Page 56 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
The damp clothes chilled her skin, and as she entered the warm house, she shivered at the warmth that enveloped her. As soon as she entered the front room, Antony came around a corner, his brows shooting up at the sight of her. His gaze flickered to Daniel a second later; his lips twitched.
“Seems as if you’ll need another suit of clothes, My Friend,” Antony said kindly.
“Before I freeze through these, you are correct, Carrington,” Daniel said, plucking at his sodden shirt. “And you should do the same, Harriet.”
She was about to remove the coat, but Daniel stopped her, “Keep it, until you’re in a warmer condition, please. And Carrington, about that suit.”
“I’ll see you soon,” Harriet promised as she took the stairs to her rooms, found a passing maid and called for a warm bath.
Lily was absent, and she supposed her friend was still in the music room—all the better because she needed to be alone to assess her emotions. Seated on her chaise, and while waiting for the water to arrive, she covered her face with both hands.
Much as I would love the fairy tale with a charming, handsome hero, that cannot be Daniel. I’m sure that lady who deserted him at the altar has irrevocably changed his look of romance, or love. I asked for wicked, and that is what he’s giving me—ways to be wicked.
“Miss?” a maid said from the doorway, prodding Harriet to look up. “The water is ready for you.”
* * *
That evening, Harriet dressed in a casual day gown of deep-blue cambric and her hair, dried in an updo, opened the package and took out a lovely maroon robe and matching Circassian costume. The dress with its velvet sleeve pendants, embroidered in gold-and-silver threads, and the loose light silk or cotton chemise was nothing less than exquisite.
“Oh, my,” Lily said from the doorway. “Is that your costume for tonight?”
Fingering the velvet cap with its narrow silver-and-gold galloon around the top and the bottom, Harriet nodded, “It is regal, isn’t it?”
Sitting near her, Lily touched the white veil attached to the cap, “It's grand. Your Earl must have paid a fortune for this.”
My Earl, is he mine, though?
“I know,” Harriet replied, with a slight smile. “He has the male version, supposedly with a sword and dagger.”
Lily pouted. “Dash it, compared to you, my Mary of Scots costume will look plain and overdone at the same time.”
Laughing, Harriet patted Lily’s hand. “I’m sure it will be splendid all the same.”
“I’m delighted to see that you are so happy and in love,” Lily said. “Finally, your dream of this grand, passionate, perfect love you’ve so desired is coming true. I suppose ‘too good to be true’ does not apply to you.”
Her friend’s words, aimed to comfort and assure her, brewed heartache and shame inside Harriet. She nearly told Lily the truth, but the serene look on Lily’s face stopped her. She didn’t want to shatter her friend’s ideals on such a happy day.
“Thank you,” Harriet replied. “Would you get your costume so I can see it? I just need to return Daniel’s coat to him, and I’ll be back.”
When Lily went off, Harriet folded Daniel’s dry cloak over her arm and went to find him. She suspected that he would be in her brother-in-law’s study, and she went there. At the Baron's door, she heard her name.
“I need to tell you something about Harriet—” Antony said.
Chapter Eighteen
Seated in Lord Carrington’s study, Daniel watched the other man with a wary eye. Carrington looked a little too sly for his liking, though he had an admirable way of making it look like concern.
“Know that Harriet is not like other ladies. She is not the sort to follow convention and submit.”
Daniel couldn’t help but laugh,if only you know half of it.
Crossing his legs, Daniel settled into his leather chair, “I am very aware of it, as I’ve told her brother, Carrington; her originality is attractive to me.”
“But are you prepared for what might come?” Antony pressed.
What might come? What the deuce is he trying to say?
“And what would that be?” Daniel’s tone was wary.
