The Seventh Suitor
Chapter 6
Wolverton took the family to
church the next day and, mindful of his duty, immediately introduced Harriet to
the vicar, Mr. Singleton. Harriet found herself unimpressed, though, with the
little man, who looked and smelled as if he could use a good bath. She was even
less impressed with his sermon.
"Today's text is from
Ephesians Chapter 5..." he intoned. "Wives, submit to your husbands
as to the Lord... for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head
of the church... so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything..."
Harried tried not to glare at
Wolverton as they sat there in their front pew, especially when he took her
hand in a familial gesture that had the vicar beaming on them from the pulpit.
To Wolverton's credit, he had no
hand in the topic of that sermon. He could tell by the look on his wife's face
that she thought otherwise, and he pondered what to do to convince her he was
innocent in this. He tried to take her hand to assure her, but it only made
matters worse, so he gave up. Tuning out the rest of the vicar's lesson, he
thought back to that day over a month ago when he realized he was engaged to
the wrong sister.
It had occurred to him early on
in his engagement that one, Miss Frost was little more than an arm ornament,
and two, she was purposefully keeping him from getting to know her family.
One day, though, when he had
called to take her for a drive, he had caught a glimpse of Miss Harriet Frost,
and became intensely curious. ‘What was this gilded bird of paradise doing with
such a little wren for a sister?' was his first thought. Then he wondered if
she had any more intelligence than her sibling.
A visit a week later from
Obadiah only intrigued him further, especially the information the lad had
concerning his eldest sister. Wolverton, at that time, found himself asking
questions about the other sister, and was surprised when Obie contacted him
once more. This time he had concrete information regarding Jessabelle's
elopement and a plan to help Wolverton save face.
Looking at his wife now, the
service over, as she was introduced briefly by Anjelica to the neighbors, he
had to give his brother-in-law credit. The lad knew what he was about. Now it
was up to the earl to convince Harriet that her new situation was the best
thing to happen to both of them. Obie would probably have his head if he knew
how badly Wolverton had handled the marriage so far. Especially the wedding
night.
With a sigh he went to collect
Harriet, who seemed rather overwhelmed by the curious people surrounding her.
Harriet was furious. Not only
had Wolverton gotten that nasty little vicar to preach on the submission of
wives, he barely gave her time to meet the neighbors before dragging her off.
She refused to speak to him
during the ride home, the children, thankfully, filling in the silence with
their chatter. After luncheon she left the house, intent on getting lost in the
woods past the formal gardens.
Paying no attention to the
pruned roses and carefully tended beds of spring flowers, and unconsciously
moving away from the sound of what could only be the dowager's animals, Harriet
found herself in a clearing centered with a large oak tree. A tree house grew
out of its venerable old branches.
Almost blindly, she climbed the
ladder into the structure, amazed once inside to discover this must be the
exclusive lair of Rory and Ian.
There were fishing poles stacked
neatly in one corner, a low table set with a game of chess, blankets and
pillows piled up next to books probably pilfered from the house, and a shelf
covered with an assortment of rocks, nests, feathers and jars of insects, dead
and alive. Further inspection revealed a cocoon hanging from a branch in one, a
piece of cheesecloth wrapped in twine keeping the future butterfly inside.
Another contained an assortment of dead beetles and yet another was half full
of coins.
She was about to retreat from
this sanctuary when she heard voices and realized the tenants had returned to
their abode.
"Sid says she's a right
'un," Ian was saying, "because she's getting her a pony for her
birthday."
Rory's reply was unintelligible.
"Well, I say we ask her.
Uncle Gerald was supposed to get that pony and didn't. How do we know he won't
back out of this, too?"
"Back out of what?"
Harriet asked from above. Rory frowned, but Ian's grin split his face in two.
"It's famous that you're
here, Aunt Harriet!" said the ten-year-old Ian. "We need your help to
keep Uncle Gerald to a promise."
It was on the tip of Harriet's
tongue to say she didn't think his lordship capable of breaking a promise when
she remembered he had not only promised to marry her sister, but had promised
Sidney a pony.
"Tell me what he promised
and I'll see what I can do to help." She had started to climb down the
tree, but Ian whooped with joy and began to climb up, forcing her back into the
tree house. "We can discuss this at the house," she said, "if
you don't want me up here."
Rory almost nodded, but Ian cut
him off and urged her to sit on the blankets.
