daughter, Sophia…”
Bessie played on Harriet’s frayed nerves, but it wasn’t Bessie who caused Harriet’s heart to pause. The most lovely lady stepped out from the drawing room. A sudden paralyzing fear overcame Harriet.
Lady Sophia strolled out into the foyer in an imperious manner. Tall with a halo of raven hair, her dark, intense eyes bore into Harriet. Years of training assisted in the Viscountess’ poise, for the look told Harriet the lady knew well who she was.
“May I help you?” Lady Sophia asked in a cool, distant voice. Her eyebrows rose slightly as her hand lay upon her protruding stomach.
Unconsciously, Harriet curtsied to the lady, not knowing why exactly, except it was clear she was the Viscountess of Daneford. Harriet shook her head. “I beg your pardon, Lady Daneford. I have imposed, but I haven’t seen my cousin in quite some time. I should have sent a note.”
Lady Sophia shot a look at Bessie , who gave her a weak smile.
“My cousin, Lady Sophia, Miss Harriet Burke.” Bessie made the introduction, looking befuddled. “Dear Harriet, you cannot go now. Please, come in. There is so much for us to catch up. We were about to have tea. Were we not, Sophia…?”
Harriet shook her head. “I believe it best I leave.”
“But I can hear the rain begin. At least stay until the rain disburses,” Bessie begged.
Harriet stole a look at Bessie. She wanted nothing more than to tell her cousin she was only making matters worse with her insistence. Then to Harriet’s horror, the door opened and a figure came stomping into the foyer. James Carlisle.
Shaking off the rain from his coat and hat, he handed both to the butler. He paused at the sight of Harriet and smiled a wide grin. “Ah, Miss Burke. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Harriet could take no more. She had made a huge mistake. Summoning all the dignity she had within her, she ran out the open door and didn’t look back.
* * * *
The whole of her heart shattered. Harriet had her answer. The world she lived was no more than a fantasy… a cruel jest. She held no memory of her return trip back to this house. She could no longer call it home for she could not… would not stay. The realization overwhelmed her that she had no home.
Time passed. It must have, for Harriet heard the grandfather clock chime eleven o’clock. Mrs. Cummings had pressed her to eat to the point she had left an untouched tray on the table beside the sofa. Harriet had not moved from the seat she had taken in the window seat, staring out into the darkened night… the cold, lonely night.
Harriet drew in a deep breath , trying desperately to contain her emotions. She dared not give in to the tears welling within her eyes. There would be plenty of time for them once she had left. She had to leave. It was the only certainty she held within her.
Oh, whatever was she going to do! Compose yourself! She had no time for self-pity. She could ill afford to fall victim to a fit of vapors. Her mind raced with her limited options. Even now, Lady Sophia’s eyes haunted her. The lady knew who she was. Oh, my God...what I am...a kept woman...a mistress.
Within the stillness of the dark surrounding her, she heard the door creak open and then click shut. He was here.
"Mrs. Cummings is worried about you," he said. "She said you did not change out of your wet clothes nor did you eat."
The sound of his boots clicking over the wooden floor echoed around her. She refused to turn around. She couldn't face him, but he gave her no option. He sat on the edge of the window seat and reached for her hand. Quickly, she withdrew it.
"Go away and leave me," she said. Her quivering voice betrayed the raging emotions swelling within her.
Arthur would have none of it. He took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "You should never have gone there, Harriet. If you had questions, you should have asked. Why...why did you go into London?"
"Does it matter?”
“How could you
Bessie played on Harriet’s frayed nerves, but it wasn’t Bessie who caused Harriet’s heart to pause. The most lovely lady stepped out from the drawing room. A sudden paralyzing fear overcame Harriet.
Lady Sophia strolled out into the foyer in an imperious manner. Tall with a halo of raven hair, her dark, intense eyes bore into Harriet. Years of training assisted in the Viscountess’ poise, for the look told Harriet the lady knew well who she was.
“May I help you?” Lady Sophia asked in a cool, distant voice. Her eyebrows rose slightly as her hand lay upon her protruding stomach.
Unconsciously, Harriet curtsied to the lady, not knowing why exactly, except it was clear she was the Viscountess of Daneford. Harriet shook her head. “I beg your pardon, Lady Daneford. I have imposed, but I haven’t seen my cousin in quite some time. I should have sent a note.”
Lady Sophia shot a look at Bessie , who gave her a weak smile.
“My cousin, Lady Sophia, Miss Harriet Burke.” Bessie made the introduction, looking befuddled. “Dear Harriet, you cannot go now. Please, come in. There is so much for us to catch up. We were about to have tea. Were we not, Sophia…?”
Harriet shook her head. “I believe it best I leave.”
“But I can hear the rain begin. At least stay until the rain disburses,” Bessie begged.
Harriet stole a look at Bessie. She wanted nothing more than to tell her cousin she was only making matters worse with her insistence. Then to Harriet’s horror, the door opened and a figure came stomping into the foyer. James Carlisle.
Shaking off the rain from his coat and hat, he handed both to the butler. He paused at the sight of Harriet and smiled a wide grin. “Ah, Miss Burke. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Harriet could take no more. She had made a huge mistake. Summoning all the dignity she had within her, she ran out the open door and didn’t look back.
* * * *
The whole of her heart shattered. Harriet had her answer. The world she lived was no more than a fantasy… a cruel jest. She held no memory of her return trip back to this house. She could no longer call it home for she could not… would not stay. The realization overwhelmed her that she had no home.
Time passed. It must have, for Harriet heard the grandfather clock chime eleven o’clock. Mrs. Cummings had pressed her to eat to the point she had left an untouched tray on the table beside the sofa. Harriet had not moved from the seat she had taken in the window seat, staring out into the darkened night… the cold, lonely night.
Harriet drew in a deep breath , trying desperately to contain her emotions. She dared not give in to the tears welling within her eyes. There would be plenty of time for them once she had left. She had to leave. It was the only certainty she held within her.
Oh, whatever was she going to do! Compose yourself! She had no time for self-pity. She could ill afford to fall victim to a fit of vapors. Her mind raced with her limited options. Even now, Lady Sophia’s eyes haunted her. The lady knew who she was. Oh, my God...what I am...a kept woman...a mistress.
Within the stillness of the dark surrounding her, she heard the door creak open and then click shut. He was here.
"Mrs. Cummings is worried about you," he said. "She said you did not change out of your wet clothes nor did you eat."
The sound of his boots clicking over the wooden floor echoed around her. She refused to turn around. She couldn't face him, but he gave her no option. He sat on the edge of the window seat and reached for her hand. Quickly, she withdrew it.
"Go away and leave me," she said. Her quivering voice betrayed the raging emotions swelling within her.
Arthur would have none of it. He took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "You should never have gone there, Harriet. If you had questions, you should have asked. Why...why did you go into London?"
"Does it matter?”
“How could you
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