He chuckled. “I have no doubt you will. That is one of the reasons I wish to marry you, for you to excel at everything to which you put your mind. Plus, you are quite pretty.”
His smile was mischievous, and she adored him all the more. Perhaps it was wrong for a woman to tell the man how much she cared for him, but she could no longer wait. Now was a perfect time. Therefore, she gathered her courage and…
“Forgive me, but I must go,” he said. “I have a meeting with an associate in an hour, and if I do not leave now, I may be frightfully late.”
“Oh,” Harmony replied, regret filling her. “Will I see you again soon?”
“Not soon enough,” he whispered, sending shivers down her spine. How she wished they were not standing in front of her house, for she wanted to kiss him again!
As the carriage trundled away, Lydia came to stand beside her. “That look he has for you,” she said, “every woman desires. You’re fortunate to have found such a man.”
“Indeed, I am,” Harmony said with a sigh that made her sound like a lovestruck mule. And perhaps she was.
They entered the house to find the butler waiting. “Your parents wish to speak to you in the drawing room immediately,” he said as he took her wrap and hat.
“Thank you, Halbert,” Harmony said. What could her parents want with her? Had she been gone too long?
“Should I accompany you?” Lydia whispered. “If they’re angry with you, I can take the blame whatever it is.”
Harmony smiled. “No, there is no need for that. Now that Nathaniel and I are officially courting, they cannot put a stop to it. They may not be angry at all. Even so, I am an adult now.” She turned and patted her friend’s arm. “But thank you.”
Lydia reddened. “Of course, Miss. I’m always here for you no matter what happens.”
Nearing the drawing room, Harmony heard several voices. Upon entering, she found her aunt Esther, sister of her mother, and her uncle Roger sitting on the sofa, their daughter, Miriam, between them. Although she had never voiced as much to anyone besides Lydia, Harmony did not like her cousin much. Miriam was of the same age as Harmony but always seemed to feel the need to prove herself better at every turn. Quite unlikeable to be sure.
“My wonderful daughter,” her mother said. “Stop gawking and come and sit.”
Harmony nodded, but her shock did not dissipate. Never had her mother referred to her as her ‘wonderful daughter’ before. More often she used less complimentary terms — unless she wanted to impress someone such as Lord Miller. Yet, this was her aunt and uncle, not some rich titled man they hoped to use to enter the world of the aristocracy. Shock was replaced by curiosity. What were her parents up to?
As Harmony sat in one of the empty chairs, her father came to stand behind her, resting his hand on the back of the chair. Curiouser and curiouser.
“I was just telling your aunt and uncle about the wonderful news of your courtship,” her father said. “And the joy you have brought your mother and me.” Harmony forced a smile before he continued speaking to her aunt and uncle. “Perhaps Miriam will do the same for you one day.”
Uncle Roger snorted. “If Miriam were to be invited to a party, perhaps she could.” His gaze fell on Harmony, making her shift in her seat. It was not only Miriam she disliked, and for good reason. “After all, you have been a guest in our home many times. Such a small favor is certainly not too much to ask, is it?”
To Harmony’s surprise, her mother spoke for her. “I would not worry, Roger. There will be plenty of invitations to go around. I am sure Harmony sees Miriam is invited to them all. Of course, Walter and I must be the first to be invited.”
“Mother,” Harmony said, “I do not believe…”
“I have always dreamed of attending fine parties given by the ton,” her mother interrupted with a dreamy sigh. “And to think how wealthy this man is! Surely, he owns many homes. Do you think he will gift us one as part of his endowment?”
Harmony closed her eyes and clenched her fists in her skirts. Not a single word was spoken as to what this courtship meant to her, not outside the financial gain she would have. And she cared nothing for that!
Her uncle laughed. “The way you talk, you would think they were getting married,” he said. “Do you honestly believe that will happen?”
“I have no doubt,” her father replied. “Lambert wants no one else besides my daughter. After all, no woman compares to her, do they, my dear?”