"We are supposed to spend
the night out here with Uncle Gerald," he said eagerly, "but we think
he might have changed his mind."
"No we don't - he just
hasn't mentioned it recently," Rory said quietly. "Doesn't mean he
forgot or changed his mind," he pointed out.
"That's true," Harriet
agreed. "This sounds like something you are looking forward to."
Both boys nodded their heads
eagerly.
"Can you really help?"
Rory asked.
"I don't know. Do you want
me to try?" Harriet was willing to do so if only to wipe the sad looks off
the boys' faces.
"Please?" they asked
in unison.
Harriet went back to the house
and ran Wolverton to ground in the library.
"I want to speak with
you," she said purposefully, mindful that she was not supposed to be
talking to him. The boys' request, however, superceded her self-imposed boycott
of conversation.
"Yes?" Wolverton
looked up from his ledger to address his wife.
"It has come to my
attention that you have promised the boys an overnight outing in the tree
house. They, of course, are afraid you forgot."
"Of course?"
"Well, yes - did you
remember your agreement?"
"Well, not exactly..."
"I rest my case."
"Wait a minute. How do you
know all this?"
"The boys told me."
Wolverton looked at her in amazement.
"They did?" He knew
Harriet was finding it difficult being accepted by his family, but knew, too,
she would have to deal with them directly for them to respect her. What
surprised him, though, was how quickly she had gained the children's trust.
Harriet was standing there, arms
folded over her chest, waiting. "Well?" she prompted.
"Well, what?"
"When do you propose to
take them on this outing so I may report back the good news?"
He eyed her with some newfound
respect of his own. This little termagant would probably pack a bag for him and
escort him to the tree house personally to ensure his promise was kept.
"I will do so Friday
evening, but only on one condition," he said, a little gleam of mischief
in his eyes.
"Yes?"
"You have to come,
too."
Harriet hesitated only a moment before nodding her agreement. "I will."
Harriet spent the rest of the
day and all of Monday alternating between plans for Sidney's birthday and
worrying about spending a night with her husband in the tree house.
Sidney had been included in the
party preparations and followed Harriet about like a shadow. Even Rory and Ian,
previously disdainful of anything concerning their sister's natal day, became
enthusiastic when asked their opinion of the food. The fact that Harriet had managed
to get a definite overnighter date from Wolverton also increased her popularity
among the younger set.
Only Zoe was the holdout,
although she was not openly hostile. Harriet, however, was much too busy
rearranging the party to pay her much mind.
The dowager had planned a quiet
luncheon with a few of her cronies and the Danvers family, they having the only
children in the neighborhood anywhere near Sidney's age. Harriet mentally
rejected the arrangements as unsuitable to a seven-year-old and then made a
quick inventory of Wolverton's tenants.
There were three girls and two
boys approximately Sidney's age, and invitations were quickly made to them by
Harriet as she made her rounds of the estate. With the Danvers children, that
made seven - just the right amount. Sidney and her brothers brought the total
count to ten. There were ten adults, as well, and Harriet was up early on
Tuesday supervising the erecting of a marquee on the lawn just off the back
terrace.
"What is the meaning of
this, Lady Wolverton?" the dowager demanded at breakfast. "Are you
staging a circus for Sidney's party?"
Harriet's face lit up at the
thought and she shelved the idea, making a mental note to discover Ian's birth
date.
"Sadly, no, my lady,"
she replied. "But we are dining al fresco for luncheon."
"We are?" Wolverton
asked, lowering the newspaper he had been reading.
"Yes, we are," was all
Harriet would say, excusing herself and Sidney at that point to check on final
preparations.
"You must do something
about your wife, Gerald!" the dowager insisted. "She's much too
headstrong! She doesn't have the decency to leave plans well enough alone!
She's going to ruin Sidney's birthday!"
Zoe sat waiting for Wolverton to
agree with his aunt, but she was to be disappointed.
"She's taking charge, Aunt
Victoria - as is her right. End of discussion." With a snap he pulled his
newspaper back up in front of his face.
The dowager snorted and
retreated to concentrate on her breakfast, Zoe pouted and the three other males
sat and exchanged delighted grins over Wolverton's championship of his wife.
Later, Harriet stood by proudly
and watched Sidney, Belinda and the other girls playing a game in the garden.
The boys had disappeared together and she had no doubt they were in the tree
house. She would send Wolverton out there to collect them when it was time to
eat.
