In the Arms of an Earl

by Rose Pearson

  “Does that not mean that his determination to get what he wants will only grow steadily, so that he then turns to things other than mere words?” Harmonia asked, expressing the worry in her heart. “He is not the man I thought him, Amelia.”

  There was a short silence which told Harmonia that her sister was deep in thought. She waited until Amelia had found the right words to say, seeing her sister sigh heavily.

  “You may be right,” Amelia admitted, after a time. “I am trying to reassure you, I suppose, but the truth is that Luke is not the man any of us knew any longer. I am not able to predict what he will do next which is why father is right to ensure we take a footman. Although I do not believe that his intimidation should frighten us to the point that we refuse to step foot outside!”

  “No, indeed,” Harmonia agreed, her tension still steadily rising. “He wants that to happen, I know, but I will not allow it to do so.”

  “Then you are quite content to go to the recital tonight, and then Lady Watlington’s ball tomorrow evening?”

  “Yes, of course,” Harmonia declared, her mind suddenly filled with none other than Lord Newford. “I know that Newford will be attending, and I would not miss dancing with him for the world.”

  Amelia laughed, and the worry Harmonia felt began to dissipate. “Good,” she replied, as they approached the milliners. “Now, come along and let us choose a nice new ribbon for your bonnet since you are to go walking with Lord Newford this afternoon.”

  Harmonia chuckled. “I do not think that Lord Newford would notice,” she laughed, as Amelia began to coo over the new ribbons in the window. “Although I think I shall certainly purchase myself a few new novels.”

  Pausing for a moment, Amelia regarded Harmonia thoughtfully. “Then why do you not go into the bookshop? You may take the footman with you and I shall keep the maid.”

  The smile faded from Harmonia’s face.

  “You will be quite safe, I am sure of it,” Amelia continued, softly. “It is early enough that Luke will not be about and, even if he is, you have the footman and the bookshop owner. Neither of them will allow any harm to come to you, I know it.”

  Trying to draw courage from her sister’s words, Harmonia lifted her chin and drew in one long breath. “Yes, you are quite right. I need not live in fear.”

  “But be careful to keep the footman with you at all times,” Amelia said, firmly. “You are not to so much as go to the back of the shop without him.”

  “I quite understand, my lady,” the footman interjected, with a short bow. “I will not allow Lady Harmonia out of my sight.”

  “Very good,” Amelia replied, putting one hand on Harmonia’s arm. “Now, you need not do this if you do not wish it. Come and join me in the milliners for a time, and then we will go to the bookshop together if that is what you prefer.”

  Thinking quickly, Harmonia shook her head. The shops were right next to one another and Amelia was right to say that she need not be afraid of Luke, not when she had the footman by her.

  “No, I shall be quite all right,” she said, with a quick smile. “I will see you presently.”

  “I will not be long,” Amelia promised, pressing Harmonia’s hand lightly before stepping away and making her way into the bookshop.

  Tension coiled in Harmonia’s belly, but she ignored it as best she could and walked into the bookshop, hearing the bell ringing as she opened the door.

  “Good morning, my lady,” the shopkeeper exclaimed, looking more than delighted to see Harmonia again, for she had frequented this bookshop plenty of times before. “I have some new titles just to your left, should you be looking for something original.”

  “I thank you,” Harmonia replied, quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace that had settled over the shop. “I shall browse for a few minutes, and my sister will be joining me soon once she has finished at the milliners.”

  The shopkeeper inclined his head. “But of course.”

  Making her way down to the end of the shop, the footman in tow, Harmonia felt her heart slowly settle into a more peaceful beat, her fear and worry draining away. Amelia was quite right. Here, she would be more than safe.

  A few minutes passed, and Harmonia lost herself in the first pages of a new novel, her eyes hungrily eating up the words as she read. It was only the chime of the bell that brought her back to her world and she gave herself a slight shake, closing the book and handing it to the footman so that she might purchase it once she had finished looking at the other titles.

