“Your bath is ready, my lady.”
Rhonda took the tray away, and Harriet pushed the covers back. “Thank you, Rhonda. I’d like to soak for a while.”
“Of course. I shall return shortly,” Rhonda said with a curtsey before leaving her bedchamber.
Harriet pulled her nightdress over her head and slipped into the soothing water. What was she going to do? Perhaps it was time to return to London, as her mother had wanted all along. If Hartley didn’t want her, then she had no reason to stay in Bath.
Rhonda soon returned and helped wash her hair and dress for the day. When she went down to the parlor, she was pleasantly surprised to see that Wiltshire and Mercy had returned from visiting Lord and Lady Evans.
She ran to her sister and hugged her. “You’re back! I didn’t think you’d return until next week.”
“We decided to return a little early to spend more time with you, Mother, and Grandmother before we must leave for the country.”
“I’m so glad you’re here. Would you like to take a turn around the garden with me?” Harriet asked.
“Of course,” Mercy said, linking their arms.
Once they were outside, Harriet burst into tears. “Oh, Mercy, it’s all ruined.”
Mercy led her to the bench so they could sit down. “My darling, what’s ruined?”
“Hartley is gone. I fear I’ll never see him again.”
“Are you sure?”
Harriet told her sister what had happened yesterday during visiting hours. When she was finished, Mercy squeezed her hand.
“You never know how things will work out, dear sister. You mustn’t lose faith.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do, just like I didn’t lose faith that Wiltshire would rescue me from Lord Taylor. Somehow, the men we love always come through for us.”
“I wish that were true, but I fear it won’t be the case with Lord Hartley,” Harriet said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Mercy pulled out her handkerchief and wiped Harriet’s face. “Have faith, my darling. If you love Lord Hartley, you must believe he’ll see that and return to you.”
“I can only hope he does because I wouldn’t want to stay in Bath, knowing he’s so close and yet so far away from me.”
The sisters talked and walked in the garden, and when they finally returned to the house for luncheon, Harriet felt a little better. She’d try to do as her sister counseled her and have faith in Hartley.
The rest of the afternoon dragged on. Harriet tried to embroider, but she kept having to rip out her uneven stitches. “My darling girl, if you keep tearing out those stitches, there won’t be any fabric left to embroider,” Marian said.
“I apologize, Gran. I guess I’m a little distracted today.” She was sure her mother had told Gran what’d happened yesterday and was glad because she didn’t want to relive those memories again.
Wiltshire and Mercy joined them in the parlor for tea. While they waited for the tea cart to be brought in, there was a knock on the door.
Wilson opened the door and announced, “Lord Hartley.”
Harriet looked up from her embroidery. She could hardly believe her eyes. Lord Hartley strode into the room and bowed. “Good day, Your Graces, ladies.”
“Hartley,” Wiltshire said.
“Lord Hartley, delightful to see you. Please join us. We’re just about to have tea,” Marian said.
Harriet couldn’t tear her eyes from Hartley, standing there in all his splendor. Was she dreaming? No, she definitely wasn’t dreaming. He’d come back, but what did it mean?
Hartley couldn’t take hiseyes off Lady Harriet. She was beautiful and everything he ever wanted. He had to make things right between them.
