CHAPTER FIVE #2
"Lord Vane is not a member of this family.
He cannot speak for our interests the way I can.
" Harriet took her mother's hands, trying to project calm confidence she didn't entirely feel.
"Mama, I know this is unconventional. But our situation is unconventional.
We cannot afford to let propriety stand in the way of survival. "
"Pretty words. But propriety is what separates us from the animals, Harriet. Without it, we have nothing."
"Without Fordshire Park, we also have nothing. Which matters more?"
Lady Fordshire was silent for a long moment, her face a study in conflicting emotions. Finally, she sighed.
"Lord Vane will accompany you," she said. "And you will bring a maid. And you will conduct yourself with absolute propriety at all times. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Mama."
"And Harriet?" Lady Fordshire's voice sharpened. "Be careful of Lord Davies. Men like him do not invite young ladies to their homes out of pure charitable interest in debt negotiation."
"I'll be careful."
"See that you are." Lady Fordshire released her hands and turned away. "I shall begin drafting letters to explain your absence, should anyone inquire. We shall say you've gone to visit a distant cousin. The Crawford connection should serve, they’re obscure enough that no one will think to verify."
Harriet left her mother to her machinations and went to find Sebastian, who was overseeing the preparation of the carriage in the stable yard. He looked up at her approach, his expression questioning.
"She agreed," Harriet said. "With conditions."
"I heard. Sound carries remarkably well from the drawing room."
"Then you know I'm to bring a maid and conduct myself with absolute propriety."
"A wise precaution." Sebastian's voice was carefully neutral. "Mary seems capable. I'll ask Mrs. Briggs to arrange for her to accompany us."
"Sebastian." Harriet hesitated, not sure how to phrase what she wanted to say. "My mother suggested that Lord Davies might have... ulterior motives. For inviting me."
"Did she?"
"She implied he might be interested in more than debt negotiation."
There was a momentary alteration in his features, yet it vanished before its nature could be discerned. "Your mother is a perceptive woman."
"Is she right? Is Lord Davies likely to... to make advances?"
"I don't know what Lord Davies is likely to do. I only know that his reputation suggests he is not a man who does things without expecting something in return." Sebastian's jaw tightened. "I'll be there. If he tries anything improper, then I shall take it upon myself to see the business concluded.”
"That's very gallant of you."
"It's not gallantry. It's…" He stopped, shaking his head. "Never mind. We should focus on the task at hand."
"Which is?"
"Convincing Lord Davies to accept whatever terms you're prepared to offer." Sebastian turned back to the carriage. "The question is: what terms are you prepared to offer?"
It was a good question. Harriet had been so focused on getting the meeting that she hadn't fully considered what she would say when she got there. Lord Davies was owed nearly eight thousand pounds, a sum she couldn't possibly pay. What could she offer instead?
"I'll think of something," she said. "I always do."
"That's what worries me."
***
They departed at dawn.
The journey to Davies Hall would take most of the day, requiring an overnight stay at an inn along the way. Harriet settled into the carriage with Mary, the maid, while Sebastian rode alongside on horseback for the first several miles.
"He's very handsome, isn't he?" Mary whispered, peering out the window at Sebastian's retreating figure. "Lord Vane, I mean. All the servants have noticed."
"Have they indeed?"
"Oh yes, my lady. There's been quite a bit of speculation about why he's stayed so long. Some think he's here about the debts, but others think…" Mary stopped abruptly, her cheeks flushing.
"Others think what?"
"Nothing, my lady. Just... talk. You know how servants are."
Harriet did know. Servants talked about everything, noticed everything, and speculated about everything. If the household staff had observed something between her and Sebastian, it meant there was something to observe.
The thought was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.
"Lord Vane is an old friend of my brother's," Harriet said firmly. "He's helping our family in a difficult time. That's all."
"Of course, my lady." Mary's voice was perfectly innocent, but her eyes told a different story.
They stopped to change horses at midday, and Sebastian joined them in the carriage for the second half of the journey. The space suddenly felt much smaller with him in it, his long legs taking up more than their fair share of room, his presence commanding attention even when he sat in silence.
