overcome by a strangely liberatingfeeling. He hadn’t shared this story with someone in a long time, and it started to feellike a burden that had been pressing heavily on his soul and mind. “She admitted therewas someone else. She didn’t love me any longer. But she didn’t want to be the onewhose reputation would become stained because of this.”

He paused. He didn’t want Harriet to think that he resented Rosemary. He had before,naturally. But that feeling of hate and resentment was long gone. She was a marriedwoman now, and he wished her nothing but happiness.

“So, she spread the rumor that it was me who had cheated on her,” he explained in amatter-of-fact fashion, because that was exactly what it was. A simple fact not colored byany emotion any longer. “She became society’s poor, wronged lamb, and I was the wolfof the story.”

“Oh, how awful!” Harriet exclaimed. “I… I didn’t know that.”

“No one knew,” I smiled. “That was what made it so successful. It turned out thatRosemary was a very skilled actress, indeed. She had played the part of a victim toperfection. Not a single person questioned it.”

“But… why didn’t you say anything?” She shook her head in disbelief.

“Why would I?” he shrugged. “She would have been in disgrace. Shamed beforeeveryone. I doubt even that man who claimed he loved her would have wanted her then.So, I kept quiet and accepted the role they attributed to me. But what I need you toknow is that this is not me. I have merely been playing the part and keeping quiet. I donot wish to keep quiet any longer.”

At that moment, the door burst open, and Abbie flew into the room, her little cheeksflushed from running. Immediately upon seeing Timothy, her eyes widened in joy andsurprise.

“Timothy!” she shouted his name with glee. “How lovely to see you!”

To everyone’s surprise, she rushed over to him and wrapped her little arms around him,digging her face into his neck. He bent down, so they could be on the same eye level,and hugged her back.

“Harriet,” Abbie said when she let go of him, “why didn’t you tell me Timothy wascoming?”

“That’s because I didn’t know,” Harriet beamed. “He surprised me as well.”

“Are you taking us to an outing, Timothy?” Abbie inquired. “The Duke has sent Harriet anew hat she could try out. You should see how you like it.”

Timothy appreciated her insistence of his liking it. However, hats were not something hewished to see on Harriet’s beautiful face.

“Harriet is too lovely to have a big hat hide her face,” he said, looking at her adoringly.“Also, I’m afraid that I only came to tell her something important. I shall not interrupt therest of your day.”

“You are never interrupting,” Harriet smiled.

“What is it you came to tell her?” Abbie wondered so sweetly that he was on the verge ofactually telling her. But he refrained from doing so. “It is a topic for grown-ups.”

“Did you come to tell her you love her?” She wouldn’t let it go, and suddenly, bothTimothy and Harriet chuckled loudly, hearing her ask this. “I can think of nothing else ofimportance.”

“Ah, that little smart head of yours,” he walked over to her and ruffled her head a little. “Ipromise to arrange an outing with Harriet tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and wecan do whatever you wish. How does that sound?”

“It sounds marvelous,” Abbie chortled. “I can’t wait!”

“Neither can I,” Timothy bowed, taking Harriet’s hand, and kissing it gently. “Have awonderful day, ladies.”

With those words, he departed, his heart full of effervescence and joy the likes of whichhe had never felt before. But he forgot one thing. Sometimes, the greatest happiness onecould feel was just a calm before the storm.

I

C H A P T E R 1 7

t had been a week since Harriet had seen the Duke. He had sent two gifts inthe meantime, both of which she had graciously thanked him for with a letter.She knew it was not the proper way to thank someone, but she couldn’t force

herself to see him. Not now, when her feelings towards Timothy had been revealed. Hisfeelings, as well.

This past week had been a week of dreams, a week of pleasant outings and joy. Abbiewas having fun as well, which Harriet found crucial when making her choice of a potentialhusband. While Timothy had never been considered a worthy opponent to the Duke, itturned out that he had hidden virtues which she valued highly, virtues that the Dukeeither didn’t show or didn’t have. In the end, that didn’t matter. What mattered was thatshe felt like herself with Timothy, she didn’t need to hide her true nature.

That morning, Abbie had been reading her book on chess, endeavoring to learn the rulesof the game, so she could play it against Timothy, who had challenged her a few daysago. And, knowing Abbie’s competitive nature, Harriet believed it was a wonderful way tomake her delve into something she otherwise wouldn’t find all that appealing.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the library door.

“Yes?” Harriet lifted her gaze.

Cummings opened the door. “I apologize for the intrusion, my lady, but the Duke ofRedfield is here. He wonders if he could be admitted.”

“Oh, the Duke…” Harriet sighed.

Abbie’s gazed wandered away from the book she had been immersed into fully just amoment ago, and now she was looking at Harriet, a little surprised at this reaction.

“Tell him I am unwell,” Harriet blushed fervently at this lie. “Extend my deepestapologies, Cummings.”

“As you wish, my lady,” Cummings gave no indication whether he approved or judged herdecision. He simply vanished the moment he got his reply, then closed the door behindhim.

Harriet knew that she needed to explain this to Abbie as well. She could only hope thatshe would do it so that the girl would understand that sometimes, white lies were thereto prevent us from hurting someone too much.

Abbie silently walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Harriet. Her inquisitive littleeyes traveled around the library, as if she was in search of a specific book that was onthe shelves, but she wasn’t certain where exactly it was located.

“I lied, Abbie,” Harriet spoke first, feeling that hotness in her cheeks still. “And that’s notnice.”

She didn’t know what she expected of Abbie to reply. Lying is never the answer. Shewished to teach her that, but how, when she was showing her the exact opposite withher conduct.

“I know why you did it,” Abbie suddenly said, her eyes still in search of that elusive book.“I know lying isn’t nice, but I also know that sometimes, you don’t want to hurt someone,so you say something that may not be true.”

Harriet smiled. She stretched out her right arm and wrapped it around Abbie’s thin littlebody. Then, she pressed her lips on top of Abbie’s head.

“You are such a smart little darling, do you know that?” Harriet shook her head. “I am sograteful to have you by my side.”

“Only…” Abbie suddenly became sad. Her eyelids dropped down; her brows furrowed.

“Hey, hey,” Harriet cupped Abbie’s chin with the tips of her fingers. “Why do you have thislong face, dear Abbie?”

“Will you still want me by your side when you have Timothy?” Abbie asked her question,which she had obviously been considering for a few days now. Her voice trailed off, weak,on the verge of breaking, as her eyes filled with tears.

“Oh, you silly little thing!” Harriet now turned her entire body towards Abbie and wrappedboth her arms around her. Abbie hugged her back, breathing softly right into Harriet’sneck, as their hearts pressed against each other, beating in unison. “You will always beby my side, Abbie. Always. That is a promise.”

Abbie didn’t say anything to that. The girls remained like that for a while longer, thenboth of them seemed to let go at the same time.

“So, when will you tell the Duke?” Abbie wanted to know. “You still haven’t told him,right?”

“Yes,” Harriet sighed heavily once more.

The very thought of having this serious conversation with the Duke filled her with unease.She was certain that the Duke would behave like a gentleman upon hearing the newsthat their courting would need to cease due to… well, unforeseen circumstances. She

smiled at the thought. They were certainly unforeseen. However, very welcome at thesame time.

Indeed, she wasn’t expecting the Duke to make a scene. It seemed below the man ofsuch social status. However, no one liked to hear that their advances were no longerwelcome, after they had initially been accepted. Still, she would need to let him know,clearly, so that there was no confusion regarding anything.

“My plan is to let him know during the last ball of the season,” Harriet revealed.

“But isn’t that to be held at the Redfield Estate?” Abbie remembered.

“Indeed,” Harriet nodded. “I do not like it that it will be held there, but thatunfortunately, is not up to me. Still, I do believe it is a proper opportunity for me to rejecthim officially and apologize at the same time.”

“Why would you need to apologize for the way you feel?” Abbie continued asking, hermind whirling like a machine, trying to put all the pieces together, so that they made alogical whole. “One should not be held responsible for the way he feels. We do notchoose who we love.”

Harriet smiled. “That is a wonderful conclusion, dear Abbie. And a very correct one.However, when you are a member of the upper classes, you seem to be required toapologize for almost everything. The way you feel, the way you smile, even the way youwish to help others. Everything seems to require some sort of permission from someoneelse.”

“That doesn’t sound fair,” Abbie scoffed.

“Most of the time, life isn’t fair,” Harriet agreed. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not worthliving. We need to choose our battles, the one we need to win the war.”

“The war?” Abbie didn’t quite understand the analogy.

“Well, when you really want something, you need to go over several obstacles in order toget them. Some obstacles you’ll cross, others will remain standing, and you might evensuffer some losses. But it’s important to know which obstacles aren’t that important onyour way to your goal.”

“I think I understand,” Abbie nodded. “You don’t like the idea of so publicly refusing theDuke’s advances at the ball, but you know that the circumstances surrounding it areproper enough to end it in the right manner.”

“Yes,” Harriet confirmed. “Despite us going our separate ways, I still wish him all thebest. The Duke is a kind man, a man who deserves to find a woman who will love himunconditionally.”

“The way you love Timothy?” Abbie teased, chuckling.

“Well…” Harriet laughed melodiously. “I suppose so. But we’ve digressed too much. Letus go back to our business for the day.”

Abbie reached for her book and opened it where she had stopped reading a few minutesago.

“I am almost done with this book on chess,” she announced importantly. “I must say, Ididn’t think it was all that interesting before. But now that I understand the rules and seethe logic behind it, it is quite entertaining.”

“Is it entertaining, or are you looking forward to trying to beat Timothy?” Harriet teasedher back now.

“Perhaps, it is a little bit of that as well,” Abbie admitted, chuckling, her little fingers

gripping at the book in her lap. “I really like him. I feel like he is really interested inhearing what I have to say about something.”

“Remember, dear Abbie that this is the most important trait in a man you fall in lovewith. Many men are handsome. Many are charming as well. Entertaining. But only a fewwill listen to your every word with the same amount of interest as if they were listeningto the queen herself.”

“I shall bear that in mind,” Abbie promised.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, then went back to their daily business. Harrietwas overcome by a strange emotion. She was looking forward to the last ball of theseason, but at the same time, she felt perturbed regarding the conversation that was totake place there. Still, she reminded herself that Timothy would be there, and she wouldbe able to rely on him for anything.

The Duke is a reasonable man. He will understand.

She kept assuring herself of that, silencing that little voice which urged her to be careful,nonetheless.

“Y

C H A P T E R 1 8

ou do know that the season is almost up, my good man,” Curtis chuckled, as heleaned over steadying his cue on the cue rest, which as an avid billiards player

Curtis had specially made for him. He was in the habit of always carrying it with him.

It was the last game of the evening, playing under a multi oil lamp chandelier. As always,Timothy had arranged it with Curtis to set the winning point count at six, in an effort notto drag the game on and make it less interesting. The three ivory balls scattered aroundthe table, as they both eyed the most convenient ones.

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about our little wager,” Curtis elongated his body, still holdingthe cue in his hands.

Timothy grinned at him from across the table. He adjusted his eyes to the light thatemanated down onto the table, coming from saucer shaped receptacles that werefastened underneath the lamps, in an effort to contain dripping oil. Timothy preferred toplay by daytime. The light during evening games always influenced his focus. This waswhy neither he nor Curtis had anything against lowering the number of points needed towin a game of billiards from the usual daily numbers ranging between seventeen andtwenty-one, to the nightly six. Lining up the shots was trickier under low lighting.

Timothy always played to win. After all, winning was half the fun. But this time, hecouldn’t focus on the balls, and he didn’t care one bit. When it was his turn, he missed.Usually when this happened, he got upset. But nothing could upset him now. Everythingwas all right with the world, and soon, the whole world would know the reason behind hisjoy.

“Already distressed that you’ll lose the wager?” Curtis teased good-naturedly, eyeing thenew order on the green-matted table.

“The wager is all I think about,” Timothy replied, smiling, “that much is true. But, not forthe reason you may think.”

“Oh, no?” Curtis raised an eyebrow.

A few boisterous voices were heard from a nearby billiards table. It had been a busyevening at White’s but seeing the end of the season was close at hand, this was to beexpected.

“I remember with what zeal you had agreed to it,” Curtis teased playfully. “Are youdoubting your charm now?”

“By no means,” Timothy shook his head, with a victorious smile on his face.

“What is different then?” Curtis wondered. “Because something certainly is.”

Timothy snickered. He walked around the billiards table and placed his hand on Curtis’shoulder.

“This is why you are my best friend, Curtis,” Timothy explained. “You know me so well,sometimes even better than I know myself.”

Curtis still watched him in puzzlement. “Care to elaborate?”

“You mean to tell me you still don’t know?” Timothy joked.

“Actually, I do have an idea, but it’s too preposterous to even consider as an option,”Curtis tilted his head a little, watching Timothy play his next shot. “It’s not somethingLord Ramsay would ever do.”

“What isn’t?” Timothy was enjoying this little banter, watching his friend in disbelief andutter confusion.

“You haven’t fallen in love with the young lady in question, have you?” Curtis spokequietly, as if he was conspiring against the queen and couldn’t risk anyone hearing himspeak this way.

Timothy merely gave him an important glance. The look on his face was enough of areply.

“Good heavens!” Curtis pressed his hand on his chest, pretending that he had been struckin the heart by the news. “If anyone else had told me this, I wouldn’t have believed it. Iswear, I wouldn’t.”

“That is why, my good friend, you hear it straight from the main source,” Timothychuckled, waiting for his turn to play, but Curtis had been overpowered by the news andseemed to have forgotten all about their game.

“But… how?” Curtis’ eyes bulged with inquisitiveness.

“How does one fall in love?” Timothy repeated the question. “You of all people shouldknow.”

He laughed, and Curtis joined in. He indeed did know. His marriage to Lady Coleborn hadalready been arranged, and even though Curtis didn’t spend too much of their timetalking about it, Timothy knew that his friend was truly happy with this woman. And thatwas all that mattered.

Before Harriet, Timothy would never have believed that a woman could make any manthis happy. He believed it was merely a buzzing of the mind that was confused forhappiness, while in fact there was nothing magical about it. He once loved, but the objectof his affection bit him by the heart. He never even considered the possibility of healingand loving again.

Until Harriet. So, now he knew that anything was possible. Good women made menhappy. That was the case with the two of them. He sincerely believed it, and he knew hewould be grateful to her for the rest of his life, as he endeavored to love and cherish herwith all his might.

“She is absolutely amazing, Curtis,” Timothy said, unwilling to gush, but unable toprevent himself. “I don’t know how it didn’t occur to me from the beginning that shewould be the one.”

“The one?” Curtis repeated, still a little incredulous.

“There will never be one like her, ever.”

“But, what about the Duke?” Curtis reminded him.

At the mention of this title, the sounds around them died down a little. Timothy glancedaround. It seemed like just a coincidence. No one was staring directly at them. However,one should always be careful when speaking in public, because in some places, even thewalls had ears.

Timothy spoke a little softer. The Duke of Redfield was a man of reverence, and heneeded to make sure not to mention his name. Otherwise, word might reach him thatTimothy had been talking about him at White’s, and stories which pass through severalpairs of ears and mouths always seem to change drastically by the time they reach theirdestination.

“I do not care about him one bit,” Timothy scoffed, as if the whole affair with the Dukewas finished already.

“It is one thing not to care, but completely different to still be connected to him.”

“I have spoken with him several times already,” Timothy announced. “Although, I havenot made my intentions with Harriet clear to him, he on the other hand, has. He hasurged me, not to say demanded of me, to stop seeing her.”

“Well, it is only logical of him to require this, no?” Curtis shrugged. “You have becomerival suitors. No one enjoys that. Apart from you, I suppose.”

“Indeed, that was in the beginning,” Timothy admitted, grinning. “You know yourself Ienjoyed irking the old boy ever so much. But, slowly, bothering him had becomeirrelevant. I stopped even noticing his presence. I do believe this irked him even more.”

“I should think so,” Curtis chuckled.

“He’s told me several times that I should stop this farce and give up my pursuit of thelady, but every time I replied that this was no farce. This last time, I actually believed itmyself. I think, I’ve always believed it, deep down, only I was too scared to admit it.”

He paused, hitting a ball, which flew across the table and right into the intended hole. Hesmiled, and a sensation of joy warmed him. But it was not because he had just won thegame. He had won so much more. He had won a lifetime of smiles, of warmth, of thosedeep blue eyes which gazed upon him with such tenderness and adoration.

“Love is a strange thing,” Timothy sighed. “It changes us. It changes everything about us.Even the way we perceive the world.”

“I can still barely believe it,” Curtis admitted.

“You will believe it at the last ball of the season,” Timothy announced.

“The one taking place at Redfield Estate?”

“That very one,” Timothy nodded. “That is where Harriet will reveal everything to theDuke. That is also where I shall ask her brother for her hand. That is where the rest ofmy life will start.”

This certainly did not sound like something Timothy Ramsay would ever say, and Curtislistened intently, as if he was simply waiting for the moment when his friend would revealthat it was all just a joke.

Only, it was no joke. It was far from it. Timothy had never been more serious aboutanything else in his entire life, and he planned on showing this to everyone. To Harriet.To his family. To the whole world.

“Is that a smart move?” Curtis seemed to remember something crucial. “To do somethinglike that to a man during a ball held in his own home?”

“I admit, it is not the most gentlemanly move,” Timothy admitted, scratching the back ofhis head. “But it is a good moment as any. Besides, the longer he believes the two ofthem are still courting, the more painful and unpleasant it will be.”

“That is true,” Curtis agreed. “But, what about -”

At that moment, both men stared at the tall figure entering the billiards room. In the dimlighting, Timothy probably wouldn’t have noticed him, but glancing in his direction,Timothy noticed something familiar about the man’s countenance.

His hat lay crooked, bent forward, his wide rim hiding more than half of his face. Hisstature was a most majestic one, and Timothy thought to himself how the Duke really cutquite a striking figure; the same thought that had occurred to him that first time he sawhim at the ball held at Almack’s.

The Duke slowly walked over to the two men, then stopped by their table. He only tippedhis hat, revealing his eyes. He had no intention of taking it off.

“Lord Ramsay,” the Duke’s gruff voice was heard. “Lord Sutton.”

“Your Grace,” Timothy acknowledged him, but he didn’t bow like Curtis did.

“Are you finished with your game already?” the Duke wondered, his hand grabbing at thenearest ivory ball, feeling it in his hands.

“Yes, we are,” Timothy nodded. “We were just planning to retire for the night.”

He eyed the Duke suspiciously. He wasn’t expecting to see him at White’s billiards rooms.This assured him to remain on guard when speaking to him.

“Oh, what a pity,” the Duke, however, showed that he held no grudge. He spoke politely,though somewhat briskly. “Next time, then.”

