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She hadn’t sounded so spirited in months.
“Did you?” asked Ferrington.
“I certainly did. And I am not the only one. Lady Wilton must be a hard, cruel woman to have done such a thing.”
Harriet heard the pain of her mother’s own rejection in her tone, along with true sympathy for Ferrington’s case.
“I must admit I found her so,” said the rogue earl.
“There isnoexcuse to…tothrow awaya child.”
As Mama had been discarded, Harriet thought. As she still was, by Grandfather’s dismissive attitude. She’d known there was hurt in that, but perhaps she hadn’t understood the full depth of it.
“I agree,” he answered.
A similar sort of pain, Harriet noted. Not as deep as her mother’s, but the relationship was more distant. Still, they had this wound in common. She hadn’t really considered that. What must it be like to be…expunged from a family after nearly twenty years of domestic life?
“She has you back now, however,” said her mother. “Which may be more than she deserves.”
“It is certainly less than she likes,” said Ferrington. “Lady Wilton discovered nothing to approve in me. Thoroughly undistinguished, she said. With the manners of a barbarian.”
“Well, that isobviouslynot true,” said Mama.
She was hotly defensive. Harriet enjoyed her fire. She’d missed that so much.
“Thank you, ma’am. I’ve been trying to…”
“There is no need for you totryto do anything. You are perfectly charming as you are.”
There was a short silence. Though she couldn’t see them, Harriet felt it was fraught with emotion.
“Much obliged,” said their visitor.
His voice trembled just a bit. She could hear the appreciation and gratitude in it. Harriet realized this man could not have been more different from her grandfather, with his coldness and constant criticism. Ferrington had a quick sensitivity beneath his insouciance. He listened. Her mother would be comfortable in his household. Content, even joyful. Except… That wasn’t going to happen, was it? Feeling uneasy, Harriet stepped into the room. “I’m ready,” she said.
They both started, like people caught in a private moment, deep in rapport. They seemed to have briefly forgotten her existence. It was so very unexpected.
Her mother recovered immediately. “Have a lovely walk,” she said and positively twinkled at Harriet. She couldn’t have approved of this match any more if the rogue earl had been a fairy-tale prince.
Ferrington rose. He looked shaken out of his usual lightness. The emotion in his dark eyes was…endearing?
No, it was not. Harriet turned away, reminding herself of all the times he’d been irritating and deceitful. One mustn’t forget the lies! But they seemed harder to condemn this morning after hearing him talk with Mama. She’d caught a glimpse of a younger, more tender person, and he had evoked a wave of sympathy. Her anger was slipping away, moment by moment. What would be left if it was gone? She strode out of the parlor, tapping the tip of her parasol sharply on the floor with each step.
All doors were opened to them now. Servants radiated goodwill. Clearly everyone had heard of the engagement and approved. Or, more likely, they appreciated the softening of her grandfather’s mood.Thatmust make working here easier.
“Your mother is a lovely lady,” said Ferrington from behind her.
Without warning, Harriet’s throat grew tight with tears. Mamawaslovely. Her meekness and anxiety might sometimes be irritating, but no one could fault her heart. Harriet had to do whatever was required to protect her.
Stepping through the outer door, Harriet snapped her parasol open and positioned it like a shield. She struggled with emotion as she moved rapidly down one path and up another.
“Is this a race?” asked the rogue earl.
“You wished to walk. I am walking.” If she stayed ahead of him, she didn’t have to see his expression. And possibly be undone by it. That would not do.
“More of a trot, if we’re speaking of gaits.”
“Ha, ha.”
