AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Charlotte the all-knowing,” said Sarah.
“I can follow a clear train of logic.”
“Like the time you were convinced that workman was a spy for Napoleon,” said Sarah.
Charlotte glared at her. “He was skulking beneath the school building.”
“He was checking the drains,” said Harriet.
“I was fourteen. You are not.”
That was inarguable, Harriet acknowledged. She was nearly twenty, and she’d been taken in by her own rosy imaginings.
“If you were not falling in love with him, why did you end up engaged to him?” asked Charlotte. She was clearly not to be diverted.
“And how did he propose?” asked Sarah. “You must have been so downcast, since your grandfather insists on a great match. And then, like a miracle, the lurker turned out to be an earl.”
“Ugh,” said Charlotte. “You are so romantical, Sarah. Next you will be comparing Ferrington to a knight of the grail or some such thing.”
“No, I won’t. Those days are long gone.” She sighed. “So, when he told you, Harriet…”
“He didn’t. Cecelia let it drop. And I found out he’d lied to me. He told me he was plain Jack Mere.”
“Mere?” repeated Charlotte. “What sort of name is that?”
“Exactly!”
“You might have noticed it sounded odd.Iwould have.”
“He told me it wasn’t his real name,” Harriet admitted.
“Was that when you first met?” Sarah put in, smoothing the waters. “Before you had become well acquainted?”
Harriet nodded. Shehadnoticed, of course. She’d just brushed it aside in her headlong plunge into fantasy. “I understand he was wary at first. Lady Wilton was quite unkind to him, and he was…” Wounded, melancholy? “But he had ample time to tell me the truth later.”
“What sort of time?” asked Charlotte. “How did you become acquainted with this lurker?”
“I called him a rogue,” Harriet said. She thought of the walks, the conversations, the dancing. The kisses.
“Perhaps he didn’t tell you because he could see you wanted him to be a rogue,” said Sarah. “Not a real one, of course.” She shook her head. “A real rogue would have…taken advantage. But a dashing, chivalrous adventurer. And he didn’t wish to disappoint you.”
The other two stared at her. “That’s rather…deep,” said Charlotte.
“And you are surprised because?”
“Iwantedhim to be honest,” said Harriet. But Sarah’s reasoning had struck a chord. She still sometimes wished Ferrington was less earl and more rogue.
Charlotte let out an impatient breath. “I see that, and he should certainly apologize.” Examining Harriet’s face, she said, “Has he done so?”
“Well, yes.”
“And you forgave him,” said Sarah happily.
Harriet realized she had, somewhere along the way.
Charlotte eyed her. “So, he turned out to be an earl, and now you are going to marry him. Why aren’t you blessing your luck?”
“How did he propose?” asked Sarah again.