“Yes,” Timothy nodded again, not really certain what else to do. “Next time.”

“Enjoy the evening, gentlemen,” the Duke touched the tip of his hat, nodded politely,then walked over to the men who had occupied a nearby table.

Curtis and Timothy didn’t take their eyes off the Duke, until he was at a safe distancefrom them.

“He seems agreeable,” Curtis shrugged.

Timothy didn’t reply immediately. The Duke leaned over to one of the men standingthere, whispering into his ear. Timothy couldn’t swear to it, but for a moment, it seemedto him that the man looked over in his direction, nodding barely noticeably.

Timothy’s hair stood on end, as if his body wanted to send him a silent warning.

Timothy thought to himself - It’s those agreeable ones you should always be wary of.

A minute later, the two men left the billiards room, as Timothy tried to forget thatominous feeling, which despite all his efforts, remained etched in his mind.

T

C H A P T E R 1 9

he day of the ball had finally arrived. Harriet made sure the three of themwere, as always, fashionably late. Upon entering the ballroom situated at

the very heart of Redfield Estate, Harriet was in awe of all the splendor that surroundedher. But what caught her attention the most was the exquisitely elaborate pictures on thefloor of the ballroom, drawn all in chalk. The floor was a usually polished woodenfloorboard area, and as Harriet had only heard but never seen before, the reason forchalking the floor was not only aesthetical in essence, but practical as well.

She tried sliding her foot slightly onto it, trying out her slippers which were smoothleather. It had happened more than once that the floors of some ballrooms were overlypolished, and she had slipped. Fortunately, she had never fallen down.

Harriet enjoyed the sight of the drawings under the light of the huge crystal chandelier.There were floral patterns adorning the Duke’s coat of arms right in the middle of theroom. In the corners, Harriet noticed heavenly bodies, including the sun, the moon, stars,and planets.

Soon, the sight would be blurred under the eagerly dancing feet. Similarly, Abbie seemedto enjoy the view as well. After much deliberation, she was allowed to accompany Harrietand Harley, who did not stop to admire the elaborate artwork. He had already startedmingling with the rest of the guests.

“The drawings are marvelous,” Abbie exclaimed, holding Harriet by the hand, as bothgazed at the floor. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Neither have I,” Harriet agreed. “It is indeed lovely.”

“But won’t it soil the hems of our dresses?” Abbie wondered, looking down.

Her gown was of a sky-blue color, slightly gathered in the front. She had trim at thehemline and dainty embroidery on the sleeves, which were a soft puff over a sheer longsleeve.

“It might,” Harriet chuckled.

“Will it be unsightly?” Abbie sounded a little worried.

“If you are having fun dancing, will you mind?” Harriet reminded her.

“Well, no,” Abbie shook her head. “I don’t suppose so.”

“Therefore, it might be unsightly for others, but not for you yourself, which of course, iswhat matters most.”

“You are right,” Abbie beamed at this conclusion.

Harriet’s dress was without cleavage, but with a prevalently high waistline, which wentjust a couple of inches below her bust. Her neckline had an attached underbodice, thesame lavender purple color of the silk gown itself. Harriet’s naturally wavy hair was evenmore accentuated by small ringlets at the forehead, while the rest of her hair wasgathered in the back of her head. A simple pearl necklace adorned her neck and amatching pearl bracelet hung from her left wrist.

“Do you see the Duke anywhere?” Harriet wondered, her focus suddenly switching fromthe wonderfully chalk decorated floor to the guests. She was in no particular hurry to

have a word with him, but she knew that she would not be able to enjoy the ball untilthis matter had been settled.

“No, but I see someone else,” Abbie’s little face lit up at the sight of Timothy.

Both of them could see him sliding across the floor effortlessly, a few of the ladies leaningover to their friends, to whisper something, their eyes staring at him. Harriet did not feela single sting of jealousy. She had no reason to, and she was aware of that fact. Timothywas indeed a handsome man, and that would probably never change.

But that was not why she had chosen him in the sea of others. There was somethingabout him he didn’t let on, something he was hiding from the rest of the world. Hisvulnerability. He had opened up to her, and that was enough for her to know that theytruly belonged to each other forever more.

“Ladies,” he bowed before both of them the moment he approached them. It was a deepbow of devotion and respect, which made both girls blush. “I do believe you two are themost beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“Ah, your wickedly charming ways, Timothy,” Harriet chuckled sweetly, unable to resist.

She hoped he would lean in for a kiss on the hand, but he didn’t. It’s for the better, shereminded herself. There are too many people here, too many eyes minding more thanjust their own business. Once they tell the Duke the truth, they would be able to showtheir affection publicly as well, without the need to hide, like two crooks in the night.

Then, he leaned closer to her, whispering right into her ear.

“Are you certain you do not wish me to have a word with the Duke, man to man?” heoffered.

“No,” she immediately shook her head, refusing his help. “I believe this is a conversationfor me to have. I would appreciate your presence, but I would kindly like to ask you toleave the talking to me.”

“If you say so, my lady,” he winked at her mischievously.

She smiled once more, grateful for this distraction. The truth was, she had no idea how toeven begin this conversation. She could only hope that the Duke’s reasonable and calmnature would work in her favor, and he would see that the two of them simply did notbelong together as a husband and wife. She would make sure to remind him that he wasa good man, worthy of any good woman out there, who would be happy to accept hiscourting.

At that moment, Harriet could see her brother from across the room. He was talking withthe Duke, then a few moments later, he turned to another acquaintance, whom Harrietdidn’t recognize.

Her brother and the Duke always seemed to get along well. However, Harrietremembered that she hadn’t mentioned anything to him regarding the newestdevelopments. This realization came so quickly that she didn’t have the time to talk toHarley. She always liked to share things with him and valued his opinion. This time shehad made this decision on her own, without anyone’s opinion, without anyone’s meddling.That was the only way she could be certain that it was what she herself wanted. And shewas.

“Have you mentioned anything to your brother?” Timothy asked.

“No,” Harriet shook her head. “But I do believe everything will be clear to him aftertonight.”

She smiled a little nervously. His eyes gazed at her, strong and reassuring. He squeezedher hand, trying to calm down the soft trembling that threatened to take over her.

“Once we sort this out with the Duke, I shall walk up to your brother and ask for yourhand in marriage,” he told her.

His words made her heart flutter. Just one unpleasant thing needed to be done, and thenher life would take a different course. She could barely sustain her own joy. She wantedto wrap her arms around this jovial man and shower his face with kisses, promising himthat she would be his and his alone.

Only, she could not do that yet. She could never do that to the Duke, who had beennothing but proper with her, always anticipating her needs and taking care of them.Indeed, he would be a wonderful husband to someone else, but not her.

With her hand still in Timothy’s, she looked at Abbie.

“Abbie, could I ask you to go to Harley?” Harriet urged. “Timothy and I shall go greet theDuke, and…” she sighed heavily.

The happiness she felt was almost equal to the sadness that she had knowing that shewas about to break the Duke’s heart. She wished for another way, but it seemed that thehappiness of one person occasionally relied on the sadness of another. It was the harshlife truth that Harriet had learned only now but vowed to keep hidden from Abbie for aslong as possible.

Then, Abbie surprised her. The girl approached Harriet, and cupped Harriet’s face withher little hands. Her touch felt warm and comforting.

“Just speak from the heart,” Abbie advised, as if she had a lifetime of heartbreak to speakfrom. In a way, being left without parents at such a tender age, she did. “It will be allright.”

Harriet and Timothy stared at Abbie in disbelief. The strength of this little being beforethem enshrouded them like the sun warmed up early spring blossoms, providing shelter

and care. With those words in mind, Harriet felt that nothing could possibly go wrong.

“Let us do this,” Timothy squeezed her hand, and smiled.

She smiled back, without any anxiety this time, her heart open and accepting of all thewonderful things that would come her way, after this single conversation.

“I’m ready,” Harriet nodded.

As they walked across the ballroom floor, Harriet’s hand resting on Timothy’s lower arm,Timothy could sense her entire body trembling. He wanted to assure her that everythingwould be all right. And even if it wouldn’t be, he would still be by her side, and she hadnothing to fear.

She glanced at him one last time, before they approached a small group of peoplehuddled together. The Duke was among them. They stayed at a distance, waiting for himto finish greeting his guests. Then, once he turned around, he noticed them immediately.He excused himself from the group and walked over to Harriet and Timothy.

Timothy immediately noticed that she had let go of his hand, and even though he didn’tlike it, he considered it a lady-like effort on her part, not to add insult to injury by clingingso intimately to him.

“Lady Harriet,” the Duke bowed as always, taking her hand into his and bestowing asingle, respectful kiss on her gloved hand.

He turned to Timothy with far less enthusiasm. “Lord Ramsay.”

“Your Grace,” Harriet smiled, as if trying to ease the tension which was already palpable.The animosity between the two men was obvious to even an unskilled eye, even though

neither of them had done anything aggressive towards the other. “The ball is absolutelysplendid.”

“Why, thank you,” the Duke nodded. “You are very kind to say so. But it is you who hasmade it splendid with your presence.”

Timothy could see Harriet struggling to find the right words to commence her speech. Hewould know exactly what to say, and he would say it with as few words as possible. Buthe had promised not to meddle and to leave it to her. A promise was a promise, and heintended to keep it.

“Your Grace,” Harriet started, “I wonder if we could have a private word with you.”

“Right now?” the Duke frowned.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

The Duke’s eyes traversed the distance from Harriet to Timothy, then back to her again.Still, he did not betray any of the emotions that must have been overtaking him.

“My dear Lady Harriet,” he replied politely, “it is not customary for the host to leave hisball. Why don’t we instead move over there, in the corner? I assure you that no one willbe eavesdropping on us, if that is your concern, so you may feel free to tell me whateverit is you wish to share.”

Timothy was surprised to hear this. Having been a host of balls several times, leaving itfor a short while was not customary, but if done quickly, no one might even notice. Andyet, the Duke utterly refused it.

“All right,” Harriet agreed, and the three walked over to a nearby corner, which wasdevoid of any people.

Timothy looked around. It truly seemed that everyone was too busy enjoying themselvesto pay attention to them. However, a gut feeling told him to be wary. And Timothy hadlearned to trust his gut feeling.

Once they settled there, the Duke frowned at him.

“I was under the impression that I was to have a private word with Lady Harriet,” hescoffed, his moustache trembling a little.

Timothy was on the verge of explaining why he was there. He knew this was mostcertainly an unpleasant experience for a lady, but he understood her need to explain it onher own. It was the decent thing to do. It was right.

“What I have to say concerns Timothy as well,” Harriet explained, her cheeks flaring up.

“Oh?” the Duke’s eyebrow raised in curiosity. “I am all ears, dear Lady Harriet.”

“Well,” Harriet took a deep breath, obviously gathering her strength, “what I wanted totell you was that our time spent together has been most precious to me, and I shall neverforget it. But I’m afraid that my heart belongs to someone else.”

Timothy was glad that she didn’t decide to explain everything in too many words. Shewas succinct and to the point, something not many women were. He loved her for that,and so much more.

The Duke didn’t seem to understand at first, then his eyes suddenly widened in surprise.He glanced over at Timothy, then back at her.

“You mean to say that you and Lord Ramsay are…” he didn’t finish.

He didn’t need to. Harriet blushed softly and took Timothy by the hand. Timothy hadnever felt prouder in his entire life, than at this moment when the woman he loved hadchosen him.

“I see,” the Duke nodded, clearing his throat a little.

It was barely noticeable, but Timothy could see his jaw tense for just a second, thenunclench again. The man before him was calm only on the surface, but inside of him, hewas raging. Still, he did his best at confining that anger and not let it surface.

“If that is indeed so, then there is nothing else I can say but that I wish you two all thebest,” the Duke suddenly smiled.

Neither Timothy nor Harriet expected this reaction. Timothy was still on his guard. hehadn’t expected a fight to ensue, especially under the circumstances, but he also hadn’texpected such calm acceptance.

“It was a pleasure to court a delicate flower such as yourself, and despite how it allended, I am grateful for the time we have spent together,” the Duke bowed down andbestowed one more kiss upon Harriet’s hand.

Then, he turned over to Timothy, with his outstretched hand. Timothy hesitated for amoment, that gut feeling scraping at his insides to grab Harriet by the hand and just runaway. Then, he shook it, listening to the Duke’s following words.

“Also, it is my pleasure to shake the hand of the man who has won Lord Sutton’s bet inwinning the lady’s heart so quickly. The deadline was by the end of the season, was itnot?”

H

C H A P T E R 2 0

arriet could feel the whole world spin around her faster and faster, and shewas getting more light-headed with each passing second. It all sounded toocruel to be true. There was a bet, and she had been the object of it.

It can’t be. It simply can’t be…

First, she thought she had misheard. There were voices around her. It was easy for hermind to hear one word and mistake it for another. Then, there was no conviction of it,only hope. The voices weren’t that loud, after all. She could hear everything else well. Itwas no mistake. But, maybe, just maybe, there was a plausible explanation for it.

Finally, she turned to Timothy, her eyes flaming with anger.

“What is he talking about, Timothy?” She tried to keep her voice down, but it wasdifficult. She wanted to shout at him, to demand an explanation with all the intensity ofher being. She had given him her heart. The least she expected to get in return wasjustification.

Timothy turned pale. His jaw dropped. His mouth hung open but only silence oozed fromit. There was no explanation. Nothing. He seemed frozen in time, like a statue, unable tospeak or move.

“Timothy!?” she called out again, a little louder this time, wanting him to snap out of it.

The Duke, with a mysterious smirk on his face, stood by her side, separating the onceunited lovers. He gave them a few moments, then interfered.

“Perhaps, I could shed some light on the matter,” the Duke spoke with a vindictive note,even though his voice was smooth and calm. Harriet immediately turned to him, hernostrils flaring, her eyes pleading for an explanation.

She didn’t want the Duke to speak, but Timothy was silent. That in itself was enough ofan answer. Lies were difficult to explain, difficult to defend. The truth was always one andthe same. If the Duke had been wrong in his conclusion, then why wasn’t Timothyspeaking up?

She wanted to grab him by the collar, and shake him, until words started spilling out ofhim like ripe apples dropped from a tree. But she didn’t want to touch him. Not until sheheard whether this insinuation was true or not.

“You see, Lady Harriet,” the Duke started to explain, “I’ve known this for a few days now.Lord Ramsay and Lord Sutton really ought to be more quiet and much more careful whendiscussing such matters in the not so private rooms of White’s where they play billiards.My friends had overheard the whole conversation, and they were kind enough to let meknow. The bet was that Lord Ramsay here would win your heart over by the time theseason had finished.”

Harriet’s lips started to tremble. Not only did he bet that he would make her fall in lovewith him, but he also had the audacity to discuss it in public, where anyone couldoverhear him.

The nerve!

Harriet’s blood was boiling. She had never been so humiliated in her entire life, andbefore the Duke as well, whom she had shunned for this villain, who only wished to toywith her heart and nothing else. She felt a strange mixture of pain and anger, and she

didn’t know which one to honor first.

“I would have mentioned it earlier to save you this heartache,” the Duke added, his voicealmost apologetic, “but you have been avoiding me for the last week or more, and therewas no chance for me to share this knowledge. I’m certain you shall agree that this is nomatter for written correspondence.”

He spoke almost unbearably softly, as if she was a mere child and needed somethingexplained in a way that a child would understand. But she couldn’t hold it against him.She couldn’t hold anything against this man who had endured so much, and still remainedby her side, solemn and dignified, while Timothy, that villain, only planned on toying withher emotions.

“I…” Harriet tried to apologize for her behavior, but she was too shocked, too frail to sayanything.

“It’s quite all right, my dear,” the Duke’s spiteful eyes stared at Timothy, completely incontrast with the calm tone of his voice. “This simply goes to show you the true nature ofthe people around us. They show us just mere masks of their true selves, and then at onemoment, we discover this truth and are simply horrified by it.”

Timothy finally reached out to her, trying to take her by the hand, but she pushed himaway violently.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” she hissed, trying to whisper, but she was overcome by thestrength of her emotions and the magnitude of her defeat.

“Please, let me explain,” Timothy pleaded, regaining his voice and strength.

Harriet could see the Duke taking a step back, as if to allow them some space toexchange a few words in private, as much as the circumstances allowed for it. But shecouldn’t have cared less who overheard them. After all, was it not so that others were

usually amused by such drama taking place in public?

Let them be amused. Who cares now!?

“I love you, Harriet,” Timothy told her, but at those words, Harriet could not sustain heranguish any longer.

“You love me!?” she shouted at him in disbelief, her voice breaking through the loud veilof music that had just started to play the waltz. “You do not love anybody but yourself!You have proven that to me!”

“I know it all started as a bet, but please believe me -”

“Don’t you see!? I can’t believe a single word that comes out of your mouth, not a singleword! You are a liar and a cheat, and I don’t want to see you ever again!”

“You don’t mean that…” Timothy pleaded, his voice on the verge of cracking.

Harriet knew that by this point, everyone was staring at them. The drama that had beentaking place right before their eyes had suddenly become far more entertaining than theball itself. But she did not care one bit about it. Her heart was broken. She had beenpublicly shamed. She did not care what that would do to her prospects as a future wife,but she cared about the effects of it on her as a person. She doubted she would ever healfrom this betrayal.

“Please, just listen to me…” Timothy begged.

He realized the mistake he had made. He sounded sorry. He sounded miserable. Buteveryone sounded like that once their deceit was found out and revealed to the world.Harriet knew that she would never be able to trust him again. Ever.

“I don’t care about the bet, I never did,” Timothy explained, as she pulled away from him.“I fell in love with you, you know that.”

“Your every word is like poison.” She stared at him with more hatred than she everthought she could feel. “Do not ever come near me again.”

She turned around and elbowed her way through the stunned crowd and out into thecorridor. A few moments later, the Duke appeared.

“Lady Harriet,” he spoke, standing behind her. Slowly, he rested his hand on hershoulder. “I know it is out of place to inquire if you are all right, but please allow me tohelp you.”

Silently, Harriet burst into tears, burying her face into her hands. Her mind was swarmingwith the events that had just taken place. The past few weeks had been nothing but adream, a mere concoction of the mind of someone who had no true intentions towardsher.

He made a bet. He never loved me.

She wanted to go home and hide herself in her room. She wanted to wither away, todisappear. She didn’t wish to see anyone or talk to anyone. But they were all far awayfrom home, from the only place which was safe now.

“Why don’t you take some time to rest?” the Duke suggested. “I shall tell one of mymaids to show you to one of the spare guestrooms. You and young Abbie may spend thenight there.”

“Oh,” Harriet sniveled, “I do not wish to be a bother…”

“You are never a bother,” he assured her. “Having you under my roof is always a pleasure

for me. Also, I wouldn’t forgive myself if I sent you home in this condition. I wouldn’t beable to sleep one wink, knowing you are crying and feeling unwell. Please, stay here.”

