Page 65 of Indecently Daring

Alana shrugged. “Only ones you can get out of if you want to,” she said, laughter behind the words.

“I love you, dreadful, dreadful girl,” he said, utterly beguiled by her.

“Do you, Harry?” she asked, staring up at him with big eyes, sea green and blue and dazzling.

“Alana Cadogan, I think I loved you from the first moment I saw you. That’s why you were such a shock. I wasn’t expecting it, wasn’t expecting you. How could I have done?”

“I am rather a shock to the system,” she admitted wryly, and Harry laughed, though his laughter died as he heard voices once more. Male voices this time. He glanced at Alana and linked their fingers together.

“I don’t think your father is going to be as easily swayed as your mother was.”

“He’s not a hard man, Harry. Just be honest with him. You’ll be fine, I promise.”

Harry did not have time to answer as his housekeeper opened the door and announced with no small pride, “The Earl of St Clair, and Mr Jerome Cadogan, to see you, Reverend Martin.”

“Thank you, Mrs Hogget,” Harry said, eyeing Mrs Cadogan nervously as she came in behind her husband.

“There you are, Jerome. We wondered where you’d got to.”

“Did you, love?” the man asked, eyeing his wife suspiciously. “It seemed to me you shot out of the house like a scalded cat.”

“Nonsense. I was just eager to meet my son-in-law, so I got Alana to bring me on ahead, that’s all. I knew you’d catch up.”

“Well, and so I have,” Mr Cadogan said, turning his curious gaze upon Harry.

“Mr Cadogan, sir. A pleasure to meet you.” Harry shook his hand firmly and swallowed when Mr Cadogan did not let go, his grip just a touch too tight for comfort.

“Is it, son? I do hope so,” he said, his manner warm enough, but a glint in his eyes that promised retribution if he found anything amiss.

“Shall we sit?” Mrs Cadogan said brightly. “The tea tray will be in directly and Mrs Hogget promised us some of her sugar biscuits. If the smell was anything to go by, we’re in for a treat.”

“She’s an excellent housekeeper,” Harry said, grasping at the conversational opening like a lifeline. “A wonderful cook, too.”

Mrs Hogget arrived with the tea tray and Harry enjoyed a few moments of respite whilst Mrs Cadogan poured tea and handed around the biscuit plate. Once this was accomplished, an awkward silence filled the room. Harry darted a panicked glance at Alana, who gave him an encouraging smile, but didn’t seem to have much help to offer.

“How is Jeb?” Lord St Clair asked, and Harry was never more relieved for something other than himself to talk about.

“Much better, my lord, thank you. I feared the ordeal had depressed his spirits for he wouldn’t let me out of his sight at first and seemed very low, but today Mrs Hogget has been scolding him for stealing pie, and he managed two bowls of porridge and bread and jam for breakfast, so I think perhaps the worst is behind us.”

The earl laughed. “That is good news.”

“This lad is the reason Alana and Cat were all dashing about the countryside when they ought to have been safe at home, I assume?” Mr Cadogan asked mildly.

“Yes, sir,” Harry replied, rubbing the back of his neck and wondering how on earth to justify that.

“Oh, Papa,” Alana said crossly. “You know very well Harry had nothing to do with us being out and about. He knew nothing about it, and would have told us off for being reckless had he been aware of it.”

Mr Cadogan sat back in his chair, regarding his teacup with a considering expression. “Really? Reverend Martin has something of a passion for reckless behaviour himself, does he not? Or I am wrong?”

His blue eyes turned upon Harry, his gaze cool and assessing.

Well, here it was, then.

“Once upon a time, that would have been true, sir, and I suspect you know of my behaviour better than I do. I have only just cleared my debts with Hunter’s, and too much of that time has been lost in the bottom of a bottle. Many, many, many bottles, if you want the unvarnished version. I remember little of it, which is perhaps more of a kindness than I deserve. I can only tell you I am deeply ashamed of the man I was, and of the way I behaved. I have changed, Mr Cadogan. It took time and a deal of hard work, but it stuck, and I have no intention of ever drinking again.”

“Said many a sot,” Mr Cadogan replied dryly, his gaze unwavering.

Harry nodded. “I know it, and for that reason I thought never to marry, never to have a family. I did not believe I could do it, that I was whole enough to trust myself with such a gift.”