“A reprobate? A degenerate?” Hawthorne’s mustache was twitching with nerves. “This has been known for quite some time about me, Hawthorne.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” A third yes. Oh dear. “Only now, you’ve gone and ruined an innocent and kidnapped her and dragged her to Gretna Green. Which is a rather precipitous deterioration in your reputation.”
Alexander couldn’t argue with that. In fact, that’s precisely why he’d married Harriet. To avoid this.
“Ididmarry her.”
“Yes, yes. Good, good. I did assure Mr. Pottingale that you had made things right. Still … one does worry.”
“And we can’t get the land without Lord Holden?”
“No. Well. No, no. It’s unlikely. He holds the lands on the other side. Besides, there’s the matter of the magistrate.”
“I know, devil take it!”
“Yes, yes. Perhaps you could …”
Alexander stared at Hawthorne, daring the man to finish his sentence. He knew he wasn’t going to like Hawthorne’s proposal. Nothing that made Hawthornethisnervous was going to be pleasant.
“… a man doesn’t like to meddle in another’s business.”
“Hawthorne, you are, unless I’m mistaken, my man of business, are you not?”
“Yes, yes, quite right. Excellent point, sir.” Alexander held the man’s gaze until he relented. “I thought perhaps you could make a show of it.”
“Of … what?”
“Your marriage. I thought you might … make a gesture at reformation. Take her around with you. Act besotted, devoted. Actchanged. That sort of thing.”
Alexander thought for a moment. He had been doing his level bestnotto think of her. The sooner they were permanently apart, the better for both of them. Still, Hawthorne had a point. Certainly, a display of affection would aid Harriet’s reputation as well.
“All right. When she arrives, we’ll gad about for a short while. At least until the land is purchased.”
They finished their meeting and Alexander sent Hawthorne off with instructions for his various properties and investments. The man was positively quivering with excitement at the prospect of having tasks.
Alexander poured himself a brandy and considered Hawthorne’s advice. If he were to do this, he couldn’t exactly return to his ordinary activities. It wouldn’t do to go to a ball or the opera without his new wife. In fact, going anywhere on his own might raise questions about her whereabouts, and it didn’t seem at all the thing to say, “Oh yes, she’s in a carriage alone somewhere near Doncaster. Left a bit of coin for her with the driver.” He’d better stay at home until she arrived.
Chapter Fifteen
WHEN THEY GOT CLOSER TOLONDON,CHARLESTON STOPPED ANDinquired where Harriet might like to be left off. A more difficult question than the driver intended to ask, no doubt. Not knowing where she was meant to go, Harriet simply gave the address to her father’s house and spent the last hour of her journey praying he wasn’t home.
Harriet handed Charleston a few pounds for all his trouble and headed to the door. Charleston lingered for a bit before Harriet was able to convince him that she was quite all right and he could return to Giuliana with the woman’s belongings. Harriet had tucked a note of thanks and a few more pounds inside the valise. Etiquette hadn’t taught her how to address a thank-you note to one’s in-name-only husband’s mistress, but she muddled through.
She slipped inside the house, which was rather quiet. She saw no signs of her father. Her prayers were either answered or, more likely, unnecessary.
Eventually, she made her way to the small back garden, where she found Caroline and Frances. Happiness overwhelmed her. Upon seeing Harriet, Caroline stood from the tub where she waswashing linens and Frances stopped chasing one of the many stray cats she fed. All three sisters screeched in excitement over being reunited.
“Harriet, you beast! You wanton!” Frances crowed. “Tell us everything! Are you married?”
“Of course she’s married,” Caroline said.
“Well, he didn’t seem all that eager to wed her,” Frances bluntly pointed out. Harriet smiled.
“No, he wasn’t.”
“But you convinced him?” Frances asked, ever letting her curiosity overtake her manners. “How?” Frances waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“Frances!” both sisters chided. It was difficult not to be scolding when speaking with Frances.