The dowager and her friends sat
in the drawing room and bemoaned an al fresco luncheon and being exposed to
children of a lower station, but Lady Danvers came up behind Harriet with a
smile.
"The only thing that could
make the day more perfect would be a pony," she teased. "That and if
the older folks would hold their tongues. Now, tell me what you think of my
husband."
Sir Marcus had met with
Harriet's approval almost immediately and she was not slow in telling her new
friend. "Your husband seems very kind."
"Yes, he is." Anjelica
beamed. "You also met my parents, the Postons, briefly on Sunday and they
will be at my party this evening. We were all children together, you know. Marc,
Gerry and I."
"Did they ever fight over
you?" Harriet asked curiously. Anjelica laughed.
"It was more like Gerry and
I fighting over Marc! He and I knew we belonged to each other from an early
age, and Gerry used to tell me to go away, that Marc and I could have the
second half of our lives together. I eventually agreed, but I extracted my
pound of flesh. I insisted he and Marc both be present for my London debut. I
was not going to be thrust into society without at least two escorts."
Harriet gaped at Lady Danvers'
audacity. "You insisted? What did he do?"
"He attended me, of
course!" She spoke as if that were a given. "He's rather easy to
manage once you get the knack, my dear - he has an overwhelming sense of duty.
The main thing is to stick to your guns. Works with the old lady, too..."
she added with a wink. "That and ignoring her."
"Thank you," Harriet
said quietly.
"What a clever idea to
invite some of the estate children. The boys play with them all the time, but
Sidney is not allowed. Quite equalizing..."
"Quite."
They chatted a while longer and
then Wolverton, on Harriet's request, went to the tree house to retrieve the
boys. They all came running at the mention of food, almost knocking down the
dowager in the process. She was not amused and told them all so in no uncertain
terms.
"Let them be, Aunt
Victoria," Wolverton said, bringing up the rear. "They are just
energetic boys."
"Hmpf!" was the only
reply, but she allowed herself to be seated prominently before Harriet rounded
up the children and settled them at the other table.
Even with all the children on
their best behavior, luncheon was a boisterous affair. The children were served
cold chicken, fruit, cheese and lemonade followed by jellies and cake. The
adults received soup, chicken, a beef course, salad greens, fruit and cheese,
several wines and slices of Sidney's cake.
Sidney was then allowed to open
gifts, but when she received a china doll from her Uncle Gerald, she looked so
disappointed, Harriet was on her way to give the little girl a hug when
Wolverton stopped her with a raised hand.
"You will keep the doll in
a safe place, won't you, Sidney?" She nodded. "Good. I would hate to
see your new doll mauled by this."
Out of a basket one of the
servants held came a snowy white kitten. All the girls squealed with delight
and Harriet smiled until she caught a devilish gleam in several of the boys'
eyes. She was going to have to keep an eye on them.
"Oh, thank you, Uncle
Gerald!" Sidney exclaimed, throwing her arms about his waist.
"Thank your Aunt Harriet as
well, Sidney," he said with a laugh, handing over the kitten. "She
and I got this for you together." He glanced in Harriet's direction and
dared her to contradict him.
"I believe your aunt has
another present for you," he added, "and here it is."
The little brown pony was led
into the garden by a groom and even the boys cheered as Sidney was picked up
and placed on its back.
"It's the best present
ever, Aunt Harriet!" Sidney cried. Harriet found herself exchanging
pleased glances with both Anjelica and Wolverton.
"How did you find out about
the pony?" Harriet asked her husband later as the children ran off to
play.
"I have my sources."
"I see."
"The same source that
failed to tell you that I had already made plans to purchase that same pony for
Sidney."
Harriet turned to Lady Danvers,
but she was conversing with the dowager and that was the last person Harriet
wanted to speak with.
"Don't let it bother you,
my dear," Wolverton said softly in her ear. "It made you several
friends in the process, did it not?"
Harriet nodded.
"Then it was worth it."
Getting ready for the dinner
party, Harriet took more pains than usual with her toilette. Her maid was
delighted when she was asked to ready the white brocade gown, and ran for the
dress, carefully helping her mistress put it on.
"So bridal!" she
exclaimed as she pinned up Harriet's hair. A knock on the connecting door
startled them both, but before Tilly could answer it and discover it locked,
Harriet was on her feet and admitting Wolverton to her room.
Nodding to the maid to leave,
Wolverton strode in with a velvet jewel case and stopped in front of his wife.
