To Tempt A Rogue (3 page)

“I
promise,
on my honor, that I will apologize,” Georgie conceded reluctantly.

The viscount nodded with approval. “Then off with you. Quickly, before I change my mind.”

Harriet smiled briefly at the satisfactory result. Though she did wonder if Faith would eventually begin to favor her natural child, she did not question that her sister-in-law loved her base-born stepson and she was pleased that Faith was making an effort to spend time with the boy.

Harriet reached for her nephew, but before she could lean forward and kiss his brow, Georgie gave a shout of triumph and raced from the room. She expected her sister to follow the child, but instead Elizabeth began searching the library's bookshelves.

“Can you help me locate a book, Harriet?” Elizabeth asked. “Faith is feeling tired, but she thought a quiet activity of reading to Georgie for the afternoon would not be too taxing. She feels she needs to spend more time with him.”

Harriet nodded her head approvingly. Perhaps she had underestimated her sister-in-law's understanding of Georgie's difficulties. Lord knows, it would hardly be the first time Faith had surprised them all.

Feeling more at ease with the situation, Harriet ran her fingers gently over the numerous leather bound books. The estate had suffered from neglect for many years, due to their father's selfish lack of interest, but Griffin had worked hard to reverse the wrongs of the past when he became viscount.

Thanks to his efforts, this beautiful room was once again a luxuriously appointed library, filled with fascinating volumes, comfortable furnishings, and several strategically placed lamps to make reading easy on the eyes.

“This is one of Georgie's favorites.” Harriet lifted a thick book from a lower shelf. “ 'Tis filled with a rather gruesome collection of fairy tales where the evil witches, goblins, and spirits meet a most untimely end.”

Elizabeth blanched, but moved forward gamely.

“Faith doesn't like those stories,” Griffin interjected, taking the book from Harriet's hand.

“That's of no consequence,” Elizabeth declared, surprising them all as she reached for the volume. “Faith specifically told me to select a book that would hold Georgie's attention. She wants to make him happy.”

“Those stories will give him nightmares,” the viscount muttered.

“They will?” Elizabeth turned to her sister, an anxious expression on her lovely face.

Harriet's heart softened. Dear, sweet Elizabeth was such an innocent, uncomplicated young woman. The ordeal in London had left her even more vulnerable, more sensitive to the feelings of others. How ironic that the edginess in these stories which would eagerly capture the imagination of a five-year-old boy would no doubt frighten an almost nineteen-year-old young woman.

“Georgie has been savoring these tales for several months,” Harriet said confidently. “He is constantly begging me to read them to him. I think he will be quite pleased if Faith shares a few of them with him today. Especially since he has had such a trying morning.”

Elizabeth's face contorted into a worried frown. “Maybe it would be best if I deliver two volumes,” she said meekly. “Then Faith can decide for herself which story is more appropriate.”

“An admirable idea,” Griffin said. “I shall assist you in making a second selection.”

Harriet struggled to conceal her sigh. There were times when Elizabeth's unwillingness to face any potential conflict worried her. It was not as if her sister were easily swayed in matters, instead she seemed to lack the confidence to make any decision or take any position where she might need to defend her choice.

Harriet firmly believed it was dangerous to go through life with such an outlook. Especially if you were a woman. Yet she had been unable to impart this insight to her younger sister.

Of course, their brother further complicated the problem by encouraging this helpless, indecisive attitude in Elizabeth. Which was odd, since his wife was hardly one to contain her opinion, especially when it differed from her husband's. After dealing with a strong-willed wife and an equally determined sister, Harriet supposed the viscount felt relieved to have at least one woman under his roof who epitomized a weak feminine spirit.

“Oh, and I forgot to mention at dinner last evening,” the viscount said as he scanned a row of books. “Faith received a letter from Meredith yesterday. If the weather holds, the marchioness and her husband will be coming for a visit early next week.”

Harriet raised a disapproving brow. “ 'Tis rather soon to be having visitors, is it not? Emma Kate is only a few weeks old and by her own admission Faith is hardly recovered from childbirth.”

