“Besides the issue of curtains, I think it would be rather … beneficial … for us to be together.”
“Your letter suggested otherwise.” His letter. So, shewasupset he had left her. Thathadbeen rather badly done of him, he admitted.
“I do apologize, I had business in town that could not be put off.” He did not like lying to her, but he felt it was the kindest course of action. “I would like you to come live with me, at least for a little while, for the sake of both of our reputations. Thatwasthe point of our marrying, was it not? Though we won’t be producing heirs, the illusion of attempting to beget them would go far for us both, I believe. We aren’t to have a traditional marriage, of course, but as you previously suggested, I hoped we might be … friends.” Nothing about seeing her again brought friendship to mind, but Alexanderignored that impulse. He also ignored the small voice inside that questioned why he was so invested in her coming to live with him.
“I have conditions.” Alexander smiled, despite himself, and nodded for her to continue. “I have just met with Mr. Dawkins.”Hell. His stomach twisted.
“I understand. You want to keep seeing him?”
“I do.” That was not precisely what Alexander wanted to hear, but he would be a hypocrite of the highest order if he were to stop her. If stopping Harriet from doing something she wanted were even possible.
“As I said, as long as you’re discreet and do not conceive a child, I do not mind.” That wasn’t precisely true—he did mind. Although he felt assured that this unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling of possessiveness would wane shortly.
“No—I don’t. I’m not—I’m making a dictionary with the man, not tupping him.” Harriet paused then. “Do women tup men? Or is it only men who tup?”
Alexander could not form a single coherent thought at the moment, so he simply muttered, “Don’t rightfully know.”
“If I am to remove to your house, I require your word that I may continue my work on the dictionary undisturbed.”
“Of course.” That wasn’t at all a concession, especially when compared to allowing her to swive the man.
“Any profits I receive from the dictionary—or any subsequent book I author—are my own to do with as I please.” She held his gaze with a challenge in her eyes, as if she expected him to deny her this.
“Absolutely. I will inform Hawthorne, my man of business, as much. He can draw up some sort of contract. He will be giddy. Anything else?”
“Do you have a library?”
Alexander could not keep the grin from his face.
“I do.”
Chapter Seventeen
HARRIET LEFT WITH A PROMISE FROMCAROLINE ANDFRANCES THATthey would write as soon as their father returned, or should they need anything at all. She had asked only thirty times or so while packing if they were certain they could spare her before Caroline gently reminded her that she was only going across Mayfair and that they’d done quite well when she was in Scotland.
Alexander looked both a little pleased with himself and a little nervous, Harriet observed on the carriage ride to his town house. Strange that he’d appealed to her so rationally about coming with him. He could have simply ordered her to, as was his husbandly right. Her father would have.
His town house in the daytime was far less imposing than she remembered, but Presley was just as kind as he’d been before.
“Wonderful to see you again, my lady,” he said, bowing. Next to him was a tall, stern-looking woman, who had no doubt been a beauty in her youth.
“This is Mrs. Tanning,” Alexander introduced. “Mrs. Tanning, Lady Alexander takes her tea with two sugars and a splash of milk. She should be allowed free rein to make any changes to the house orthe menus or the staff as she sees fit.” Harriet nearly swallowed her tongue at his announcement.
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Tanning, and, Presley, it’s lovely to see you again as well. Thank you for your help that night.”
“I am entirely and eternally at your service, my lady. It’s not much, but marrying Lord Alexander must come withsomebenefit.”
“Presley!” Alexander warned, playfully. “You’re becoming entirely too impertinent.”
“You’ll have to dismiss me once again, won’t you?” Presley rejoined, and then to Harriet, he continued, “It’s become almost a quarterly occurrence. Almost a little ritual of ours.” Alexander ignored this.
“Mrs. Tanning will show you your rooms, and perhaps later, to the library. It has recently undergone some … reorganization. I think you will find it ripe for your influence. I’ve instructed my cook to prepare chicken fricassee and asparagus tonight, but please inform Mrs. Tanning if you’d like something else. If you’d rather take dinner in your room, you may do that as well. Of course you can. It’s your home. There is a maid for you as well, I believe? Mrs. Tanning will introduce you, I’m sure. And then to the rest of the staff tomorrow, perhaps? And I can have a bath brought up for you, if you would like, or if you—” He was rambling, which was not at all something she’d seen from him before. It was almost sweet.
“Thank you,” Harriet interrupted, stopping herself from laying her hand on his arm in reassurance. “A bath would be lovely, the menu sounds perfect, and I will take my dinner in the dining roomwith you tonight.” She turned to Mrs. Tanning and smiled, then followed the woman up the wide, elaborately carved staircase into a beautifully appointed bedchamber.
It required effort for Harriet not to gasp upon entry. She’d never had her own room before. And this? The bed alone would have taken up half of her room at her father’s house. And one of the chairs would have likely paid his debts. There was a fireplace on one wall, and the ceilings must have been the height of two men, with windows that looked out over the square and thick drapes to prevent daylight from disturbing the mistress of the house.
Which was her.
