by Rose Pearson
Harmonia smiled at her sister, her heart lifting in her chest. “I do hope so,” she murmured, softly, realizing that the thought of being married to Lord Newford was, in fact, a rather agreeable one. She made to comment further, only for the door to open and Luke to walk in.
He had eyes only for her, ignoring Amelia completely as he came towards Harmonia and bowed low over her hand, his lips brushing the back of it. Harmonia, suppressing a shudder, tugged her hand away and waited for him to greet Amelia which, rather begrudgingly, he eventually managed.
“My dear Harmonia, you look beautiful this afternoon,” he said, as he sat down. “I do hope it is my presence that has brought such a joyful countenance.”
Harmonia felt her stomach tighten as she lifted her chin, trying to steady her resolve. “Actually, Luke, it is not.”
“I was very glad to receive your invitation,” he continued, apparently ignoring her comment entirely. “It means a great deal to me that you asked me to join you.” He glanced pointedly at Amelia who was sitting close by. “Although I do not think that we require your presence, Amelia.”
A prickle of unease ran down Harmonia’s spine. It was not Luke’s place to order either herself or her sister about and she disliked that he assumed he could do such a thing.
“Luke,” she said, firmly, hearing Amelia’s sigh of exasperation. “The reason I have asked you to come here this afternoon is so that we might discuss our ongoing acquaintance.”
“Oh?” he asked, sitting forward with a curious gleam in his eye. “I am glad to hear it. What is it you wish to say?”
Harmonia swallowed hard, keeping her gaze firmly on her cousin. “Luke, I want you to stop pursuing me.”
The smile faded from his face, the gleam in his eye disappearing almost at once.
“What do you mean?” he said, slowly. “I spoke to your father already about courting you. He appeared to be quite glad of the idea, thinking that you would be happy and settled with me. You do not want to disappoint him, do you, Harmonia?”
“I would not be disappointing him,” Harmonia replied at once, as a spark of anger lit in her soul. “Fortunately, I know my father better than you and he has made things perfectly clear. I am not to allow your court if I do not wish it and I am telling you now, plainly, that I do not wish for you to court me, Luke.”
His eyes narrowed, his posture growing tense. Harmonia could almost feel the anger coming from him, his frustration and irritation with her choice evident in every sinew of his being.
“What are you talking about, Harmonia?” he asked, as though speaking to a very small child. “You know that our marriage would be the best thing for both of us.”
“No, Luke, it would not be the best thing for me,” she said, firmly, her courage bolstered by Amelia’s presence. “I do not know your reasons for being so determined to have me as your bride, but I can assure you that I do not feel the same way. I do not have the same determination, the same expectation. There will be no future for us, not when I have the right to make my own choice.”
“We are practically engaged!” he exclaimed, his face flushing red. “You cannot turn your back on me now, you cannot cry off!”
Harmonia let out a long, slow breath, determined to keep her temper in the face of his anger and absurdity. “I am not crying off from anything, Luke. We are not engaged. We have never been engaged.”
He shot to his feet, one finger outstretched and shaking at her. “There has always been an understanding between us, which you knew full well about. You cannot simply decide that such a thing is to be at an end.”
“Sit down, Luke.”
Amelia’s words were cold and crisp, spoken loudly so that they filled the room. Harmonia looked over at her sister, grateful for her assistance, and found that she was practically glaring at Luke, her hands planted on her hips. Clearly, she was not impressed with his behavior thus far.
Luke, his jaw clenched, slowly took his seat, his eyes flashing. “This is not to be borne,” he said, slowly, his gaze returning to Harmonia. “I will not allow you to turn back from what we had arranged.”
Harmonia shook her head, realizing that, yet again, he was not taking her seriously. “Luke, I have tried to make my feelings on the matter clear for some time, and you have simply continued on your merry way, believing that you will have me as your bride. I am telling you now that this will never happen. I will never be your bride. I will never consent to be your wife. You have no hold over me. You do not own me, you do not have any claim to me. This pursuit must stop.”
