AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, there’s one way to silence your troublesome tongue,” he said, a chuckle rumbling through his chest and into her back.
Spurred to action, Harriett resumed her efforts with renewed vigor. But her laughing enemy held her fast. His forearm lay like an iron bar directly across her breasts. If she could have reached it with her mouth she would have bitten him.
“Relax, my dear little hellion,” he said, still chuckling. “No doubt a thorough plowing would greatly improve your attitude, but—unfortunately for you—I’ve no interest in becoming entangled with a charlatan.” With no warning, he again shifted, wrapping his hands about her waist. In a single thrust, he shoved her off his lap and stood.
Rage flooded Harriett as she staggered back on legs that threatened to buckle. “You are despicable!”
“No more than you,” he shot back, straightening his cuffs. “At least I’m honest about my nature. I am the same man at all times. You, however, are different depending upon the company you keep. How glad I am to have seen it now, before it was too late.”
To hell with it. Hauling back, she let fly and struck him square upon the cheek so hard it hurt the bones in her hand. The crack of the impact echoed throughout the room.
Like a mountain struck by a lesser stone, he did not even flinch. “I’ll see you tomorrow, my lady,” he said quietly. “If you’ve the courage to face me.” Bowing low, he turned and strode away.
Before it was too late for what? came the belated thought as she stood gasping for breath, hating him. Curiosity pricked her—but damned if she would ask him to explain. She turned to see the footman he’d sent for water gaping at her. Her stomach clenched. When had he come back? And how much had he seen? Mortified—but determined not to show it—she walked over, took the forgotten glass from him, and downed its contents. “See if my carriage has arrived,” she commanded frostily, handing him the now empty glass.
Her heart was galloping and her skin still flushed with heat. Of all the things that could have occurred tonight, this was the worst! She looked back at the couch, marking the cushions all askew. Well, not quite the worst. Another few minutes, though, and...
A vision of herself given over to lustful abandon in her enemy’s arms flashed in her mind’s eye. Tearing her guilty gaze away from the incriminating couch, she shook herself. Her lips throbbed, along with other parts of her anatomy. Shame boiled up within her.
She’d rather kiss Lord Russell in full view of everyone here than give herself to Manchester! In fact, her old bête noir was beginning to seem less irritating with each passing moment. Now there’s an idea...
The footman poked his head back around the door. “Your carriage has arrived, my lady.”
Ignoring his curious stare, she made a beeline for the safe haven.
She wouldn’t let him win. She would rise, eat breakfast, and go to the Hospital. And she would behave as though nothing at all had happened between them. It would be business as usual.
He would expect her to make excuses, to hide from him. But she would do neither. And while he wondered what she was at, she would focus on finding a husband. She was ready to move on. It was time to have a family of her own. Her reaction to Manchester told her that much. The drive to procreate, that’s what it was—all it could be—was experienced by every living creature on earth. She was no different.
The problem was proximity. She’d kept to herself for so long that Manchester, being the first unattached male she’d encountered in close quarters for several years, had awakened her physical longing for a mate.
Doubt wormed its way through her reasoning, leaving little holes in its wake. She’d very much wanted to have children with William, but she hadn’t really given a lot of thought to the process of making them with him. It hadn’t seemed very important at the time. One simply got married and babies began appearing soon after. Now, however, that particular step in the process was suddenly vitally important.
I want someone with whom I can enjoy making love. It was a shocking realization. Again, she was assailed by an image of herself locked in a passionate embrace with Manchester.
No! There was bound to be another gentleman with whom she was compatible. More important, there had to be one she didn’t utterly despise.
By the time Papa and Cat clambered into the carriage, she’d decided on a course of action. She need only fully throw herself into the fray as she’d done tonight. Every gentleman she’d danced with had admired her. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find one—another, rather—who inspired passion. Above all, she must avoid any close contact with Manchester.
“Are you feeling better?” asked Cat.
Harriett heard the sarcasm in her question and smiled. “Yes. Much better.”
“Lord Russell inquired after your whereabouts. I told him you’d taken ill. He seemed very concerned.”
“Perhaps I’ve been too harsh in my rejection of him,” Harriett said, enjoying the startled look on her sister’s face. “I think I shall invite him to call later this week.”
“I thought you had no liking for the man?” said Papa, cutting off her sister’s gasp of disbelief. “You said he was far too volatile to make a good match.”
Indeed she had, for indeed he was. Two years ago at the Lambeths’ garden party, Russell, having pursued her most determinedly, had cornered her and proposed. She’d already accepted William’s offer earlier that week, but the official announcement had not yet been made. She’d had no choice but to tell him. Uproar had followed, complete with tears, groans, gnashing of teeth, and threats of suicide. She was, thankfully, the only one to see his display. Her memory of it was quite vivid. Still, he’d genuinely cared for her…
She shrugged. “I was completely absorbed with William at the time Russell pressed his suit and thus never really gave him a chance to win my affections. Perhaps now it will be different. He’s not a bad sort.”
Her father’s expression transformed from confusion to del
ight. “I’m glad to see you finally displaying good sense. He’s well connected, has more than adequate means. Yes, he would be an excellent match. Oh,” he added, “By the bye, Lord Manchester also inquired after you.”
Everything inside her tightened. “Did he?”