He took her by the hand and kissed it more passionately than he had ever done before.She was a little taken aback by this sudden show of fervor, but at the same time, she wastoo tired to give it much significance.

“You know there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Lady Harriet. Nothing.”

There was something in his voice that frightened her. Was it the tone of obsession whichshe could notice, or the desire with which he had grabbed her hand? She took a stepback, gently pulling her hand away.

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Grace,” she nodded. “I think I shall take you up onthat offer and go lie down for a while. I feel like the whole world keeps spinningunderneath my feet.”

“Yes, that would be best,” he agreed. “As for Lord Ramsay, I shall have him removedimmediately. You shall not need to bear the sight of him ever again. I promise you that.”

“Harriet!” a familiar voice broke the silence of the corridor. “Harriet!”

She turned to face Timothy. He looked like a man who had just been released fromBethlem Hospital. His hair was disheveled, his collar ruffled.

“Harriet, please!” he shouted after her, but the Duke wouldn’t let him come near her.

He stood before Timothy, shielding her with his body.

“The lady has already told you she wishes to have nothing to do with you,” the Duke

growled, like a bound dog, its thick neck tugging and testing the length of the chain.

There was no politeness in his voice this time. Harriet saw them as two animals fightingfor territory, and there was nothing either of them wouldn’t do. She couldn’t bear towatch it. She had already seen enough of this show.

“Collins,” the Duke called out to the butler, who had also just appeared upon realizingthere was a commotion in the hallway. “Please, escort Lord Ramsay off the estate.”

“You can’t do this to me!” Timothy had finally been stirred out of the frozen state of mindhe had been stuck in since this revelation, and Harriet could see him becoming enraged.“You have to let me speak to her!”

“I do not have to do anything, Lord Ramsay,” the Duke shook his head. “I suggest youcalm down, unless you wish me to call the Constables.”

At the mention of involving the law in this matter, Timothy calmed down, and for this,she was grateful. She did not wish for the Constables to be involved in such a debacle,one that might haunt her even later on in life. With her back to him, she did not wish tosee him, let alone speak to him.

Once shown to her room, Harriet made sure to close the door properly. Her worn outbody pleaded for rest, so she slumped onto the bed, and started sobbing violently intothe pillow.

“U

C H A P T E R 2 1

nhand me!” Timothy shouted at the butler who had been keeping a firm grip of theyoung man’s elbow. He only released him once he had taken him outside the house.

There was darkness all around, apart from an occasional oil lamp which did not providemuch light. Carriages were aligned one after the other in the distance, the coachmenpatiently waiting for the ball to end, so they could take their masters and mistresseshome.

“You are no longer welcome at Redfield Estate,” the butler spoke curtly, gesturing at oneof the coachmen.

Timothy had half a mind to tell this man a few things about his master, but he refrainedfrom doing so upon seeing the worried face of his friend leave the house a few momentsafter he had been escorted out himself. In all this commotion, he had forgotten all abouthim.

“Timothy!” Curtis called out to him, breathless. He had obviously been running about,trying to find him. “What’s happened? I saw Harriet rush out, and the Duke going afterher, then you -”

“She knows about the bet…” Timothy needed to say no more than that.

The usually cheerful and slightly flushed face of his friend now turned paler than a sheet.

His sharp intellect had always been good at grasping matters clearly and quickly, and hewas well aware of the significance of this event.

“We have been indiscreet at White’s,” Timothy explained, although he was certain thathis friend knew how it had happened. “Word of it had reached the Duke, and the restyou’ve seen for yourself.”

The two men partook in a moment of solemn disquietude. Timothy needed to becomforted, but not by mere words. Those could do little to ease his mind. He wanted torush back inside and tell Harriet everything. Repeat everything, word for word, until shefinally understood that this whole bet was a silly thing, one she should not be worryingher pretty little head over, because it meant nothing. Absolutely nothing. Sure, it allstarted that way, but he had already opened his heart to her and assured her of thestrength of his feelings for her. Wasn’t that enough?

“But… did you explain it to Harriet?” Curtis sounded hopeful, as he broke the silence.

“No,” Timothy shook his head, his blundering mistake costing him more than he everthought it would. “She wouldn’t let me, and I do not blame her, Curtis. I was such a fool!”

He raked his fingers nervously through his hair, then curled both of his hands into fists.But the man he wished to grace with a violent touch was inside, most probably consolingHarriet herself. Timothy couldn’t stand the idea of him putting his hands on her. His bloodran cold, then hot again, to the point of boiling.

“I have to get back inside.” Timothy looked at the house longingly. “She is there, with theDuke, and he is telling her God knows what!”

Bright lights illuminated the windows, and the sounds of music oozed through the walls.People had already forgotten about the commotion, and simply continued to have fun.But Timothy couldn’t care less about any of those people or what their opinions were.Harriet had taught him to trust himself, to see through the surface of the world and trustonly oneself.

“I know you want to do what’s right, but don’t do something you might regret,” Curtiswarned him, as if he had been reading his friend’s mind.

“I can’t let her think that it was all just because of the bet. It did start off that way, but -”

“I know,” Curtis interrupted him, “but, you won’t achieve anything by talking to hertonight.”

“So, am I supposed to just leave?” Timothy asked incredulously.

He couldn’t believe that there was nothing he could do tonight, not a single thing thatwould make her change her mind and see what really happened. He was certain that sheknew he wasn’t lying; he wasn’t pretending when he told her all those intimate things inconfidence. His heart belonged to her, and now that there was a slight chance of herrefusing it, Timothy was in pain beyond comprehension.

“For now, yes,” Curtis confirmed. “Go home. Sleep on it. She is hurt, and understandablyso. We somehow erroneously believed that she would never find out, but in fact, youshould have mentioned it to her yourself. She would have gotten upset, but she wouldprobably have accepted your explanation. Now, it is too late for any such thing. So, justleave her be for tonight.”

“I don’t know if I can do that,” Timothy admitted, enraged at the level of helplessness hefelt.

“You must.” The sound of his friend’s voice was firm, but well-meaning, as always.Timothy knew he could always rely on Curtis for an honest opinion and help. Now, heneeded both. “There are no words you can choose to say tonight which would make herfeel better. Let her sleep. Let her mind rest. Let her come to terms with this inward strife.Then, talk to her tomorrow. Perhaps she will be more inclined to listen to you then, andyou shall be given a chance to explain yourself.”

Timothy had given it a moment’s thought, then agreed. It would be a futile struggle toreturn inside now. He might even endanger the possibility of forgiveness she might offertomorrow. He had to be patient. But patience was never one of Timothy’s stronger suits.

At that moment, Curtis placed his hand gently on Timothy’s shoulder, squeezing it softly.

“I’m sorry, old boy,” Curtis muttered. “This is all my fault.”

“By no means,” Timothy shook his head fervently. “It all started off as a joke betweenfriends. It was I who accepted to make it into reality. It is me she should be upset with,as she is. This is none of your fault.”

“You are a good man for saying so,” Curtis smiled.

“You are my best friend, Curtis,” Timothy reminded him. “We have seen tough timestogether. We’ll see this through as well.”

He paused for a moment, glancing up at the main house once more. “I heard the Dukeoffer her to stay the night here, with Abbie,” Timothy remembered.

“Well, he will most certainly see this as an opportunity to present himself in the best lightand remind her that his marriage proposal is still on the table,” Curtis pondered out loud,and Timothy knew he was right. That knowledge bit his very heart with a pang of bitterjealousy. “From what you’ve told me about Harriet, she is a reasonable young lady, andshe won’t make any rash decisions tonight. Rest assured.”

“I know she won’t,” Timothy agreed. “She doesn’t do things out of spite. I doubt there iseven spite inside of her at all. She is too good a person for that.”

“Good or not, she is hurt now. Remember that. Hurt does things to people, it makes themact against their better judgment. So, do not push her, because it is a dangerous path to

ruin, one you might not be able to come back from.”

“Just thinking about the Duke exacting his secret purpose on her is enough to drive memad,” Timothy growled.

“Come now,” Curtis wrapped his arm around his shoulder, and urged him to start walkingtowards his carriage. They were both starting to feel like this was a conversation to beheld in the safety of four walls and not out in the open where the Duke’s servants mightoverhear them. “Allow me to take you home. Your coachman can follow us.”

“I’m afraid I’m not good company tonight, Curtis,” Timothy sighed, though allowing hisfriend to lead him.

“Bah, you just need to pluck up your spirits, my good man,” Curtis assured him. “Youneed to resolve this matter tomorrow, and you will need all your wits about you.”

“I doubt I will be able to sleep one wink tonight,” Timothy sighed.

“Then, don’t sleep. Don’t think. Just rest your body. But, in the name of all that is good,let us go from here, before I need to hold you by the arms to prevent you from bargingback inside, and making this whole matter irreversibly worse.”

Timothy realized his friend was making a good point. He was one step away from doingthat very thing. So, finally, he entered the carriage, and gazed blankly out the windowinto the darkness.

He could still feel the cold grip of the Duke’s hand, as he congratulated him on winningCurtis’ bet. His own hands clenched into fists. He wanted to start punching the air aroundhim, until there was no more strength left in him. But, instead, his hands slumped downinto his lap helplessly.

The hours until the morning seemed endless, like an entire eternity. He knew sleep wouldnot grace him with its presence. Turmoil and anguish would be his bed chambercompanions, as the woman he loved slept in another man’s home.

A

C H A P T E R 2 2

knock on the door interrupted Harriet’s need for rest, although she was wellaware of the fact that sleep would not be coming to her on such an intenseevening. Every inch of her refused to rest, plagued by betrayal of the grandest

proportions.

“Yes?” she managed to muster, her cheek still lying on the wet pillow, her entire bodyprostrate on the bed, beneath a soft cover.

Slowly, a hand pushed the door open, and a familiar face peered in, even though she didnot see it upon entering.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” the Duke excused himself, closing the door behind him. “Imerely wanted to see how you were, and if you needed anything.”

Harriet didn’t even glance in his direction. With his back turned to him, she stared at thewall, as if it bore all the answers to life’s most important questions, and all she needed todo was glare at it long enough to see them.

The Duke waited a few moments but seeing that no response came from the curled-upbody on the bed, he brazenly took a step forward. She couldn’t see what he was doing,but she could hear it clearly enough. The soles of his boots made the floorboards squealunderneath the weight of his body with each subsequent step he took. Finally, he stoppedwhen he was one step away from the bed.

“Lady Harriet,” he continued, and she could hear his heavy breathing echoing in theroom. “I know this seems like the end of the world right now. Your heart is broken, and Iknow what that must feel like. For some women, it truly would be a tragic end, but notfor you. You are stronger than that.”

Harriet didn’t say anything to that. She was as grateful for the hospitality as she was forhim trying to make her feel better, but all she wanted was to be left alone, and notreminded of what just happened. Every word drove that knife of treachery deeper intoher heart, twisting it and making it even more painful.

In her distress, she completely forgot the most important thing, something whichthreatened to make her situation even more risky, even more perilous. Abbie was notwith her, and therefore, she was with the Duke unchaperoned. She would not evendream of putting herself in this situation under usual circumstances.

But her mind somehow managed to neglect this crucial detail regarding her currentsituation, as he allowed himself to sit on the bed, right by her side, their bodies so closethey were almost touching. The bed shifted a little, as he adjusted himself. She could stillhear his heavy breathing, so close this time. Too close. She was devastated by whatTimothy had done, and her senses were not really about her. She sensed no danger, nothreat, apart from the one that had already been revealed to her.

“I hope you will excuse my boldness,” the Duke continued, as she still stared in theopposite direction, her eyes wide open, her mind refusing to sleep, to let it all go and driftoff into slumberland. “I’ve taken the liberty of speaking to your brother.”

This statement made her entire body twitch in a spasm.

My brother? Now, he knows as well.

The thought shook her to the very core. Harley had always given her the opportunity tomake her own choices, and with this, her own mistakes. Truth be told, he expected her tomake very few of the latter, and she knew how disappointed he would be in her once hefound out that she had entrusted her fate and her heart to the hands of a scoundrel like

Timothy. That knowledge once again brought tears to her eyes, but she refused to cryover someone like him. Her tears were much more precious.

“I haven’t told him much regarding what just happened,” the Duke continued softly, hisvoice much different than she had ever heard it before. It seemed somehow moremelodious this time, more honeyed. “I simply informed him of my desire to have you asmy wife. I told him, as I had told you yourself before, that nothing would deter me in thisendeavor, no matter what happens.”

This time, she stirred, and turned around to face him. In the soft, glimmering light of theoil lamp that rested on a small table in the corner, Harriet could notice the true depth ofhis scar. In the sunlight, it was barely visible, as his stern, tight jaw clenched. It somehowmerged into the unevenness of his tanned face. But now, his countenance was relaxed,and the darkened, shadowy lines of his form were revealed in a whole new light.

“What did he say?” Harriet asked, knowing she would not dare ask her brother that verysame question.

“Well, it seemed that he had witnessed the entire affair from afar,” the Duke admitted.“He could sense that something was terribly amiss. I tried to explain with carefullychosen words and keep your dignity intact. I assured him that I would keep protectingyou with everything I have, my strength, my reputation, my name which I am willing togive to you right now, if only you say yes.”

He leaned in, and for a moment, Harriet thought that he would kiss her. She sunkbackwards into the pillow, hoping to fall down into the soft mattress and just disappear.Dark forebodings started to cloud over her, and she realized the solitude of theircircumstances.

She glanced over at the door. It was tightly shut. Inside, it was just the two of them, andthe darkness that tried to separate them, but he was getting closer to her, inch by inch.She could smell his heavy cologne filling her nostrils.

However, a moment later, she realized that he did not have kissing in mind. He merely

took her by the hand and kept squeezing at it gently. That awful fate which she couldalready see herself succumbing to had dispersed, and she was once more with someonewho cared about her well-being and her dignity, unlike Timothy.

A part of her wanted to apologize loudly for the thought that had just occurred to her,that he would even consider taking advantage of her distress. But his smile assured hereverything was all right. There was no need for any apologies. This man understood her.He wanted to help her. That was all.

However, his intimate closeness still did not appease her. He must have been aware of ithimself, and yet, he did not remove himself from her personal space. Her senses nowalert, she could recognize the impropriety of this situation, and wished he would say whathe had to say, then leave her be, even if that meant showing ingratitude on her part.

“Your silence says it all, my dear Harriet,” the Duke spoke boldly, addressing her unlikeany other time before. “I can already see us getting married, the wedding bells ringing forus. You shall look so lovely in a wedding dress. Oh, we shall be so happy!”

Harriet frowned. She had said nothing and did not like it when others mistook her silencefor a lack of opinion. Especially when it referred to the question of her personalhappiness.

“Perhaps we should just wait a little,” she told him, adjusting herself on the bed, so thatshe was no longer in a lying position. She was seated, with her back resting against thepillow, her hand still in his, caged by his fingers. She tried to sound polite and even alittle apologetic. She did not wish to offend him in any way.

“Nonsense,” he shook his head, smiling. “Why would we wait? You might bear the bruntof Timothy’s slight, people might say what they have to say regarding this affair, aspeople always do, and I shall not have it. If you were to become my wife immediately,then they will have nothing to say. It is all quite simple. Don’t you see that my dear?”

“I do appreciate what you are trying to do, I really do,” Harriet spoke as kindly as shecould under the circumstances. All she wanted was to have Abbie here, or anyone else for

that matter, so that they wouldn’t be alone any longer. The danger she was in wasbecoming evident. “But I could not possibly marry you immediately.”

This is absolutely absurd!

Her mind shouted at the impropriety and his lack of manners. She remained quiet. Still,she wished to show gratitude for what he had done for her in her hour of need. However,her refusal did not seem to deter him in the slightest and he continued in the same calmmanner.

“It is all a matter of choice, you see,” he continued, his closeness now more of a perilthan ever before. She could almost feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “I’vechosen you. You may not know this, but I’ve had my eye on you for quite a while now.You were such a sweet girl, but you were so young. Too young, my dear. Only once youwere of age, could I have made my advances known. You see, I’ve chosen to make youmy wife, and this is what you shall be. It is as simple as that.”

His tone of voice had started to become less mellifluous, less lyrical, and more severeand somber, as if he had been reading an oath, something he could never go back ononce he had given himself to it completely. To her great alarm, she could no longer heareven the faintest traces of music and dancing.

He smiled at her with a perceptible look of strange satisfaction. She was exactly wherehe wanted her to be, and he had no intention of removing himself. He either did notsense or simply did not notice her discomfort.

“You forget, Your Grace, that while I do wish to become a wife, I still believe that awoman should be more, she should strive for more. She should at least be allowed tomake her own choices, and not have them be made for her by someone else.”

“What more could you wish for than managing this home, which will become yours?” hescoffed. “You shall not have a single care in the world. Isn’t that what women wish for?”

“Women do not wish for others to solve their problems for them.” Harriet finally managedto find that inner power of spirit that had often been the topic of conversation when shewas not around.

She had never been a usual woman, but rather one with peculiar and brilliant parts, so tosay. Her mind raced with questions, and she was never afraid to voice them out loud.Despite what she had initially come to believe, this man did not wish to answer thosequestions. He wished to silence them. Forever. And make her a subservient wife.

“But that is exactly the point, my dear,” he chuckled, as if he had been speaking to aninsolent child, and he had gotten tired of explaining, but he was still enjoying this sillybanter. “You will not have any problems to bother that pretty little head of yours. Oh, Ican already see you in that white wedding gown, walking down the aisle –”

A loud knock on the door. The Duke squeezed her hand a little more tightly, to the pointher hand turned pale. Then, he quickly let go. They both looked in the direction of thedoor.

“Come in!” Harriet shouted loudly, welcoming anyone’s presence at this moment.

When the sweet face of her cousin, Abbie, presented itself, Harriet released a sigh ofrelief. Abbie hesitated for a moment, and Harriet couldn’t really understand why. But thenshe glanced over at the Duke, and all became clear.

His face was one of rigid stiffness, and there was not even a trace of that smile that heshown her a few moments before. Young Abbie’s perfect timing transformed the man whohad been sitting next to Harriet. His bitter feelings were revealed on his face, and heradiated little of that warmth and affection from before.

“Oh, I apologize…” Abbie had obviously seen the man’s face herself and did not dare takea step closer.

Her fear didn’t allow her to speak more than those few words, but her child’s psychicaffinity assured her that not all was as it seemed here.

“What do you want!?” the Duke growled loudly, angrily, at the poor child, and Harrietjumped out of bed, rushing to Abbie, both girls shaken to their very core at this sudden,enraged outburst.

