around her and fixed him with a steady gaze. "I would have you know
that I do not believe you to be lacking in honor, my lord. I do not think a man who truly lacked honor
would have such a care for mine. Or grieve so much for what he, himself, has lost. I am sorry for what
you have suffered. I can see that it has caused you much pain."
"I do not want your goddamned pity," Gideon roared. "Get out of here. Now ."
Harriet realized in that moment that there was no way to reach past the wall of rage and private anguish
Gideon had built around himself. She had provoked the beast in him and he was threatening to turn on
her.
Without a word Harriet walked past him to the cave entrance. There she turned once more to look at
him.
"Good day, my lord. I shall look forward to the culmination of your clever plans."
Mrs. Treadwell's arrival at the rectory that afternoon set the household into a brief flurry of activity. Effie
handled the matter beautifully. Harriet had to admit her aunt had a definite skill at that sort of thing. She
was at her best when called upon to navigate the dangerous waters of polite intercourse.
Mrs. Treadwell was the wife of one of the more prominent landholders in the district. Her husband
devoted himself to his hunting hounds and Mrs. Treadwell devoted herself to sitting in judgment on social
matters in the neighborhood.
She was a stoutly built woman who favored dark gowns and matching turbans. Today she was an
imposing figure in a gray bombazine walking dress and a heavy gray turban that completely concealed her
thin, gray hair.
Taken aback by the unexpected visit, Effie rallied instantly. Within moments she had her visitor seated in
the parlor and tea prepared. Harriet was obliged to leave the study and Felicity politely left her
needlework to help entertain Mrs. Treadwell.
"What a pleasant surprise, Mrs. Treadwell." Effie arranged herself on the sofa and graciously poured tea.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"We always enjoy having visitors here at the rectory." She smiled pointedly as she handed a cup and
saucer to her guest. "Even on short notice."
Harriet exchanged a knowing grin with Felicity.
"I fear this is something more than a mere social call," Mrs. Treadwell said. "It has come to my attention
that a rather unfortunate occurrence took place last night at the local assembly."
"Really?" Effie sipped her tea and offered no assistance.
"I am told St. Justin appeared."
"I believe he did," Effie agreed.
"And ordered a waltz to be played," Mrs. Treadwell continued ominously. "Which he then danced with
your niece, Harriet."
"It was great fun, actually," Harriet said cheerfully.
"Yes, it was." Felicity smiled at Mrs. Treadwell. "Everyone enjoyed the waltz very much. We are all
hoping it will be played again at the next assembly."
"That remains to be seen, Miss Pomeroy." Mrs. Treadwell straightened her already stiff spine. "As
shockingly inappropriate as it was to have the waltz played, I am far more concerned with the fact that
St. Justin danced with you, Harriet. And only you. According to the information I received, he left after
the single dance."
"I imagine he was rather bored by our little assembly," Effie said coolly before Harriet could respond.
"One dance was no doubt sufficient to assure him that he would not enjoy himself if he stayed. I am
certain he is accustomed to more elevated entertainments."
"You are missing the point, Mrs. Ashecombe," Mrs. Treadwell told Effie in a rising tone. "St. Justin
danced with your niece. The waltz, no less. True, it was Harriet, not Felicity, to whom he showed so
much undesirable attention. Nevertheless, it was an extremely reckless piece of business."
"I was there the entire time," Effie stated flatly. "You may rest assured I kept an eye on the situation."
"Nevertheless," Mrs. Treadwell said, "he left the assembly without bothering to ask anyone else to
partner him. He
that I do not believe you to be lacking in honor, my lord. I do not think a man who truly lacked honor
would have such a care for mine. Or grieve so much for what he, himself, has lost. I am sorry for what
you have suffered. I can see that it has caused you much pain."
"I do not want your goddamned pity," Gideon roared. "Get out of here. Now ."
Harriet realized in that moment that there was no way to reach past the wall of rage and private anguish
Gideon had built around himself. She had provoked the beast in him and he was threatening to turn on
her.
Without a word Harriet walked past him to the cave entrance. There she turned once more to look at
him.
"Good day, my lord. I shall look forward to the culmination of your clever plans."
Mrs. Treadwell's arrival at the rectory that afternoon set the household into a brief flurry of activity. Effie
handled the matter beautifully. Harriet had to admit her aunt had a definite skill at that sort of thing. She
was at her best when called upon to navigate the dangerous waters of polite intercourse.
Mrs. Treadwell was the wife of one of the more prominent landholders in the district. Her husband
devoted himself to his hunting hounds and Mrs. Treadwell devoted herself to sitting in judgment on social
matters in the neighborhood.
She was a stoutly built woman who favored dark gowns and matching turbans. Today she was an
imposing figure in a gray bombazine walking dress and a heavy gray turban that completely concealed her
thin, gray hair.
Taken aback by the unexpected visit, Effie rallied instantly. Within moments she had her visitor seated in
the parlor and tea prepared. Harriet was obliged to leave the study and Felicity politely left her
needlework to help entertain Mrs. Treadwell.
"What a pleasant surprise, Mrs. Treadwell." Effie arranged herself on the sofa and graciously poured tea.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"We always enjoy having visitors here at the rectory." She smiled pointedly as she handed a cup and
saucer to her guest. "Even on short notice."
Harriet exchanged a knowing grin with Felicity.
"I fear this is something more than a mere social call," Mrs. Treadwell said. "It has come to my attention
that a rather unfortunate occurrence took place last night at the local assembly."
"Really?" Effie sipped her tea and offered no assistance.
"I am told St. Justin appeared."
"I believe he did," Effie agreed.
"And ordered a waltz to be played," Mrs. Treadwell continued ominously. "Which he then danced with
your niece, Harriet."
"It was great fun, actually," Harriet said cheerfully.
"Yes, it was." Felicity smiled at Mrs. Treadwell. "Everyone enjoyed the waltz very much. We are all
hoping it will be played again at the next assembly."
"That remains to be seen, Miss Pomeroy." Mrs. Treadwell straightened her already stiff spine. "As
shockingly inappropriate as it was to have the waltz played, I am far more concerned with the fact that
St. Justin danced with you, Harriet. And only you. According to the information I received, he left after
the single dance."
"I imagine he was rather bored by our little assembly," Effie said coolly before Harriet could respond.
"One dance was no doubt sufficient to assure him that he would not enjoy himself if he stayed. I am
certain he is accustomed to more elevated entertainments."
"You are missing the point, Mrs. Ashecombe," Mrs. Treadwell told Effie in a rising tone. "St. Justin
danced with your niece. The waltz, no less. True, it was Harriet, not Felicity, to whom he showed so
much undesirable attention. Nevertheless, it was an extremely reckless piece of business."
"I was there the entire time," Effie stated flatly. "You may rest assured I kept an eye on the situation."
"Nevertheless," Mrs. Treadwell said, "he left the assembly without bothering to ask anyone else to
partner him. He
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