“Not yet. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
“Oh?” Harriet didn’t like the sound of that and braced herself for bad news.
“I will not be joining you in the mornings any longer.”
“What?” Tears started to pool in Harriet’s eyes. His words were like a gut punch, and she could hardly catch her breath. “Have I done something to displease you, my lord?”
Hartley reached across the saddle and grasped her hand. “Not at all, my dear. The other day, I told Wiltshire I wanted to openly court you.”
“You did?”
“I did. You must know how very dear you are to me, my dear sweet Harriet.”
“I am?”
Hartley nodded. “Yes, and as such, I would like everyone to see our courtship.”
Harriet’s breath whooshed out in a rush, and she swiped a tear from her cheek. “I thought you’d grown tired of me.”
“My darling, from the first moment I met you, you’ve burrowed into my soul. I will never tire of you. However, I must warn you that with my affliction, there may be things I cannot do, no matter how much I wish to.”
“What things?”
“Like a return to London anytime soon. I’ve been keeping up with matters in Parliament and have given my proxy vote to a friend to be recorded, but I cannot bear to go back there myself. It brings up too many painful memories of when I first came home from the war.”
“I understand. I actually don’t want to return to London. I want to stay here in Bath with you. I never wanted a Season. That was what my mother wanted.”
“I thought every young woman wanted a Season.”
“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not like every young woman.”
“I can see that. You’re unique, and I find that infinitely more appealing.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh Jon, you must know I’m hopelessly in love with you—you, my magnificent avenging angel.”
Harriet waited for Hartley to declare his feelings for her, but he didn’t utter a word. It was enough, however, that he’d asked the duke for his blessing to court her. That meant something, at least, and the fact, that he wanted it to be noticed by others.
“Shall we race one last time, my dear?” Hartley asked.
Harriet didn’t wait and touched her heels to Meribelle’s sides. The horse responded with gusto and took off running for the treeline. Of course, she was no match for Zeus’s powerful strides, and Hartley soon caught up with her.
They walked the horses to the stream, and Hartley lifted her from the saddle, letting her body slide down his, sending tingles throughout her. She felt alive in his arms. When he kissed her, she knew she’d found her one true love. Now she needed to be patient and let the courtship proceed according to Hartley’s timeline. Patience wasn’t one of her virtues, but she would try very hard to practice it for the earl’s sake.
“I can’t get enough of you, my dear,” Hartley said as he laid a row of kisses down the column of her neck. When he reached the hollow of her throat his tongue flicked out, tasting her skin. Could he feel how fast her heart was beating? Being in his company only had her wanting more. Being patient was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.
“Jon, your kisses are glorious,” she said, leaning into his lean hard body. She threw her arms around his neck and bent her head back to give him access to her throat. Delicious tingles roared through her body, and she shivered as he kissed her.
“Are you cold, my dear?”
Harriet shook her head. “No. You make my head spin.”
“I’d like nothing better than to spend the day kissing you, but we must stop before I lose all control.”
“I don’t mind.”
