“Somerset?” the lieutenant inquired, persevering in his quest to discover the location of her family home. What did he intend to do, rattle off each and every county until her answer changed to the affirmative?
And she had thought a discussion about the weather would be dull.
He must have taken Harriett’s silence as a no because he continued on. “Dorset?”
She sighed impatiently. “I come from Danbury in Essex, sir.”
“Ah,” he grinned triumphantly—a look she was growing very tired of seeing. “That was not so difficult to reveal, was it? Though I must say that Essex is quite a ways from here.”
“Not as far as Cornwall.”
“No, but as I was most recently in London, my journey did not take as long as yours. Did you come for the wedding?”
The man brimmed with questions, didn’t he? Harriett was beginning to feel quite harassed. “Yes.”
“But the wedding has come and gone and still you are here.”
Which was her concern, not his. She glanced up at him. “My, you are observant when you choose to be, Lieutenant. Did you learn that skill in the navy?”
“No, actually. It is a talent I have always possessed. As a lad, I would climb various trees on our property and… well, observe, I suppose you could say. I found it most interesting and enlightening. The apple trees were a particular favorite as they had the best branches for climbing.”
Harriett found this aspect of his character surprising. “Pray forgive me, sir, but I cannot picture you doing anything as reflective as pondering over various observations.”
“No?” he asked. “What can you picture me doing?”
Harriett searched the path ahead, wondering where the Biddings had run off to, and shrugged. “I don’t know. Picking apples and lobbing them at unsuspecting passersby, perhaps?”
He threw back his head and laughed. The sound warmed Harriett’s body clear through, pleasing and vexing her simultaneously. Good heavens. Why could she not be immune to this one and only charm he possessed? She ought to be plotting her retaliation on him, not blushing like a silly, impressionable girl. This would not do at all.
“I may or may not have lobbed an apple a time or two in my life,” he said, “but I will never say for certain.”
They walked under a stone archway to find a happily situated meadow stretching out before them. The Biddings waited on a bench under a willow with leafless branches draping charmingly over the top of them. Their small terrier played at their feet, sniffing, scurrying, and straying only so far as its leash would allow.
The lieutenant slowed his steps and touched Harriett’s arm lightly, just above her elbow. A smattering of goose bumps sprinkled across her arm, and she had to fight the instinct to jerk away.
“You are not still upset about the mud incident, are you?” he asked. “I assure you I did not splatter you on purpose, and I did apologize.”
“You did no such thing. You merely apologized for not apologizing, which is entirely different. You seem to take great delight in needling me, sir, and I cannot understand why.”
“Can you not?” His mustache tightened as he smiled, and his eyes glimmered with humor. “Perhaps it’s because you are entirely too fun to tease, Lady Harriett. But if it will appease your sensibilities, pray forgive me for racing down the lane with such abandon, for not seeing your lovely face amidst all the pines, and for causing you to suffer as a result.”
It was a pretty apology, Harriett had to concede, but it lacked sincerity. “When one must extract an apology, sir, it most certainly does not appease. I cannot fathom how you might think it would.”
He studied her for a moment. “Tell me, Lady Harriett, how am I to earn your forgiveness if you will not accept belated apologies?”
“Perhaps you should have thought about that before now.”
He glanced down at his boots and smiled, only to lift his gaze to hers a moment later. “‘To err is human; to forgive, divine,’ wouldn’t you agree?” he asked, quoting Alexander Pope.
Years ago, when Harriett had first read those words, they had moved her. Now, they did not budge her in the least. The lieutenant was merely making excuses for his bad behavior and attempting to guilt her into overlooking them.
“I have never claimed to be divine, sir, nor do I hold out any hope of reaching such a state of perfection in my lifetime.”
He chuckled again. “Did you not just claim to come from Heaven?”
Harriett had no answer to this, other than to clamp her mouth shut and scowl. The man was impossible. However did he and Jonathan come to be friends?
“I must say, Lady Harriett, that I have never met anyone quite so… interesting as you.”
