“Then life at Irondale Hall would suit you well. It is quiet, save for birdsong in the mornings.” Her smile shifted at his words. For a moment, he’d seen genuine pleasure there, before the corners of her mouth drooped and something about her smile became… practiced. Maybe even forced.
It was as though a cloud had drawn across the sun, and Theodore found himself stepping towards her, trying to catch her eye. “I have heard artists draw inspiration from such things.”
A flicker, like a candle trying to spark into life. He seized on it.
"Your art matters to Phoebe; it is my hope you might share more of it with her. That you will encourage her in her studies, that she will come to see you as a role model of sorts. When you are notwith her, you will be free to do as you wish so long as it is not disreputable.”
The candle was extinguished as Lady Harriet folded her arms across her chest, her chin tilted towards him in defiance. He had the feeling of stepping into a snare that had not yet drawn tight, he focused on making his lips a neutral line, his dark eyes hard.
“And if I chose to do something so unladylike as riding?” He heard the triumph in her voice, though something else lurked just beneath it that he could not place.
His heart quickened; she was testing him.
There is that fire.“You may ride if you wish, though I shall have to speak to the stablemaster about a suitable mount. We have few mares in the stables.”
“I can handle a stallion.” Her cheeks flushed as she met his gaze. “I mean – I am an experienced rider, so long as I have the right tack, I will be fine.”
“Then I shall see it arranged. You should ensure that you have suitable attire for such things commissioned as part of your bridal wardrobe. I will cover the costs, of course.” He paused and added, “That is if you accept my proposal.
“You make it sound as though I have a choice.” He heard a bitterness in her words and caught himself leaning towards her.
He held himself in place, but could not bring himself to step back as he murmured, “You do.”
“I find that difficult to believe.” She looked up at him, one eyebrow arched as she snorted in a most indelicate manner.
From most people, such a noise would border on disgraceful, but to Theodore’s surprise, he found the display of emotion rather endearing. A fleeting image of Rose, snorting across the dinner table as he said something she found amusing, crossed his mind, snapped away by his Father’s sharp reprimand. His blood froze.
“I have already said ‘no’ and you are still here.” Harriet’s eyes danced in the light. “Do not insult me by pretending you will give me a choice in this.”
Her anger melted the ice in his veins; he stepped towards her. “This is no pretense, Lady Harriet. I am no jailer. I will not force you. I came here seeking your Father’s consent as is only proper. No contract is made between us, you may still walk away.”
Lady Harriet appeared to wrestle with several emotions at once, and found himself wondering just what she was thinking. “You would let me walk away.”
“Yes.”But I hope you will not.
Harriet glanced from him to the door and back again; Theodore’s chest tightened, but he did not move towards her. He counted the beats of his heart as he watched her face.One.
Her hands flexed, but she did not move. “You make it all sound so easy. Marry you, be your Duchess and I will want for nothing.” Something flickered across her face, almost like regret. “So long as you get your respectability and Phoebe gets her mother.”
He stepped towards her.Is she worried I would ask for more?That was easily remedied. “I can have a contract drawn up if you would like. It would be no trouble..”
Harriet shook her head. “What happens to me when Phoebe no longer needs me? When she starts a family of her own?”
“That is entirely up to you. I have plenty of land, you may choose any that you wish. Or if you wish to remain at Irondale, you may do that,” he replied.
“You know, most men would try rather harder to convince me to accept them.” The furrow on her brow deepened as she chewed on her bottom lip. “You are barely trying to persuade me to marry you.”
Do you want me to?He kept his thought to himself. “I am not most men.”
“Apparently.” There was something in her tone he could not quite place, not quite disbelief, but something else. It was as though she were weighing something in her mind.
“I suspect that if your mind is already made up, nothing I can say or do will change it. I will not cajole, I will not convince; I donot think I need to. After all, it was you who came to my estate. You did not say no then.” Theodore studied the lines of Lady Harriet’s face.
“That does not mean I will say ‘yes’ now.” She stepped towards him.
“I know.” The corner of his lip quirked into a half smile, and he did not step away from her. “But I think you will.”
“You mean you hope.” She was so close he could see her every eyelash.
