He had not considered going even for a second. “Yes, I do,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound overeager but knowing he had.
“Perhaps I will see you there,” she said simply.
Alexander swallowed, unsure what to say or do next. He tried to stop his heart from leaping giddily around his chest. She hadn’t asked to attendwithhim, only if he was attending. But he would see her again. In eight days’ time.
Perhaps.
He had arrangements to make. He might not be able to make matters with the dictionary right—he dearly regretted not killing Mr. Dawkins when he had the chance—but he could dosomething.
He excused himself, bowing his head.
Once outside, he glanced back into the window and saw her still there, still flipping through the dictionary, so solitary, so subdued. Despite her suggestion to the contrary, thiswashis fault. He may not have taken the dictionary from her, but he certainly had not given her enough to stay with him. He needed to fix this. He needed to do as Giuliana instructed.
Alexander crossed the street, found a tea shop, and waited until he saw her leave the store—two books in hand, neither the dictionary—and then he settled his bill and headed back to the bookstore.
Both the draw of and the problem with Temple of the Muses was that books could not be purchased on credit. One had to pay upfront. It kept the claims of being “the cheapest bookstore in the world” true enough for Londoners. It also meant that with the money he had on him, Alexander could only purchase twelve copies ofDictionary of Modern Cant and Vulgarities. It was a start. He’d come back for the rest.
And he did.
The next day he came back with his carriage and had a footman cart the rest of the books out for him. It was only on his return home from this frivolous journey that he realized the error in his thinking: the book seller would surely now buymore. Alexander sat in his study, surrounded by thirty-seven copies of the stupid book, trying to figure out what to do. He lit a cheroot and hoped it would help. It did not. He drank a brandy, and it did. A little. He was supposed to be offering Harriet everything she wanted. Wasn’t that Giuliana’s instruction?
He flipped open a copy of the dictionary that was stacked next to him, as if it might give him the answer. And there, on the first page, he found it. At least it was a start.
Harriet left the Temple of the Muses in quite a state. Instead of rushing home, she walked all the way to Philippa’s house, at a much faster pace than was necessary or ladylike.
“Philippa,” Harriet panted, when she arrived, “do you remember the thing you said about the leg behind the head?”
“Of course.”
“I need your help.” Philippa grinned, looking as if she’d been waiting her entire life for this moment. She stood, and Harriet held up a hand. “Before you get too delighted. This is more metaphorical.”
“Drat. It always is with you.”
“I need to become undeniable. You must teach me everything you know.”
Philippa’s eyes narrowed.
“May I ask why you have suddenly taken interest in matters of seduction? Did you meet someone?” A footman arrived then with tea, and Philippa began pouring.
“I saw Alexander at Temple of the Muses. I asked if he planned to attend the Courtenays’ ball, since I intend to bring John. And he said he did.”
“That is only a few days away.”
“Quite.”
“Mr. Monroe has his work quite cut out for him if you’re to dance by then.”
“Yes, and I need to retrieve one of the ball gowns Alexander had made for me. And perhaps we’d better speak with Clothilde about my hair.”
“As I said before, I don’t think you need to do anything to make him fall in love with you. Certainly, you don’t need to alter your appearance or learn a new skill.”
“I don’t intend to make him fall in love with me. I intend to spend the evening with him … if you understand my meaning. Justonce. I thought I could live my life and not know what it was like with him. But I can’t. I wonder all the time about how it would be. And Iloathenot knowing things.”
“Yes, I am quite aware.”
“When I saw him today it was agony. I expected our separation not to be so painful after a while but seeing him hurt almost as much as not seeing him. Then it occurred to me: I had refrained from consummating our marriage because I suspected it might make me fall in love with him, only I’m already in love with him. So, there’s no harm to be done.”
Philippa gave her a dubious look, which Harriet ignored. She wasn’t going to be talked out of this.