Miriam scowled from her place between her parents but said nothing, but Harmony had no doubt the woman’s thoughts. She was jealous! Yet, Harmony did not want her jealousy. She may not like the girl, but she did not hate her. They were cousins, after all.
“The day the man asks for her hand in marriage, I shall give it to him. And then Harmony will accept, will you not, my dear? Then we will join all those other wonderful people of the ton. Just think…”
Harmony turned her attention to the window. Beyond was a new home, a home where those who lived there thought of one another and did not put themselves first. There, she would sing if she chose to do so, greet her husband with a kiss whenever she pleased, and be loved for who she was.
And as everyone discussed what they would gain from a union between her and Nathaniel, she prayed that day would arrive soon. For then she would be free.
Chapter Thirteen
The last four days seemed an eternity since Nathaniel last saw Harmony. With each passing breath, he wondered if he could survive without her. It was as if the woman brought about sunshine on a dark day. Her presence, her smile, her voice, everything about her caused his love for her to swell with each passing day.
It was because of this love for her that he sent two letters — one to her father and the other to his mother. The letter to Mr. Radcliffe was merely a request to call to discuss a topic of mutual interest, and the letter to his mother was to announce that he, Nathaniel, would be bringing guests. It was also due to the love he had for Harmony that he had sent word to Lord Miller requesting a meeting, which the man accepted without hesitation.
Now standing before the home of the Earl of Parrington, Nathaniel mused as to whether he had been given correct directions. The house was large, to be sure, but it was in great need of repair. The stone walls were in need of a thorough cleaning as well as a new coat of paint, and the thatch on the roof was the worse for wear.
Yet, Nathaniel was not here to criticize the man’s home, nor should he judge him for it. Lord Miller’s financial concerns were not Nathaniel’s. Rather, his reason for calling was regarding Harmony. They had much to thrash out concerning that young lady.
As he approached the house, Lord Miller himself stepped out onto the portico in a dark blue, well-tailored coat and a crisp white shirt that belied the dilapidated setting. He would have been considered a handsome man, Nathaniel was certain, but let some other woman besides Harmony be taken in by him. She belonged to Nathaniel!
“Lambert,” the man said with a grin, “it is not often an earl accepts the request of a baron. I do hope you realize how gracious my acceptance was.”
Although anger rose in Nathaniel, he restrained it. It would do no good to explode and undo everything before he had even begun. “I am not here to play games,” he said dryly.
“Neither am I,” the earl said. Nathaniel did not miss that he was not invited into the house. Instead, Lord Miller stepped off the portico to stand before Nathaniel. “I assume you are here to speak about Harmony.”
How dare he use her name in such a familiar manner! Nathaniel thought. Aloud, he said, “I am here to speak to you about what you did to her, and I warn you…”
The man threw his head back and laughed, cutting short Nathaniel’s words. “You warn me? Warn me of what, boy?”
It took everything in Nathaniel not to strike the fool. “If you ever accost her again, whether it be with a kiss or even a light tap on her arm, you will be met with trouble like you have never endured before.”
Lord Miller pursed his lips, his eyes full of fire. Would he instead strike Nathaniel? Perhaps he should have taken the first shot, after all. He had no doubt he would win in a bout of fisticuffs with the man.
To Nathaniel’s astonishment, however, Lord Miller replied, “You are right, of course. And allow me to assure you that it will not happen again. Do you believe me?” His tone was amicable, and if Nathaniel was not aware of what he was capable, he would have fallen for his false benevolence. But he refused to be taken in by this scoundrel.
“When a man uses his hands against a woman, his word means nothing,” Nathaniel spat. “Do not take my threat lightly.”
“Of course I would not,” the earl replied. “Come, walk with me.” He extended his hand to indicate a cobbled path that led around the side of the house.
Nathaniel eyed the man. Did he plan to jump him once they were outside of view?