Her arms flew around the frightened child, who had no idea what she had done wrong. Inall honesty, Harriet herself did not know this either, but she was determined to find out.

“What on earth has possessed you!?” she shouted back at the Duke, completelydisregarding any social decorum that demanded her to show respect when talking to him.

Harriet felt impelled by dreadful horror, the likes of which she had never felt before in hersheltered life. She felt cold talons digging into her heart, turning all her reason to merescraps. The bonds of love with which the Duke had ensnared her before transformed intoindescribable agony of despair. She could see it in his maddened eyes.

“Possessed me!?” the Duke yelled fearfully, laughing at the same time.

Harriet had a horrifying presentiment. This man was no longer the calm and composedDuke who had been courting her for many a month. This was someone else. A madman,raging, as his blue veins popped up in his reddened neck and a fiery current of rageboiling in his blood.

“Have you any idea how long I have waited for you!?” the Duke kept shouting angrily, asHarriet tried to shield Abbie with her own body. “All those endless months, only for it toend here. But it shall not end here. Do you hear me!? You shall be mine and no oneelse’s!”

He approached them, as a giant approached a small hill which he meant to stomp intothe very ground, leaving nothing but remains. He grabbed Harriet with one hand, but he

saw that Abbie was clutching dearly onto her. It enraged him even further, as he dug hisfingers into Abbie’s upper arm, and angrily pulled her away from Harriet. Abbie’s bodyflew across the room, landing on the bed, but as she did so, her head slammed againstthe sturdy wood rails, and she fell down unconscious.

“Abbie!” Harriet screamed in terror, pale as a corpse.

The Duke’s hand was still digging into her elbow, as his eyes stared at her. She wonderedif he even realized what he had done.

She was able to take one last look of Abbie’s unconscious body on the floor, and then shewas dragged out of the room, like a hurt animal.

I

C H A P T E R 2 3

t was still the middle of the night when Curtis’ carriage reached White’s. Thetwo men had barely exchanged any words during the drive back, and Timothyappreciated that he wasn’t forced to converse, when he didn’t wish to. Curtis

had graciously allowed him some time of peace, to sort things out in his own head,although nothing seemed clearer afterwards. It was all the same tangle of thornsTimothy himself had created.

“Would you like to get a drink?” Curtis suggested, once they got out of the carriage.“Perhaps to try and get your mind off of this?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll just go to bed,” Timothy shrugged. “I’ll try to comeup with what to say when I go back there in the morning. I honestly don’t even knowwhere to start.”

“Don’t ponder too hard,” Curtis suggested. “Just speak from the heart. That’s the onlyway you will get through to her.”

“You’re right,” Timothy nodded, shaking Curtis’ hand. “I appreciate your advice, asalways.”

“I still feel somewhat to blame…”

“No,” Timothy shook his head. “I already told you not to think that. It’s not true. I am the

only one to blame for what’s happened. I should have mentioned this before, buthonestly, I was too immersed in the joy she brought into my life. I had almost forgottenall about that bet. That was my mistake. I should have been honest with her from thestart, as she had been with me.”

Curtis sighed. “Just go there tomorrow and see what can be mended. I’m certain she willunderstand. She is a clever girl. Reasonable.”

“She is, but as you said, once a heart has been broken, it is difficult to make it open uponce more. Still, thank you.”

The two men parted cordially, each of them heading to his own room. Timothy closed thedoor, then immediately slumped onto the bed, only managing to kick off his boots beforedoing so. The bed springs squealed. He propped his head up with his hand, staring at theceiling.

He wondered what Harriet was doing. Was she in a state of mental disarray as he was?Or was she sound asleep in one of the Duke’s spare guestrooms? She most certainlywasn’t up, as he was. Her conscience was clean, unlike his. Her mind didn’t plague herwith guilt.

He regretted the whole evening, and how it had turned out. There had been so manychances for him to come clean, to admit everything, and yet, he had seized none of them.He should have been honest, but it was too late for that now.

How will she ever believe me again?

His mind kept repeating that question, but he didn’t have an answer for it. He could seeno ray of sunlight coming from anywhere. He was enshrouded in darkness. The Duke’shostile influence had probably already started to spread, like a malicious disease, overHarriet again – Timothy was certain of that. That man was surely filling her mind with hispoison, turning her even more against Timothy. The longer Harriet was there, withoutTimothy, the more fatal this man’s influence would be on their love.

That thought tormented him for hours, and there was no relief. He kept seeing with hismind’s eye what had happened over and over again, each time showing himself reactinginadequately.

I should have said something sooner…

I should have made her listen!

I should have punched him in the face!

I shouldn’t have let her stay there…

There had been too many should haves and shouldn’t haves. He could almost hear theDuke laughing wickedly, and for a moment, it sounded like that vicious man was in thisvery room. Timothy knew that could not be so. He was alone, so terribly alone, separatedfrom the one he loved most.

What made this separation even harder to bear was the knowledge that he might neverhold Harriet’s hand in his or shower it with soft kisses.

I deserve this. I deserve all of this. They should all laugh heartily at me for being such adamn fool!

Not even as the first morning light peered through the room did Timothy fall asleep. Hisentire body fervently protested that idea. It wanted to stay awake, and act.

To do something, anything, that might bring back Harriet into his life and keep her there.

“No, no!” Harriet kept shouting so loudly that her pleas reverberated in the long corridor.

She was in the far end of the grand mansion, where all the guestrooms were situated,and they were separated from the rest of the house by a lengthy passageway thatseemed to lead into pitch darkness.

She could feel the Duke’s claws digging agonizingly into the soft flesh of her elbow, as hedragged her forward so violently that she lost one of her shoes.

“Let me go!” she kept on shouting, but none of her pleas seemed to reach the Duke’sears, as he trudged on, determined to get somewhere.

His stature alone assured her that her defiance would be fruitless. His body bent forward,arching his back in such a way that it made him appear twice his usual size. In thedarkened corridor, he resembled more a monster than a man.

In her frantic state of mind, she looked around, in hopes of finding something to grab andhit him with, but the passageway was devoid of any objects that might serve her in thatpurpose. All she could see was an endless row of paintings on both sides of the wall.

Harriet remembered poor, darling little Abbie, motionless on the floor. Never in a millionyears could she believe that she would witness something so dreadful, so frightening. Asudden gush of tears started flooding her face, and she prayed that the sweet child wasall right. She knew she would never forgive herself if anything happened to Abbie.

Finally, they reached a door at the end of the corridor, and the Duke pushed it open.Harriet was surprised to see it was just a library. Nothing seemed off about it, until theDuke, still with a firm grip on her elbow, approached the fireplace, and turned the statueof a goblin that rested on it. A heavy thud was heard, the scraping of brick against brick,as the fireplace moved to the left, revealing a secret staircase, that led downward, intoeven more darkness.

In her despair, Harriet tried to grab at the fire poker, but it was out of reach. Instead, the

hem of her dress caught against it, so that when the Duke pulled her down the staircase,a little piece of fabric was left as a silent witness of the horror that had begun to takeplace.

“Where are you taking me!?” she kept shouting, listening to the sound of the secret doorclosing behind them.

“Where you belong!” the Duke growled, without even turning to her.

With every step he tugged at her harder, as they descended the winding stairs. Harrietfelt like they were going into the very depths of the earth.

“I’ve had enough of your liberated ways!” he kept hissing. “You will be the wife I wantyou to be, even if that means that I need to re-educate you!”

Harriet tried to yank herself free from his grasp, but she was too weak for that. Instead,she only managed to fuel his anger.

“You will behave!” he roared at her.

He finally let go of her, but she realized to her utter shock and dismay, that there wasnowhere to run. He had brought her to a small, windowless room, that resembled more atomb with its musty smell and complete darkness, save for several candles that were litup in the corner.

Once the images around her finally unfolded themselves more clearly, Harriet’s entirebody lay motionless in fear, as she gazed upon paintings of her own self, scattered aboutthe walls around her.

“What on earth is this!?” Harriet managed to mutter, shocked at the sight before her.

She saw her own portraits, a pair of old shoes she had no more use from, so she hadthrown them out. Somehow, they had ended up here. Her old parasol was here as well,broken and torn, resting in the corner.

Then, she saw the most frightening thing of all. Hanging on a wiry human form, was awedding gown. Under any other circumstance, Harriet would find it absolutely breath-taking, with its luxuriant silver lace, topped off beautifully by a robe of ermine-linedvelvet.

But Harriet couldn’t possibly focus on the wonderful intricacy of this wedding gown, whichseemed to be made for her. The thought that the Duke had gone so far as to actuallyprocure a wedding gown had frightened her more.

“Welcome to your new life, my dear.” The Duke approached a dark oak cabinet, fromwhich he obtained a small bottle and a piece of white cloth.

“Get away from me!” Harriet screamed, as she cowered in the corner, watching himapproach her.

He didn’t seem to be in any rush, and that devil smile was still on his face. Harriet couldnot believe this was the same man who had taken her to so many outings and gifted hersuch wonderful things, promising a life of love and devotion.

“I will not harm you,” he assured her with the voice of a terrible apparition. “I hoped yourealized that by now. I would never harm a hair on your beautiful head. But you are notall yourself, I’m afraid. You need to rest.”

“Do not come near me!” Harriet warned, although her threat bore no weight, and theyboth knew it.

“Trust me,” he urged, as he had taken on the most repulsive form in her mind. He was nolonger a man, but a monster, a goblin, a warlock. Anything but a human being. “I will

take good care of you, my dear. Oh, and do not worry about your dear brother. He hasbeen informed of your change of plans.”

“What change of plans?” she growled.

“Why, that a very close friend of yours, Lizzie, has taken ill, and you so politely asked formy carriage to take you and Abbie there, that I couldn’t refuse you. I even offered to joinyou, but you wished to go alone.”

“He will never believe you!”

“By the time he finds out what is going on, you and I will be long gone…”

With those words, he neared her, one hand grabbing at the back of her head, and theother shoving that piece of cloth right over her nose and mouth.

“No! No!” Harriet shouted as hard as she could, for as long as she could, but no one cameto her rescue.

The last thing she could hear was the stroke of the big grandfather clock behind her, andthen everything went black.

T

C H A P T E R 2 4

imothy’s carriage pulled up in front of Redfield Estate, as he reached themain house. He urged the coachman to stay behind, as he walked up to the

entrance. The butler opened the door, with the same vain expression on his face. Hisbulging belly was only partially hidden by his clothes, and now, in broad daylight, theman seemed much less menacing. He recognized Timothy immediately, and stood rightin the middle of the doorway, as if barring him from entering.

“I would like to see the Duke,” Timothy demanded, without a cordial greeting, which inthis case, would serve him no purpose.

“The Duke is occupied. I have clear instructions not to let anyone in,” the butler repliedcurtly, staring him down.

“I will not leave until I see him.” Timothy endeavored to remain calm, although he wouldrather just push this insolent servant to the side and barge in, demanding to be admitted.

“If you do not leave immediately, I shall be forced to fetch the constables,” the butlergrowled back. “You were advised not to return to the estate last night, and I have everyright to consider this a breach.”

“By the time you fetch your constables, I will find my way to your master, and I will givehim a piece of my mind. So, why don’t you avoid the hassle, and just let me see him for amoment, to clarify something. I assure you that I will leave after that, and the constablesneedn’t be disturbed by this.”

“He’s told me he is not to be disturbed… by anyone,” the butler hissed through clenchedteeth.

Timothy had promised himself to try and do this the nice way. The easier way. But healso promised himself not to refrain from being aggressive.

“Then, you leave me no choice.” Timothy felt his strength rising from the very depths ofhis soul, and he used all his might to push the man out of his way so forcefully, that hesent him backwards reeling.

He proceeded to stomp throughout the house, calling out for the Duke.

“Duke of Redfield! I demand to see the Duke of Redfield!” he shouted as loudly as hecould, his voice sounding off like a million church bells. “Right now!”

The butler had regained his senses and composure, and lunged at Timothy, whomanaged to evade his attack by jumping to the side. The butler’s face reddened at thismistake, and Timothy was almost certain that the man would not miss the next time. Atthat moment, the duke himself appeared.

“What is the meaning of this!?” he thundered, with a voice that easily commandedsoldiers in the war.

The butler immediately lowered his gaze before his master, becoming obedient andcomposed.

“Your Grace, I apologize for the disruption,” the butler mumbled remorsefully. “LordRamsay here barged in unannounced, even after I told him that -”

“I’ve heard enough,” the Duke’s deeply rooted anger could not be hidden. “Leave us,Collins.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the butler nodded and within seconds, he was out of sight.

“If I recall correctly, Lord Ramsay,” the Duke addressed Timothy brusquely, “you weretold not to return to my estate ever again lest you expect dire consequences to follow.”

“I need to speak to Harriet.” Timothy pretended he did not hear him.

The Duke’s slow and steady breathing echoed. He remained silent for a while, staringTimothy down, but Timothy didn’t look away even for a second. He knew that this manwanted to terrify him, to make him doubt his own reasons for being here. Timothy wouldnever allow that. He was too certain of his own feelings. His heart knew what it felt.There was no changing it, even if he himself wanted to.

“Where is she?” Timothy demanded to know.

The Duke was a large, broad-shouldered man who was well versed in the skill of fighting.Timothy was certain that in case the two of them were to fight, he would be a ratherdifficult opponent.

“She is well taken care of, and that is all you need to know,” the Duke growled back inresponse.

“I want her to tell me that,” Timothy snapped back.

“Need I remind you, Lord Ramsay, that you are an intruder in my home, and you have noright to demand anything of me or Lady Harriet, especially after the spectacle of lastnight?”

“Whatever happened is between me and Harriet,” Timothy fumed. “It has nothing to do

with you.”

“On the contrary,” the Duke shook his head, once again being the calmer of the two.“Whatever happens to Lady Harriet is certainly my own concern as well, seeing she is tobecome my wife. But you shouldn’t expect an invitation to the wedding.”

This particular statement brought the man much pleasure to state out loud. Timothy’sfists curled up on their own, and it took all of his conscious effort not to deal him aserious blow. That would only exacerbate the whole situation, and Timothy needed to doexactly the opposite.

“I did not come to discuss these things with you,” Timothy managed to reply. “I demandto see Harriet, this instant.”

“And I will repeat it again, for you seem to have a problem with your hearing, LordRamsay,” the Duke reiterated, “Lady Harriet will not see you. In fact, she downrightrefuses to do so. She has told me this herself several times since last night, and agentleman always listens to what a lady says.”

All Timothy could do was shake his head incredulously. He was certain that this man wastelling lies. Harriet would not agree to marry the Duke just to spite him. She was not thatkind of a person. Even if it were true that she did not wish to see him, he might stillbelieve that much, but as for the wedding, that was where the Duke’s lies had crossedthe line.

“Now, I shall ask you only once more to kindly leave my property,” the Duke snarled. “If Ineed to ask one more time, I promise you, it will not be as polite.”

Timothy realized that the Duke would not let him talk to Harriet. That much was obvious.But something assured him that there was a deeper, stranger, and more frightening truthhiding behind those crazed eyes. He had to make sure that Harriet was truly safe andwell taken care of, as the Duke had claimed her to be. But he had to see it to believe it.

“I have your word that she is well taken care of?” Timothy asked, less angrily. It seemedto do the trick.

“Indeed, you do,” the Duke nodded, in a calmer frame of mind.

“Then, I shall do as you deem,” Timothy sighed, pretending that he was compliant withthe Duke’s orders, much to the satisfaction of his opponent.

“I shall call for Collins to see you out,” the Duke suggested.

“Oh, no, no need to bother,” Timothy quickly jumped to refuse. “I do not wish to be moreof a nuisance than I’ve already been so far. I shall find my own way out. My coachman iswaiting there.”

He paused for a moment. He wanted to assure the Duke that he was really leaving, andthat it was the most difficult decision he had to make in his entire life. He only hoped thathis pretense was convincing enough.

“Good day, Lord Ramsay,” the Duke nodded.

“Good day, Your Grace,” Timothy replied likewise, as he bowed, then turned around andwalked himself out the door.

Once outside, he took a deep breath. The door behind him was closed, and there was noone else around. A mansion of such grand proportions always had someone workingabout, and Timothy doubted he could take a stroll through property grounds withoutbeing detected. Still, he had to try. That was the only way he could get back inside.

He faced the house and eyed all the windows. The curtains were mostly drawn,untouched. They weren’t moving, but that still wasn’t proof enough that a pair of watchfuleyes wasn’t following him from inside. The Duke himself could be doing so.

Timothy had come to terms with the fact that, if he were to get caught, he would need todefend himself. There would be no time to flee hastily. If he wanted to flee, now was themoment. He was willing to do anything to make sure that Harriet was all right. Anything.

He proceeded to walk around the main house, lurking behind thick shrubbery and trees.Fortunately, it seemed that the servants were all inside, busy with their morning errands.He found one low window, enough for him to squeeze through it and get inside, but upontrying to open it, he realized that it was locked.

“Dammit!” he mumbled to himself angrily.

He glanced around. He was still alone. He knew he had to hurry, because someone mightsee his carriage still in the vicinity of the house, and go outside to inquire about his leave.He had to get inside the house before that happened.

He continued along a small, narrow path that led around the entire house. Finally, henoticed another window which was suitable to serve as an entrance, provided it wasn’tlocked.

This time, the stars seemed to favor him. The window immediately gave way once hetried to open it. He climbed up quickly, somewhat clumsily, stumbling down onto the flooron the other side. A large thud resonated inside a room which housed severalinstruments, including a large piano right by another window, a violin, and a cello.Timothy waited for a moment, to see if someone would come.

All of a sudden, he could hear a distant sound of footsteps. He glanced at the door. It wasstill closed. But it wouldn’t remain closed for much longer. Desperately, he searched for ahiding place, but there was nothing suitable.

Nothing, but the heavy, plush curtains of the big window opposite him, which seemed tohang low, all the way to the floor. He rushed over to them and wrapped himself in thethick fabric. His heart was beating feverishly, as he tried to steady his breathing.

The doorknob rattled under the heavy pressure of fingers, and Timothy could feel asudden gush of wind upon someone opening the door. He listened anxiously. His fleshcreeped. His mind listened to every single sound. The curtain dangled slightly as the windplayed with it.

“Is anyone there?” a voice demanded to know.

W

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hen Harriet opened her eyes, she realized that she couldn’t breatheproperly. Her mouth had been gagged by a piece of cloth that went around

her head. Finding it increasingly more difficult to breathe solely through her nose, shetried to calm herself down, but that was even harder once she realized that she was lyingon a bed, in an unfamiliar room, and her arms had been tied to the rails of theheadboard. Her feet were tied too.

Her eyes widened in shock, as a tidal wave of memories flooded her mind with images ofthe previous night.

Abbie! Where is Abbie!?