Luke was shaking visibly, his anger burning into a furious fire. Why he was so desperate to marry her, Harmonia could not say, realizing that Luke had never given a reason for his intention to have her as his wife. She had always assumed it was so that they could align their families, that he might gain more respectability for himself, but now, looking at him, she was not so sure.
“I will speak to your father,” he hissed, leaning forward in his chair with such vengeance in his eyes that Harmonia felt herself quite frightened. “You are not to be allowed to do such a thing!”
Amelia got to her feet and came to stand by Harmonia, who rose at once. “Luke, you have no right to speak to our father, and I can assure you that even if you were to speak to him, he would say much the same as Harmonia and me,” Amelia said, calmly. “Our father wants what is best for his daughters, and that means that Harmonia is free to choose her own suitors. She has rejected you, and there is nothing for you to do but accept it.”
Luke got to his feet with a great, deliberate slowness, making Harmonia’s heart quicken its pace with fright. He was more intimidating now than she had ever seen him before, trying to use everything he could to get her to change her mind – even if he had to threaten her to do it.
“You have chosen someone else, have you?” he whispered, threateningly. “Who is he?”
“Luke,” Amelia said again, before Harmonia could speak. “Harmonia and her choices are none of your business. Need I say it to you again? You have no more business here.”
“You are mine,” Luke grated, ignoring Amelia and keeping his gaze on Harmonia. “You will never belong to anyone but me.”
Shaking off Amelia’s hand, Harmonia stepped forward and looked up at Luke directly, ignoring the pounding of her heart. She was filled with a great sense of strength, her courage suddenly bursting to life as she looked up at his hate filled eyes.
“Get out of this house at once,” she said, firmly, not backing down an inch as his mouth fell open in shock. “You are no longer welcome here, and I know my father will say so also once he discovers what you have said and what you have tried to do. I will not be intimidated into doing what you wish. I know my own mind and I know my own heart. You mean nothing to me, Luke. Your manner and speech disgust me, your clinginess overpowers me. I will have nothing more to do with you.” She drew in a deep breath, seeing the slow flush of crimson climb up Luke’s face. “Now, you will leave this house at once, else I shall send for the footman and butler to assist you out onto the street.” She tipped her head and looked up at him. “I do not think that would do much good for your reputation.”
He stared at her, the seconds ticking by with an infinitesimal slowness. Harmonia held her breath, refusing to look anywhere other than directly into his eyes.
He snarled, made to reach for her, only for Amelia to step forward and link arms with her sister.
“Go,” she said, firmly. “Now.”
Without another word, Luke turned on his heel and stormed towards the door, anger oozing from his every pore. He was clearly furious, but Harmonia did not care about that. Instead, as the door shut behind him, she felt a huge sense of relief and a small amount of pride that she had managed to make her position clear without allowing him to intimidate her.
“My goodness,” Amelia breathed, slumping into a chair behind her. “That was…. surprisingly difficult.”
“Thank you for being here with me,” Harmonia said
quietly. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Amelia smiled as Harmonia went to ring the bell for tea.
“You know,” Amelia said, quietly. “I think you could have done it yourself, Harmonia. I’ve never seen that side of you before. You’re stronger than you think.”
Harmonia sat down and shook her head. “I just hope what I said made it absolutely clear to Luke. I didn’t expect him to be so angry.”
Sighing, Amelia held her gaze. “Nor did I. Let’s make sure to talk to father, just in case Luke decides to speak to him like he said he would.”
Thinking that this was a good idea, Harmonia nodded. “I’m just glad father will listen to me, even if Luke will not.”
Amelia chuckled. “That, he will. How different it is for you compared to me! Back then, father was pushing me in almost every direction in the hope I’d get married very quickly. But now, his worries appear to have diminished.”
