Page 76 of Romancing the Rifleman
Mrs.Monroe shrugged.“He’s probably taking a short rest.”
Diana swallowed.“I keep seeing him around town.I’m starting to feel like he’s following me.”
Mrs.Phipps studied her with kind eyes.“I know that must seem unnerving.But surely it is not unusual to run into the same man a few times in a town so small as Bandon.After all, what reason would he have for following you?”
Diana bit her lip.She had not been entirely forthcoming with her new friends about the details of her life back in London.They knew she was the sister of a duke, but they didn’t know that she had a dowry of a hundred thousand pounds, or that she would one day inherit Aunt Griselda’s fortune, which was easily worth twice that.
Mrs.Phipps wrapped an arm around Diana’s shoulders.“Come.I’m sure it’s nothing.Let’s not let it spoil our walk on such a fine morning!”
They had all chuckled, because it was what the Irish called a soft day with a steady sort of drizzle.But Diana couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder as they departed.
The strange man was gone.But Diana’s sense of unease refused to budge.
That was when she decided to mention it to Harrington.
Chapter39
Having spent the last hour trying to figure out what she wanted to say to Harrington, Diana was pacing the floor when he got home.Part of her was afraid that he would dismiss her concerns, as Mrs.Monroe and Mrs.Phipps had done.
But part of her was also concerned that he would respond the way Marcus typically did—by locking her in a gilded cage in response to the slightest risk.
She could not decide which reaction she feared more.
She whipped around as the door swung open.There was Harrington, brown eyes crinkling into a smile as he scraped his boots against the mat.“Good evening, darling.How was your…” He trailed off, and she could mark the moment he noticed her drawn expression.
He was across the room in four strides.“Diana.What’s wrong?”
She took him by the hand and led him to the sofa.There, she explained about the man she kept seeing again and again.About how he did not seem to have any obvious occupation or reason for being where he was.And about how he promptly disappeared each time she spotted him.Harrington listened quietly, eyes intent on hers, not saying a word until she had finished.
He rose and paced over to the mantelpiece.“In light of this, I think we need to make some changes.”
Diana’s spine stiffened.That didn’t sound promising, but she reminded herself that she should hear him out rather than rushing to judgment.“What kind of changes?”
He turned to face her, raking a hand through his hair.“To your daily routine.”
No, no, no!She had been so happy here, happier than she’d ever been in her life.She had thought that in Harrington, she had found not just a husband but a partner.Someone who respected her, someone who would let her have a say in her own life.
Had she instead exchanged one tyrant for another?
She could not keep the sharpness from her voice as she asked, “And what, precisely, would you have me change about my daily routine?”
“For starters, these walks you go on.”He waved a hand dismissively, and Diana bristled.It was as bad as she’d feared.He was going to forbid her to leave the cottage!
But when he looked at her, his brown eyes were full of concern.“Do you bring your sword with you?”
She blinked.“My sword?”
As he had resumed pacing the room, Harrington did not seem to notice her discomfiture.“Because I would feel much better knowing that you had your sword at hand.”He stroked his chin.“I know you bring Inge on your rambles.But perhaps it would be a good idea to take her with you everywhere, even just to the other side of the village.”He paused, meeting her eyes.“What do you think?”
She found herself discomfited.She had not realized thatWhat do you think?were the most romantic words in the English language.
But, given the way her heart had started to trip over itself, they were clearly as good as anything to emerge from Shakespeare’s pen.“I think… those are both good suggestions.”
He sat back down on the sofa, propping his elbows on his knees.“Don’t take this the wrong way.I don’t mean to imply that you’re not capable of defending yourself if it should come to blades.”He chuckled.“Indeed, I can’t imagine the man who would best you.But I wonder if you should also carry a firearm.”
She could not quite wrap her head around the direction the conversation had taken.“A firearm?”
“Mmm.You know my sister, Anne, of course.She has occasion to visit some of the worst neighborhoods in London.”