Her heart called out, but no sound left her lips. She couldn’t make a single sound. Shecouldn’t call for help. She couldn’t do anything. She was rendered inert and powerless bythe man she trusted.

She managed to lift her head off the pillow only a few inches, and the room around herbecame familiar in an instant. Then, she slumped back down, staring at the dark ceiling.

The Duke!

Her own eyes glared at her from portraits on the wall, as if taking sweet pleasure in hermisery. It was her own face solemn and serious, then smiling sweetly. She couldn’t even

count them all. The gloomy reverie took over her mind, assuring her that this was not adream, no matter how much she wanted to believe it was.

She tried to tug at the ropes that bound her to the bed, but no matter how hard shepulled and yanked at them, she couldn’t free herself. Her intelligent mind could notunderstand one single question that what was the root of all this evil.

How could this terrible thing have happened!?

She demanded of herself to know how and why, but she had no response to any of thesequestions. She could not see any of these dreadful things that assumed a living form inthe guise of the Duke. She realized she had been blinded by his calm demeanor, whichseemed to hide a devious persona, one she couldn’t imagine even in her wildestnightmares. Now, she had found herself in one and there was no way out.

Her mouth filled with her own saliva, and she swallowed with great difficulty. She tried tobring forth all the horrors she had ever read about, but nothing could even come close towhat she was now experiencing. She could feel the ubiquitous presence of a dark power,which seemed to loom over her even when there was no one in the room. It was enoughfor her to glance at her portraits on the wall or at the wedding gown which still rested inthe corner, patiently waiting.

She moaned into her gag, which soaked up all the noise she ventured to make. It was alluseless. No one would ever find her here. No one would come to her rescue.

Tears started to stream down her face. She had failed Abbie. She had failed herself. Shehad failed every woman in the world by trusting a man who was never to be trusted atall. He had presented the perfectly adequate mask, and no one even suspected of theevil that lurked within.

She closed her eyes and allowed the tears to flow. Her hope was gone. No one wouldever see through the Duke’s pretense and look for her in his home. No one. He was toogood at pretending to be something he was not. He probably had years of practice. Whoknew how many people he had deceived? How many women?

Harriet sobbed silently. She wanted to know that Abbie was all right. Just to know that,and she could die peacefully, knowing that she wasn’t accountable for the death of thatsweet child, who wouldn’t have even known this monster if it wasn’t for Harriet.

Abbie, please, forgive me…

Harriet wept despairingly, realizing all the mistakes she had made. If she hadn’t been thisupset with Timothy, none of this would have happened. He wanted to explain himself toher, but she, in her pride, refused to even hear him out.

Her heart ached, knowing that it was too late. Too late to change anything now…

Timothy was still hiding behind the curtain, as the butler paced through the room.Timothy peered through, as the man approached the open window, which Timothy in hishaste, had forgotten to close. The butler hastily closed it himself, then looked about theroom once more. Timothy pulled back, trying to remain motionless, which was almostimpossible as his entire body trembled uncontrollably. A minute later, he heard the soundof footsteps, and the door closing.

He sighed with relief, pushing the curtain aside. Timothy knew that it was only due toprovidence that he hadn’t been discovered. He needed to act fast and find Harriet. Hewould believe she was all right only if those exact words came out of her lovely lips.

He walked over to the door, and opened it slowly, inch by inch. A long corridor openeditself before him. There were dozens of doors on each side. Timothy rolled his eyes. Itwould take hours to check every single room.

But then he noticed something. The dark, blood-red carpet which lay prostrate all alongthe length of the passageway revealed something white in the corner. Timothy listenedintently. He could hear no one in the vicinity.

Now!

His mind urged him to go. Slowly, he listened. He made sure to walk meticulously, everystep carefully deliberated. Once he reached the white object that was lying on the floor,he bent down and took it in his hand.

What is it? What is it?

Timothy held the woman’s white and dainty shoe. It belonged to a small foot.

Rage was boiling within him, his entire body in fever pitch.

Is this Harriet’s shoe?

He did not know. He couldn’t be certain. He was too busy gazing into Harriet’s eyes totake any notice of her shoes or her dress. But considering everything that had happened,it was a bad omen. One that was enough to raise all his hairs on end.

The corridor around him immediately became colorless, his own body rigid and tense.Then unexpectedly, a loud noise was heard from an adjacent room, as if something hadfallen to the floor. Timothy tensed at the sound. Still gripping at the shoe, he walked overto the door.

He tried it. It was unlocked, so he pushed it open violently. There was no one there. Itlooked empty, save for a big wardrobe and a table. Even the curtains were pulled close,not allowing any sunlight in.

Thump! Thump!

The same noise was heard again, coming from the wardrobe. Still trembling, Timothyapproached it. A thousand thoughts swarmed inside his mind. Some urged him to leaveright this instant and keep looking for Harriet. Others pleaded him to stay and open thedoor. His attention was arrested, focused on the wardrobe and the muffled sounds thatwere still occasionally coming from inside.

He felt like a small child who had woken up in the middle of the night to hear strangesounds in his closet. Bravely, the child ventured to see if there was a monster lurkinginside. Timothy, with his mature, grown-up mind, wasn’t sure himself if there was indeeda monster inside.

But what would happen if he opened the door? Would there indeed be a monster inhuman form?

The muffled wails were still unintelligible. They sounded like moans and groans. Perhaps,it was no monster at all. Or, if it was a monster, perhaps it needed help itself.

Deciding not to ponder on it any longer, Timothy dropped the shoe to the ground, andused both his hands to fling the wardrobe doors open at the same time.

To his utter dismay and shock, a curled up and bound Abbie rolled out from inside thewardrobe and right into his arms. She looked like a forgotten little doll which was tossedaway and substituted for something new. She looked bruised and in pain.

“Abbie!” he couldn’t sustain his disbelief.

Her mouth gagged, she showed him her tied up hands, which were streaked with redlines as the ropes dug into her soft skin. He hastily undid the ropes, freeing her, and sheherself pulled off the gag that prevented her from speaking earlier. She took a deepbreath, pressing her hand to her chest.

“Are you all right?”

“Harriet!” she mumbled, pale as a sheet.

“Where is she?” Timothy asked, pressing his index finger to his lips, urging her to be asquiet as possible.

“The Duke has got her,” Abbie cried, shivering like a wet kitten found in the snow.

“Where?” he demanded.

Abbie’s brow furrowed. “I… I don’t know…”

She burst into silent tears, and he wrapped his arms around her. Her entire body hadcurled up into his hug, unwilling to separate from him. But he knew that they couldn’t risklosing a moment longer. Harriet was in danger.

“Listen to me,” he released her from his grip, and cupped her face with his palms. “I needyou to be very brave, Abbie. Harriet needs you to be brave as well. You need to get outof the house and get Harley. Can you do that?”

“I…” Abbie shivered. “I don’t know…”

He understood it was too much to ask of her, but she was the only one who could dothat. He needed to remain here and find where the Duke was keeping Harriet. Otherwise,no one would believe either of them.

“I know you can do this,” Timothy assured her. He chose his words carefully. Abbieneeded encouragement. “I know this because I know you love Harriet, just as I do. She isdepending on us to save her.”

Abbie nodded, her little face red and streaked with tears. She sniveled silently. She wipedher eyes with her sleeve, then nodded once more. He wanted to wrap his arms aroundher and hug her until she stopped crying, until she was certain that everything would beall right. But they had no time for that.

“Now, listen to me very carefully… When you get out of this room, turn left. Enter thethird room, and go to the smallest window you see, not the one with heavy curtains. Doyou understand?” he paused, and her eyes assured him that she understood. “Open thatwindow and get out. That’s the way I came in. Go around the house, to the front. Mycoachman is there. Tell him to drive you straight to Yardley Manor, and tell Harley tocome immediately. Can you do that?”

“Yes,” Abbie nodded again, her face now devoid of tears. She seemed a bit calmer now.“I can do this.”

“I know you can,” Timothy smiled, caressing her cheek. “Now, go. I’ll find Harriet, andwe’ll be waiting for you and Harley.”

“But, what if -”

“No time to talk, Abbie, we need to go now!” he urged her, knowing that it would be hardto find Harriet in this monster of a house, and he needed to start searching for herimmediately.

Timothy got up first and took her by the hand. He could feel her palm clammy and moist.He was trembling as much as she was, but he knew she counted on him to be the grown-up, to be fearless and confident that everything would be all right in the end.

It took all of Timothy’s strength and conviction to first convince himself of this, and thenthe little girl whom he was holding by the hand. He opened the door, then looked out intothe corridor. It was all quiet. Together, they walked out.

“There,” he pointed at the door to one of the rooms.

She nodded. He watched her as she disappeared in that same room he came out of. Helistened for the sound of opening windows, but there was nothing. Silence reigned allaround him, and he thanked his lucky stars it was so. He knew it might not last. Heneeded to use this time to his advantage and find Harriet. But, where?

He counted ten doors in this corridor alone. It would take him at least half an hour to gothrough each of them, and make sure that Harriet wasn’t there. Then, he would need tocheck the rest of the house, and that would take even more -

“Hey, you!” Timothy heard someone call out to him. “What are you doing here!?”

He didn’t need to turn around to recognize that angry voice. It belonged to the butler.Obviously, the two of them had been destined to lock fists. But Timothy didn’t have timefor that now.

Without hesitating, he rushed down the passageway, to the very last door, hoping itwould be unlocked, as the sound of heavy footsteps running after him assured him thiswas his very last chance.

“S

C H A P T E R 2 6

top right there!”

Timothy could hear the angry voice shouting after him, but he paid no heed. He rushedas fast as his legs could carry him, as if chased by a most frightful incubus. His blood rancold as he jammed the doorknob to the final door frantically, waiting for it to give in.Finally, it did.

Initially, Timothy meant to bar the door from the inside, by pushing the nearest wardrobeto it, but he immediately changed his mind. The butler would simply return with morepeople, and they would open the door easily, taking him down, before Timothy wouldeven get the chance to look for Harriet.

Furiously, he inspected the room, in search for a weapon. And there it was. A heavy,glass vase stood on a small table in the corner. There were no flowers in it. He rushed tograb it, then hid right by the doorway, squeezing the strange weapon of choice in hishand.

The sound of the footsteps approached quickly. He gripped the vase more firmly, feelingoverwhelmed by a most extraordinary and at the same time, nauseating strength.

The butler burst into the room but Timothy was on guard. He raised the vase in his handonly once and brought it down upon the poor man’s head with furious retaliation. Thebutler dropped down onto the ground instantly.

Timothy looked at the body, feeling excessively tired, as if that one single blowexhausted all of his strength. His legs were shaking. His teeth were chattering. Helistened on. There were no creaking doors. No footsteps in the corridor leading to thisroom. No hurrying figures. Nothing. All was silent. He was alone for the time being.

Timothy’s breathing became heavier, the trepidation in his heart awakened once more.He needed to act fast. Slowly, ever so slowly, he closed the door. He listened once morefor that noisy rattle of the doorknob, but he heard nothing other than his own heartbeating with anticipation and dread.

He dragged the unconscious man by the feet all the way to the window, hiding most of itunderneath the heavy curtains which fell all the way down to the floor. It was only nowthat Timothy realized this room was the library. A well-equipped one, to say the least.

Unexpectedly, he heard something. It was a muffled sound, as if it was coming frominside the walls themselves. He couldn’t hear it clearly, and it disappeared almost asquickly as it had appeared. Timothy’s eyes widened in disbelief, as he pressed his ear tothe walls, trying to hear it again.

But all was quiet once more. He glanced about the room. It was a usual library. Nothingpeculiar about it. One he had seen many a time in many a house. Even in his very own.Mere rows and rows of bookshelves, with a comfortably looking armchair and a bigfireplace to his left.

It was then that he saw it. A little piece of fabric, which seemed to be stuck to the tip ofthe poker by the fireplace. Timothy rushed over and took it into his hand. He recognizedwhom the silk fabric must have belonged to.

“Harriet…” he whispered to himself, remembering that her dress from the previous nightwas of the same color as the little piece of torn fabric which he was now grasping in hishand.

It all went blank inside his mind. Harriet was still there, but the question was whethershe wanted to be there or not. Why else would her gown be torn unless she had rushed

through the room? Or even worse, perhaps she had been pulled through it, forced to gosomewhere.

Her name said out loud was his first step towards the recovery of his senses. He pocketedthe little piece of cloth, then proceeded to look about the room. For a moment, hebelieved that the butler’s body stirred, but a closer glance revealed he was still knockedout, so Timothy’s attention returned once more to the fireplace.

He went over it with the tips of his fingers, trying to find a strange looking nook orcranny, or lever, or anything that might resemble a latch, because it could have been anentrance to a secret room. Nothing else could have explained the hem of Harriet’s dressbeing caught on the poker. He kept on searching but found nothing.

He moaned loudly, angry with himself. He knew that Harriet counted on him to come toher aid, to Hell with everything that happened and that stupid bet. She would have timeenough to be upset with him after she was once again safe and sound from the Duke.

All of a sudden, that same sound appeared again. He could hear it more clearly this time,as if it was coming from inside the fireplace. It sounded like a string of words, althoughhe could still not hear it clearly enough to recognize much. Now, he was certain that thefireplace was the entrance way into a secret room. He just needed to find a way to openit.

His fingers traced the lines of brickwork. He moved all the pokers, then put them back.He even tried to force the fireplace open. But it was all to no avail.

Then, he saw it. The only thing that remained in the same place even after his fingershad touched it and worked around it was the goblin statue. He tried to lift it up, but itwas placed firmly in that specific spot. He realized that it was loose. That meant it couldbe turned.

With one swift motion of the hand, the goblin statue turned to the side, as the fireplacegrated against the floor, revealing a hidden passageway, and a staircase that leddownward, into the darkness. Without thinking, Timothy rushed into the abyss of the

unknown, not sure what could be awaiting on the other side.

But love was stronger than fear.

“Why?” Harriet’s teary voiced whispered.

She dared not look down at her hands, which were wrapped up in white, bridal gloves,which were in turn tied together with a rope. Her feet were bound as well. This time, theDuke had been generous, and he left her without the mouth gag. She had tried calling forhelp before, so now, she was certain that no help would come even if someone did hearher cries.

Her beautiful, long hair fell in dark, curled tresses down her back. The Duke was carefulnot to pull or tug at her hair as he combed it, but that didn’t make the process any lessfrightening. Every time he touched her, she winced, as if his very touch was the cause ofactual physical pain.

“Why are you doing this?” she repeated, stifling a sob.

He seemed immersed in what he was doing, not hearing a single word she had said. Onehand gripped tightly at the mother of pearl hairbrush, as it slowly glided through Harriet’ssilky hair. Upon an occasional knot, the Duke would gently take that strand of hair withhis other hand, and slowly move downward with the brush, tugging ever so softly.

Still in shock at how she ended up here, Harriet didn’t even dare to think that this mightbe some bewildering nightmare the likes of which she had never had before. Each tug ather hair assured her of the veracity of the previous events and fortified her fear of thosethat were yet to come.

The silence made it even worse. She wanted him to talk, even if it was crazy talk.Because, what else could he tell her, under these circumstances? What possible reasons

could he have to keep her locked up here, in some smelly old basement and dress her upin a wedding gown?

None. Absolutely none. And, yet she wanted him to talk, just to break this awful silence,to assure her that it was still him in there, and not some crazy maniac, some mad alter-ego who had taken over.

“Why?” she demanded, her voice down to a whisper, but still audible enough. He couldhear her. She was certain of it. He simply wished to torment her further with this dreadfulreticence.

Right opposite her, a big oval mirror with an antique frame offered her a glimpse at hisface. It didn’t belong to the man she had known for years, the same man who had beencourting her for the last few months. This was a stranger’s face, one who was not to betrusted.

When he was finally done combing her hair, he put the brush away. Then, he looked atthe mirror, adjusting her own head in the same direction. He was staring her down, hiseyes wild and inexplicable. There was a peculiar smile lingering on his thin lips. Heseemed happy. Happier than she had ever seen him before.

She knew she would probably never get an answer to her question. Perhaps he himselfhad no idea how they ended up here. But then again, why was he smiling? How could hebe happy at the sight of her distress?

“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon,” he finally said in such aloving manner that it made her entire body shiver with fear. He truly believed he lovedher, that he was doing all this out of some bizarre sense of love and devotion. In hismind, he was probably doing nothing wrong.

He was quiet, his gaze as somber as always, but that voice was hideous. His usually coldtemperament had been inflamed by something that threatened to throw them both into adark abyss. Harriet knew that she needed to escape, but she saw no means of it. Even ifshe did manage to escape this room, his mansion seemed a maze. She doubted she

would ever find her way to the front door.

Suddenly, his fingers cupped her chin tightly, digging into her skin like claws. He turnedher face to him close, so close that she could almost feel his breath on her cheeks. For amoment, she believed he was about to kiss her. She pressed her lips tightly together, sotight that all blood disappeared from them, turning almost white.

He seemed raving mad, completely out of his mind as he stared at her adoringly,maddeningly. It was a sick infliction, one that had obviously been growing inside of himfor a very long time.

“Oh!” she heard him moan. “Harriet… Harriet,” he called as if drowning in inconsolablegrief. “I never meant it to be like this.”

“You can still end this,” she whispered as much as his fingers allowed her jaw to movefreely. “Please.”

He released a frightening chuckle. “What a foolish, senseless thing to say, my dear. Can’tyou see? This is far from the end. This is only the beginning.”

Harriet didn’t know what the consequences of his actions would be for either of them, butshe could imagine. She had a dark presentiment of things yet to come, and all she coulddo was bury herself into gloomy silence. She didn’t want him to think that she wascondoning this in any way, and she was afraid that he might twist her words into a wholenew meaning.

“We shall get married and live happily ever after,” he continued, as if he were talkingabout something factual, something that was as certain as the sun rising in the morningand setting in the evening. “Nothing will ever break our bond of love and commitment.Nothing.”

Dark powers had possessed the man she saw before her now, a man who by plunging

himself into the very pits of Hell, with her in his arms, erroneously believing that he wassaving them both.

“No one will take you away from me again,” he said with the same amount of affectionand threat in his voice. Harriet knew better than to reply. “Now, hair up or hair down?”

He released her chin, and once more took hold of her silky hair, pulling it together. Asingle tear rolled down Harriet’s cheek, silent and unnoticed. All was lost. No one wouldbe coming for her. No one probably even knew she was here.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps was heard, approaching very quickly. The Dukeimmediately let go of her hair and turned to the door. Harriet did the same. She wantedto shout for help, but that same heavy burden that was pressing on her heart, waskeeping her quiet and subdued as well. Her heart was beating with apprehension, as thefootsteps neared. She felt the Duke’s cold hand on her shoulder, controlling her, showingher that there was no escape.

At last, the door burst open with a violent gush of wind.

