Page 77 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
Plucking out his timepiece, Daniel said, “Now.”
“Now!” Harriet yelped, pulling away, “Ugh, you cruel, frustrating man! I can hardly go like this!”
Lifting a booted heel to his opposite knee, Daniel laughed, “Go ahead and change, Dear. I'll wait for you.”
Huffing under her breath, Harriet kissed his cheek before hastening to her room to find clothes that were fitting to an open sleigh ride. She found a thick sensible dark-blue woolen dress and matching coat and rushed back to find him.
She found Daniel the same way she had left him, sitting idly on the settee with an amused smile.
His brows darted up, “You're dressed already?”
“I am not a lady to take hours dithering over a dress, Daniel,” she said, while fixing her muffler. “Shall we find Ben?”
Daniel offered his arm and they went to the library. Ben was behind a mountain of books, with papers before him.
His eyes darted up, then went back to the books, “You're ready, I see.”
“Yes,” Daniel replied, “don't worry, we'll be safe.”
“I'd hope so,” Ben replied. “I'll tell Martha about your jaunt when she gets in, Harriet. Enjoy yourselves.”
“Thank you,” she smiled.
* * *
It was dusk when Harriet arrived back at the Manor, her heart light from the lovely day sledding in the park. After she had laughed in joy during the swift ride, built a snow creature under an icicle-adorned tree, and twirled around under a sudden snowfall, Daniel had taken her to a shop in the marketplace for a warm chocolate drink and plum cake.
Before leaving the coach, Harriet grasped Daniel's hand with a grateful smile, “Thank you. I enjoyed our evening.”
“Not as much as I had seeing you skitter away from that child's snow-covered puppy as if it were a creature from the abyss,” Daniel smirked.
Playfully sniffing, Harriet said, “For that comment, I want you to get me a puppy.”
His smirk softened to a smile, as he reached for her. Before he kissed her, Daniel whispered, “I'll gladly get you anything you want.”
He tipped her chin up and claimed her soft, willing lips. Harriet relaxed against him, pressing closer to the warmth and strength of his body. She slid her fingers under his jacket to feel the hard, warm planes of his chest beneath her palms.
Pulling away, Harriet found that she was breathless and reeling from the onslaught of familiar sensations, now feeling twice as strong.
I'm not falling in love with him; Iamin love with him.
“I don't want you to leave,” she whispered.
Daniel pressed his lips to her hair, “Neither do I, but I must go home and await or push for the license. I promise you, the moment I get it in my hand, I'll send for you.”
Harriet sighed. “I can only hope it will be sent soon.”
Daniel gave her a tight smile before opening the coach door and stepping out. He helped Harriet out as well, then walked her to the door. Stepping inside, Harriet undid her muffler and plucked off her gloves.
“Thank you. Good night, Daniel, please, travel safe,” she said, sadly.
Bowing, he replied, “I'll relay it to my driver. Take care, Harriet; I'll send word as soon as I get it.”
Watching him go, Harriet felt a part of her heart go with him. She retreated to her room with a strange bereft emotion resting on her heart. She was passing Martha's drawing room to see her sister and Antony there, drinking wine and laughing.
Martha spotted her and waved her in. Reluctantly, she went in, only to linger just inside the room and stand a good ten feet away.
“Harriet,” Martha said while lifting her glass of wine, “how was your outing?”