“Do not be frightened. I mean you no harm.”
Affronted, Nathaniel lifted his chin. “You do not frighten me. I simply do not believe you are taking my warning seriously. However, this is your home, so please, lead the way.”
“Of course, I am taking you seriously,” the other man said as he made his way past a tall line of hedges. “I believe you would seek vengeance on me if I were to even speak to the young lady again. Against her will, that is.”
As the path once again opened up to a small garden, Nathaniel noticed a large pockmarked tree with an arrow protruding from its trunk.
“I am an archer,” Lord Miller said as he pulled the arrow from the tree. “And I always hit my mark.” He handed the projectile to Nathaniel. “Do you see the quality of this arrow? It is a very lucky arrow, for it won me a kiss.”
Nathaniel’s anger boiled over, and he tossed the arrow aside. “She informed you that she had made no agreement to that wager. If you ever do such a thing again…”
“Yes, yes, you will cause me a great deal of trouble,” the earl said as if bored. “I would recommend you not repeat yourself, boy. I am well aware you have warned me.” He narrowed his eyes. “I put a great deal of effort into earning the approval of that fool Radcliffe in order to earn Harmony’s hand in marriage. Then you come along and steal her from me.”
“She is not an object to be stolen,” Nathaniel said. “The decision was hers and hers alone.”
Lord Miller bent down to gather the arrow Nathaniel had tossed to the ground. “Whatever intentions you have for Harmony makes no difference. The girl will return to me, I promise you that.”
Nathaniel reached out and grasped the lapels of the earl’s coat. “You may see me as a boy, but heed me well. Leave Harmony be. Do not even look her way if she passes you in the street.”
“If you mean to strike me, do so now or remove your hand.”
For a moment, Nathaniel did consider striking the man. He would deserve nothing less! Yet, what would Harmony think if he resolved his problems with violence? No, he was a gentleman, and he would prove to this oaf that he was.
“You are not worth the effort it would take,” Nathaniel said, pushing the earl away and brushing his hands together as if he had dirtied them.
“You may believe your wealth guarantees success with Harmony, but I can assure you it does not.” He shoved the arrow back into the tree trunk. “I am like this arrow — I strike true.” He returned his glare to Nathaniel. “Have a care it does not come your way.”
Though veiled, the threat was clear enough in intention. Lord Miller was madder than Nathaniel could have ever realized, which made him a man with whom no one could reason.
“Good day to you,” Nathaniel said before turning on his heel and heading back down the path. Then a new thought came to mind, and he turned back to face the earl. “Harmony and her parents will join me at Scarlett Hall soon, the home where she will live one day, far away from you.”
Lord Miller scowled, and Nathaniel felt a moment of victory as he walked away. As he reviewed their conversation, he wondered if the man would follow through on his threat to shoot him with the arrow. With that thought in mind, he glanced over his shoulder just in case, for who knew of what a madman was capable?
Chapter Fourteen
The week had crawled at a snail’s pace as Harmony waited for the evening Nathaniel would call. Her father had received a letter several days earlier requesting to speak to her father, which was given a reply in the form of an invitation to dinner. If it had been she who had written the invitation, she would have scheduled the meal for the following day, but her father abhorred meetings that did not allow him to fully prepare. Or so he said.
Dinner had passed pleasantly enough, but Harmony had picked at her food the entire meal. What she wanted was to get to the point in the evening where Nathaniel would ask for her hand and invite her family to Scarlett Hall, but propriety had to be followed. Propriety certainly had a way of being an utter inconvenience as far as she was concerned!
“The lamb was excellent, madam,” Nathaniel said as they took their ease in the drawing room. “I would dare say it was the finest I have ever eaten.”
Harmony’s mother’s cheeks went pink. “Your words honor me, my lord,” she replied. “I am sure you are accustomed to the choicest cuts, so to hear you enjoyed mine is humbling.” Harmony nearly choked on her coffee. Her mother spoke as if she did the actual cooking!
