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“Yet another talent, Lady Harriett?” said Manchester, turning to her. “You are full of surprises. What other hidden gifts have you, I wonder?” he asked, raising a suggestive brow.
Kicking him again would have been a real pleasure, but for her father’s benefit Harriett instead smiled sweetly. “A good magician never reveals all of his—or her—tricks.” She returned her attention to her plate, which was now being replenished with a medley of buttered legumes.
“If you enjoy gardens, then you should come and visit Kimbolton,” said Manchester. “Father hired Brown to redesign ours several years ago. You are all invited, of course.”
In the periphery, she saw her father’s smile broaden. “We shall be delighted,” he answered. “I understand Lord Cobham recently hired Brown to do for him.”
“Yes, he has in—”
“How wonderful!” exclaimed Cat, wriggling with what appeared to be barely contained excitement. “Perhaps I might be inspired to design a gazebo for your garden as well, Your Grace.”
The beginnings of a groan tried to escape Harriett. She quashed it.
“I would be most honored, Lady Catherine,” replied Manchester.
Papa raised his glass. “May our friendship bloom like the gardens we so adore.”
This time, Harriett did groan aloud, albeit very softly.
Manchester turned merry eyes on her. “To friendship,” he murmured, takin
g a sip.
Forced to raise her glass as well, she echoed the sentiment through clenched teeth. After dinner, they returned to the salon, and once again Harriett was forced to walk beside their guest.
“Lady Harriett, I must say I find your family quite charming.”
Her answer to the compliment was a glare.
“Particularly your sister, who seems bent on appearing the fool.”
Harriett’s heart skipped. “Cat is still very young and immature, Your Grace.”
“It’s no use, Harriett,” he said, smiling. “I know it’s a sham. I overheard the two of you at the Penworth ball as you were planning your escape—from me. She’s nowhere near this silly or naïve.”
Instinct told her to freeze as might a mouse when confronted with a snake, but she commanded her legs to continue their forward motion. “Leave her out of this,” she whispered, turning to face him. “Her crime is that she is loyal to me. She knows I dislike you, but nothing of the reasons why.”
“So she doesn’t know you desire me?”
Her pulse leaped. “I do not—”
“Liar,” he said with a low chuckle that made her hot all over. Reaching up, he caressed her cheek with his knuckles. She attempted to bat him away, but he only took her hand in his. “We both know better than that, Harriett.”
“That is the fourth time today you have touched me without permission,” she said, trying to disengage her hand. Despite her intent to be cool and detached, her voice sounded odd in her own ears, deeper and rough at the edges.
The friction of his fingertips sliding against her sensitive palm as he slowly let go sent a shiver down the back of her neck.
“Are you keeping count, my lady?” he said, his lips slanting in a wry grin. “Is my touching you such a momentous event to preoccupy you so?”
She gaped at him. How was it that he so easily turned everything she said back against her? “You show your lack of maturity, making everything about—” She stopped herself just in time. Her cheeks heated.
“About?” he prompted, clearly enjoying himself.
“I refuse to rise to your bait,” she told him, infusing her tone with as much steel as she could muster.
“Bait? Am I fishing for something, then? What, I wonder?” His light brown eyes gleamed. “I would give you that which you desire but for the presence of others, you know.”
“My desire is to be as far away from you as possible!” she hissed, whirling away to pursue Papa and Cat.