"You look lovely,
Harriet," he said, admiration gleaming in his dark eyes. She could not
mistake it for anything else and flushed with pleasure.
"Thank you... Gerald,"
she replied, using his name for the first time. She was rewarded with a rather
lopsided grin, which surprised her even more than the compliment.
"But a countess should not
be without jewelry," he continued.
"I have a string of
pearls..."
"I'm sure they would do,
but if you would prefer, these now belong to you. I'd like to see them on you,
if not tonight, then some time soon?" He opened the case. Inside gleamed a
set of sapphire jewelry: a necklace, two bracelets and earrings.
Harriet inhaled sharply.
"They're beautiful! I would love to wear them tonight!" Before they
both realized it, she had thrown her arms about his neck and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you," she added in a shy whisper as she pulled back.
Sitting down at her dressing
table, she put on the earrings and clasped on the bracelets. She reached for
the necklace, but Wolverton had it and was holding it up by its ends.
"Allow me?" he asked.
Harriet swallowed hard.
"Yes."
The necklace came around and
settled gingerly on her chest while he attached it in the back. He paused and
then reached to the front once more as he arranged it to his satisfaction, his
fingers brushing her collarbone as he pronounced her "perfect."
Anjelica had really not meant to
put Lady Wolverton on the spot when she had planned to have the guest of honor
arrive last. She only thought it would be easier to introduce her around once.
She realized the error of this
when the Wolvertons arrived and stood framed in the drawing room door, the
blood slowly draining from Harriet's face, the object of every eye. She knew
she would be the center of attention, but she had hoped to be introduced to
everyone gradually.
Gerald shot his hostess an
accusing glance and even Marcus did not seem pleased, but Anjelica bravely
stepped forward and gave Harriet a welcoming embrace.
"Lady Wolverton! Welcome
once again to our home! Gerry, Uncle Oscar, Aunt Victoria..." She quickly
handed the elder Wares over to Marcus, but when she would have taken Harriet's
arm to escort her about the room, Gerald glared and she backed off, allowing
him the honors.
"Harriet, my dear,"
Wolverton said gently, "you remember the vicar?"
"Oh, yes, Mr. Singleton.
How lovely to see you again," she lied.
"Lady Wolverton," he
acknowledged with a bow. "I hope you will be home this Friday when I make
my weekly call. Her ladyship kindly goes over my texts with me and I would love
to hear your opinion as well."
"Her ladyship offers sermon
suggestions?" Harriet blurted out, avoiding her husband's gaze.
"Certainly! I've been
trying to get Wolverton interested, but he doesn't seem to have the time,"
he almost accused.
"I am certain there are
good reasons my lord hasn't the time to assist in God's work, sir,"
Harriet replied and felt herself gently moved forward by Wolverton's hand on
her back.
"Squire Bailey," he
introduced the next gentleman, a large, florid man with rather cruel-looking
gray eyes.
"How do you do, Lady
Wolverton?" he asked kindly enough, but the smile he offered did not quite
reach his eyes.
Lord and Lady Hawthorne were
next, and their son, Alan, a tall, slender man in his early twenties. After
that were Lady Danvers' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Poston, who welcomed Harriet
warmly.
"We have heard so much
about you already," Mrs. Poston said, giving her a hug.
Then came Sir George and Lady
Millington and their daughter, Rebecca, who her mother giddily declared to be
not quite ready for her first season. "Perhaps the Little Season,"
she promised her pouting daughter.
Two ladies in their early
thirties, Misses Eleanora and Clementina Bright, were introduced, and Wolverton
presented them as Miss Nellie and Miss Tina. He gave them light pecks on their
cheeks, causing the sisters to twitter and declare him a devil.
Anjelica took over at that
point, as the only other guests were Wolverton's family, and when the gong
rang, Sir Marcus proudly led Harriet into the dining room, Anjelica right
behind with Gerald.
Dinner was a pleasant affair and
both Sir Marcus, at the head of the table, and Sir George, on her right, were
agreeable conversationalists. The only drawback was sitting directly across
from the dowager, whose sour expressions could curdle her own goats' milk.
She was relieved when Lady
Danvers finally rose from the table and escorted the ladies back to the drawing
room, leaving the men to their port and cigars.
"How are you managing, my
dear?" Mrs. Poston asked kindly, bringing a cup of tea with her and
handing it to Harriet before seating herself at her side. "It can't be
easy to be suddenly responsible for a large home, three youngsters, a ward and
one of the stubbornest most stubborn old ladies it has ever been my fate to
meet!"
