Seductive Lies (Secret Lives Series) (10 page)

“Harriet! You shouldn’t think of such things. It is over…”

Harriet could see that he was deeply moved, but she didn’t relent. “I’m not a child, Arthur. Please do not treat me as one. I may not know what you are keeping from me, but I know that someone wished me ill. Was it your grandfather? Was it my uncle? Do not keep it from me.”

“No. No, I don’t believe it was anyone’s intent to do you harm—only keep you from me. From what I have been able to decipher, it seems that Mrs. Waverly misled your aunt. Deceived your aunt into believing you had caught a fever and had died.”

Disbelieving the words he uttered, she looked at him, dumbfounded. “Everyone believes I’ve died… Clarissa… Bessie?”

“No. Only your aunt and uncle
, so they would not look for you. They told no one else their fears according to my man because they were afraid of the ramifications of the acknowledgement. But ease your fears, for Captain Waverly is being dealt with as we speak. He will do no more harm.” He halted briefly. Catching her chin with his hand, he tenderly held her face up to his. “It is what I have been trying to tell you. Everything is so complicated. I will settle all the affairs. That I promise you, but truly at this moment in time… I only care that you are back in my arms. I care nothing for visions, only that you are safe. That you are mine.”

Arthur drew Harriet’s trembling body into his arms and rocked her. For so long, she had held her fears within her. She felt an inexpressible relief with Arthur’s presence, a soothing conviction of his protection
… of his love.

She clung to him and his words. He talked of the life they would have
… of being together forever. Nothing… nothing would come between them. He loved her, wanting nothing more than to erase those horrible memories.

She surrendered to his will. She, too, wanted to forget. Lying in his arms, she accepted all he promised and the new life they had begun.

* * * *

Harriet pruned back the dead
petals. Once more, lovely white blooms covered the rose arbor. Harriet exhaled deeply. Every morning, she expended her energy out in the gardens. It passed the time. She hadn’t much else.

The prison she had been placed
within Marsaport had been replaced with another. True, never had Harriet been so pampered…or safe, but it had been more than four months since Arthur rescued her.

Arthur treated her as a queen. He had
given her much more than she would ever need—gowns, jewels, and a magnificent horse. When he was beside her, she needed nothing else. They rode, played chess, read, and made love. It was only when he was gone that loneliness crept into her soul.

Not that he was often gone. Most
times it was for no longer than a day, two at the most. Only she had no one else, only the servants for company. Arthur cautioned Harriet of interacting with the community.

“I do not mean to be harsh,
my love, but in our current situation, many will take our arrangement the wrong way. I have no desire for you to be scorned. I promise I will make it all up to you. Let me settle our affairs. Then I will bring you into London on my arm.”

She needed not to be reminded. She
had strolled down to the village on one of Arthur’s absences… the looks… the ladies walking across the street to avoid her. Not one neighbor had come to call. She needed not be told what they thought of her.

She wondered how long did it take
to settle their affairs. It seemed so simple to Harriet. She was over one and twenty. She should have control over her inheritance, but Arthur steadfastly refused to let her see her solicitor, insisting she need not concern herself with such issues.

For that matter, he discouraged her
from writing to Clarissa or Bessie. Her aunt and uncle, Harriet well understood the need, but Clarissa and Bessie? She missed her childhood companions.

Harriet pushed her doubts back. Arthur loved her. Of that
, she had little doubt. She reached down instinctively to her stomach. Only now, time was of the essence. She was with child.

She made up her mind she would tell him upon his return. She didn’t know why she hesitated. There would be no more justifications for postponing their marriage. Nothing
would come over the child.

“Miss Harriet, you have a caller.”

Surprised, Harriet turned around to face Smithson, wondering who on earth would call. No one had done so since her arrival. Placing her basket down, she asked, “Did they give a name?”

Smithson answered and handed her his card
. “It is a gentleman, the Honorable James Carlisle.”

Blood
pounded in Harriet’s head. Her first thought was flight, but Carlisle must have suspected such a reaction. He gave her no choice other than to give him an audience. He simply disregarded proper protocol and walked out behind Smithson.

Intimidating as their last meeting, Harriet recognized he had changed little. He strolled toward her. Harriet
thought of bolting, but it would serve little purpose. The arrogant cad would in all probability simply run her down.

“Please, Mr. Carlisle,” she scolded
him. “There is no need to behave in such a manner.” She turned to Smithson, who seemed ready to pounce upon the man. “Please, ask Mrs. Cummings to prepare refreshment for the sitting room.”

“If you are certain, Miss Harriet. Lord Daneford would not like…”

“It is fine, Smithson. Mr. Carlisle is a friend of Lord Daneford,” Harriet assured the butler.

Harriet slowly untied her bonnet
and placed it on the table in the entrance way alongside her gloves and apron. Straightening her skirt out, she thought herself presentable in a simple blue dress. She followed Carlisle into the sitting room.

“I assume you are wondering why I
am here,” he said. “If I remember correctly, you are quite a straightforward woman, so I will be brief and not mince my words.”

Maintaining a cool composure, she
did not hesitate to throw down a gauntlet. “Neither will I mince my words, Mr. Carlisle. You are not welcome.”

“I did not expect to be, Miss
Burke. Though, I appreciate your frankness. Please sit. As I said, I will be brief.”

Carlisle
gestured to the settee. With profound irritation, Harriet accepted. He did not sit. She suddenly felt as though she lost an advantage in the scrimmage that was destined to follow.