  “My lady.”

  The footman’s voice was low and urgent and, as Harmonia looked up, she saw none other than Luke leaning heavily on the shopkeeper’s desk. He was swaying slightly, clearly in his cups, and rather disheveled. Harmonia shrank back from him, her eyes fixed on his form as she stepped into the shadows.

  “We should leave, my lady,” the footman murmured, as he followed her behind a shelf of books. “The door is just there.”

  Harmonia shook her head, finding that she could not bring herself to move. To leave the shop would be to alert Luke to her presence and she did not so much as want to exchange even a few words with him.

  “Amelia will be here soon,” she whispered, as the footman drew near her. “Then we shall leave together.”

  She could tell from the frown on the footman’s face that he was not altogether happy with the situation, but she could not find the strength to walk past him. The fact that he had been drinking only added to her fright, worried that the liquor might push him to act even more inappropriately than before.

  The bell rang again and, much to her relief, Amelia stepped inside. She exclaimed aloud as she saw Luke, who turned around at once.

  “Amelia!” he exclaimed, swaying heavily. “Whatever are you doing here?”

  Amelia shot Harmonia a warning glance, telling her to stay exactly where she was. “Looking for a book,” she said, lifting her chin. “Do excuse me, Luke.”

  His arm shot out and caught hers, leaning forward to look into Amelia’s eyes. “Does that mean Harmonia is here?”

  The footman moved away from Harmonia at once, pulling Luke away from her – but that left Harmonia entirely alone. When Luke stumbled away from Amelia, his eyes landed on her and, with a triumphant shout, he began to lumber towards her.

  Harmonia found herself frozen to the spot, her heart thumping in fright as he caught her around the shoulders, pushing her back against the wall.

  “I’ll have you as my wife,” he leered, his putrid breath brushing across her face. “Your refusal means nothing to me.”

  Trying to push him away, Harmonia screamed as his mouth sought hers, his head lowering. The footman, Amelia, the maid and the bookshop keeper all arrived at once, hauling Luke away as he scrabbled to keep hold of Harmonia. Pulling herself back, Harmonia heard her dress tear as Luke fell backwards but, thankfully, he released his hold.

  “Get him out of here!” Amelia shouted, her face red with fury. “How dare you assault her, Luke! Whatever has become of you!”

  As the footman and shopkeeper physically encouraged Luke towards the door, Amelia hurriedly rushed to Harmonia’s side, looking into her face with concern.

  “I am all right,” Harmonia whispered, trying to get her breath back. “Truly, Amelia.”

  Amelia shook her head, her face still a bright shade of red. “When the footman came to aid me, Luke gave us both such a shove that it took us a few moments to right ourselves. Are you sure you are unhurt?”

  “My dress only,” Harmonia replied, glancing down at the large tear in her sleeve.

  Throwing off her shawl, Amelia wrapped it around Harmonia’s shoulders, her lips muttering frustrations over what Harmonia had experienced, despite their best efforts to keep her safe.

  “We should go home at once,” she declared, firmly. “Come now, I am quite sure the footman will have ensured that Luke is long gone.”

  Feeling herself begin to tremble, Harmonia drew in a few steadying breaths, telling hersel
f that everything was now quite all right. Going outside, however, felt like stepping into the very mouth of danger, and it took a few encouragements from Amelia to get to her to do so.

  The footman and bookshop keeper were waiting for them.

  “In a hackney, heading for home, my lady,” the footman said, bowing low. “I am sorry that I did not manage to stop him soon enough, Lady Harmonia.”

  “It is not your fault,” Harmonia said at once, swallowing her fear and trying to smile. “You did all that you could. Thank you both for your assistance.”

  The shopkeeper nodded and offered to walk them back to their father’s house but, seeing that Luke was now heading in the opposite direction as well as the fact that the streets were, by now, a little busier, Amelia thanked him but refused. She looped her arm though Harmonia’s and, walking quickly, they began to make their way back home.