Harriet looked at her in
surprise.
"Don't mind me, my
dear," her companion said. "You'll notice I didn't mention Wolverton
or Lord Oscar..."
Harriet had noted that.
"Oscar is a dear and if
he's a trifle eccentric, well... no harm there. As for Wolverton, husbands
always fall under a special category, don't they? I've been with mine thirty
years, so feel free to ask husband questions at any time. Lord knows Anjelica
does!" she said in mock exasperation. Harriet could see the lady did not
mind at all. "Perhaps Anjelica will regale you with stories from her first
- rather stormy - year of marriage. Most diverting... but I've monopolized you
too long."
Harriet would have liked to have
visited longer with Mrs. Poston, but that kind lady gave her directions to her
home before she relinquished the guest of honor to ladies Hawthorne and
Millington, and a rather boring conversation on current fashions the ladies
assumed Harriet could participate in, having recently come from town.
After the men rejoined them,
Lady Hawthorne left Harriet to speak to her husband and Lady Millington moved
on to sit with Lady Danvers. Wolverton was detained by Mrs. Poston., leaving
Harriet temporarily alone until the vicar, his eyes gleaming in a manner that
left her feeling uneasy, sat down beside her on the sofa.
"My dear Lady Wolverton,
you don't know how I've longed to have you to myself all evening."
"Why, Mr. Singleton,
whatever do you mean?" she asked. Fortunately, Wolverton now stood in
front of them.
"Yes, Singleton, whatever
do you mean?"
The vicar gave a nervous laugh
and tugged at his cravat. "Why, Wolverton, only that Lady Wolverton might
be persuaded to help the dowager with my sermons, nothing more, nothing
more..."
"I see," Wolverton
replied, but his glare said otherwise and Harriet felt a small thrill at the
way her husband had come to her aid. The vicar hurried away, his tail
figuratively between his legs, and left the party soon afterward.
Harriet, however, felt more in
charity with her husband at that point than she had at any other time since
their wedding.
Harriet did not think much about
the vicar again until Friday. When she heard his arrival, she prudently slipped
out into the garden so that she could not be found if sent for.
She sought out the gardener and
discussed pruning roses for as long as she could despite a lack of knowledge,
hoping to avoid returning to the house. She thoroughly confused that poor man
with her sudden interest in horticulture. Once she even thought she saw Mr.
Singleton in the window of the family parlor, which looked out over the back of
the house, but when she glanced over again there wasn't even a twitch in the
curtains.
Hoping she had escaped meeting
the man completely, she went for a walk down the lane that led to Oak Hill, the
Millington estate.
"Ah, Lady
Wolverton..." the vicar suddenly called. Harriet wanted to disappear.
"Her ladyship and I missed you today. I trust your gardening chores were
not too onerous?"
"Not particularly,"
Harriet airily replied. "But necessary. I hope she was helpful today in my
absence?"
"Today she insisted on a
sermon regarding adultery," he said smoothly, "but I could not agree.
I would not be condemned as a hypocrite..." He moved in until he was quite
close to her and ran one finger up her arm. She shuddered and he smiled, as if
she had shivered in delight.
"Her ladyship has informed
me of your true marital status, you know. That your marriage remains
unconsummated."
Harriet's shock must have shown
on her face, because the vicar laughed. "I can tell you would be receptive
to a little tutelage."
"No!" Harriet cried.
"Go away before I tell Wolverton! He holds your living, you know!"
Mr. Singleton only laughed
again.
"You know you won't,
because then you will have to explain what you were doing out here with me, and
you also might be forced to discuss your failure as a wife. I know of your
sister. She would have submitted, you know, if only so she might have some
leverage over her husband. You foolishly deny him. Soon he will grow tired of
waiting and look somewhere else. Then we'll see if you don't come running to
me!"
Harriet stared at him
incredulously for a moment before running blindly off into the woods, the vicar
having made her physically ill. She did not see Zoe crouching nearby, watching
the entire scene.
By dusk she had recovered
somewhat, and found herself wondering why two boys needed so much equipment to
spend one night in a tree house. Ian had three blankets, two pillows, a rather
ragged toy that looked like it had been an elephant at one point in its life, a
crate full of games and a change of clothes.
Rory had a full complement of
bedding, a floppy old rag horse, a crate of what looked like more items for the
tree house shelves, and clothing.
