As much as she wanted to decline, she didn’t want to insult the lord. “Of course. Thank you, my lord.”
He took her hand, slipped it into the crook of his elbow, and started about the room.
Would Lord Cawley finally have something interesting to say? She certainly hoped so because so far she’d been bored to tears talking to him.
“Lovely weather we’re having, don’t you think, Lady Harriet?”
She wanted to groan. It was absurd that men thought women could only talk about the most mundane subjects. Before she could stop herself, she burst out laughing.
At that moment, Wilson walked into the room and announced their next caller: “Lord Hartley.”
Harriet’s head whipped around to the doorway, and her heart pounded at seeing the man who’d stolen her heart standing there, a fierce scowl on his face.
Hartley walked in and bowed to her mother and grandmother. “Good day, ladies.”
“Lord Hartley, what a pleasure to see you,” Marian said.
Harriet pulled her hand from Lord Cawley’s arm and went to Hartley. “My lord, I’m delighted you could join us,” she said with a curtsey. “Please come sit with me.”
Hartley hesitated a moment before following her to the sofa.
“Lord Hartley, may I introduce to you Lord Cawley and Mr. Pratt? Gentlemen, the Earl of Hartley,” Marian said.
Lord Cawley didn’t look pleased to see the earl but bowed, as was the earl’s due. “Hartley.”
“Cawley.”
Mr. Pratt stood. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
“Mr. Pratt.”
The waves of tension rolling off Hartley made Harriet nervous. Why was he so tense? She had no idea, and before she could begin to understand, he stood.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ve forgotten I have another appointment. Good day, ladies,” he said with a quick bow before turning on his heel and striding out of the room.
What had just happened?
Harriet jumped up. “Excuse me a moment,” she said, following Hartley.
His strides were longer than hers, and he was already out the door before she caught up with him. “Lord Hartley, please wait.”
He pivoted on her. “Lady Harriet, go back to your guests. Clearly you were enjoying their company.”
“What?”
“I should have known better.”
Harriet reached for his arm, but he pulled it away from her. “Jon, please wait. You don’t understand.”
“Oh, I think I understand very well, my lady. Lord Cawley is clearly enamored with you, and from the look on your face when I walked in, you were enjoying his attentions.”
“Is that what you think?”
“I know what I saw.”
“Men are such idiots!” she cried.
His mouth fell open. “I beg your pardon?”
