Page 93 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
“I love you too, Daniel,” she said sleepily.
With her ear pressed to his chest, Harriet felt herself being lulled into a contented sleep by the steady beat of his heart.
* * *
Daniel woke at the crack of dawn and propping himself upon his elbow, he admired her sleeping face. Her long lashes rested against her freckled cheeks and her lips were softly parted in sleep. He dropped a kiss on her temple, laughing to himself when her nose wrinkled.
“Rest well?”
She rubbed her eyes, “Yes, surprisingly. I never thought I’d sleep after what happened last night.”
Her kissed her cheek, “I have a bath ready for you and breakfast. We will have to leave for the hotel early as I’m sure Carrington is already missing his coachman.”
“Thank you for helping me,” Harriet said, while slipping her feet from under the covers.
“I love you,” Daniel said lovingly while embracing her. “I would never turn you away.”
Resting her head on his chest for a moment she smiled, “I can’t wait for the hour we’re wed.”
“Neither can I,” he replied kindly
* * *
In the evening, long after Daniel had gotten Harriet settled in Miller's Hotel on St. James with the promise to come for her at eight, Daniel had gone on to search for a place to hold the ceremony and a vicar to do the sermon.
Now, on his way home, it was just his luck that rain had come in and a frightening crack had sent his coach sideways. The spokes on the left rear wheel were shattered in half and it was clear that until the wheel was replaced, he was stranded in the middle of a country road leading back to London.
“I’m sure I can go up the road a bit and find a hackney,” his driver said. “T’won’t be a trouble, My Lord.”
Just as he was about to agree, the pounding of hooves had him spinning on his heel as masked men rode up on horses with pistols drawn. Daniel ducked around the coach and reached for his weapon to defend himself from the muggers.
A blast and a part of his coach was shot into the air, Daniel heaved a seething breath, readying one of pistols. Another shot and the driver gave a shout before he dropped dead at Daniel’s feet. The bullet had lodged in the middle of the man’s forehead.
Enraged, Daniel found a vantage point and shot, dislodging one of the muggers off his horse and took the other pistol that was latched on his boot.
He grabbed at the door and threw himself in, grabbing for the box of prepackaged bullets when a hand grabbed at his foot. Daniel used the other to crack his heel into the man’s forehead.
“Blast it!” the man snarled. “You shouldn’t have done that, Guv. I’m tempted to kill ya, instead of taking you away.”
Daniel lobbied his pistol like a club and lunged himself through the door, right on the attacker. They landed on the ground with a hard crash, and just as Daniel landed a punch, a hard crack on the side of his head sent him limp.
Just before he lost consciousness completely, he heard one of the men say, “Shouldn’t have done that, Guv, now yer going be dead before t’morrow.”
Chapter Thirty
Waking up in another unfamiliar bed was not Harriet’s preferred way of rising, but at least it would be the last time. But this time the next morning, she and Daniel would be married and most of her worries would be behind her.
A maid came with bathwater and then, later on, after had her wedding dress on, her light breakfast was served. Her stomach was in knots so she could hardly stomach the tea and buttered toast.
When the lady came for the tray, she asked, “Pardon me, what time is it?”
“About seven o’clock, Miss,” the woman curtsied.
“Thank you,” Harriet said, knowing she had another hour to wait.
Taking her bag, she took her coat and went to the downstairs sitting room to wait for him. Fortunately, there was a grandfather clock in the corner of the room, and she watched it with growing anticipation for the hour hand to tick to eight.
He’s only late. Surely this snow is inconveniencing everyone.