In comparison, Wolverton had
nothing in his vicinity to even hint that he was to accompany the boys. The
bedding she figured had been sent on ahead - even now the servants were
bringing around a cart for the boys' belongings - but no clothing?
Harried had decided on wearing a
plain muslin gown and had packed another loose gown, a shawl and a comb,
feeling they were sufficient for her needs. She had already been instructed not
to worry about bedding, food or entertainment.
Wolverton, however, appeared as
if he were going to sleep on the hard wood floor in either what he had on or
nothing at all. She flushed bright red at the thought, but if her husband
noticed, he gave no sign, jumping on the cart and riding ahead.
She was still flushed, this time
with pleasure, when the boys took both of her hands and pulled her through the
garden toward their shelter for the night.
"...And we're going to have
a fire and everything," Ian was telling her when they reached the tree
house clearing. There was a fire, burning bright and surrounded by two logs and
a hassock, and servants were handing up the last of the boys' belongings.
"Welcome," Wolverton
called and the boys relinquished her into his care. She was seated on the
hassock and given a mug of tea. She spied a table nearby laden with everything
required to cook one's meal over an open flame.
Wolverton sent the boys off to
cut sticks so they could roast sausages and then politely dismissed the
servants.
"A nice time for us to sit
and talk, don't you think?" Wolverton said suddenly. Harriet jumped. What
on earth were they going to talk about? She wasn't about to tell him about the
vicar. Evidently Wolverton had already decided on a topic of conversation.
"How would you like to
invite your brother for a visit? I realize he, more than anyone else in your
family, would be welcomed by you."
"Obie? Visit here?"
"Why not? There is plenty
to keep him occupied, and if your father raises any objections, I shall hire a
tutor to keep up his studies."
Harriet actually snorted at that
idea.
"If Father kicks up a fuss
I'll remind him of Obie's early acceptance to Cambridge..." Her brother
did not need extra tutoring. He needed a couple of months of time spent
outdoors, and she smiled at the thought of Rory and Ian in tow.
"Ah, good point. While
we're alone, might I just say I think you are doing a wonderful job with the
children?"
"Me? I am?" She
blushed under his dark gaze. "I... I'm just doing what I think is
right."
"It's exactly right."
He seemed about to say more, but the boys returned with their sticks, and the
four merrily roasted sausages and corn, and drank cider while they told silly
stories and sang songs.
Later, Wolverton covered the
coals with ash and ushered everyone up into the tree house, declaring it time
for sleep. Harriet was told to go up first, get ready and then let them know
when they might ascend.
She took a lantern with her, and
gasped when she reached the top of the ladder. The interior of the tree house
had been transformed into a giant sleeping area complete with loads of pillows
and blankets, and netting over the windows to keep out insects. She quickly
found her belongings and changed into the loose gown, wrapping her shawl about
her shoulders. The late spring air was still chill.
"Ready?" Wolverton
called, and Harriet replied in the affirmative, smiling as the boys came thundering
up the ladder. They pulled off their coats, shoes and stockings before diving
under blankets.
"Tell us another
story!" Ian insisted of Harriet.
"After we're all here and
ready for bed," she calmly replied, feeling anything but calm as she
noticed the space in the shelter shrinking and shrinking with the addition of
every new body. Once Wolverton came inside, there would be no room for her to
breathe at all!
She was correct - he wasn't a
particularly big man, but when Wolverton entered the room, Harriet felt
immediately cramped, especially when he settled down beside her. The boys
seemed to think nothing of it, and chattered about what story they wanted to
hear as she watched Wolverton prepare for bed.
He shrugged out of his coat
without standing and set about removing his waistcoat, Harriet holding her
breath tighter with the loosening of each button. When that had been set neatly
aside, he took off his boots and then pulled a blanket up and over the two of
them.
She was speechless, but that did
not seem to bother him. He lay his head down on the pillow next to hers and
smiled.
"Let's hear the story of
Robin Hood," he suggested. The boys were in immediate agreement. Harriet
sighed and began the tale, trying to forget the large male body at her side as
she told of Robin Hood, Little John and Maid Marian.
It was after midnight and the
boys were asleep. Harriet wasn't, though, and when she rolled over, it was to
see the moonlight on Wolverton's face. He was awake too.
"Gerald!" she exclaimed
softly. "I thought you were..."
"I know," he said a
tad too smugly for her taste. "How could I possibly sleep with such a
beautiful lady by my side?"
