Page 53 of Ravished

Harriet frowned after the stranger's retreating figure. "Who was that gentleman?"

"The Reverend Clive Rushton," Gideon said. "Deirdre's father."

Chapter Ten

"I have never seen the like." Adelaide, still dressed in her wrapper, picked up her cup of hot chocolate. "I vow, the tale will be all over Town this morning. Everyone will be discussing the setdown Harriet gave Rushton."

Effie closed her eyes in resignation and groaned. "They will be gossiping about that scene even as they read the announcement of her engagement in the morning papers. Dear heaven, I cannot even imagine what they will all think. For an innocent young woman to be talking about such things right in the middle of a ballroom. It is beyond anything."

"I am not precisely innocent, Aunt Effie." Harriet, who was sitting in the corner of Adelaide's morning room, looked up from a recent copy of theTransactions of the Royal Society of Geology.

"Well, we are doing our best to pass you off as such," Adelaide pointed out.

Harriet made a face. "I do not know what all the fuss is about. I merely brought up what seems a perfectly obvious fact that appears to have been overlooked by everyone."

"You and your logical approach," Adelaide said grimly. "I assure you, the fact that Deirdre Rushton was pregnant when she died was not overlooked by anyone. I have heard more than enough about it since word got out that you were engaged to St. Justin."

"I meant the fact that the babe was someone else's. It most definitely was not Gideon's." Harriet went back to herTransactions.

"How can you be so bloody certain of that?" Adelaide demanded.

"Because I am quite certain that Gideon's sense of honor is equal to that of any other gentleman's of theton. In fact, I will wager that it is probably considerably more developed than most. He would have done the right thing if the babe had been his own."

"I simply do not know how you can be so sure of him," Effie said with a sigh. "We can only hope you are correct in your assumptions about his honor."

"I am." Harriet picked up a piece of toast and munched enthusiastically as she continued to scan the pages of theTransactions. "By the bye, he will be calling at five this afternoon. We are to go driving in the park."

"He could at least allow the gossip generated by your scene with Rushton last night to die down before taking you into the park. The whole world goes driving in the park at five. Everyone will see you," Effie muttered.

"That is the whole point, if you ask me." Felicity grinned knowingly at her sister as she walked into the morning room. "I do believe St. Justin is intent on putting Harriet on display wherever and whenever possible. Rather like an exotic pet he has brought back from some distant land."

"A pet." Effie looked scandalized.

"Dear heaven," Adelaide breathed. "What a notion."

Harriet looked up from her journal, sensing that her sister was not joking. "What do you mean by that, Felicity?"

"Is it not obvious?" Felicity helped herself to toast and eggs from the sideboard. She looked bright and vivacious in her yellow gown. "You are the only creature alive that we know of who actually believes in the possibility of St. Justin's honor. You are also the only one who thinks he might be innocent of ravishing and abandoning poor Deirdre Rushton."

"Heisinnocent of ravishing and abandoning her," Harriet retorted automatically. Then she grew thoughtful, remembering Gideon's expression last night when she had argued with Rushton. "You may be right about this matter of putting me on display, however."

"One can hardly blame him, I suppose. The temptation to show off your touching faith in the Beast of Blackthorne Hall must be quite irresistible." Felicity smiled.

"I have told you not to refer to him by that dreadful name," Harriet said, but she spoke absently. Her mind was busily turning over what Felicity had just said. There was the sad ring of truth in it. Harriet knew she ought to have seen it for herself.

Gideon was naturally going to gain what satisfaction he could from this marriage which he had never wanted in the first place. Who could blame him?

He certainly showed no signs of falling in love with her, Harriet told herself. In actual fact, he had said nothing at all of love to her. Nor had he asked for any love from her. He had sounded merely curious last night when he had asked if she had some affection for him.

Harriet knew her belief in his honor was probably far more important to Gideon than any protestation of love. It was no doubt all that was important to him. He had lived too long in the shadow of dishonor.

Harriet watched as Felicity sat down at the table and began to eat with a hearty appetite. Night after night of virtually continuous dancing had given her sister a strong interest in breakfast lately.

Adelaide glanced at Effie over the rim of her cup. "Well, we have no choice but to put a brave front on the entire affair. As long as St. Justin himself is proclaiming the engagement, we are all safe. With any luck we shall contrive to get through the remainder of the Season before anythingunexpectedoccurs."

Harriet made a face as she closed her journal. "I assure you nothing unexpected is going to occur, Aunt Adelaide. St. Justin will not allow it." She glanced at the clock. "If you will excuse me, I must dress I am to attend a meeting of the Fossils and Antiquities Society this afternoon."

Effie gave her a sharp glance. "I noticed that you have become very good friends with a few of the members of the Society, my dear. I rather like young Lord Applegate. Very well connected to the Marquess of Asherton, you know. Recently come into a considerable inheritance along with his title."

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