  “If you like, we can hail a hackney,” Amelia said softly, as they walked together. “I would not like you to faint half way there.”

  Harmonia shook her head. “No, I think I would like to walk, Amelia. The fright was great, I own, but I think walking will help me shake off some of my shock.”

  Amelia nodded, her face grave. “We shall have to tell papa the moment we get home,” she said, shaking her head. “I am afraid that he will want to call Luke out – which, of course, is to be expected but –”

  “We cannot allow him to do so,” Harmonia interrupted, decisively. “He is much too senior for that and it could easily cause a scandal.”

  A smile crossed Amelia’s face as she hugged Amelia for a moment. “You are stronger than I give you credit for, little sister,” she said, quietly. “I am very proud of you for handling all this with such decorum and grace, especially after what must have been a terrible fright.”

  Harmonia drew in a long breath and managed a smile. “Thank you, Amelia. I just hope that father will not be too difficult to convince. Then, of course, I must inform Lord Newford, which may mean another lot of convincing! I do not want either of them to duel, not on my account.”

  “And yet you may find Lord Newford less easy to convince than papa,” Amelia murmured, with a knowing look. “After all, gentlemen are known to do great things when they consider themselves to be in love.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  By the time Amelia and Harmonia returned home and changed, it was already close to luncheon. Harmonia felt quite drained as she made her way to the dining room, bolstered only by the thought that her afternoon was to be spent with Lord Newford. She was suddenly filled with an urgency to be in his company, glad that there were only a few more hours before he would call.

  “Papa,” she said, greeting him as she took her place at the table. “Have you had an enjoyable morning?”

  “Very much so,” her father smiled, looking quite pleased with himself. “I have accomplished a very great deal, I must say. Mostly business matters you understand, and a great deal of paperwork, but it is all in hand now.”

  “Very good,” Amelia murmured, as she poured herself and Harmonia some tea. “There is something that we need to tell you, papa.”

  “Oh?”

  A frown jumped onto his face at once, his happy expression evaporating. Amelia nodded towards Harmonia and, as her father turned his gaze towards her, Harmonia haltingly began to explain what had happened.

  As she spoke, the Duke’s face turned from horror to sheer fury, to the point that he rose from the table and thumped it hard with his fist.

  “I will leave at once!” he exclaimed, going to ring the bell. “Luke will learn that there are consequences for treating my daughters with such disdain!”

  “No, papa!” Harmonia exclaimed, getting up from her chair and coming around to him. “You must not. I know that his behavior is completely without excuse, but I do not think that calling him out will do anything other than cause a scandal.”

  “Besides,” Amelia added, quietly. “I am quite sure that Lord Newford will not be long in declaring himself, papa. Why not write a strongly worded letter to Luke, telling him that you are aware of what he has done and the kind of gentleman he has become to warn him that if there are any more such displays from him there will be dire consequences? I am sure that will be enough to have him think twice.”

  To Harmonia’s relief, the Duke sagged a little and looked at them both, one after the other. “But I am not defending your honor if I do nothing,” he said, slowly, with a pained expression on his face. “I would have him know that his behavior will not be tolerated!”

  “Then do so,” Harmonia replied, quickly, “but do it in the way Amelia suggests. You do not need to call him out, papa, for I fear that would only bring more sadness and pain. Please, do not do such a thing. I would not have you injure yourself for all the world, not even in defense of my honor.” She gave him a half smile as he drew in a long breath. “Besides, there were no others within the bookshop except the owner himself. No-one knows what occurred, no-one saw. There is no need to worry about a scandal.”

  His shoulders slumped, and from what Harmonia guessed to be against his better judgement, the Duke slowly returned to his seat. It was clear that her father wanted nothing more than to defend her, but she was relieved that they had managed to convince him not to call Luke out. Her heart was comforted by her father’s desire to do something to show Luke she was not to be treated so. Silently she vowed not to be separated from her sister again when they next left the house, not even with a footman by her side.

