Page 35 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
Men had come and asked her to dance, only for Harriet to turn them down politely. Lord Dawson had tried, and a strange pain had settled into her heart when she had refused him as well, because she only wanted to dance with Daniel.
“Don’t fret, Dear,” Aunt Barbara said, reaching over to pat her hand. “He’s only a bit late.”
A bit late? Two-and-a-half-hours is not a bit late.
After another look at the vacant doorway, Harriet was ready to leave the merry celebration. She closed her fan and was about to make her excuses to her Aunt…when Daniel came through the door.
Her heart did a silly little lurch at the sight of him, standing there, and looking around, searching for her, she hoped. When he met her eyes, he made his way to her. Daniel’s hair was a bit askew as if he had raked his fingers through it multiple times.
After greeting her Aunt, Daniel asked her to dance, and she accepted.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come,” Harriet said, after her curtsy. “But I’m glad you did.”
His expression was somber, “To be honest, I almost didn’t.”
Hesitant, Harriet asked, “Why? Were you in a—”?
“Brothel?” Daniel inserted, his tone lifeless. “No, Harriet, I was not. I wouldn’t do that to you. I can retain my anonymity at a brothel as a single man, but now that I am engaged, I wouldn’t place all my bets on it.”
Ashamed, Harriet felt her cheeks warm, “I’m sorry, I just thought that you…” she bit her lip. “I knew that you turned to that sort of company, and I…felt that you’d rather be with them than with me.”
Spinning them a little, Daniel’s brows dipped, “Why would you think that?”
“Was I the only one who felt…” she broke off, “it doesn’t matter.”
“No,” Daniel pressed, “tell me.”
Feeling a blush begin to stain her face, Harriet said, “Not here, please.”
He searched her eyes for a moment, then nodded, “I was at Brook’s, Harriet. I had a lot to think about, and I felt as if I was thinking in circles. I wanted to clear my mind.”
It's probably about his Mother.
“I understand,” she said as the music began to end. “I’m glad you came because our engagement is going to be announced tonight.”
“People already think we are, so it's best to make it official before tongues start wagging,” Daniel said, as he parted from her and bowed. “When is the announcement?”
“I believe at dinner, just before we eat,” Harriet said.
Antony and Martha stood on the podium where the orchestra was, drawing attention to themselves. Harriet smiled at her sister, who looked regal in her gold damask dress, fitting for entering a new year.
Lord Carrington lifted a glass of champagne, “Thank you all for accompanying us tonight, for taking an empty home and filling it with such merry company and lovely cheer. Please, continue to drink our best wine because soon when you’re deep in your cups, you won’t notice the switch to blue ruin.”
A wave of amused titters had Antony smiling, “In a few minutes, we’ll start a new year, and wise King Solomon said it best, I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry.”
Martha then stepped forward, “And we have another announcement, one of marriage. My dear sister, Harriet, has happily accepted the proposal of Daniel Raster, Earl Barkley. We wish her all the best and a full, happy life.”
Shocked, Harriet blindly reached for Daniel’s hand and gripped it tightly, while faces turned to her and glasses were lifted high in support. Antony, was looking at his timepiece, then smiled wide, “It's midnight, so we sing.”
A pianist played the tune of ‘Old Lang Syne’, and the guests joined in the traditional song. When the song ended and they were told to go to the dining room, lords and ladies congratulated them; women went to Harriet while men spoke to Daniel.
However, while she received the good wishes and Daniel was occupied, and most of the people were gone, Dawson came to her and, in passing, whispered in her ear, “Now that you’re an engaged woman, I should have tried harder to win you instead. But there’s still time.”
Harriet trembled under her skin, at the underlying meaning of his words, and when she did get her faculties back—Dawson was gone. Daniel, however, looked thunderous; his face was dark and his jaw stiff. When he came to her, his eyes were flashing with rage.
“Daniel—”
“What did he say to you?” Daniel pressed, his voice as cold as ice.