“I will admit a certain curiosity
on your appearance after your behavior towards me at our last meeting. Blatantly lying to me, stealing my ring…”

He met her gaze with a dark and
menacing glare. “I had my reasons, Miss Burke. As you deduced, Arthur and I have had a difference of opinion on the situation. But I never meant you harm. If my actions caused you to suffer, I offer my sincere apologies.”

His cool calm showed nothing
contrite in his expression.

She shrugged.
“Pray, spare me. There is nothing sincere in your voice. Do not waste your breath. I am no fool. You have come for a reason. Please state it and leave.”

“Fair enough.” He paused and looked
around the room. “Pleasant. It suits your personality. I see Arthur has gone to great pains to see to your comfort. I had to have him followed to even discover this place. Close proximity to London. Yet, Arthur has been absent from most of the activities this Season.”

Exasperation wore on her nerves. “Get
to your point.”

He squared his shoulders and looked
directly at her. “You have been the talk of the Season, Miss Burke. I should say Arthur’s mistress. Of course, no one else suspects at this time it is you. Arthur has seen to that by keeping you here.”

“Get out!” Harriet stood. “Leave
this minute.”

“Gladly. I only wanted you to know
that you have your revenge. My cousin is suffering, knowing that Arthur has put his mistress’ needs over hers. Because of the scandal, she has become the brunt of many a joke to the
ton
.”

Harriet tensed. “Why would
your cousin concern herself with Arthur’s actions? You must know that when Arthur and I marry…”

“Marry? You and Arthur?” Carlisle
laughed, a harsh, cynical laugh that echoed in the small room. “You are delusional if you ever think Arthur would be freed from Sophia.”

“Freed from Sophia? I do not
understand…” Harriet’s voice faded as comprehension of his words sank deep into her soul. Her legs collapsed and she fell back onto the settee. “No… no… I don’t believe you. We are to be married…”

Carlisle
didn’t waste any more words. Withdrawing a paper from his coat, he slung it down beside her and walked out of the room.

Trepidation filled Harriet. With
trembling hands, she picked up the scandal sheet. The paper had been folded to highlight one snippet.

Recent stories have highlighted the sad state of affairs of newlywed Lady Sophia Hammett has found herself. Married less than a year, her time is nearing and no husband in sight. With the Season coming to an end, I have heard Lady Daneford has refused to leave London without her errant husband. Lord Daneford has been in seclusion for most of the Season’s activities, making himself known only with Parliamentary concerns. From most accounts, his attentions have been drawn away from his wife by a mysterious lady…

Underneath the snippet was a cartoon picture of a lovely lady heavy with child, gripping tightly to the curtains of a window. Out the window, a gentleman in Arthur’s likeness smiling and embracing a woman of seemingly loose morals as her breast was bare and her hands cupped the gentleman’s face, not allowing him to look back.

The paper silently fell from her fingers to the floor. Harriet felt sickened. Arthur would never have married another… he loved her… he rescued her. No, she wouldn’t accept it. She had been badly deceived before and lost Arthur. She wouldn’t allow it to happen again.

She would go to London herself.

* * * *

Harriet stood alone
on the London street. She had left Sadie in the carriage, refusing her maid’s accompaniment. This was hers alone to face.

Irrational thoughts bombarded her. There would be no rest until she knew the truth. She had held steadfast about
readying a carriage for her journey to Arthur’s townhouse. Smithson feared the consequences of such an action, relenting only after Harriet’s threat of walking to London.

Harriet hadn’t a plan, not even a
semblance of an idea of what she was going to do. She only knew she had to discover if Carlisle had been truthful… if Arthur had done the unthinkable and deceived her…

How long she stood motionless on
the street staring at the entrance, Harriet hadn’t a clue. An impressive structure reflected the wealth and status of its occupants, flanked by other similar homes. She imagined that during the height of the Season, the street would be filled with activity. Today, though, it seemed quiet.

Harriet had never been to London. She had never experienced a ball, a dinner party, or an invitation to tea tha
t one would expect from the prestige of being Lord Daneford’s wife. Nor did she suspect would she ever if Carlisle had been correct in his accusation.

Swallowing hard, she climbed the
steps and knocked. She had not long to wait. The butler answered her call with the utmost proficiency.

“I would like to see Lady
Daneford.” Harriet said the words with the utmost of difficulty, having them choke in her throat.

“Whom do I say is calling?”

Immediately, her heart sank. The need to enter into the home had been squelched. There was a Lady Daneford and it wasn’t her. Blinking back the swelling hurt inside her, she lowered her head. “I’m afraid I have come at a rather bad time. I will return…”

“Harriet! Harriet
Burke! Why, ever am I glad to see you!”

Harriet looked up at the sound of
her name. Bessie called again, “Jenkins! Call for my husband. Ewan will be just as surprised as I!”

The next instant, Bessie wrapped
her arms about her cousin. “However did you get here? Where have you been? Do you have your man with you? I suppose Ewan will chastise me for entertaining you, but you are my cousin. Oh, Clarissa will be so relieved. I told her she had nothing to fear.”

Bessie suffocated Harriet. Pulling
back, Harriet straightened herself from the attack on her being. Catching her breath, she tried to maintain her composure. “Bessie, what are you doing here?”

“You silly goose. Why
, surely you must know I married Ewan,” Bessie rambled as if her marriage was the most natural conclusion in the world. “Come in. Come in. We have so much to catch up on. Tell me. Who was it? Who did you run off with?”

She scanned Harriet’s face. “Oh,
dear, did he desert you? You look quite upset.”

Harriet withdrew her arm. “I’m
sorry, Bessie. I am quite upset. I have not come for a social visit. I did not even realize that you were here or had married Ewan.”