“What are you doing!?” A voice thundered.

T

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imothy was shouting at the top of his lungs, incredulous at the sight beforehim. Harriet was bound, her eyes staring at him, uttering silently her pleas

for help. But the Duke was too close to her, a strand of her hair still in his hand;approaching him might trigger the Duke into harming Harriet. Timothy couldn’t allow thatto happen.

He was utterly taken aback by what he saw. He had expected something frightful,something that made one’s blood turn cold, but still, when finally faced with the reality oftheir situation, he couldn’t immediately accept it. He couldn’t act. Not yet.

“Let Harriet go this instant!” Timothy demanded not nearly as assertively as he hoped hewould, only to be met by a sneering laugh on the side of his opponent.

“Would the skies ever let the most glorious star go?” the Duke wondered poetically,something that was completely unlike him. “I think not. She will shine forever and ever,and I shall be the only one to enjoy her purifying light.”

Timothy frowned, his brows furrowing. The man was surely out of his mind to speak inthis manner. Timothy knew that a madman was also a very dangerous man, for that manknew he had nothing to lose. The Duke had revealed his wicked plan, and now, he woulddo anything to make others go along with it. Timothy wondered how it could be thatneither he nor Harriet saw any warning signs in him. Perhaps, they did, but they hadbeen too immersed in their newfound love to care or pay attention to anything else. Andthat was a mistake.

“You cannot possibly think this right,” Timothy spoke, glancing around him, and lookingfor anything he might potentially use as a weapon, in case this man decided to attackhim.

But everything he saw brought even more discontent. This room was a shrine to Harriet,as if she were some kind of a saint and the Duke was her most fervent follower.Everywhere on the walls around them lay portraits of Harriet. She herself was dressed ina wedding gown, something Timothy had started to hope would be done only for him.Now, the Duke had branded this image into his mind with hot iron.

“If you haven’t noticed, Lord Ramsay,” the Duke once more spoke with serenity thatchilled both Timothy and Harriet to their very bone, for it was obvious that this man hadplanned this for a long time. This was no accident, no moment’s decision. “You havefound yourself under my roof. And, here, whatever I think is right. Now, I am simplywondering if you are that hopelessly stupid or perhaps, merely devotedly in love? Ineither case, you are unable to appreciate Harriet’s most brilliant parts.”

“Oh, and you are!?” Timothy scoffed, unable to control his inward wrath.

This man still believed that he was the right man for Harriet, and that enraged Timothyeven more. He wanted to grab this man by the throat, and just keep squeezing untilevery possible ounce of malice left this man’s body, and his final breath with it.

“Harriet and I were to be wedded,” the Duke reminded him, standing up from his chair,his body not looking old at all, but rather agile and wiry.

Timothy saw that Harriet considered pushing the Duke to the side and rushing over tohim, but she changed her mind in the last minute. That was not their way out. She wasbiding her time, and he had to do the same.

Abbie would return soon, with Harley. Just wait it out…

Timothy kept reminding himself that he just needed to keep the Duke occupied with hismonologues, and enough time would pass.

“Then you came along and almost ruined it all,” the Duke continued, grabbing Harriet bythe elbow, and making her stand up. She moaned. “But we won’t let you.”

Timothy swallowed heavily, his jaw tensing with each passing second. The Duke hadbeen in a war. He knew how to fight. Timothy himself had been in a few brawls, but theyended rather quickly and there was no time for a show of skill on either part. He knewthat, if he entered into a duel with the Duke, he was risking it all. Even his own life. Butnone of that would matter, as long as Harriet was out of the clutches of this monster.

“You call yourself a gentleman, do you not?” Timothy had a plan. He only hoped that itwould work.

The Duke gave him a puzzled look. He obviously had no idea where Timothy was headingwith this. But curiosity and the conviction of his victory urged him to listen.

“Then, as a gentleman, you must allow me to fight for Harriet,” Timothy announced.

All his thoughts had suddenly turned into hieroglyphs under the sudden tidal wave of fear.Would he even be able to deal a single blow? What if the Duke chose guns and notswords?

He didn’t care. As soon as that first loving, pleading glance of Harriet fell upon him, heknew that it was only through her love that he would ever find himself and be himself,without any fear of repercussions. Without her, he could never lead a happy life, afulfilled life.

“Do you really mean to challenge me to a duel?” the Duke asked in amazement, as ifthere had been unmistakable proof of his victory and this was just mere distraction, whichhe graciously opted to entertain.

“Yes,” Timothy nodded as confidently as he could, trying to convince every single personin the room, himself included, that he was a worthy opponent.

The Duke shook his head with a self-gratifying smirk on his face.

“What is to prevent me from killing you right here, without any of the hassle that comeswith a duel?” he asked, as his eyes narrowed into two small slits, making him resemble arepulsive rat.

Timothy had no answer to that. Why indeed? He could easily kill them both and end itright there. No one would even dare question Timothy’s disappearance, and no one wouldprobably connect him to the Duke. The whole thing would quickly die down. The Dukeknew it. Timothy knew it as well.

Then, suddenly, Harriet spoke up, her voice trembling not with fear as he thought itwould, but with wondrous rapture. Her eyes burned bright; she had managed to find thatstrength which had always been inside of her, but the Duke endeavored to stifle it. Whenthere’s fire inside someone’s soul, even a small flicker could eventually transform into afire of epic proportions.

“I could never marry a man who was unwilling to defend his beloved in a duel,” she daredthe Duke, whose eyes followed every movement of her lips.

She dared defy him, probably for the first time ever. Timothy was probably as surprisedas the Duke, but he hid it better than the other man.

“Do not tell me you doubt my love for you,” the Duke’s eyes widened in disbelief. Therewas a barely noticeable tick in the left corner of his mouth.

“I only believe what I see,” Harriet kept on provoking him, defiant and strong, just theway Timothy knew she was. “You keep telling me you love me, yes. But do you show it?”

Timothy almost let out a smirk. It was clear what she was doing. She was urging him toaccept the duel, knowing it could not possibly take place inside this small, mangybasement, but rather somewhere outside. And, once they were outside, escape was anactual possibility.

The Duke didn’t speak at first. It seemed he was caught off guard by her goading. Hecertainly wasn’t expecting her to test him in this manner. Timothy believed that was agood thing. He wanted the Duke to be confused, afraid even, that his plan might notwork. Then, he would start making mistakes, and a man who made mistakes was a manwho was not unbeatable. Timothy would seize his chance and perhaps, get both himselfand Harriet home safely.

His mind kept reminding him of the odds against it. But his heart assured him, it pleadedwith him not to back down, not to give up. And Timothy had already decided whoseadvice to follow.

“You’re right,” the Duke suddenly agreed complacently. “If I need to prove my love toyou, then that is exactly what I shall do.”

A flicker of hope exploded in Harriet’s eyes, as she directed her gaze at Timothy. Theywere in silent agreement against the man who was keeping them both here against theirwill. The Duke’s bearing grew more and more ardent, as he approached Timothy, andstared him dead in the face.

“I accept.”

For a moment, Timothy thought that the Duke would take his first shot right then andthere. But he didn’t flinch. Not even when the Duke blew hot air out of his nostrils, rightinto Timothy’s face. A most terrible mental discomfort seized him, but Timothy managedto remain composed.

“You understand, of course, that our situation prevents us from having a second,” the

Duke added casually.

Timothy just nodded. He knew what that meant. The first and most important duty of thesecond, who in Timothy’s case would be Curtis, was to try and diffuse the situation byreconciling the two opposing parties. But that would not be the case here. A verbalchallenge had been issued, and neither of the two men was willing to apologize. Timothyfelt they would both rather die than back down from this duel, no matter what theoutcome might be.

“I am well aware of that,” Timothy replied boldly, even though the realization didn’t fillhim with much hope for a positive outcome. “What about the weapons?”

“Since you have issued the challenge, I should probably allow you to make that choice forus. But I would rather have the lady decide that for us.”

Two pairs of eyes turned to Harriet. Timothy could see the color back in her cheeks, andher lips trembling in that defiant fashion he loved so much. He only hoped she would notopt for the gun.

“Swords,” she announced importantly. “Shooting isn’t all that gentlemanly.”

“I concur,” the Duke was quick to agree. “We shall do it immediately. The place will be onmy property, behind the house. The field is relatively even. We shall not be interruptedby anyone there, I assure you of that, Lord Ramsay.”

Timothy didn’t like the insinuation one bit. That meant no one would be coming. No onewould probably be allowed to come near that area. But that still didn’t mean thatTimothy could subdue the Duke somehow.

“Good,” Timothy growled, filled with a strange sense of confidence, even though he knewthat his swordsman skills were not enviable.

“I would like to extend a gentlemanly hand and offer you one final chance of apologizingand removing yourself peacefully from my property, but I’m afraid that this duel bringsme too much pleasure to have that happen,” the Duke snickered.

“Absolutely no problem,” Timothy shrugged, as if nothing extraordinary or worthy ofmention was about to happen. “I wasn’t planning on accepting your apology anyway.”

“We shall not fight to first blood,” the Duke proclaimed, pretending not to have heardTimothy’s remark.

Timothy felt something heavy deep inside his stomach. He knew where the Duke washeading with this. It wouldn’t be until one could no longer stand on one’s feet, which wasalready bad enough. No. It would be -

“To the death,” the Duke concluded, and those words echoed in the little mustybasement. Only now did Timothy notice the heavy lily smell. Harriet’s favorite flowers.The smell which was now threatening to poison them all.

“My butler will bring us the weapons. I assure you that they will be of equal length. Iwouldn’t want an unfair advantage, then have my victory be attributed to that.”

“I wouldn’t be so quick to claim victory, Duke Redfield,” Timothy shook his head.

Timothy suddenly thought of Curtis. He had been his best friend for years, and eventhough Timothy never even dreamed of ever issuing a duel, he still hoped that Curtiswould be by his side on such a momentous occasion. He was the only man he trusted,the only person in the entire world who had accepted him as he was, warts and all. Theonly man who would gladly defend his best friend’s honor against the whole world, ifneed be.

“How can I be certain that there will be no foul play?” Timothy suddenly demanded toknow.

He knew that Abbie had gone to fetch Harriet’s brother, and hopefully, the cavalry wouldbe arriving soon. All Timothy needed to do was stall, for as long as he could. Fighting theDuke was a risky endeavor, one that could leave Timothy more than just hurt.

“We are, after all, under your roof,” Timothy reminded the Duke.

“You have my word,” the Duke professed.

“I’m afraid that, under these circumstances, your word doesn’t mean much.” Timothywanted to get the Duke mad. That might diminish his sword fighting skills in case theyactually reached the point of the duel.

“You are testing my patience,” the Duke hissed, and Timothy could see his hands curlingup into fists.

“I am merely assuring fair play.” Timothy tried to remain calm, even though he had beenon guard the whole time, almost expecting the Duke to punch him in the face.

“Fair play is assured,” the Duke thundered.

He went back to Harriet, then grabbed her by the hand, pulling her towards the door.

“Let’s get this over with, so I can finally focus on my bride…”

T

C H A P T E R 2 8

he Duke had chosen a solitary place in the woods that covered most of thewestern part of his estate. The sun was piercing through the thick, green

crowns of the trees above their heads. Even the birds knew not to sing or chirp as theparty approached, as if a procession was coming, mourning someone who had just died.

Only the three of them were present. The challenger. The defender. The damsel indistress. Harriet didn’t like any of those titles, seeing that the first two could have beeninterchangeable, and she certainly didn’t like to think of herself as a damsel in distress.Unfortunately, that was exactly what she was, as she found herself standing against anarrow tree, with her hands still tied up.

The Duke was standing a few steps in front of her. Half of his face was hidden by a blackhat, the hem of his knee-length coat fluttering in the wind. He had the true bearing of aswordsman. Their weapons of choice, two swords, had already been brought forth.

“Whatever happens here, there will be no legal consequences for either of us,” the Dukeinformed Timothy, who stood at a safe distance from the man.

“I would not have it any other way,” Timothy replied.

Harriet felt her heart skip a beat. Was she really to just sit idly and watch Timothy fightthis brute? What if he got hurt? Or worse? She dared not even consider that possibility.

There was nothing she could do, being tied up. She had been degraded to what shedespised the most. A helpless woman who expected others to save her. Rebelliously, shelooked around for something she could use to free herself. She read about these thingsall the time. Ropes were easily cut by a sharp stone or a piece of glass. She just neededto be fortunate enough to find one of those lying in her near vicinity. But she sawnothing.

Both men were already holding swords in their hands. She could see Timothy’s handsqueezing the basket hilt of the sword nervously. It was true that the Duke was a goodswordsman, she had heard that much from others. A man who had seen the horrors ofwar would not refrain from bringing that aggression back with him. He had seen peopledie. Perhaps he had even been the cause of it. She never even considered that until now.The thought filled her with dread.

Timothy had good reflexes on his side, being the younger of the two. Also, he had timing.He simply needed to use those to his advantage. She only hoped that Timothy wouldn’tlose his bearing and give in to his wild and unpredictable nature. His actions needed tobe well thought through, in order to win the duel. Or at least stall it long enough for herto free herself and run for help.

The Duke was with his back to her, but she could imagine his face scrunched up in anger.She knew he would not hold back. He was going to hurt Timothy badly, if given thechance to do so. And, the chance was right there, in front of him.

Harriet eyed the ground around her feet once more. There was nothing but a bunch ofdried-up twigs and leaves. Nothing that would help her cut the ropes that had her boundand powerless. She lifted her gaze, looking at the two men once more. Every moment feltlike a small eternity, as she waited for the first strike.

“Come on,” Timothy demanded.

At first, she thought he had been afraid. She could see flashes of despair wash over hisusually cheerful face, but he tried hard to hide it. Probably, for her own sake. He didn’twant her to see that he felt as lost as she did. But now, there was no trace of thatdespair. He was all force, all confidence, as if he had once again remembered what he

was fighting for. He was brought back to life.

The Duke didn’t need to be told twice. He lunged at Timothy with such brute force thatHarriet thought he might bring the whole house down. He weaved left, slashingdownward with his sword, but Timothy was quick to respond, and stepped to the side intime, escaping the blade.

Timothy’s lips parted, as he breathed heavily. His sword was aimed upward. Harriet couldsee it shaking ever so gently. The Duke didn’t let him rest. Timothy was expectinganother clash of the swords, but instead, the Duke punched him in the stomach with hisfree hand, which made Timothy double over in pain. Harriet’s teeth gritted.

Not fair!

Her mind screamed, but her lips remained quiet. She watched in horror as the Duke senta rising uppercut at Timothy, who managed to dodge the punch in the last minute. Heregained his senses, even though he still seemed slightly dazed. This left him open foranother attack, one he might not be able to escape. Harriet watched on in horror.

The two men crossed swords, the sound offending Harriet’s ears. Timothy assumed ahigh guard, expecting the Duke to attack even more fiercely. They pulled back theirswords, circling around each other. The Duke cut fiercely at Timothy. He kept thrusting atTimothy ruthlessly, and Harriet knew that Timothy wouldn’t be able to keep this up formuch longer. The Duke kept cutting at him, and while Timothy was still good at defense,the Duke made sure not to allow him to regain his balance after each strike.

All of a sudden, Timothy managed to push through the Duke’s guard. His headinstinctively drew back, and his arm flew forward. The Duke had no time to react, the tipof his sword pointed down, much too far away to prevent the tip of Timothy’s sword fromhewing a gash across the man’s face.

“Argh!” the Duke shouted, pressing his open palm against his cheek.

Bright red blood oozed through his fingers. Timothy was still in high guard, as if awarethat whatever the Duke would do now, would be much, much worse.

Startled at all this, Timothy stepped back, his sword aimed at the Duke. Harriet andTimothy could both see the maddening look on the Duke’s face, blood dripping from thatcut on his face.

“It seems I have underestimated you, Lord Ramsay,” the Duke spat, with the strangesttone of contentment.

“That is the first rule of war, Duke,” Timothy scoffed. “Not to underestimate youropponent.”

“I did not know you were so well versed in the rule of warfare,” the Duke hissed, as thetwo men circled each other once more.

“That’s the best and worst thing about people,” Timothy replied. “You never know whenthey’re going to surprise you.”

“Indeed!”

The Duke reacted immediately as he attacked with all his might, using both his handsand his sword. Timothy tried to parry, but it was obvious that mere speed of reflexeswasn’t enough to counter the Duke.

Harriet looked on; her mouth agape. She wanted to close her eyes, to make this frightfulscene disappear from both her sight and her mind, but she couldn’t. Instead, she lookedwith her eyes wide open, waiting.

The Duke suddenly kicked Timothy’s thigh, and Timothy bent forward. The Duke punchedhim with his fist, and Timothy’s whole head swung to the left. He lost balance and fell to

the ground.

No! No!

Harriet sensed that this was the deciding moment. The Duke wouldn’t refrain from killingTimothy. She could see that even the last remnant of sanity had disappeared from hismind, and all that was left was the unconquerable obsession - the object of which wasshe herself.

Frantically, she tried to free herself, her wrists tugging at the ropes, which dug into herpale, soft skin. Her elbows joined in the effort. The more she pulled and tugged, the morepainful it became. The scrapes stung as if a swarm of angry bees were piercing her veryskin, but she kept on jerking and wrenching her hands and wrists.

The Duke was paying no attention to her. Slowly, he walked over to Timothy, who wasstill lying on the ground. Harriet couldn’t tell if he was unconscious or not. He was too faraway. The Duke’s sword dragged its sharp blade against the grass, then stopped rightnext to Timothy’s body.

Harriet’s breathing intensified. She could feel warm trickles of blood sliding down theinside of her palms, wetting her hands. Tugging harder each time, she was now forced togrit her teeth, in order to sustain the pain. But she pushed through it, knowing that sheneeded to help Timothy.

“It seems I did not overestimate you after all, Lord Ramsay,” the Duke spoke slowly,accentuating every word, as if he were giving a speech to an assembly of esteem guests.Now, his coup de grace would be dealt, but there would be no mercy involved. It wassheer anger.

The tip of his sword hovered over Timothy’s chest. It was only a matter of time before itwould strike down with vengeance, and it would all be over. Harriet felt as if the bladewas hanging right above her very own heart, and by piercing Timothy, the Duke would bepiercing her as well.

W

C H A P T E R 2 9

hen Timothy opened his eyes, all he could see was the edge of the swordabove him. A million thoughts rushed through his mind. A million memories.

But only one future that was ahead, so bright, and so vivid. Now, it seemed that futurewas not to be. He had failed her. He had failed the only woman he had ever loved.

The Duke was mad with rage. There was nothing human in those eyes any longer, ifthere ever was anything. A realization flashed across his mind. With him gone, Harrietwould be left at the mercy of this monster. He tried to move, but his head was swollenwith pain from the blow the Duke had dealt him. The world was spinning all around him.He wanted to get up, but he couldn’t.

