Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“Your eyes are blazing fire,” Ariane said as she tightened her grip on Harriet’s arm as they strolled around the ballroom filled with most of the local gentry who had known her all her life. Many kept coming up and giving her sly smiles.
“I’m so angry. Everyone is expecting a marriage announcement tonight. Trello took Blade out last night on purpose. I don’t know what the men are up to, but if Blade thinks I’ll say yes to his offer just because it’s in front of a crowd, he’s mad.”
The ballroom was so hot and with the first sprinkling of snow today, the doors to the terrace remained solidly closed.
If it were not for Ariane by her side, she would have found it difficult to breathe through her panic.
In two hours, it would be midnight and her father had already berated her about making a fool of him and the scandal that refusing Blade’s offer would bring upon her and the family.
Everyone invited knew there was to be an announcement, so what would they think when there was none.
Her father had given her until midnight to come to her senses.
Luckily Blade had placated her father. She did not know what he had said, but her father looked at her with a warm smile that screamed, ‘I’m up to something’.
However, the guests had already suspected something was not as it should be because Blade and Trello had ensconced themselves in the card room and had barely shown their faces.
She clenched her fists. Trello had promised her they would dance with the young ladies in attendance.
They had left her to fend off the gossips and face the music alone. She would never forgive them.
“May I have this dance, my beautiful lady.” Kingsley, Ariane’s fiancé whispered in her friend’s ear, and envy and joy in equal measure flooded Harriet’s heart.
“Go on, Ariane. I need a moment to myself, anyway.”
“Are you sure?
She smiled away her nerves. “Absolutely. Go and enjoy the dancing with this handsome man.”
Kingsley beamed her a smile and a wink. As she watched them take to the floor, she had never seen a couple more suited to each other and so in love. The love was in each touch, each smile, and she was thrilled for her friend. This is what she wanted too. She wanted this with Blade.
Needing space away from prying eyes, Harriet made her way through the supper room looking as if she was heading towards the retiring room, when she darted left and made her way to her haven, the library.
As soon as she entered her mind calmed. The silence and dimming fire, which made the room cooler than the ballroom, was just what she desired.
She moved to stand at the large terrace windows, but the clouds covered the moon and she could see nothing but the snowflakes hitting the glass.
She could also feel the cold coming through, so she moved to stoke the fire before finding her favorite chaise lounge.
She heard her slippers plop to the floor as she laid down.
If anyone looked through the open door, the back of the settee would hide her.
She just needed time to gather her pride before someone found her and dragged her back to face the music at midnight.
She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there and perhaps she had dozed, but the sound of the library door closing jarred her awake.
She hoped it wasn’t an amorous couple looking for privacy.
She peeked over the back and to her surprise she saw it was Lord Fallon.
He wasn’t on her guest list. He was leaning his back against the door, his cravat undone, and the smile he gave sent a knot of nervousness through her.
“Lady Harriet, at last I’ve found you.”
She rose to her feet. “I didn’t realize I was lost,” she tried to make it sound like a joke, but Lord Fallon didn’t laugh.
Her inner senses told her to move away as he strode closer. All too soon she found herself backed up against the glass doors out to the terrace. But Lord Fallon kept coming.
“A little birdie tells me you may decline Lord Bladestow’s offer. To say you have surprised me is an understatement. Pleasantly surprised, I might add. I thought I may have been too late.”
Too late? For what? He didn’t stop until his chest was almost touching her breasts, and the doors to the outside were marking her back as she pushed against them, trying to put distance between them.
For the first time she wished he was as tall as Blade so she didn’t have to look him in the eye, because what she saw there frightened her. Desperation.
“I’m expected back in the ballroom. Please let me pass.”
A finger ran down her cheek, and she turned her head away. His touch made her skin crawl. “I don’t think so. You see, you are the answer to my predicament.”
At her frown, he laughed. “So innocent, but not for long. If I ruin you, your father is still likely to allow our marriage to stand because he won’t want his eldest daughter ruined.
It dampens the chances of the second daughter making a fine match.
Your dowry will be forthcoming because he won’t want you to suffer in poverty like I and my family are suffering. ”
Fear almost made her knees buckle, but she refused to let him see it. “My brother will kill you if you touch me.”
He gripped her chin in his hand. “Most likely. So best we depart for Gretna Green before that can happen. So convenient that from York it’s only a few days ride.”
“Not in this weather.”
He shrugged. “But the fresh snow will cover our tracks. So shall we?”
On the words ‘shall we’ the door behind her flew open, and before she could scream, he pushed her out into the frigid night air, his grip on her arm vice like.
