Page 30 of A Hero's Guide to Love
Chapter 8
Clarissa glared at the clerk blocking the door of Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt’s office. The self-important wretch was determined to keep her out, claiming that Harcourt was in an important meeting with another officer.
That officer was Christian, and she had to stop him before he destroyed his army career.
“Stand aside, sir,” she ordered impatiently.
The clerk bristled. Puffing his chest out, he pointed to a chair in front of his desk. “Please take a seat, madam. You will wait for the meeting to conclude, or I will call a guard to escort you from the building. I would not wish to embarrass you, but I will not hesitate to do so if I must.”
Clarissa suspected he would, too. The very thought of the commotion that would cause made her almost nauseous. But she was tired of everyone telling her what to do, and no priggish bureaucrat would stop her now. Not when Christian needed her. “If you or anyone else touches me, I’ll scream. As long and as loud as I can. Please step aside from that door.”
The man’s face went purple, and he began to bluster. She opened her mouth and took a deep breath.
Grumbling under his breath, the clerk shuffled aside, and Clarissa burst into the room before he could change hismind. She slammed the door and leaned against it, trying to calm her pounding heart.
An imposing-looking officer sat behind a massive desk, his bushy moustache quivering with surprise as he stared at her. Christian stood in front of the desk. He pivoted to face her, and his mouth gaped open for a few seconds before he clamped it shut in a grim line.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt lumbered to his feet. “What the devil is going on here?” he snapped. “Who, madam, are you?”
Praying her legs wouldn’t collapse under her, Clarissa crossed the room to stand beside Christian. He gave a slight but angry shake of the head.
Meeting Harcourt’s glower, she mentally braced herself and then launched in. “I am Mrs. Middleton, sir. I’ve come to discuss the harm that has been done to my husband, Captain Jeremy Middleton.”
Christian finally exploded. “Good God, Clarissa! You shouldn’t have come here. What were you thinking?”
“Hold your tongue, Captain,” thundered Harcourt. “I will ask the questions.”
Christian snapped back to attention, even though he still looked furious. With her or with Harcourt, she wasn’t sure.
The lieutenant-colonel returned his penetrating gaze to her. “Mrs. Middleton, perhaps you’ll be good enough to explain your behavior. It’s not quite the thing for a lady to be racketing about the Horse Guards without an escort. Your father-in-law wouldn’t approve, I daresay.”
His scowl twisted her stomach into knots, but she held her ground. “My dear sir, do you intend to offer me a seat, or must I stand all afternoon? Has everyone at the Horse Guards forgotten their manners?” She gave an imperious sniff, for good measure.
Harcourt’s ears went red but, to his credit, he wrestled his temper under control. “Forgive me, madam. Apparently Ihaveforgotten my manners.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Please, be seated.”
“Thank you, but no,” she said loftily. “On second thought, I prefer to stand.”
She heard a slight choke from Christian but didn’t dare look at him. Harcourt’s gaze darted suspiciously between them. To her surprise, he gave a grudging laugh.
“Very well, madam. You have bested me, and on my own territory. How may I be of assistance?”
Relief poured through her so suddenly that her knees wobbled. She wished she could sit after all, but she wouldn’t show Harcourt any sign of weakness.
“There has been a terrible misunderstanding, sir,” she said. “Captain Archer is under the mistaken impression that I wanted him to plead my husband’s case to you. That was never my intention.”
“That’s nonsense and you know it, Clarissa,” Christian exclaimed.
“Captain Archer,” interjected Harcourt. “Remain silent until I give you permission to speak. Is that clear?”
Christian looked ready to argue, so Clarissa pinched his arm. Harcourt’s moustache twitched, but he forbore to comment.
“Yes, sir,” Christian replied stiffly.
“As I was saying, Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt,” Clarissa continued, “Captain Archer has made a mistake. I always intended to bring you myself the information I discovered regarding these scurrilous rumors.”
“That’s odd. The captain seems quite sure of what he is doing,” Harcourt replied in a dry voice. “So sure, in fact, that he was willing to disobey a direct order. I find it difficult to believe he could misapprehend such a thing.”
Clarissa swallowed her frustration. “That was my fault. I begged him to help me. I gave him very little choice in the matter, I assure you.”