Mary had positioned herself in the corner, ostensibly to sleep, leaving Harriet and Sebastian facing each other across the narrow space. The carriage swayed and jolted along the rutted road, occasionally throwing them close enough that their knees brushed.
"We should discuss strategy," Sebastian said, breaking the silence. "For the meeting with Davies."
"What's to discuss? I'll present our situation, appeal to his better nature, and hope he's willing to negotiate."
"And if he's not willing? If he demands full payment or nothing?"
"Then we find another way." Harriet shrugged with a confidence she didn't feel. "We always find another way."
"That's not a strategy. That's blind optimism."
"Sometimes blind optimism is all we have."
Sebastian leaned forward, his grey eyes intent on her face. "Listen to me, Harriet. Davies is not a charitable man. He inherited his fortune young and has spent the years since acquiring more money, property and influence. He does nothing without calculating the benefit to himself."
"You sound as though you know him well."
"I know his type. Men who see every interaction as a transaction, every relationship as an opportunity." Sebastian's voice was grim. "He will not help you out of the goodness of his heart. He will help you only if he believes he's getting something of equal or greater value in return."
"Then what do I have to offer?"
Sebastian was silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was careful. "That depends on what you're willing to give."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implications neither of them was willing to voice. Harriet thought of her mother's warnings, of Sebastian's comments about Davies's reputation, of all the ways a man might try to take advantage of a woman in her position.
"I won't compromise myself," she said quietly. "Whatever Davies wants, he won't get... that."
"Good." Sebastian's voice was rough. "Because if he so much as suggests it, I'll…" He stopped, his jaw tightening. "Forgive me. That's not helpful."
"What were you going to say?"
"Nothing that needs to be said." Sebastian sat back, putting distance between them. "Let's focus on what you can offer. Extended payment terms, perhaps. Or a partial settlement now with a promise of more when the estate's finances stabilize."
"Will either of those work?"
"I don't know. But they're starting points." Sebastian's expression softened slightly. "You're clever, Harriet. Far cleverer than Davies expects. Use that. Let him underestimate you, and then show him exactly how mistaken he was."
"Is that your advice? To be cleverer than my opponent?"
"It's the only advice worth giving. Everything else is just details."
The carriage hit a deep rut, throwing Harriet forward. Sebastian caught her…his hands on her arms, steadying her, preventing her from tumbling into his lap. For a moment, they were frozen like that: her face inches from his, his grip warm and solid through the fabric of her sleeves.
"Careful," he murmured.
"The road's to blame."
"Is it?"
His eyes were very grey this close, shot through with silver and shadow. Harriet could see the individual lashes, dark against his pale skin. Could see the faint lines at the corners that deepened when he smiled. Could see something in his expression that made her breath catch and her heart race.
"I should…" She didn't finish the sentence. She wasn't sure what she should do. She only knew that staying this close to Sebastian Vane was dangerous in ways she was only beginning to understand.
"Yes." Sebastian released her and sat back, his expression carefully blank. "You should."
They did not speak for the rest of the journey.
***
Davies Hall was impressive in exactly the way its owner intended.
The house rose from its manicured grounds like a statement of wealth and power, all classical columns and gleaming windows and immaculate gardens stretching to the horizon.
It was newer than Fordshire Park, built within the last fifty years, and it showed.
Everything was polished, perfect, designed to intimidate.
Harriet was determined not to be intimidated.
The carriage rolled to a stop before the main entrance, and a footman appeared immediately to open the door.
Harriet descended with as much dignity as she could muster, acutely aware of her travel-worn dress and hastily pinned hair.
She had hoped to refresh herself at an inn before arriving, but Davies's invitation had been specific: come directly to the hall, where rooms would be prepared.
Sebastian dismounted from his horse and moved to stand beside her, his presence a solid reassurance at her shoulder.
"Remember," he said quietly. "Let him underestimate you."
"I remember."
The front doors swung open, and a figure emerged to greet them. Harriet had expected a butler, but instead found herself face to face with Lord Davies himself.