“And he is not as ill as he once thought,” Harmonia finished, with a glad smile. “I am sure that, from now on, things will be much calmer for him – and for me.”
“Lord Newford on your mind?” Amelia teased, but Harmonia simply shrugged.
“I will not pretend that I have not been thinking of him very often, Amelia,” she admitted. “I am already hoping for a future with him. I cannot see myself with another.”
The smile on Amelia’s face turned warm, her eyes filled with happiness for her youngest sister. “Then I wish you all the happiness in the world, Harmonia,” she said softly, just as the tea tray arrived.
Chapter Eight
“You look remarkably cheerful this evening, if I may say so.”
Phillip looked over at his friend, Lord Benjamin Marshall, and grinned. “Mayhap I have something to be cheerful about.”
“Oh?”
Phillip gave a slight shrug, inciting his friend’s interest all the more.
“This is to do with that young lady, is it not?” Lord Marshall asked, with a chuckle. “I know you too well, you see? I remember that you were asking after her at that ball some weeks ago.”
“It was not the ball but the theatre,” Phillip corrected him, his grin widening. “Lady Harmonia?”
Lord Marshall’s face grew astonished. “Never say that you have made progress there!”
“I have called upon her and taken a visit to the bookshop. But why are you surprised?” Phillip asked, with a slight frown. “Did you think I would not?”
“No, tis not that,” Lord Marshall replied quickly. “It is more than I thought she was already spoken for. That cousin of hers. The rumors have been all around town.”
“Well,” Phillip said, firmly. “As you know, I am not inclined to listen to rumors. I have spoken to the lady herself and she has made it very clear that her cousin is not in any way her suitor or the like.”
Lord Marshall slapped Phillip hard on the back, chuckling aloud. “Well, well, well. So, you have inserted yourself in his place, have you?”
“I have not taken his place,” Phillip protested at once, as Lord Marshall continued to laugh. “He was never betrothed to her!”
“Well, regardless, I am glad for you,” Lord Marshall said, with a broad smile. “Now, to Whites, I think. A celebratory drink.”
“You are not to speak of what I have disclosed to you, Marshall,” Phillip said, warningly. “I do not want all and sundry to know my dealings, although I am aware they will become common knowledge soon enough.”
Lord Marshall grinned. “Yes, it will. Particularly if you continue to go out walking all sorts of places and the like.”
Phillip could feel nothing but happiness at the prospect, already delighted with how open Lady Harmonia appeared to be towards him. She had practically glowed with delight when he had given her the invitation to the ball, which was only one day away.
The feelings building within him were nothing like he had ever felt before. There was a happiness, a contentment that filled him and made him almost urgent in his desire to see her again. The ball could not come quickly enough.
Whites was already quite loud, filled with patrons from the beau monde. Given that it was late afternoon, this was not much of a surprise and, despite the noise, Phillip had to admit to himself that, at least no-one would hear their conversation. He did not want to start any kind of rumor about himself and Lady Harmonia, not until he had been able to ask her father if he might court her – which he had every intention of doing once the ball was over.
“I’ll get us a table, shall I?”
Phillip made to turn around, only for a large man to come hurtling towards himself and Lord Marshall. For a moment, Phillip thought he might have to catch him, such was the speed of his stumbling steps, but, thankfully, the man managed to right himself just before he reached them.
“Lord Marshall!” the man exclaimed, slapping Lord Marshall firmly on the back. “What the devil are you doing here?”
Phillip saw that Lord Marshall’s face was not exactly delighted upon seeing the man, although he did make a concerted effort to look pleased.
“Baron Roth,” Lord Marshall replied, with a small bow. “How good to see you again. May I introduce my friend, the Earl of Newford.” He gestured to Phillip and, immediately, the baron nodded towards him.
“How do you do, Lord Roth?” Phillip murmured, inclining his head. “Are you a friend of Lord Marshall’s?”
“A very dear friend,” the baron exclaimed. “A very dear friend, although I must be at least twenty years your elder.”
