Unshaken

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Harriet didn’t have long to mope over her situation, because a few hours later her friend, Lady Ariane arrived. Her father was hosting a ball, the night before Christmas Eve, when her betrothal was supposed to be announced, and Harriet had invited Ariane to stay. Mainly for moral support.

The two young women had been friends for a few years and had had their first season together in May.

Ariane had found her Prince Charming. She had accepted an offer from George Fogel, Viscount Kingsley.

He is the Earl of Southerby’s eldest son and heir, and Ariane loved him with all her heart.

It was an excellent match. Their wedding would be in the spring.

As Harriet waited for Ariane to ascend the stairs, she could not help the small stab of envy.

Why couldn’t Blade have swept her off her feet this season too?

The ladies had often giggled about having a double wedding.

But Harriet’s dreams of a love-filled marriage with Blade were now burning into ash.

The ladies embraced on the top step, and Harriet quickly pulled her friend toward the drawing room.

Her younger sister, Diane, was in the village gathering last minute Christmas items. Her father, brothers, and Blade were nowhere to be seen, and she wanted to take the opportunity to talk with Ariane before the men in her life descended.

It was times like this, since her mother died, that she felt the vast hole in her life.

She didn’t realize how much she craved female company.

Oh, she had Diane, but she was a few years younger than Harriet and until she matured, the conversations shared between them were not very enlightening as to affairs of the heart.

The ladies had barely taken their seats when Ariane asked, “So, were you right? Is His Grace here to ask for your hand in marriage?”

Harriet smiled and pressed her finger to her lips while pointedly staring at the servant who was just leaving, having deposited a tea tray on the small table between them. She waited until the door was firmly closed before admitting, “Yes.”

Ariane’s eyebrows rose. “I see. You don’t seem to be overjoyed. Did he tell you why he didn’t court you this past season?”

“Oh, I asked,” and she handed her friend a nice strong cup of tea. “He didn’t however give me an answer.” She waited a moment before adding, “But I found a list he’d made.” She held out the parchment and waited while Ariane put down her teacup with quite a bang on the table.

“A list? What sort of list?”

“Just read it.”

Ariane read out loud

The Duke’s Must Haves…

She must be of good breeding

She should not be too tall, or too short

She should be obedient

She must be intelligent

She must have an even temperament

“Goodness, gracious. The man has the affront to make a list after spending the entire season chasing… Whoops.” Ariane’s eyes opened wide.

“Chasing? Who was he chasing?”

Ariane threw the list on the table and sighed.

“I wasn’t going to tell you if you had accepted Blade’s offer.

He was chasing Lady Jane Bennett all season.

She’s Princess Charlotte’s lady-in-waiting.

The rumor was he was completely smitten with her, but she was promised to Lord Stanthorpe. They married last month.”

“And I thought he was after Princess Charlotte.” Harriet slapped her thigh.

“Now I understand why he’s made a list. He lost his first choice, so he is looking for someone to fulfil a role.

It would seem he’s decided on how he’ll select a woman to become his wife, and I fit the categories on his list.” A pain started in her stomach and traveled up her chest, almost choking her.

“Well, he may be prepared to settle, but I’m not.

I won’t be picked because I fit a list of cold, rational requirements.

I won’t let my father wrap me up and deliver me as a Christmas gift. ”

“The question you need to ask before you say no to his offer is, could you picture yourself married to anyone else? Maybe he could come to love you. You’re very loveable you know.”

She wanted to return Ariane’s kind smile, but her pain filled jealousy of Lady Jane saw her mouth firm. Her friend had a point. Could she make a man like Blade love her? Was it worth taking the risk? If she turned him down, could she marry another while he filled her heart?

“Why couldn’t he have fallen in love with me this season?”

Ariane shrugged her shoulders. “Funny that his list says must be intelligent. Lady Jane never struck me as being very clever. Beautiful—but not clever.”

Before she could reply, the door burst open and Trello and Blade entered.

Oh my, Blade was freshly bathed with his jet-black hair not completely dry.

One wisp had curled high on his chiseled cheek bone, somehow softening his usually stern countenance.

Why did her heart have to beat faster the minute Blade approached?

She was sure it beat so loud he’d hear it. Luckily, her brother took the lead.

“Lady Ariane. How lovely to see you.” And Trello bowed over her hand. “Harriet, I told Blade you’d accompany him on a trip into the village tomorrow.”

Blade flashed her one of his devastating smiles as he greeted Ariane and then said to her. “If it is not too much trouble?”

Ariane spoke before she could reply. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, but Lady Harriet and I will be engaged all day. We have the tenant’s and their children arriving to decorate the tree.”