“Meredith is family,” Griffin replied. “And even though they are in truth only cousins, she is like a sister to Faith.”

“Well, sister or not, Faith is in no condition to entertain noble guests,” Harriet insisted.

“Which is precisely why I will require your assistance.” The viscount turned and faced his younger sister. “And yours, too, Elizabeth.”

She blushed prettily. “I will be pleased to offer any help that I can. I like Lady Meredith very much and find the marquess to be a pleasant gentleman.”

A pang of guilt sliced through Harriet. Elizabeth's gracious offer of assistance made Harriet's objections seem even more petty. Yet she could not help but feel a sense of distress over the thought of seeing the incredibly beautiful Lady Meredith again.

The animosity that existed between the two women was of long standing and though it had softened considerably, due to the fantastic events of the past Season, Harriet had not been able to completely exorcise her negative feelings for the marchioness. Even more irksome was the knowledge that Meredith did not hold a similar grudge.

“I suppose they will be bringing a horde of servants with them,” Harriet grumbled. “The Marquess of Dardington is fabulously wealthy as well as the heir to a dukedom. He is used to the very best of everything.”

“Though I have never met the man, I am sure our hospitality will not disappoint Lady Meredith's husband,” Griffin said. “They are coming to Hawthorne Castle to visit Faith and meet Emma Kate, not for lively entertainment. 'Tis a sad state of affairs indeed if we cannot make welcome three noble guests.”

“Three?” Harriet questioned.

“Yes.” The viscount rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Did I neglect to mention that Lady Meredith's brother will be joining them?”

The dull sound of a heavy book hitting the floor echoed through the room. “Which brother?” Elizabeth whispered in alarm.

“There is more than one?” Griffin asked. He bent and picked up the book Elizabeth had dropped.

“Lady Meredith has two younger brothers,” Harriet answered. “They are twins, identical in appearance, though not in nature. Yet it is hardly difficult to ascertain which one will accompany his sister to Hawthorne Castle.”

Griffin's gaze lifted in surprise. “Why is that?” “ 'Twas more than obvious to everyone this Season that Mr. Jason Barrington was quite smitten with our dear Elizabeth. I imagine he will be arriving with hot-house roses and boxes of sweet confections as well as original sonnets he has composed glorifying Elizabeth's beauty.”

Harriet smiled teasingly at her younger sister, but Elizabeth did not answer in kind. In fact, she looked slightly ill at the notion of once again seeing her admirer.

“I have never done anything to encourage his attention.” Elizabeth took a step back and pressed herself against a large bookcase. “Truly.”

“I know.” Harriet blew out an exasperated breath.

“I was only jesting.”

“Jason Barrington.” Griffin repeated the name slowly. “Wasn't he the gentleman who saved you from that madman?”

“Yes.” The muscles around Elizabeth's lips tightened.

“Then we must do all that we can to make him welcome,” Griffin declared. “I, for one, am most grateful for his chivalrous act of bravery.”

“But what if Harriet is right? What if he is coming here to court me?” The color washed out of Elizabeth's face. “What shall you say if he asks for my hand in marriage? You would not agree, would you, Griffin?”

The viscount stepped in front of his sister. “I thought you would be pleased to have such a fine young man show an interest in you.”

“You do not understand,” Elizabeth cried. “He might have been the man who saved my life, yet Jason Barrington is a constant reminder of everything I am struggling so hard to forget. The feelings of terror, of despair and utter helplessness. The horror at being kidnapped. Bound and gagged. A sharp, cold knife blade pressed against my throat.” The lovely blonde squeezed her eyes shut. “Please, oh, please, do not force me to play hostess to him. I could not bear it.”

The heartsick tone of fear in Elizabeth's voice took Harriet aback. She had known her sister occasionally suffered from nightmares as a result of the tortuous events in London, but she did not realize the pain was so deep.

Harriet instinctively moved forward to offer comfort, but Elizabeth instead turned to her brother, hugging him tightly around the neck.

“Hush, now, Elizabeth. There is no need for tears.” The viscount's arms encircled his sister's shoulders. “We shall figure out a way to diplomatically cool Mr. Barrington's ardor. I promise.”