  “Thank you, papa,” Amelia said, softly. “I do believe that this is the best course of action. Luke will soon be run out of town since it is now clear that almost everyone is aware of his insolvency. He is not welcome to any society events, and I am sure will very soon be forced to leave London.”

  “I suppose that is true,” came the quiet response.

  Harmonia shot her sister a concerned look as she took her seat at the table once more, seeing her father somewhat despondent.

  Amelia made to say more, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. The butler entered with a note, but instead of handing it to her father, gave it directly to Harmonia.

  “It was to be given to you urgently,” the butler said, quietly. “I believe the man who brought it is still waiting for your response, my lady.”

  Harmonia stared at the butler for a moment, the slice of toast dropping from her fingers. Something coiled in her belly, sending frissons of fear through her limbs.

  “Open it,” Amelia urged, looking up at the butler. “Send the man here, will you?”

  “Of course,” the butler intoned, hurrying from the room as Harmonia broke the seal on the letter. Her hand trembled as she recognized the Newford seal, her eyes lifting to her father for a moment before she began to read aloud.

  “‘I have been shot but not severely injured. I write to you to beg you to be on your guard. I need not guess who it was for I had an altercation with Lord Darnsley late last night. Write to me at once so I know you are safe. Yours, Newford.’”

  Hearing Amelia’s gasp, Harmonia lifted her eyes to her sister and stared at her in horror. Could this truly have been Luke’s doing?

  “He was rather drunk when we encountered him this morning,” Amelia breathed, a look of understanding in her eye. “Did he perhaps feel triumphant in his success?”

  “You must write back to Newford at once, Harmonia,” her father said firmly, breaking the sudden silence. “This very moment, in fact. Tell him that you are well, and that you will not leave this house until Luke is dealt with. Do not delay. This is not to be borne! Luke will have to pay for what he has done!” He got up from the table and rang the bell. The butler appeared at once and the Duke sent him off to prepare the carriage.

  “I must go to him.”

  Her whisper travelled all around the room, bringing with it a long, lengthy silence. The Duke said nothing and nor did Amelia, each clearly stunned by what they had heard.

  “I must go to him at once,” Harm
onia said again, trying to get to her feet. “Oh, papa! He has been shot! What if he is close to death?”

  Her father harrumphed and shook his head with a determined look in his eye. “No, Harmonia, you will remain here. I shall go. It is time for me to act instead of remaining passively at home. I will not have you in danger again.”

  “You cannot, papa!” Amelia exclaimed, now also rising from her chair. “What if Luke….”

  “Luke will do no harm to me,” the Duke said, firmly. “It is you I am concerned for, particularly after this morning’s events. And Harmonia, it is clear to me that Lord Newford is not at death’s door, else he would not have been able to write with such a steady and consistent hand.”

  Harmonia swallowed the lump in her throat, battling against the tears that formed in her eyes. “Do you truly think that Luke was the one to do this, papa?”

  Her father’s face remained grim. “I would be lying if I did not say that yes, I believe he could have been the one to do it. It appears that we are all finally seeing the kind of man Luke is, for he has been able to hide his true self from us all for some time. I will not have you go near him, Harmonia, do you understand? You are to remain here with your sister, and you are not to leave this house until I discover Luke’s whereabouts.”

  It took every bit of Harmonia’s willpower not to argue with her father, although her heart broke asunder within her.

  “Harmonia,” Amelia said, quietly. “Go and write to Lord Newford. Papa can take the letter with him.”

  The Duke nodded, compassion written on his face. “I understand how difficult this must be for you Harmonia, but I cannot allow you to leave, even if it is to travel with me to see Lord Newford. I could not bear it if something were to happen to you. Write to Lord Newford and assure him that you are well. I will explain what happened with Luke this morning and why you will be remaining at home until he is found. Take heart, my dear. I am sure Lord Newford will come here the very moment he is able.”