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“Good evening to you, too,” Louisa replied, stepping further into the room. “I do hope you enjoyed the poetry reading. Although, I do remember you once stating that you didn’t enjoy poetry.”
“Perhaps it depends on the company during the readings.”
“Certainly, sitting near Mary Gardiner must have made the evening so much more pleasant.” She had no idea what made her sound so spiteful. Seeing him tonight reminded her of the poet’s words about giving up the one he loved. Louisa did not want to give up Harry.
“Indeed, as I’m sure Collingwood was excellent company.”
“Yes, he was,” she said tartly.
“You still haven’t told me why you are here?”
“I wanted to discover how your call went with Miss Turnbull. Should I keep looking? Or is Mary Gardiner the top contender.” She hated the biting sound of jealousy in her voice. Oh, God, it was envy.
“Miss Turnbull is not a contender.”
She nodded. “I see.”
“There was no need to come to my house when a note would have sufficed. Have you no sense?”
Louisa laughed harshly before moving to the small table where the brandy was stored. “No, apparently, I do not.”
At least not where he was concerned. She poured the brandy and filled the snifter almost as much as Charlotte had the day she’d fallen into the pond. “I needed to speak with you regarding another topic.”
“What now?” he demanded.
She swallowed a large gulp and then coughed. “Can we not be civil, Harry?”
“By all means.” He waved at the chairs behind him. “Do sit down, Miss Drake. Shall I call for tea?”
Ignoring his sarcasm, she walked over to the large cherry desk that dominated the room and leaned against it. She needed as much distance as she could get from his handsome face. “I felt dreadful when I noticed that you overheard those horrible Comstock ladies.”
“They were only saying aloud what everyone is thinking. It is not the first time I’ve overheard such venom.”
Louisa’s closed her eyes. “Oh, Harry, I’m so sorry. But please believe me that not everyone thinks the way they do.”
“It matters not.”
Hearing the forceful tone of his voice, Louisa worried that he would marry Mary Gardiner only to secure a wife and depart for Northwood Park. “Why not?”
“I shall be leaving soon enough. Then all those lovely ladies of good Society can forget they know me at all.”
“Oh? Leaving so soon?”
“Mary Gardiner and I might suit after all,” he replied flatly.
“Oh?” she whispered, staring over at him. She clutched the overhang of the desk for support. She couldn’t let this happen. Mary Gardiner was not the right woman for him. What had Emma said? If all else fails, push him away. If he loved her, he would find a way to make a marriage work. Attempting Emma’s plan might kill Louisa, but she decided to try.
“Good luck with Mary, then,” she said in a light tone that belied her true feelings. “I also came to see you tonight because it has been brought to my attention that our friendship may impact Emma’s possibility with Bolton.”
Harry drained his brandy and then moved to pour himself another. “I suppose your mother thought our friendship far too scandalous?”
“Yes.” Louisa told him of Lady Bolton’s visit after Lady Gringham had noticed them return from the garden.
“I see.”
“I have to protect my younger sister, Harry. She loves Bolton.”
“I see,” he said again before sipping his brandy calmly.