“It is almost disgraceful to finish an opponent who is lying on the ground, helpless,” theDuke snickered, and yet, the sword remained where it was. “But this duel has no rules,and the last man standing is the winner.”

Just as the Duke was about to deliver the final blow and end this, there was a loud thumpand the Duke staggered to the side, holding the back of his head.

Now, Timothy could see Harriet standing above him, like a guardian angel. She was stillholding the rock she had used to smack the Duke on the back of the head. The thoughtalmost made him laugh out loud. But then he saw the blood on her wrists, and herealized she had managed to wiggle herself free out of the ropes.

My clever girl.

He thought to himself proudly. However, he knew he couldn’t dally. She provided anopportunity for him, and he needed to seize it. Their lives depended on it.

His hands patted the grass by his sides, trying to find his sword. Quickly, he grabbed it,just as the Duke came lunging at him, his teeth bared like a mad dog, Timothy raised hissword and cut deeply into the side of the Duke’s abdomen.

The man growled loudly, falling down onto his knees. He was pressing his sides hard, andblood had already soaked his shirt and coat. The Duke was breathing heavily, his headbowed. Timothy was still squeezing the sword in his hand, for a moment wondering if heshould finish the job. Men like the Duke would never quit. They would chase after theirprey until they got what they wanted. Timothy and Harriet would never be free of him.Unless…

Harriet could tell what he was thinking. She approached him gently, resting her hand onhis, the one that held the bloodied sword. He looked down. Her skin was torn in severalplaces. The blood had partly clotted already. Her fingers were trembling.

“Don’t…” she whispered, and he was grateful for that angelic voice.

She didn’t want him to become a murderer. It would be a burden too heavy for either ofthem to carry, and it might destroy both of them. He was indeed grateful for her, in somany ways.

Promptly, Timothy dropped the sword to the ground, his breathing quick and shallow. TheDuke seemed incapacitated, but he would not remain that way for long. They were stillon enemy grounds, and they could be surrounded momentarily by the Duke’s servants,who might come to see what was going on.

“We need to get out of here,” Timothy urged her, grabbing her by the hand.

She nodded silently. Together, they started running back towards the house, hopeful to

find a carriage there, which would take them out of the estate, in case that their helphadn’t arrived yet. The Duke’s malicious voice echoed all around them, even though hehimself was still on the ground, hissing in pain.

“You will never get away! Never!”

A part of Timothy believed it. If they let him escape, he would leave no stone unturneduntil he found them and took his final revenge. Timothy and Harriet would not have asingle moment’s peace with that man alive and roaming the streets.

But he didn’t want to worry about that now. He needed to get Harriet to safety, back toHarley, and explain everything that had happened. Harley would know what to do withthe Duke. Timothy was relying on that.

“I’m sorry,” Harriet suddenly told him as they ran together, panting.

He found it increasingly difficult to keep himself up and running, but he knew that if theystopped, all would be lost. So, he forced himself to keep going, despite the pain, despitethe heaviness in his lungs and the unsteadiness in his head.

“For what?” Timothy wondered, making sure not to let go of her hand for a single second.

He was surprised at the fact that after everything, they still had the strength to run. Theyshould be paralyzed with fear, with all the possible repercussions of what transpired here,but they weren’t. They were just content to be together, heading anywhere, as long as itwas away from here.

“For hitting the Duke like that. I know it was dishonorable to you.”

“You must be joking!” Timothy even managed to find the strength to chuckle at hersweet, naïve comment.

He wanted to stop right then and there, wrap her petite framed body into his arms andshower her face with kisses. But he couldn’t. Instead, he promised himself silently to do itonce they were safe.

He never wanted a woman who expected others to do everything for her. And, in Harriet,he found exactly what he had been looking for. A strong, courageous woman who didn’trefrain from defying all rules. Even under pressure, she was led by those samemotivations, and he couldn’t help but feel grateful to her.

“You did what needed to be done,” he assured her, as they turned left around the houseand headed to the main entrance.

He wondered what was taking Harley so long. He should have been here by now. Unlesssomething had happened to Abbie. That thought felt like a punch in the stomach. But allhe could hope was that she had reached him.

“Harriet!”

A voice was suddenly heard, and they both saw three carriages in front of the mainhouse. Most of the servants had already been brought outside, and they were standingone next to the other, lined up. Timothy noticed the butler was among them, too. Hesighed with relief. The cavalry had arrived.

Pushing past all those people, they could see Harley and Abbie running towards them.Even from afar, Timothy could see the swollen redness of little Abbie’s eyes, as she wasstill rubbing them with the sleeves of her dress, not caring one bit about the improprietyof it all. Harley was rushing towards them first, his gaze focused on his sister. When hereached them, his brotherly hug enveloped his sister.

“Harley…” Harriet sobbed, releasing all that pent up fear and anxiety.

“Shhh, it’s all right now.” Harley caressed her hair, as she buried her face into his chest.“Abbie has told me everything.” He turned to Timothy, who just smiled at the little girlwho had saved the day with her bravery. “Where is the Duke?”

“He is back in the woods,” Timothy told Harley.

“Is he…” Harley wondered.

“No,” Timothy shook his head, knowing what Harley was referring to. “He is severelyinjured, but alive. It is more than he deserves, I think.”

Harley didn’t say anything to that. He didn’t need to. The look on his face said it all. Hegestured at the two constables who had appeared right next to him, and they rushed inthe direction of the woods.

Harriet then proceeded to take Abbie into her arms, and the two girls remained huggingfor a while longer. Abbie sobbed silently, her little body shaking, as Harriet comfortedher. Timothy admired the strength of this girl who, after being locked up and probablyscared out of her wits, still managed to get to Harley and bring him back here. That wastruly commendable.

Timothy and Harley gave them a moment alone, taking a few steps to the side. Timothywas still breathing heavily, a part of him still incredulous at the fact that the whole ordealwas over.

“I’ve known that man for years. I have welcomed him into my home. I have shaken hishand numerous times. I have left my sister and Abbie in his company, assured of hismoral righteousness. How on earth is this possible?” Harley shuddered to ask, gazing intothe distance, where both men expected to see the Duke being brought back by theconstables.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Timothy shrugged with a sigh. “I’m still trying to wrap

my head around everything that’s happened.”

If he had to admit, Timothy would have said that he had always felt something a bit offregarding the Duke, but he merely attributed it to the fact that the Duke disliked Harrietspending time in Timothy’s company. He never even dreamed that something moresinister was hiding just underneath the surface, and it was about to come up.

Harley suddenly turned to him and extended his hand cordially. “I don’t know how tothank you for saving my sister. For saving both Harriet and Abbie. I will forever be in yourdebt, Lord Ramsay.”

“Timothy, please,” he smiled, shaking Harley’s hand.

“I must admit, I wasn’t particularly glad to hear that Harriet was entertaining youradvances,” Harley continued genuinely, and Timothy appreciated his honesty. In fact, hewas sure that no brother or parents would be particularly fond of such news. “I guess I’velearned not to judge a book by its cover.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Timothy chuckled.

At that moment, three figures emerged from the woods. Harriet immediately releasedAbbie from her hug, but she kept holding the girl’s hand firmly in hers. Harley andTimothy stood protectively in front of the girls.

The Duke was barely keeping himself up. He was bleeding profusely, in obvious need of aphysician. The two constables were helping him walk, as the man held his hand pressedto his abdomen.

Timothy was surprised to realize that most of the anger he felt was gone. Now, he wasfeeling sorry for the man, who would most probably spend the rest of his days behindbars. Harley would see to that.

“I demand you explain yourself!” Harley stepped forward as the constables brought forththe accused man.

For a moment, Timothy thought Harley would strike him, but he didn’t. He was merelystanding there, incredulous at what the Duke had done, just like the rest of them. It hadall come so out of the blue; no one would have suspected it. And yet, that appalling roomfilled with Harriet’s portraits assured him that this was a plan that had been hatching fora very long time.

“Men who love do crazy things,” the Duke replied, trying to get a glimpse at Harriet, butshe wouldn’t look at him.

Timothy understood that, and he admired her for it. She didn’t wish to spend a singlemoment more of her life devoted to him, not a single word more that would be addressedto him. That man deserved nothing but silence, and that in itself was the worstpunishment. To be shunned by the one he loved the most.

“A real man would never do what you have done,” Harley scoffed. “You are a danger toothers, and as such, you do not deserve to walk the streets of London a free man. I willmake sure you are locked up in Bethlem Hospital for the rest of your days!”

A look of terror washed over the Duke’s face, but no one felt any mercy for him. He wouldnot wither in prison, but rather in an asylum. Timothy thought that a rightful punishment.The man was obviously insane.

“Take him away!” Harley gestured, and within seconds, the Duke was gone from theirsight, too weak to even make a scene.

It was all over. Now, he was certain of it. They could all breathe more easily. Timothywalked up to Harriet and took her bloodied hands into his, squeezing them gently, butcareful not to hurt her further. She squeezed his hands back, her strength apparent inevery breath she took, in every smile she graced him with.

“Harriet are you all right?” he asked.

She smiled. “I am now.”

“I have been such a fool,” Timothy started. “A damn fool! If I could apologize a thousandtimes, I would.”

He showered her hands with kisses, bringing them to his cheeks and lips.

“You are my angel, Harriet,” he continued fervently. “At a time when I didn’t even know Iwas lost; you came to me and you brought me back onto the right path. I wouldn’t bewhere I am, I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it weren’t for you, my sweet Harriet.”

She listened to him with that blessed smile on her face, soaking up every word that hewas telling her. The others at a little distance gazed on, everyone immersed in themoment.

“You have made me a gentler man with your pure and noble character. I speak thesewords from the depths of my heart, with intertwined feelings of sorrow and happiness, forit was I who should have saved you before this brute was able to lay a single finger onyou. Forgive me, Harriet.”

“You saved me, Timothy,” she spoke back, whispering. “You saved me when I thought allwas lost, when I pushed you away and called you a scoundrel for lying to me. You stillcame back, and you saved me.”

“Does that mean you forgive me?” His voice was hopeful.

“Yes,” she beamed at him, replying sweetly.

“Then, only one thing is left for me to do…”

Timothy suddenly let go of her. She looked at him, confused. Slowly, still a little dizzyfrom the blow he was dealt, Timothy went down on one knee. Abbie gasped somewherebehind Harriet, who herself simply pressed her hand onto her lips.

“My dearest Harriet, now that I have you again, I never want to lose you. I know I do nothave a ring, and all this is out of the blue, but life waits for no man. I see that now and Idon’t want to lose a single moment that is not lived with you by my side. Will you makeme the happiest man in the world and become my wife?”

Harriet was smiling, her face illuminated by the sunlight and even more so, by someinward fire that had been rekindled once more. This tragic ordeal had brought them evencloser together, and it was obvious that whatever disagreements they had before wereall forgotten now.

Timothy didn’t need her to talk in order to know what her answer was. But the momenthe got up, and started towards her, he felt someone’s hand on his shoulder, squeezingand urging him not to take another step more.

“Not so fast!” Harley shouted, the sound of his voice leading everyone to gasp indisbelief.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

“Excuse me?” Timothy felt a wall of suspicion raise around him.

He hoped he hadn’t heard what he thought he had, but he knew better. The astonishinglook on Harriet’s face assured him he had heard it right. Abbie seemed equally astoundedas the rest of them.

“You seem to forget who it is you should be asking for Harriet’s hand,” Harley clarified toeveryone, his face taking on a stern combination of features.

“I…” Timothy started, realizing that in all this commotion, he had forgotten that part.Harley indeed had a point. Timothy should have spoken to him prior to doing this sopublicly and putting him on the spot like that. “I apologize. I just -”

“Oh, it’s quite all right, old chap!” Harley’s roaring laughter interrupted Timothy’sconfusion, and everyone released a sigh of relief. “Do forgive this little joke. Harrietknows that her happiness is all I want. So, it is only natural that she be the one to replyto your question.”

Once more, all eyes were on Harriet. Timothy wondered if he should get down on oneknee again, but before he could do so, Harriet rushed towards him, and jumped into hisarms.

“Yes, yes! A million times yes!” she exclaimed so loudly that the heavens themselvescould hear their happiness.

T

E P I L O G U E

he honor of your presence is requested…

Harriet was standing by Timothy’s side, their hands together, before all their friends andfamily. It was a small wedding, but it was exactly as Harriet had imagined it, every timeshe closed her eyes. Now, her eyes were wide open, and her dreams had become herreality.

She adjusted her stance once more, endeavoring to feel that little slip of paper inside herleft shoe. The previous night, she had written down her wishes for her wedding and theway she saw her future with Timothy on a piece of paper. Then, she proceeded to fold itseveral times, and nestle it gently inside her shoe.

She glanced down one more time quickly at her dress, which was a beautiful embroideryof silver shells and flowers, with sleeves trimmed in point Brussels lace. The manteauwas fastened with a delicate diamond. Her hair was elegantly arranged, allowing for anatural curly flow, adorned with a most splendid wreath of precious stones, whichresembled flowers in bloom. Her earrings were a dainty, barely visible set of white pearls.

Everything bespoke of taste and elegance that belonged to Harriet’s state of mind, andeveryone present could not fail to share in the experience of the happy bride who was tobe united in holy matrimony with the one her heart had chosen.

Timothy turned to her, with the ring in his hand. It was a golden band with a pear-shaped, orange diamond. It had belonged to his mother; an heirloom that Harriet would

be forever proud to wear on her finger.

“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods Ithee endow. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

He slipped it on effortlessly, and now, the golden band adorned her dainty hand. Shecouldn’t take her eyes off of it. It kept reminding her that she was now Timothy’s bride,she was his wife, his love. His all. As he was hers. It all seemed almost too good to betrue.

They proceeded to sign the registry. She made sure not to forget to sign her maidenname as well. Then, everyone was invited to the celebratory meal, as customs dictated.

About an hour later, Harley and Abbie were finally able to approach Harriet, who hadspent all this time accepting gracious wishes from those present and thanking them forthose.

“You look lovely,” Harley hugged her, then kissed her on the cheek.

It was a most tender moment shared between a sister and a brother who had been notonly siblings, but close friends as well all of their lives. Harriet now had two mostimportant men in her life, and she knew that she had been very fortunate.

“You really do,” Abbie nodded, smiling sweetly. “Like a princess.”

“Thank you,” Harriet beamed. “It feels so wonderful to be able to share this moment ofjoy with the ones I love the most.”

“It makes me so happy to see you’ve found someone who makes you shine in thismanner,” Harley couldn’t seem to take his eyes off his sister, as if he was seeing her forthe very first time. “I still cannot believe that I didn’t approve of Timothy, while in fact, it

was the Duke I should have been worried about all along. I -”

“No,” Harriet interrupted him, putting her index finger gently on the tip of his lips.

She had thought about the Duke often at first, then less and less as time went by. Shewondered if she could have recognized some of the tell-tale signs of his madness, butthere was no point in this. What was done, was done. She could not change it any longer.Perhaps, she wouldn’t even want to if she could. Life had turned out exactly as shewanted it to, and she was grateful for that.

“I don’t want to talk about that man, not on this day. Today is for celebration. Today isfor love and happiness. Not for remembering frightening things and the chilling what if’s,”she explained with a smile. It didn’t even feel unpleasant when she talked about himanymore, but she still didn’t wish him to be mentioned on this special day.

“You are right,” Harley smiled. “I apologize. This is your day, and we shall make it count.”

“Thank you,” Harriet repeated.

An orchestra was called upon for the special occasion, and the bride and the groom choseto have the first dance. Everyone looked on, their eyes sparkling with glee at thenewlyweds who seemed utterly enamored with each other.

Timothy gave the sign, and the music started, as he held her hand.

“The Viennese waltz,” she beamed, both of them remembering their first dance ever,when they met each other for the first time.

“It all started there, my dear,” Timothy nodded, as they swayed to the rhythm. “If I hadbeen any wiser, I would have asked you to marry me right then and there. I could havesaved us all this unnecessary hassle.”

They both chuckled. Harriet’s cheeks blushed, and her heart was full. She knew that thiswas the happily ever after she had always wanted. And, she couldn’t have imaginedspending it with a better man.

Although it did not all commence the right way. But, after all, what was the right way tostart anything? Timothy had proven himself worthy of her love, in more ways than sheever could have imagined. He risked his life to save hers and did not hesitate in doing so.

“And skip the whole bet nonsense?” she wondered, still laughing, as her hand fit soperfectly well with his.

Indeed, the bet had started it all. That was the trigger, and everything else simply wentaccording to some still unknown plan. But now she knew where it had been headed allalong. To this point right here. To them holding their hands together. To them having thesame surname and being one family. The fates indeed had a plan for them, only theycouldn’t see it before. Perhaps, they were not even meant to.

“That really was nonsense, wasn’t it?” he admitted, with a mischievous wink.

“But it led us here,” she reminded him. “Besides, you are not the only one who has madebets, you know.”

“Oh?” Timothy’s eyes widened, as he spun her around, then waited for her to return backto her place, in front of him.

“Indeed,” she replied mysteriously. “In fact, Abbie and I made a little bet mere daysbefore the wedding.”

“And, what pray was it about?” She realized that she had sparked his interest. She hadalways been good at that, and that was what kept their love so fresh, so alive.

“You,” she giggled.

“Me?” he asked, disbelievingly.

“Yes, you,” she confirmed. “We made a bet whether you would run before the wedding.”

Timothy laughed merrily, and a few people in attendance eyed him strangely.

“It seems you lost, my dear,” he winked at her again, as the rhythm of the music startedto hasten.

Their bodies whirled on the floor, in perfect unity with each other and the music. Sheknew that nothing would ever ruin their happiness. Nothing.

“It seems I am not as good at betting as you are,” she smiled back.

Suddenly, he stopped dancing. His arms flew around her, pulling her close to him, soclose that she could feel the wild beating of his heart. Neither of them seemed to mindthe audience, who were all still gazing at them lovingly, watching their every move.

His lips pressed onto hers, warm and endearing. She lost herself in this tender moment ofaffection, enjoying every second of it. She wondered how strange life was, how like aclockwork that needed to be wound up, to show exact time. The strings of love had beenpulled closer and closer, and finally everything fell into place.

Harriet felt a beautiful sensation of warmth wash over her entire body, as she lay hiddenfrom plain sight in the arms of her beloved. When he pulled away, her cheeks flushedeven more red, her eyes sparkled even brighter.

“You don’t need to be good at betting, my dear,” Timothy whispered, caressing hercheek. “You have already won the game.”

The End?

E X T E N D E D E P I L O G U E

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T

C H A P T E R 1

he first thing she was aware of, as always, was the heat.

