Page 14 of The Scottish Duke Tames the Bluestocking
By mid-afternoon, the suspense had mounted to such dizzying heights that she found herself utterly incapable of maintaining her composure a moment longer. Impulsively, she rang for her lady’s maid and then hastily bundled herself into a fashionably understated walking dress and cloak. Dressed, she moved towards the carriage where she leaned back her head.
“Yeats Manor, please,” she announced. The driver nodded and Harriet breathed a sigh of relief when the carriage came to a halt in front of Caroline’s home. She made her way towards the door eagerly, then knocked firmly.
“Lady Harriet,” the doorman greeted her with a smile and Harriet nodded at him, her shoulders immediately relaxing. “Is the Duchess at home?” she asked eagerly and he nodded.
“Yes, your ladyship. She is in the orangery, I am sure you will be welcomed there.”
Harriet nodded quickly. Luckily, there had never been any sense of decorum between Caroline and herself and as such she felt more than comfortable making her way to the orangery.
Caroline was seated on a sofa, book in hand, when Harriet entered. Her expression brightened when she noticed her friend and she set the book aside immediately, rising to embrace her.
“Harriet, what an unexpected delight,” she greeted warmly. “I was wondering how you were after... everything.”
Caroline looked at her friend worriedly. “Forgive me for speaking bluntly,” she said and gestured for Harriet to sit, “but I was quite surprised at all that happened. It... Certainly that was not a part of your plan?”
Harriet sighed and shook her head.
“You are right,” she admitted. “It was not. But I do have a bit of a... situation... now.”
Caroline arched an eloquent brow. “Whatever do you mean?”
Harriet sighed. “William is furious,” she explained - and Caroline nodded slowly. “I am not surprised,” she said carefully. “I know your brother and... I did not expect him to take this well at all.”
Harriet pursed her lips. “Well... will you believe that he arranged an audience with the Duke and had him propose to me?”
At this, Caroline’s eyes widened with joy. “You are getting married?”
Harriet shook her head quickly. “I... have not said yes. Yet.” she admitted. “I... I may have objected to his proposal.”
“Oh, Harriet,” Caroline looked at her friend with a laugh and Harriet turned red. “I know, I know,” she admitted. “He was just so... cold about it. And it had me worried. I... should I marry a man I scarcely know to preserve what tattered shreds of propriety remain? Or condemn my whole family to ruination?”
Caroline looked at her friend worriedly.
“Harriet,” she said at last, speaking slowly as she searched for words. “When I married Benedict, I did not know him at all. And I was terrified... but now, looking back, I would not have any other husband. I love him.”
“But I don’t love Hugh,” Harriet interjected quickly. “And... I don’t know, I always thought that I’d only marry a man I loved - like my mother. And now, I am at a risk of losing that possibility all because of a woeful misunderstanding.”
At this, Caroline frowned.
“I admit, I am quite curious about this misunderstanding,” she said simply and Harriet sighed.
“I know,” she said and shook her head. “It was mad, but I swear nothing happened. I was merely on the balcony and I... Oh, all that matters is that nothing happened between us.”
Nothing more needed to be said - Caroline believed her, and Harriet looked at her desperately.
“You married... not for love, but because your father made you marry Benedict and I know that it turned out well for you, but... do you truly believe it could turn out well for me?”
Caroline shrugged and shook her head sympathetically. “I don’t know, my friend,” she admitted. “But perhaps you ought to attempt to... speak... to Frighton?”
Harriet sighed deeply. “I have... taken steps to reopen the lines of communication, I suppose,” she said. “I penned a letter to the Duke this morning in hopes of clearing the air between us and talking.”
Caroline lifted an impressed brow at this. “You did that? Of your own accord?”
Harriet nodded resolutely and Caroline laughed - a sound so filled with joy and delight that Harriet could not help but echo a smile.
“That is quite bold of you,” Caroline teased. “But I do think that extending an olive branch was a clever thing to do.”
“Bold and clever,” Harriet teased. “I hope it does not come back to haunt me.”
