Page 44 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“Threats, love? Hmm…” She raised her brows and Harlow couldn’t help but compare the countess to that of a cat toying with a mouse. “Very well. I will assume everything was above board in the time I’ve been away, and I will do my duty as chaperone to watch over the lady as I should. But know this, if I learn of anything untoward having happened, I will insist upon a wedding. I know you are put out by my machinations during the Season, but you have a duty to produce an heir so the Breckenridge title continues into succession. Do not blame me if I’ve grown tired of waiting for you to see to it.”

With that, the woman turned and paused at the door.

“I am tired from my travels. I will retire to my room and see you both for dinner.”

When the woman was gone, Harlow risked a glance at Reese who was still looking after the wake of the formidable woman. He turned back to Harlow and let out a breath.

“What happened here before she arrived cannot happen again.” And then he turned in much the same way as his mother had, and quit the room, leaving Harlow standing there alone.

*

Reese slumped in his chair behind the heavy desk in his study and poured himself a third glass of whisky. The first two had done little to stop thoughts of Harlow from taunting him.

He imagined since the lass was destined to stay at Slain’s until their ruse was played out, he would need to find a better way to deal with the temptation she posed. Drinking himself into a stupor day after day wasn’t a viable plan.

Reese had been with many lovely women over the years. But he’d never spoiled a maid. Harlow hadn’t been his for the taking, but while he’d thought himself an honorable man, he doubted a monk could have turned away a woman as lovely as she.

When she’d looked up at him with those green eyes filled with lust, he’d nearly come undone with his clothes still on.

He was rather proud of himself that he’d not succumbed. He’d protected her, as well as himself. For if he’d given in, he surely would have found himself on the wrong side of the marriage alter.

Although now he wasn’t sure which side that was. He should have been pleased that she’d stopped his mother from pressing them into a union, but a part of him wished she would have agreed.

It was cowardly of him. He wanted her without the risk of rejection. But clearly he’d been right. If he’d asked for her hand, she would have turned him down. Again.

She’d seen reason once her blood had cooled, and he was sure she would be grateful he’d turned her away. And now that his mother had arrived, he and Harlow would be safe from any further entanglements.

Setting the glass aside, he stood and checked his legs before heading into the dining room. His mother was already seated at the opposite end of the table from his seat.

He glanced to the chair next to his where Harlow had sat previously. Would she sit next to him tonight? Or would she sit next to his mother? Surely down there away from him was best.

As soon as he was seated, a footman came to set a napkin across his lap as another began serving.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Lo—Lady Haverston?”

“The lady has requested a tray be brought to her room, my lord,” Elkins reported as he held a dish for the woman at the end of the table.

“I see. She’s been tormented by megrims since washing ashore. It’s not uncommon for her to take her meals in her room,” Reese said for his mother’s benefit, even if it had only been true in the early days of Harlow’s arrival, when she was anchored to her bed chamber because of her sore ankle.

Still his mother didn’t need to know the specifics and his staff would never speak against him. It would help prove to his mother that they were nothing but the epitome of innocence all these weeks.

“I will check in on her after our meal,” his mother said.

“Thank you, Mother.”

He nodded, but his lips were pressed too tightly together to offer a smile. For if his mother had not arrived, he would be free to check on Harlow himself. Now he must let it be up to someone else while he worried about her.

Why had he written for his mother?

He shook his head. No. This was better. He could not be tempted into ruining anyone if his mother was in attendance. Doing anything with Harlow would be too great a risk.

The meal seemed to drag out and he found he wasn’t so very hungry. Possibly because his belly was filled with an adequate supply of whisky already. But he was glad when his mother dabbed at her mouth with her napkin and nodded to the footman to help her stand.

“You’ll report back if it is more than a megrim and I will call for a doctor,” Reese said as his mother made for the door.

“Of course.”

He waited for nearly an hour before assuming all was well and the lass didn’t require medical attention. Or his attention.

As he traveled up to his room, he found he missed Harlow, despite having seen her just hours earlier.

However, this distance was for the best. In fact, if he didn’t see Harlow until her family arrived, that would solve all his problems.

But he soon realized as he removed his cravat and shirt the temptation remained. For he wanted her as much as he had before. He found himself remembering every detail. The way her skin felt against him. The scent of her. The softness of her hair.

Shaking his head, he tried again to dispel the memories. For Harlow Haverston didn’t wish to marry him. She would never be his.