Lord Marshall chuckled. “But then you do always have the best stories, Baron.”
“And I have one for you now, if you would like to hear it,” Lord Roth replied, with a broad wink. “Come, sit with me and I shall tell you all.”
He began to make his way towards the back of Whites and, after an apologetic murmur to Phillip, Lord Marshall began to follow Lord Roth. Phillip joined them, finding Baron Roth to be loud, flamboyant and quite irritating, but yet realizing that it would be more than rude to turn his back on the man after only being introduced. Besides, he and Lord Marshall could spend a few minutes with the man, listen to his stories, share a drink and then excuse themselves. It need not be for long.
“Capital, capital!” Baron Roth exclaimed, as Phillip came to join them both. “I am always glad to meet another acquaintance of Lord Marshall’s.”
“Lord Newford is in town for the Season,” Lord Marshall explained, handing Phillip his drink. “And what of you, Baron? Why are you here?”
The baron chuckled. “I have a little business to take care of and, as you know, I simply adore the local gossip. I cannot help but come down here at the height of the Season and feed on any juicy pieces of gossip I can find.”
There was a short silence, with the baron looking at them both expectantly.
“And what have you discovered?” Lord Marshall asked, resigned to the fact that he was meant to ask Baron Roth just that.
The baron rubbed his hands. “Well, I have heard that the Duke of Westbrook is back in town, in order to put his youngest daughter through the Season – and that she has already found herself a suitor!”
Phillip felt his heart freeze in his chest, starting at the baron with a barely hidden horror.
“Oh?” Lord Marshall said, shooting a quick glance towards Phillip. “And who is this?”
“Her cousin,” the baron exclaimed, his eyes bright. “But, there is more to that man than meets the eye!”
Heartily confused by what the baron was saying, Phillip closed his eyes and rubbed one hand across his forehead. “Her cousin?” he repeated, suddenly desperate to know what the baron meant. “Do you mean Lord Luke Darnsley?”
“The very same!” the baron cried, looking at Phillip in astonishment. “You have met the man?”
“I – I know of him,” Phillip replied, leaning forward in his seat and looking at the baron in the eye. “The question is, what do you know of him?”
The baron chuckled, rubbin
g his hands again. “Another one for the gossip, are you? Well, I shall not keep you in suspense. The man is the lady’s suitor, by all accounts, and appears to be quite besotted with her. However,” he continued, leaning in a little conspiratorially, “I have discovered that he is not the man he seems.”
Not quite sure what to make of this, Phillip frowned hard.
“In what way?” Lord Marshall interrupted, a look of concern on his face. “I know the lady, you see, and I would be most upset if she were entering into a union under false pretenses.”
Phillip looked at his friend sharply, but Lord Marshall simply gave him a small nod. Phillip, realizing that he meant to ensure that Phillip was not the only one asking pertinent questions about the man, understood what his friend was trying to do and turned back to face the baron.
Baron Roth looked more than delighted that they appeared so interested. “Well, I have heard that Lord Darnsley has debts up to his eyes, and that he has no money with which to pay them!”
“Debts?” Phillip repeated. “Debts from what?”
“From gambling, of course!” the baron replied with a chuckle, as though Phillip should have guessed that this was the reason behind it all. “That man has not managed to play a good hand since the Season began!”
“I see,” Phillip murmured, his heart sinking into his boots. Did Lady Harmonia know of this?
“And the women of the night are not cheap either,” the baron said, with a slight sniff. “He finds them cheap sometimes but, more often than not, it is the better establishments Lord Darnsley goes to.”
There was a short pause. Phillip felt too astonished to speak, staring at Lord Marshall who was looking at the baron with a frown.
“And you are sure this is Lord Darnsley you are speaking of?” Lord Marshall asked, frowning.
“Of course, it is!” the baron exclaimed, loudly. “I’m not a man for idle gossip, I tell you. I want only the best.”