Blade and Trello noted the coldness in Ariane’s voice, for they both threw a glance at each other.

Trello grimaced. “My apologies. It slipped my mind. It will be a very busy day for you.”

“I’d like to help. What could we men do?”

The offer surprised Harriet. Usually her father and brothers left the day to her and Diane since her mother’s death.

They greeted the tenants and then disappeared as fast as foxes when the hunt bugle blew.

“I would be much obliged if you could oversee the tree positioning.

We are having two. One in the drawing room and one in the ballroom.

The tenants' children will help decorate the one in the ballroom. The servants will decorate the one in the drawing room later with their special supper.”

“Have they been cut yet?” Blade asked while Trello looked glum at having been roped in to help.

“No. I was hoping Trello would organize the men early tomorrow morning, so the tree was ready to decorate at three.” She had already organized for the men to go early in the morning, but she wanted her brother to take more interest in the day.

He would be the Marquis one day and these tenants would be his to care for.

Blade turned to Trello. “Right. We will oversee the tree cutting, delivery and erecting. Let’s make a list of what we will need.”

Under her breath Ariane whispered, “Yes. I’ve heard you make lists for everything.”

What had Lady Ariane said about his lists?

What was the ladies’ sudden fascination with lists?

His lists. He had to admit he often made lists.

They ordered his thoughts, and with all his responsibilities he often forgot things if they were not written down.

His mind always raced with ideas and plans.

“Has the stand been set up in the ballroom,” he heard Trello ask Harriet.

“Of course.”

Trello sat up, rubbing his hands together. “I don’t mind being in an empty ballroom. It’s the society ballrooms with muddling mother’s I avoid. All that dancing. I lost weight this season from all the dancing. Didn’t you, Blade?”

Harriet looked directly at him. “I don’t recall seeing His Grace on the dance floor much over the season. In fact, I barely saw him at all.”

Ariane nodded. “I agree. The only time I remember seeing you, Your Grace, was whenever Lady Jane was present.”

Silence engulfed the room until Ariane added, “Lord Punting will certainly be happy to fill your dance card, Harriet. He’s still pining for you, if rumors are to be believed.”

Blade stilled his hands, not allowing them to form fists at his side.

Lord Punting could pine all he liked. Harriet was his.

And blast Lady Ariane. Now he understood why he was receiving such a frosty reception.

The two young ladies seated in this room had heard the rumors.

He needed a private word with Harriet, to put her straight.

“Lord Punting. Goodness. He’s a mere second son. Not good enough for a Marquis’s daughter. He’s likely after you to lift his social standing.”

Blade’s shoulders relaxed at Trello’s words. It seemed Lord Hearthstone would never allow Harriet to marry such a man.

Harriet’s face had turned an ugly shade of red, and Lady Ariane looked horrified.

“I’m sure your beauty blinded Lord Punting, Lady Harriet.” Blade could afford to be gracious. His offer had the backing of the men who guided Harriet.

But his words merely saw her eyes narrow and her nostrils flare.

Just then a plaintive meow broke the air and a grey bundle of fur came flying past his legs. The cat jumped into Harriet’s outstretched arms and Blade took a step backwards. He envied the cat as she cuddled it to her bosom.

“Harriet, I reminded you to keep Sir Lancelot in your room. You know how cats make Blade’s face swell up and break into hives,” Trello all but barked.

“I’m sure Harriet didn’t do it on purpose,” but her stare didn’t confirm that thought.

Really? He understood she was probably feeling out of sorts at his sudden interest in marriage without even courting her.

It was arrogant of him to expect her to fall into his arms within a day.

He just needed time alone with her to explain.

Last Christmas he’d almost proposed, and he was sure Harriet would have accepted.

But he thought to let her shine in her first season this year.

Little did he know he’d be engaged elsewhere and unable to court her properly.

Just then a sneeze tracked up his nose, and he knew it was time to take his leave. It was him or the cat. “I shall see you all at dinner.” With that, he bowed and left the room, Trello following behind.

“I hate to say this Blade, but somehow you have really angered Harriet.” He clapped Blade on his back. “Let’s go play some billiards and drink brandy while you explain to me what you’ve done to upset my sister.”

He had a suspicion he knew exactly what she was angry about. She was angry that he’d ignored her most of the season, and she believed the rumors about him and Lady Jane, and yet he was turning up at Christmas expecting her to agree to a match.

He would talk to her tonight whether or not she liked it.

Getting her alone was the issue. He could hardly visit her room.

The cat would see him break out in hives or worse, sometimes he could barely breathe.

He would have to get her to come to him.

No easy feat when she was avoiding him and it was too cold at night to venture outside.