"I don't buy into flattery,
Gerald," she said tartly.
"Who said it was flattery,
Harriet?"
"Oh. It's not?" Once
or twice in the past few days she thought she had seen a glimpse of something
in his eyes, but...
"Harriet, I feel nothing
but a very deep regard for your person and admiration for your physical beauty.
But it is the liveliness of your mind and the loveliness of your soul that
takes my breath away."
Harriet heard herself gasp in
surprise. That was how she had always wanted to be viewed and here he was,
saying the perfect words. Were they only words?
"Talk comes cheaply to
many," was her stinging retort.
"That's why I prefer
demonstrations..." Leaning over her on one arm, he put the opposite hand
under her chin.
Harriet tensed slightly when she
felt his hand on her, but the atmosphere was relaxed, almost casual, even if
she felt anything but. He didn't ask permission or beg her pardon, either, just
leaned over further and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Now, that wasn't so awful,
was it?" he teased.
Harriet only shook her head. It
wasn't bad? It was most pleasant. She wondered if a second kiss would be even
better and reached a hand up to pull his lips back down to hers. He readily
complied, although she could see very little of his expression, his face now
hidden from the dim light.
"Just because I'm allowing
you this liberty, Gerald," she said when she could breathe normally once
more, "doesn't mean you will be receiving any other liberties soon. I'm...
I'm not ready for them," she admitted.
"I think I can live with
that for now," he said, although he was glad it was mostly dark and she
could not see him frown. "I think another liberty, if you will, would be
to keep the doors between our rooms unlocked... or even open."
She considered the request very
seriously, the vicar's words echoing in her head. She thought maybe he and the
dowager had gained their information from the servants.
"I think we could keep the
doors open," she decided.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Why do you mistrust me
so?" his disembodied voice wondered. "Or is it all men?"
She had to think about that,
too.
"What do you expect? My
father ignores us, my brother and I successfully routed six gullible gentlemen,
and your vicar..."
"What about
Singleton?" he said suddenly, reaching out, his hand tightening painfully
on her arm.
Harriet tensed. She couldn't
possibly repeat what the man had said to her, but...
"Nothing, really," she
admitted. "He just makes me uncomfortable."
"How so?"
"I can't quite put my
finger on it," she lied, when what she really wanted to do was put her
entire hand on it, preferably with a resounding smack.
"Let me know if there is
anything specific, please. I..."
He would have said more, but Ian
sat up with a start and glared owlishy at them. "I'm trying to sleep
here," he grumbled and flopped back down on his bedroll. He started to snore.
Harriet giggled and could feel
her husband shaking with silent laughter next to her.
"So much for a
chaperone," he said blithely. "But then, if he were awake, I couldn't
do this."
He kissed her lightly and then
pulled her close, tucking her head up under his chin and draping one arm across
her waist. "Now, get some rest, sweetheart. The boys are bound to be up
early, and I would not be surprised if Sydney joined us, as well."
Long after Harriet heard his
breath drop to the steady rhythm of someone in a deep sleep, she lay there in
his arms, wondering how she was supposed to rest when he was so close.
Wolverton's words were
prophetic. Rory and Ian were awake at the crack of dawn, their soft laughter
waking her as they tried their best to keep quiet. She heard them leave and
reached for Wolverton.
The hard, warm body she had gone
to sleep with was still there, but had rolled away from her. She watched,
fascinated, as the light slowly crept in the netted window and highlighted a
pulse on the side of his neck. She resisted the urge to press her lips against
that spot. Instead, she yawned, snuggled up against his warmth and went back to
sleep.
When she awoke once more, her
companion was gone and she was alone in the tree house. The laughter of the
children - Sydney and, surprisingly, Zoe, included - rose up to her ears. She
smiled, quickly dressed and descended for breakfast.
Everyone greeted her merrily as
Wolverton handed her a mug of tea, and Sydney insisted on sitting next to her,
chattering like a magpie.
Wolverton seemed animated as he
passed around pastries warm from the kitchen. When he asked them all if they
wished to go fishing, everyone cheered.
"Meet me down at the creek
in a while," he told the children. "I need to escort Harriet to the house
so she may write to her brother. She looks like she needs some sleep,
too," he correctly ascertained. "You may go fishing with us the next
time," he promised in a low voice, pulling her to her feet and walking her
back to her room, where she was kissed lightly and told to get some rest.
She went straight to bed and
dreamed of tree house kisses and the arrival of her brother.
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author.