She bit his hand to scream, but he shoved his cravat into her mouth.
The cold hit her like a fist and she knew she’d freeze to death if he hadn’t brought wraps for her, carriage or no carriage.
The only thing calming her was he needed her alive—at least until he had his money.
That thought and the chill seemed to chase away her fear.
She had to escape before he got her in any conveyance he may have standing by.
She’d played scared and helpless until the perfect opportunity to escape came her way.
She refused to think about what would happen to her if she did not escape.
Trello would find her. She just prayed it was before Lord Fallon ruined her.
Blade wandered out to the ballroom, excitement raging inside him.
In less than an hour he would get down on one knee and pledge his love for her, to all those present and he prayed she would not throw it in his face.
But she deserved to have a public declaration of his love, or how else would she believe him?
What had Harriet told him? To be brave. He’d never considered himself a coward, but her words had the ring of truth to them.
Well, he’d show her he could be brave too, and vulnerable, and so in love with her it hurt.
He was no longer scared to open his heart. Having it ripped to shreds once before was no excuse. He’d been foolish, and he’d made a mistake in picking a woman who was empty inside. Harriet wasn’t empty. She embraced life and cared for nothing but family and friends.
Harriet had let herself be vulnerable. She’d told him what was in her heart, with no thought to her pride.
She’d told the truth and demanded he face his feelings for her.
She wanted love—wanted his love, and by God, she deserved a man who loved her.
She deserved his love and he would freely give it to her.
The idea of her marrying any other man set his teeth on edge. He rubbed his chest. He wanted her and no one else.
Soon he would know if he had left his declaration too late. He hoped it didn’t spoil Christmas for everyone. He hoped that they would remember this Christmas forever. For the right reasons. For what could be a better present than the gift of love.
“Your Grace, have you seen Harriet?” He looked at Ariane as she stood before him, chewing her bottom lip and wringing her hands. “I haven’t seen her for almost an hour. Kingsley and I have looked everywhere.”
The back of Blade’s neck prickled. His gaze swept the room. She was not here. “She can’t have just disappeared.”
Just then Trello arrived. “Funny thing. Lord Punting just told me he’d seen Lord Fallon here. But I was sure we did not invite him.”
Blade’s blood turned to ice in his veins. “Fetch your brother. We have to search the house.” He smiled reassuringly at Ariane while inside he trembled. “I’m sure she’s simply taking some time to herself,” but he could see Ariane didn’t believe him.
Blocks of ice. Her feet were like blocks of ice, and she could not feel her toes.
He must have parked the carriage a long way away from the house, as they had been walking for some time.
Maybe he hadn’t expected the snow to fall so heavily.
She knew exactly where they were. They were near the hot pools.
If she could slip away she could hide in the maze of rocks until someone noticed she was gone.
She knew her way around the rocky outcrop and she could easily lose him.
Hopefully, the steam would save her from freezing to death.
She heard a horse neigh and understood the carriage was likely hidden within the copse of trees up ahead.
It was now or never. Fallon stumbled over a rock and his grip lessened.
With one almighty elbow to his ribs and a giant shove, she broke free and ran as fast as she could over the snowy ground.
It was rough going because she could not feel her feet.
She lifted her skirts and her legs flew over the ground.
Thank God Lord Fallon was short, for her strides matched his, but fear gave her wings and she could run faster.
She made the safety of the rocks and skirted around to a place in the rocks that gave her several escape routes.
Listening to his bumblings as he hunted for her, she hoped the heated steam would warm her.
Her teeth were chattering, and she wondered if he could hear them.
She’d have to play hide and seek with Lord Fallon until rescued.
To run across open land back towards the house would give him the chance to catch her out in the open.
The cold would soon overtake her. Already her body felt numb.
She stayed hidden and listened as Fallon stumbled around cursing her and his money issues. Why wouldn’t he just give up and leave her alone? Then she realized he was dressed in a warm jacket and boots. But if she stayed here any longer, she’d faint from the cold. Already her limbs were trembling.
She rounded another rock and looked towards the house.
She’d have to risk it. If she delayed any longer, she wouldn’t make it.
She waited until he was on the other side of the rocks and made a dash for it.
She no longer cared about the cold, or her numb limbs.
She felt no pain as she stumbled over the hard ground, her slippers almost shredded.
She had one major fall and when she stood up her hand caught her dress and it ripped down the front, her bosom barely contained by her shift under her corset.
To her relief, he still hadn’t realized that she’d made a run for it. And if she didn’t die of cold, she’d make it back to the house before he could catch her.