Page 91 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
“I’m sure he will, Martha,” Antony replied soothingly. “We just have to wait till he comes back.”
Knocking before she entered, Harriet went inside, “Pardon, I couldn’t but overhear. Is Dawson running away?”
Antony stood, and gave a commiserating smile, “That’s how it looks, but we will find him, Harriet.”
Disinclined to tell them the news about Daniel, Harriet frowned, “I hope you’ll find him.”
Very unsettled, Martha agreed, “He shall not go unpunished. Did you come for something, Harriet?”
“Only to wish you a happy outing tonight,” Harriet swiftly added before turning to the door. “I’m sure you’ll have an enjoyable night.”
She was sure she could broach the subject about Daniel to Martha the next day, but for now, she decided that Dawson being on the run only showed that he was guilty. When he was brought to justice, it wouldn’t erase the damage he had done, but it would make some people understand that it was a case of jealousy and revenge.
After supper and a warm bath, Harriet retired for the evening while considering how to contact Daniel again. It was risky sending him another letter in case Ben came around, but perhaps she could convince Martha to go with her to London.
Or I could arrange to send him a gift.
She went to bed around nine but was roused about one in the morning by the arrival of the coach and laughter downstairs.I suppose they’re making amends now.
Turning, she went back to sleep and began to dream of Daniel. His warm loving eyes and his sinful mouth skimming over her skin…then, through the haze of sleep, felt lips on her neck. At first, she felt it was a visceral dream, but when an arm wrapped around her middle, Harriet jerked awake.
“Shh,” Antony whispered in her ear. “We’ll have to be quiet, Darling.”
Panic sized her body and Antony turned her to face him. Harriet wondered if Antony was drunk, but she saw cold sobriety in his eyes.
“Antony?” she gasped. “What are you doing?”
“Exactly what you invited me to do,” Antony said. “You said to find something to amuse myself with during the time Martha is having ongoing treatments,” he slipped up her side. “And you invited me so subtly I didn’t catch it, but I have. Do you know how long I’ve searched for a replacement for that infertile bitch? And you dropped into my home like an answer to my prayer.”
Stunned that Antony had described her sister in such a way, Harriet couldn’t reply.
Antony cupped her breast, “Come on, Beautiful, no one will know. We’ll have fun right under her nose. You’ll be my mistress, and no one will ever catch on. I’ll show you the most exquisite pleasure you’ll ever know.”
“Antony,” she found her voice, “where is Martha?”
“Asleep,” he said. “I know you desire me, Harriet; I can tell.”
Thinking quickly, Harriet said, “Not here. Where is the furthest room away from the family quarters?”
“In the guest wing,” Antony replied, with a salacious grin. “We can go there if you like. God knows I’ve wanted to have you since you walked into my home.”
“Go and wait for me there,” Harriet said. “I need to put on something…erm…more flattering.”
Antony looked wolfish, as he drew away from the bed, “I’ll be waiting to taste you; hurry.”
Swallowing, Harriet waited until he was of the room and hurrying away, before she sprang out of bed and changed in a dress quickly. As she was about to dash, she grabbed her wedding dress then stole out of the room to a servant’s entrance and was out into the backyard.
She couldn’t think of running to Martha; she knew she had to get away first and then, from a distance, send for sister and tell her about Antony. Frantically, she rushed to the stables and found the driver sleeping in his cot. Shaking him awake, she pleaded for him to be quiet.
“I need to go to London, now, please hurry with the carriage,” she said, “And take the backroads, please. I don’t want to alert my family; they just got in.”
The coachman nodded and hitched up the carriage quickly. She boarded the small vehicle and soon they left through the back gate and onto the delivery roads.
Harriet didn’t dare breathe until she was halfway through the city of Canterbury and was off to London. All she could think was that Daniel was the only hope she had. She could go to Ben, but craved Daniel’s comfort. She could only hope that after she told Daniel what had happened, he wouldn’t rush back to murder Antony.
She didn’t know what time she arrived at Daniel’s home, but only felt relief when the footman let her into the house. Daniel was halfway down the stairs when he saw her. After rushing to her, he cradled Harriet in his arms.
“Christ above, Harriet! What happened? What happened for you to come to me in the middle of the night,” he asked.
