There was a beat of silence and Harriet watched as Theodore and her father looked at each other. “Of course. The offer is there if you change your mind, you need only ask.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Her father nodded towards him. “Tell me, do you like whisky? I have a fine bottle that I have been dying to share with someone. It is from a tiny distillery in Speyside.”
Harriet managed not to gasp. She looked at her mother and saw her surprise mirrored on her mother’s face. They both knew the bottle Lord Devonmere was talking about. It was one of his favorites and he rarely got it out with anyone but family or the oldest of his friends.
“I would be honored.” Theodore stood, his voice somber.
“Excellent.” Her father gestured towards his study. “I do not suppose you are a botanist by any chance?”
“Careful, Your Grace, if you get Lionel talking about flowers you will be here until tomorrow.” Her mother laughed. “Especially his hyacinths.”
“You should visit us in the summer to see the Queen of Night bloom,” Theodore said.
Harriet watched as her father’s eyes became as big as saucers, and bit back a giggle as he and Theodore walked away. She turned to face her mother who was watching the doorway with a fond smile. “He has taken quite the shine to your husband.”
“Apparently.” Harriet agreed. “I do not think I have ever known father to do that so quickly.”
“Few men would make such a generous offer without hesitation, much less for something that would serve no benefit to them.” Harriet’s mother slipped an arm through hers. “Especially someone with your husband’s reputation.”
“He is nothing like what thetonsay. He is not the cold, unfeeling beast they make him out to be.” Harriet ran her hands across each other. “He is kind and generous. He notices everything, and he is fiercely protective. He is considerate and caring, though he does not always know how to show it. But it is all there, especially if you know how to look.”
She turned to see her mother looking at her with a thoughtful expression. “There is more fire in you than I am used to.”
“I just… I hate that people say such unkind things about him when they simply do not know him.” Harriet shook her head. “He notices things that most other people do not. He sees so much.”
He sees me.The words tumbled around her head and she looked at her mother, and knew she did not have to say them aloud. She was not sure she could, even if she wanted to.
I would have noticed you.His words had felt like a physical touch. In that moment, the warmth of his body had mingled with her own, anchoring her to the moment, grounding her in the present. Unconsciously her fingertips went to her lips.
“I am glad that you have settled so well into this marriage. I worried, at first, but to see you like this… It makes me so proud to see you standing so tall, to see you so confident and happy. I do not think you have smiled so much in some time.” Her mother let go of Harriet’s arm, regarding her for a moment, before she opened the door to the nursery and went inside.
Harriet followed her in, taking in the familiar yellow walls and the small bookcases. The tables were made to be the height of a child. There was a smattering of other things in the room. Several old embroidery projects that Harriet had forgotten about, a few half-finished paintings.
“I had the footmen retrieve the toy chest from the attic.” Harriet’s mother lifted the lid. “And check for spiders.”
They both shuddered. “Thank you.”
“It seemed like the perfect gift for your ward.” Her mother began to rifle through the chest. “And it gives us the opportunity to chat a little. I have missed you, but it is a relief to see you so well.”
“I have missed you too. I am sorry I have not written more often.” Harriet squeezed her mother’s hand.
“You are married now, and by the sounds of it you have been rather busy.” Her mother waved her apology away. “It takes time to settle into the rhythm of things.”
“I feel like I am finally finding my feet. That we all are. Though I suppose we shall have to see how Phoebe is when we get back, she was not looking forward to us being away.” Harriet felt a pang of longing, and glanced at the clock.
Phoebe would be in lessons, Greek most likely. Harriet could picture her little face, daydreaming as she stared out of the windows. “I miss her so much.”
“The first trip will likely be the hardest, for you both. The first time we left you behind, I nearly turned the carriage around and cancelled the whole thing.” Her mother shook her head.
“Theodore and I took turn bolstering one another’s nerves.” Harriet admitted. “She looked so sad when we drove away. I felt like the worst person in the world.”
“You were devastated the first time your father and I went away without you.” Lady Devonmere gave her a knowing look. “But wecould not always take you with us, and I found that gifts often helped salve the wound.”
Harriet nodded, kneeling beside her mother and rifling through the chest with her. “It is what I hope we can do with Phoebe. I think knowing that we will always come back is important, and the gifts will give her something to look forward to if we must leave her behind again. Though I hope sometimes she will be able to come with us.”
Harriet’s fingers closed around a tiny wooden horse her father had carved for her, and she gasped. “I used to carry this everywhere I went!”
“I remember.” Her mother’s face wrinkled with happiness, laughter lines deepening. “You tried to carve your own, but your father was worried you would hurt yourself.”