It was a stifling, screaming sort of heat that seemed to fill every bit of thespace around her body before she could do so much as open her eyes. She was afraid toopen her eyes, even though she knew that her eyes wouldn’t melt or burn. They neverhad before.

But it always felt as if they would.

She could hear someone shouting her name. Her twin brother, Samuel. Her heart felt asif it was about to burst, and she wanted very much to scream something back to him, butshe didn’t know what. The only thing she knew was that there was some dire messagethat had to be communicated, that absolutely couldn’t wait.

Every moment she remained silent, she was failing him.

She opened her mouth to call out, to let him know where she was, and her lungs filledwith smoke and ash. She coughed, doubling over on herself, unable to make anothersound.

“Sue!” Samuel yelled. “Where are you?”

I’m here! But again, the words wouldn’t come. Self-loathing welled up in her. Whatfollowed would be her fault. She was the one who was unable to answer her brother’scries. She was the one who kept coughing, helplessly, uselessly. She longed to call out tohim, but she couldn’t.

Then she heard a deeper voice, a more commanding one. It was a voice she wouldalways trust, a voice she would always follow. “Sam! This way, son!”

Father. Sue stumbled toward him, unable to see where she was going even now that shehad dared to squint into the haze of smoke that surrounded her. Father’s voice meantsafety. She would go to him, and then everything would be all right.

“I can’t find Sue!” Samuel yelled. “I can hear her coughing, but I can’t see her!”

“Come out, son! I’ll find her!”

“Go!” Sue croaked, hoping her brother would hear her, but her voice was destroyed, adamaged instrument. Of course he couldn’t hear what she was saying. It waspreposterous to think that anybody would be able to hear such a meager sound.

Especially when the noises around them were so dramatic, so violent. She heard thecrack of a wooden beam breaking somewhere above her. A shower of sparks rained downaround her. She tried to scream, but her ruined voice allowed her no more than anothercroak.

“Sue!” her father yelled. “Where are you?”

Here! She tried to say, but her voice failed her again. She broke down into another fit ofcoughing.

“I’m coming for you,” her father said. “I’m coming, Sue.”

She was becoming dizzy and disoriented. It was hard to breathe. It was hard to think.The air was thick with smoke. The flames consumed the door that led into Sue’sbedroom. Father wouldn’t be able to open it.

The window.

She turned and climbed onto her bed. The pillow had already begun to burn, and shesnatched at her skirts, trying to keep them clear of the flames. She shoved at the windowledge—

It refused to open. It was stuck.

Something seemed to have cleared in Sue’s mind. She knew there was only one way outof this room, and if she didn’t get out, she was unlikely to survive this night.

She grabbed a shoe from the floor and hurried back to the bed. Climbing up once again,she hit the shoe against the glass as hard as she could.

The glass shattered, spilling all over the bed and the ground outside. Vaguely, Sue wasaware of pain in her hand, but she didn’t have the time to focus on that. The smoke wasgetting thicker, the heat getting worse.

She grabbed the window ledge with both hands and hauled her body through. Her exitwas ungraceful—she turned head over heels in the air, fell and landed on her back on thedirt below. Thanking God that their home was only one story high, Sue scrambled to herfeet and ran away from the house as fast as she could, tripping as she went.

She was only a short distance away when she realized that the heat and the horriblesound of licking flames had followed her. Looking down, she saw that the hem of hernightgown was on fire. With a hoarse shriek, she beat at it with her hands, trying tosuppress the flames. She fell to the ground, rolling, tearing at her skirt.

Eventually, the flames subsided.

Sue sat up, shaking and trying to recover her breath. She had been sleeping when it hadstarted. She couldn’t remember the dream she had been jerked out of. All sheremembered was the sudden rush of heat and fear.

Her father had been calling her name…

She struggled to her feet. At four-and-ten years old, she liked to think of herself as tooold to need her parents for comfort, but she had never experienced a night like this onebefore. She wanted nothing more than to find them, to find Samuel. To be together.

In front of her, the flames rose higher, paralyzing her with horror for a moment. Thoughshe knew it was futile, there was a part of her that longed to run back to the house, to tryto recover her worldly possessions.

But to run back into the fire would be madness. She had barely escaped with her life. No,the only thing to do now was to find her family and ensure that they were all safe.

Her bedroom window faced the rear of the house. It was most likely that the otherswould have escaped through the front door. Sue gathered the skirt of her nightgown inher hands and hurried around the corner, gasping and gagging as she did so. It was stilldifficult to breathe. She had inhaled too much smoke.

She wanted to move closer to the house, to see whether they were still inside, but shedidn’t dare. The smoke would choke her.

She reached the front of the house and looked around desperately. There was no onethere. Not her father, whose calls had gone silent. Not her mother. Not Samuel.

And she knew then—she had known all along, she realized, it was coming to her now as iffrom a memory that she had tried to forget—that she was alone.

She was the only one who had survived. Her parents and her brother hadn’t made it outof the house. They had perished in the flames.

She fell to her knees, feeling as if her insides had been scooped out, hollow and bereft.She couldn’t feel the heat from the fire anymore. The only thing she felt was the barrenemptiness of knowing that her family was gone.

They’re all gone. I’m alone.

Nothing would ever numb the horror of that realization, of the moment she knew she wasalone in the world and would have to fend for herself.

There was a time when Sue would have strained her ears, desperate to hear their voices,desperate to be proven wrong.

But she knew better now.

They were gone.

And now someone was coming toward her, and she knew, without even knowing wherethe knowledge had come from, that this person was not an ally. This was the person whohad set the fire. This was the person who had killed her family.

I need to see his face. I need to know who he is!

But she wasn’t looking. She was running, running into the woods in nothing but hernightgown, running to the road that would take her to her father’s store, where she couldhide. Where she could pull herself together and make a plan.

Did she hear footsteps behind her? Was he running after her? Or was that just the soundof the house finally giving in to the flames, finally allowing itself to be consumed?

She looked over her shoulder and saw—

S

C H A P T E R 1

ue awoke with a start.

She was covered in sweat and panting with exertion, as if the frantic flightthrough the forest in her dreams had been a reality. As if it had all just happenedmoments ago, instead of years.

She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, doing herbest to comfort herself in the weak light of early morning. Yes, the fire had happened.Yes, she had lost her family. And yes, the face of the villain who had caused it hadappeared through the smoke, and she had been certain for a moment that he meant tokill her, too.

But that had been five years ago. Five long years.

It was behind her now.

It was strange to be nine-and-ten years of age when her twin brother never would. In hermemory, he remained frozen as he had been five years ago. He was a boy, and she hadbecome a woman.

The loss of her parents had been hard and painful. But to lose her brother, who had beenher other half—to face growing up without him by her side—that had been a life Sue hadnever planned on living.

She took deep breaths, allowing the fear to slowly drain from her body. What hadhappened all those years ago couldn’t happen to her again. She was safe now. Her homenow was secure. No one could hurt her here.

And she had no family left. There was no one left to take away from her. Only her ownlife remained.

It was never an attack against me.

She reminded herself of that, exhaling slowly, feeling her heart rate subside.

It was an attack against Father. It had to be. No one would attack a girl of only four-and-

ten years.

Besides, her father had known. She remembered the evening before the fire, howdistressed he had been over dinner. Though she and Samuel had both tried to getanswers out of him, he hadn’t explained himself. Not then. But she had overheard himspeaking to her mother as they cleared away the dishes.

He’s found us, her father had said.

His tone had been so ominous that Sue had been deeply afraid. She had been toofrightened, even, to go to Samuel and tell him what she had heard.

She would forever wish that she had told him. Perhaps he would have seen the firecoming. Perhaps he would have known what to do.

Of course he couldn’t have known what would happen. After all, Father didn’t even know.Samuel would have been just as confused as I was.

He’s found us, her father had said. Sue was sure that he must be the mysterious figureshe had seen through the smoke after the fire had passed. But why had he done what hehad done?

She shook her head. The past was the past, and she was better off accepting that somemysteries would never be solved.

Besides, she had work to do.

She got out of bed and put on her trousers and shirt. She carefully tied her hair in a shortponytail at the back of her neck.

She had been doing this for five years, and yet, even now, it made her a little nervous.Even now, she felt the need to check her reflection in the looking glass before allowingherself to be seen by any of the other members of the household.

The looking glass in her room was small and cracked, a castoff that she had rescuedduring her first year serving here. But it worked well enough for her purposes. She stoodbefore it, carefully examining her appearance. As usual, it was flawless.

“Hello, Samuel,” she said quietly.

Then she turned and hurried out of the room, ready to see to her daily responsibilities.

S

C H A P T E R 2

ue hurried down the hall through the servants’ quarters and into the main part ofthe house. In the foyer, she crossed paths with the butler, Mr. Barlow.

He frowned at her. “Running a bit late this morning, aren’t you, Samuel?”

“Yes, sir,” Sue said, remembering to pitch her voice just a little bit lower than her normalspeaking voice. It was habit, after so many years. She had never slipped. “I’m on my wayright now.”

“Mind you don’t keep His Grace waiting,” Mr. Barlow said. “Today of all days, he has to beable to count on his staff.”

Then why are you delaying me?

Sue would have liked to retort, but she restrained herself. She had never gotten alongwith Mr. Barlow. Of all the members of the Duke’s household, he alone seemed to guessthat there was something she was concealing. He alone seemed not to trust her.

But he had never been able to identify a reason why she shouldn’t be trusted, and Sueknew that he wouldn’t speak against her without evidence. The Duke liked her too muchfor Mr. Barlow to oppose her presence in the Manor.

As far as he’s concerned, I’m just a valet he doesn’t trust.

She made her way to the Duke’s room.

He has no idea what I’m really hiding.

She reached the Duke’s door and knocked. “Your Grace?” she called. “It’s Samuel.”

There was no answer.

She knocked again. “Your Grace?”

Nothing. No response.

“I’m coming in,” she said.

He still didn’t answer, so she grasped the doorknob and turned.

It was always a risk, entering the Duke’s room. Though he didn’t know it—though nobodyknew it—Sue couldn’t help but be very conscious of the fact that she was a woman, alonewith a gentleman in his room. And because her position in the Manor as his personalvalet required her to help him dress and mind his wardrobe, she had seen him in states ofundress that she certainly never would have otherwise.

It doesn’t matter. I can do this job just as well as Samuel would have been able to, hadhe lived.

That was true. And yet, it did matter a little. Sue couldn’t help feeling her heartaccelerate every time she saw him half dressed, every time her responsibilities called fortouching his shoulders or his waist.

It didn’t help matters that he was so very, very attractive. Sue was tall, she always hadbeen, but the Duke was taller. He was slim but muscular, with wavy blond hair and brightblue eyes, and he was quick to smile.

I wish his face was the one I saw in my dreams!

She pushed that thought firmly away. She could not afford to allow herself to think thatway. She might be a woman, but she needed everyone to believe that she was a man.She needed to be the perfect valet. If she lost this position, she would have nowhere elseto go.

She stepped into the room. The Duke was sitting on the side of his bed, his head in hishands.

“Your Grace,” she said gently.

He lifted his head and looked at her. “Samuel,” he said. “You’re here.”

“Of course I’m here,” she said. “It’s time to get ready, Your Grace.”

“I can’t face this, Samuel,” he whispered.

Sue didn’t answer. She knew her duties. She went to his wardrobe and pulled out histrousers and tailcoat. She had taken care to clean them yesterday evening, and she waspleased to see that they were in good shape.

“Put those down,” the Duke ordered.

She crossed the room and set them carefully on the bed beside him.

“You have to get ready,” she said. “I know it’s difficult, Your Grace. But you don’t want tomiss your father’s funeral. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you do.”

Sue could attest to that firsthand. But talking too much about her own family life was alsoa dangerous thing. It would be all too easy to slip and say something that would reveal

that she had been her parents’ only daughter, not their son.

“He was the last family member I had,” the Duke said. “I’ll be completely on my ownnow.” He looked up, and Sue saw that his eyes were bloodshot.

“Have you slept at all, Your Grace?” she asked.

He shook his head. “How could I?” he asked. “How could I possibly sleep, knowing thattoday was the day I would have to say farewell to the last of my family?”

Sue wondered whether it was worse to know or not to know that such an event wascoming. When she had lost her family, it had come as a shock in the middle of the night.She had never had a chance to mourn—she’d had to rush right into taking care of herself,making her way through the world on her own.

Of course, the Duke had also lost his father in a shocking way. It had been a carriageaccident, and they had all been taken by surprise. But now the Duke had had days tothink about the fact that his father was gone. He had had nothing to do but think aboutit.

Perhaps Sue had been the lucky one.

It had been difficult trying to find her way after the death of her family. It had beenstressful and frightening, stealing clothes from her father’s shop, finding the landed familySamuel had been planning to go and work for, presenting herself as her brother andtaking up the position that should have been his.

But at least those difficulties had kept her from dwelling on her sadness. They haddistracted her.

The Duke had no such distractions.

Her heart broke for him.

“You’re all I have now, Samuel,” he said. “You’re the best friend I’ve got, you know.”

That made her feel even worse. How would he feel if he knew that his supposed bestfriend wasn’t who he claimed to be? How would he feel if he knew that the real Samuelhad died before the Duke had even met him, and that for the past five years he had beenserved by Samuel’s sister in disguise?

She pushed that thought aside. It wasn’t as if she could ever confess that to him. Andbesides, today was no day to be dwelling on the things that made her feel guilty. She hada responsibility to the Duke. He needed her support.

“Stand up,” she said gently.

To her surprise, he complied, and she helped him into his mourning clothes.

He had been twenty years old when she had first come to the Manor. Back then, he had

seemed as distant as the horizon. While it had always been awkward for her to serve agentleman, things had changed as she had gotten older, as she had discovered morewomanly thoughts and feelings within herself.

These days, she could hardly bear to let her hands rest for a moment while she workedfor fear she would take too much pleasure in the shape of his arms under her fingers.

When he was dressed, she carefully brushed off the back of his tailcoat and straightenedhis collar, making certain that he looked presentable. “There,” she said. “You’re ready.”

The Duke shook his head. “I’m not ready, Samuel,” he said. “How could I ever be ready?You know how close Father and I were.”

“I know very well,” she agreed. “I have been a part of his household for five years, and Isaw you together every day. I can attest to the fact that he adored you.”

“Forgive me,” the Duke said. “It’s not proper that I should go to pieces right now.”

“No,” she said. “You’re in the privacy of your own room, and whatever reaction you needto have to your father’s passing, this is the place to do it. When you step out of this roomyou will need to show strength. You’ll need to let the other members of the ton see thatyou’re ready to take on the responsibility of the Dukedom, to inherit your father’s landsand title. But right now, you’re alone, and it doesn’t matter.”

“I’m not alone,” he said. “I have you, Samuel.” He gripped her shoulder. “I’m so fortunatethat Father made such a wise choice when he hired you to be my valet all those yearsago. I’m so glad there’s one person in this Manor I can truly call a friend.”

“I’m honored that you consider me your friend, Your Grace,” Sue said. And it was thetruth. Sometimes she could almost forget about the fact that she had never once beenhonest with him about her identity. So much of what they had between them wasgenuine.

She really did like him. If he had not been the Duke of Upton, and if she had not been ayoung woman of common birth disguising herself as his valet, she could have imaginedbecoming real friends.

Of course, it could never happen. Not really. Every moment of friendship between themwas stolen from a fate that seemed determined to keep them apart. He was noble, andshe was a commoner. He was a gentleman, and she was a woman. There was no worldin which the two of them might forge a friendship.

And the fact that she had spent the past five years deceiving him only made friendshipmore unlikely.

“All right,” she said, looking him over. “There’s little else we can do to put this off, YourGrace. Your carriage will be waiting to take you to the Abbey.”

He sighed. “I wish I could stay here and talk about Father with you instead of goingthrough all these formalities,” he said. “You actually knew him, Samuel. You knew whathe was like. The people who will be at the funeral didn’t know him the way you and I did.Many of them will only be attending because it’s a social event, because they want to beseen.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true,” she said. “People admired and respected your father, YourGrace. You and I weren’t the only ones who saw the greatness in him. There are plenty ofmembers of the ton who will be there to honor him, just as you will.”

“Maybe so,” he acknowledged. “All I know is that it won’t feel that way to me. To me, it’sjust going to seem like the usual gossiping and chatter that happens at every socialfunction.”

“Ignore them,” Sue advised. “Today is about your need to grieve. You don’t need to worryabout what anyone else is thinking or saying.”

“I wish…” He hesitated.

“What, Your Grace?”

“I wish you could be by my side,” he admitted. “I don’t have any brothers or sisters tohelp me say my last farewell to Father. I don’t have any friends who knew him well. Iwish you could attend the service with me.”

Sue closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment to wish that such a thing was possible.That she might take his hand while he mourned and help him through his suffering.

But it wouldn’t be appropriate. He was a Duke, and she was a valet.

“I’ll be there,” she reminded him. “I won’t be at your side, but I will be there.”

He nodded. “I suppose that will have to be enough,” he said.

“I’ll remember to check on you,” she said. “But we really must go now, Your Grace. Just afew hours, and then this will be behind you.”

“You’re right,” he said, turning toward the door. “Thank you for your assistance, Samuel.”

She watched as he walked out with his head held high.

“I only wish I could do more,” she said quietly.

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A L S O B Y P A T R I C I A H A V E R T O N

Thank you for reading Season of the Marchioness!

I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? It would mean the world to me.Your insightful comments and honest feedback help me get better!

Some other best sellers of mine:

The Duchess Gambit

The Portrait of His Winter Marchioness

In Unfair War with Love, My Marquess

Desperately Inn Love with the Duchess

Through the Eyes of a Blind Duchess

His White Marchioness in the Gilded Cage

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I am honored to have you by my side on this wonderful journey!

Patricia Haverton

A B O U T T H E A U T H O R

Born the oldest of three children, Patricia Haverton grew up believing that she’d follow in her father’s footsteps andpursue a career in science. However, her worldview changed when she decided to explore her British mother’s roots. Thetrip to her ancestral lands solidified her conviction that she had found her true calling in the romanticism of the Era of Kingsand Queens.

A hopeless romantic and a firm believer in the idea of soulmates, Patricia changed the course of her life and decided to gether degree in Creative Writing and Psychology. As she jokingly says ever so often, “she lives in the past now, where loveshows the way and Dukes save the day!”

When she’s not weaving tales of love that prevails, Patricia enjoys spending time with her husband, roaming the Britishcountryside, where they have been living in for the past decade.

Now would be the time to let yourself go and experience the true magic of the Regency Era! Let your imagination run wild,live amazing adventures through the eyes of brave heroes! Like the legendary wise wizard, Patricia will be your guide!

Patricia is part of Cobalt Fairy’s team of authors! Visit cobaltfairy.com for new, bargain and free deals for everydedicated bookworm there is out there!

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