Page 20 of Devil at the Gates
As Harriet stepped into the corridor, she heard a distant gong ring out two floors below. She clutched her skirts in one hand and proceeded down to the entry hall. Lord Frostmore waited for her at the bottom stair. He looked exceedingly attractive in his blue superfine coat, gold silk waistcoat, and maroon trousers. His face lit up, and for the first time in her life, she felt the way a woman ought to when she entered a room. That a man’s appreciative gaze was a thing to make her shine and not something to fear.
“You look…” He hesitated, and she thought he might be as nervous as she was. “Good, very good.”
“Maisie thought you would approve of my wearing these?” She lifted the skirts and waved them a bit.
“She was correct. Besides, they were going to waste where they were. It felt like a crime to let the moths get hold of something so…” He paused, and she saw him ever so discreetly swallow. “Lovely.”
“You have wonderful taste, Your Grace. I am honored to wear the dress. I’ve never worn anything so expensive before.”
“Redmond, please call me Redmond.” He reached for her hand. “Or Red, if you like. Red was my nickname as a boy. My brother, Thomas, was a few years younger than me and couldn’t say Redmond, so he called me Red. I suppose it was because of my hair.” He chuckled at the distant memory, and Harriet’s spirits lifted.
“Would you call me Harriet then, Red?”
“Harriet.” He said her name like he was tasting an expensive brandy and found it to his liking.
They sat down to dinner, the large table set so very far apart, which meant Harriet had to try to speak to Redmond from the farthest end of the table, where a trio of large bouquets kept him almost hidden from view.
“How do you find the dinner?” Redmond’s voice echoed loudly as he almost shouted down the length of the table.
Harriet peered around the edge of the vases, trying to see him better. “I…quite good…”
“What?” he called back and leaned forward in his chair.
“I said, quite good, Your Grace. I think—”
“This is bloody nonsense!” Redmond growled and shoved his chair back quite forcefully, which startled Harriet. Then he collected his goblet of wine and plate and came over to sit down directly beside her. A footman scrambled to collect the duke’s silverware and bring it over to them before dashing back into the corner of the room to wait to serve the next course.
“Much better.” Redmond looked at her with a grin, and she found herself smiling back at him.
“Indeed.”
“I suppose I’ll have to tell the footmen to set our plates beside each other at meals. Tradition be damned.”
“I would appreciate that.” She couldn’t help but think back to last night when she had dined with him. How he’d sat at the far end of the table, watching her with dark, hooded eyes, while she’d kept a sword within reach at the table. Not that it had mattered. He’d drugged her and carried her up to his bed, where he’d tended to her wounds with the doctor. How different last night had been compared to this. The man who had frightened her beyond reason was gone. In his place was a man with a kind smile, a guarded heart, and a haunted soul. He was a man she wanted to know everything about.
They dined on soup and salmon, making pleasant conversation throughout the evening.
“Did you enjoy your ride? I saw you from the window earlier. I hope you don’t mind—I explored the house for a bit after Mrs. Breland gave me a tour.”
“Yes, I did. Riding is one of my favorite pursuits, in addition to reading. Do you ride?”
“When I was a girl, I rode a neighbor’s pony once or twice, but until the night of the storm, I’m afraid I hadn’t ridden a horse.”
“And yet you made it here. Impressive.”
“Heavens, I didn’t even think. I simply jumped upon the beast and came here. What else could I do?” She blushed and chuckled at herself. Her desire to help Mr. Johnson had overridden all common sense.
“It is as I suspected,” Redmond said thoughtfully.
“What is?”
“You are brave. Incredibly so.”
“I wish that were the case. But in truth, I’m afraid of everything.” It wasn’t entirely true, but it seemed like so much had given her cause for fear of late.
“You have no need to be afraid here.” Redmond reached out to catch her hand, and the connection sent a tingle up her arm. She didn’t pull away. It felt good, more than good, to feel his warm, strong hand on hers.
“Would you tell me about your family and your life here?” She hoped he would open up to her, just as she was opening up to him. She stared at his hand, the long strong fingers, then the way his shoulders strained slightly against the confines of his tailored coat displaying his well-developed body.