Elizabeth made a choking sound. She pulled back and lowered her head. Harriet felt her own throat tighten. Elizabeth appeared very young and very defenseless.

The viscount gently ran his thumb down the line of Elizabeth's face, brushing away a tear. “You had better run along. Faith and Georgie are no doubt wondering why it is taking so long for you to bring them a book.”

“Yes.” Elizabeth nodded her head, but her voice held a note of uncertainty. She gathered the two books in her arms, leaned up and placed a small kiss on the viscount's cheek. “Thank you.”

Silence reigned for a long moment after Elizabeth left. Harriet struggled to harness her own emotions. Their mother had died when Elizabeth was barely a year old. It had therefore fallen to Harriet to see to her sister's welfare. It was a duty she had taken on without complaint, a duty that through the years had given her a sense of purpose and importance.

The realization that Elizabeth now placed Griffin in the role of protector was painful and yet another reminder of how little Harriet seemed to be needed in her own family.

“I know Elizabeth suffers from nightmares, but I was unaware she associated her rescuer so strongly with the events,” Harriet said. “I should have realized Elizabeth's fragile state by her emotional reactions to the letters she received from Mr. Barrington.”

“I too believed she was starting to recover,” Griffin replied. “Perhaps she will show improvement when we go to Town in the spring for the new Season.”

Harriet widened her eyes. “You cannot be serious! Elizabeth is in tears at the notion of meeting the man who saved her. How can you possibly expect her to journey to London, the place where all her misery began, and begin a round of social engagements as if nothing had happened?”

Griffin looked uncomfortable. “Well, she is young, barely nineteen. There will be other Seasons if Elizabeth prefers to remain at home this year. However, I assume you will want another crack at the marriage mart.”

Harriet's breath came to a sudden halt. For an instant she thought her brother's words a cruel joke, but his expression was all innocent sincerity. “I am long beyond the age of London Season. Besides, the scandal of being jilted by a fiancé who is now in total disgrace has tainted me beyond the pale. No man of decent family would have me for a wife.”

A pang of loneliness struck Harriet. The words were harsh, yet undeniably true. She had given her heart to Julian Wingate and it had cost her dearly. Though she had very much wanted one, there would be no husband for her.

“Not all men are like Wingate,” Griffin insisted.

“Thank heavens,” Harriet said with a bitter laugh.

She closed her eyes briefly as the familiar pain washed over her. The scandal had revealed the truth—her fiancé's feelings for her had been only an illusion, but Harriet had loved him truly. And in the end, he had betrayed her.

“I do not wish to speak of such unpleasant matters.” She didn't wait for her brother's acquiescence and quickly changed the subject. “I have been doing a great deal of thinking and reflecting over these last few months and have made some important decisions about my future that I need to discuss with you.”

The line of Griffin's mouth lifted in a slight smile. “Strange, it sounds as though you are about to tell me what you intend to do, rather than ask for my advice or approval.”

Harriet couldn't control the blush that spread to her cheeks. “Ah, how well you know me, dear brother.”

“Not nearly enough to save you from tragedy.” Harriet placed her hand on Griffin's arm. “You must not blame yourself. No one suspected Julian's true nature until it was too late.” It eased some of the tightness in her chest, knowing that her brother was so concerned about her. “Julian is in my past and I am determined to look ahead. While I have very much appreciated your generosity in allowing me to live here with your family, it was only intended to be a temporary arrangement, until I married and set up a household of my own. Since I will not marry, I must look to my own future.”

“You are my sister, Harriet, and therefore it is my responsibility to see to your welfare. Yours and Elizabeth's.”

“Oh, I fully intend to hold you to that responsibility, never fear.” Harriet smiled briefly. “However, I have decided ‘tis time for me to do as I wish, not as everyone else expects.”

“And what is it you wish?”

“I wish to experience life beyond this simple village. I wish to feel as though I have some purpose, some direction to my life.” Harriet took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I believe I can accomplish these goals by working. So I have decided to seek a position as governess.”