“The mint sauce is lovely,” Harmony added. “It brings out the flavor quite well.”
Her mother shot her a warning glare. Nathaniel must have seen it for he said, “I could not agree with you more. The sauce does indeed bring out the flavor.”
Harmony gave him a small grateful smile. To be married to this man would be so wonderful!
Her father set his fork on his plate. “I must say,” he said as he wiped his hands on the tablecloth, “I cannot recall having a more pleasant guest than you, my lord. And the night is still young.”
“Thank you, sir,” Nathaniel replied. “I appreciate the invitation, to be sure, but if you do not mind, I would like to speak to you concerning a request I have.”
“Why, of course!” her father replied. He stood. “Would you are another drink?”
Nathaniel looked down at his glass, which had not emptied as of yet. “I believe I am fine for now, thank you.”
“Then, please, continued,” her father replied as he walked over to the decanters.
“In two weeks, I wish to go see my mother in Rumsbury,” Nathaniel said. “I would like to invite you and your family to join me.”
“What a wonderful invitation!” her father said with more enthusiasm than was necessary. Harmony wanted to hide in a corner. “We would gladly accept.”
“But what of Lucy?” her mother asked. “Her birthday party is coming up soon, and we do not want to miss that.”
Her father scowled and ignored her mother. “As I said, we heartily accept your invitation, my lord. How long is this journey? And for how long will you stay? I must ascertain whether or not I have any appointments I must reschedule.”
As the men discussed the schedule, Harmony’s mind began to drift. Once they arrived at Scarlett Hall, Nathaniel would announce their engagement. It would only be a matter of months before they were married. The thought excited her, but she could not help but worry, as well. Was she indeed making the right decision?
She realized how ridiculous that thought was when Nathaniel looked at her, his eyes twinkling. Nothing about Nathaniel could be wrong.
“I must purchase a new dress,” she heard her mother say. “After all, I am sure you will wish to entertain those of the ton who live in the area.”
Her father slapped his hand on the arm of the chair as he sat back down. “Yes, of course! Perhaps we can speak to a few of your acquaintances about a few business propositions, as well.”
Although there were many things about Nathaniel Harmony admired, how he maintained his calm demeanor and spoke with authority sent her heart fluttering. Oh, how she loved this man!
“As to entertaining, I am uncertain,” he replied without dropping his smile. “I would like to offer my home as a place to take your leisure and would never consider putting pressure on you. And as to business, I am sure we will find time to speak of such things.”
With a nod as if he had not expected anything else, her father said, “My thoughts exactly.” Harmony stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She was certain Nathaniel had not missed her father’s attempt to use him for his own gain. How she hated his greed!
Nathaniel glanced toward the window. “I was thinking. The weather is so lovely, and the sun has yet to set. Might Miss Harmony and I take a stroll through your lovely gardens?”
Her father’s face reddened slightly, but he replied, “Yes, of course.” Clearly he had hoped to preside over the entire evening, but he rang the bell kept on the side table and, when a maid entered, said, “Go fetch Lydia.” The maid curtsied and hurried away.
Nathaniel stood, and her father joined him. He lowered his voice, but Harmony could hear his words. “You are welcome to call on my daughter anytime you wish, or walk our gardens whenever you desire.” He clapped Nathaniel on the back. “There is no request you can make that I will deny.”
His smile made Harmony’s stomach roil. Only a week ago, her parents wanted nothing to do with Nathaniel, and now they treated him as if he were the Prince Regent. Although Nathaniel was well aware of their intentions, Harmony could not help but feel a sense of shame at their behavior. Soon, however, she would be far away from here, and although it was sad to say, she was thankful it would be far away from her parents.
***
They strolled at a leisurely pace, the sun just over the horizon rewarding them with a pink and blue sunset. Harmony was curious as to why Nathaniel wished to walk but thus far had remained quiet.
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