Page 34 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“It seems we were talking about the same Estelle,” Finn said through gritted teeth, intended for Harriet’s ears only. “And I know that creep with her, too. Only she calls him her brother Leo.”
CHAPTER 6
“Finn?” Leon looked at Finn in surprise before his gaze returned to Harriet. “You two know each other?”
He felt Harriet’s shoulders stiffen as she took a step closer to Finn, and he got the feeling there was a lot more to the story of Harriet’s relationship with the man.
“Yes,” Harriet answered before Finn could.
“Since when?” Estelle looked Harriet up and down like she was a piece of dirt on the woman’s overly expensive shoes. “I thought you hung out with the American elite?”
“What are you two doing here?” Harriet ignored the woman’s question. “Is my uncle here too?”
“Weren’t you only supposed to arrive in two days?” Finn’s hand found Harriet’s, and they linked their fingers together. He looked at Harriet. “Isn’t that what your parents said a little while ago when we spoke to them?”
“Yes.” Harriet nodded, and he felt her relax a bit as she leaned toward him before addressing Leon and Estelle.
“We, uh…” Leon’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the body language between Finn and Harriet, pointing with his index finger. “What’s going on here?”
“Why are you holdingherhand?“ Estelle eyed their linked hands with distaste before her eyes widened, and her head swiveled toward her cousin. “Leo, doesn’t she know?”
“Know what?” Finn raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.
He saw a flash of anger flit through Leon’s eyes.
“Harriet, could we perhaps have a word…” Leon glanced at Finn pointedly. “In private.”
“About?” Harriet’s brows creased, and Finn realized she was playing the pompous jerk.
“It’s aprivate familymatter,“ Leon told her.
“Oh!” Harriet feigned ignorance, and Finn had to hide a smile. “You mean about your family? Is your mother alright?”
“What?” Leon looked at her, confused for a moment. “My mother’s fine.” He looked perplexed. “No. I mean, this is about your family matters.”
“Oh!” Harriet said, smiling. She turned and smiled lovingly at Finn and nearly bowled him over while his heart tried to crack his rib cage to reach out to her. “Then you can talk in front of Finn.” She rubbed her hand lovingly on his arm. “He’s part of my family too.”
“What do you mean?” Estelle almost shrieked and looked at Leon. “I think you’d better tellherthat she can’t be seeing Finn now that she’s going to be engaged to you.”
“Excuse me?” Finn spluttered and gaped at Leon before looking at Harriet. “Sweetheart, what does he mean?”
“I don’t know,” Harriet played. “This is why I warned you that we should’ve at least told my parents about us.”
“We couldn’t. It just wouldn’t have been right with everything our friends were going through,” Finn reminded Harriet.
“I know.” Harriet stared into his eyes and nearly made his knees buckle when she reached up with her free hand to cup his. “That’s why I love you as much as I do. You think of everyone.”
It took everything Finn had to keep himself upright as his knees suddenly felt wobbly at the look in her eyes. Her words seemed to sink into his skin, straight to his nerve endings, and into his heart.
“Wait to tell everyone what?” Estelle stared at Finn and Harriet with such contempt that Finn suddenly realized where the sayingif looks could kill, came from.
Harriet turned toward them and held up her left hand. “That Finn and I got engaged a couple of weeks ago.
“What?” Leon and Estelle choked in unison.
“You know it’s not official until King Titus has endorsed the engagement,” Leon pointed out snidely. “And I can all but guarantee you that he willnotendorse this engagement.”
“But I did,” Gray’s voice echoed from behind them. “And as Harriet’s official Royal guardian, it’s what I can do, and I did it the moment they told me.”