Interesting? Harriett frowned, wondering at his meaning. One might say the Biddings were an
“interesting” couple or that Lady Monroe threw the most “interesting” parties. If that was the way he meant the word, Harriett had to disagree. She was not at all interesting. She was annoyed. Again. How many more days did he plan to stay?
“Sir, are you certain you wish to keep your parents waiting in London? They must be missing you dreadfully.”
The lowering sun reflected in his eyes, lightening them to an almost sky blue mixed with darker hues. Harriett had never seen such color in a person’s eyes before, and she found the sight captivating.
“How kind of you to be concerned for my parents’ welfare, but I can assure you that they will survive my absence for another fortnight.”
“Fortnight?” she blurted.
“Or longer,” he added, dusting off one sleeve as though oblivious to the upset he had just caused.
Harriett pierced him with a sharp look—not that he noticed it as he was still concerned with the state of his sleeve. “Exactly how long do you plan to remain in Askern, Lieutenant Jamison?”
His attention finally returned to her, and he leaned in close enough that she felt his breath on her cheek. “As long as it takes for me to gain your forgiveness.”
She bristled. “That could take forever, sir.”
“Hence the reason I said ‘or longer.’” He grinned and she frowned. Then he peered over her head to a spot in the distance and added, “Mrs. Bidding is watching us with great interest. Perhaps we should continue this conversation at a later date.”
Without waiting for a response or even offering her his arm, he clasped his hands behind his back and began sauntering towards the Biddings, no doubt expecting her to rush to catch up. Harriett stayed exactly where she was and watched him go, not surprised by such behavior. He was Lieutenant Jamison, after all, a man who’d already tried her patience more than any other man had ever done. She drew in a deep breath and admired the views on either side of her before meandering along a sedate pace, noting that he’d finally stopped to wait for her.
How thoughtful of him, she thought sourly. They walked the remaining few steps to the Biddings in silence.
“I hope you enjoyed your stroll,” said Mrs. Bidding.
“Yes, it was most… enlightening,” said Harriett, more than ready for a little comeuppance. “I learned that Lieutenant Jamison is vastly fond of terriers and that yours has quite captured his heart. He was even hoping you might allow him to take it for a jaunt about the yard. He finds the sweet creature so very entertaining, you see, not to mention adorable with that darling bow in her hair.”
Mr. Bidding smiled like a proud parent and held the leash out to the lieutenant. “Of course you may take Pippin for a turn about the meadow. She has far too healthy an appetite, and if you hadn’t already noticed, her middle is growing very round indeed. You would be doing us a favor by exercising her further, sir, and we are happy to oblige.”
It was the most Harriett had ever heard Mr. Bidding speak. She would have stared at him in astonishment if not for her desire to see the lieutenant’s reaction.
He looked at the leash as though it were a maggot, and Harriett had to stifle a burst of laughter. After a moment, he
lowered his pride enough to accept the offering.
“How kind you are, Mr. Bidding. I assume you would like to join me, Lady Harriett, as you are vastly fond of Pippin as well?”
Harriett sank down on a bench next to Mrs. Bidding and waved her hand in a dismissive fashion. “You go ahead, sir. After this morning’s long walk, I find myself quite exhausted.”
His jaw clenched momentarily, but ever the gentleman around the Biddings, he nodded and walked slowly away, pulling the dog along behind him. Harriett delighted in the sight, though she wished the lieutenant was not quite so handsome. Her eyes lingered on his broad shoulders and the masculine lines of his arms and legs. She could not help but admire the snug fit of his coat or the confident way he carried himself.
Mrs. Bidding leaned towards Harriett and lowered her voice slightly. “Lieutenant Jamison reminds me of Mr. Bidding back in the day. He was once just as dashing and quite stole my heart.” She patted her husband’s knee. “Isn’t that right, my love?”
“Quite so.” Mr. Bidding didn’t seem to hear his wife’s praise. He was smiling at Pippin’s antics, looking every inch the indulgent parent. Harriett found him almost as amusing as the lieutenant.
She couldn’t help but wonder if the Biddings would continue to sing Lieutenant Jamison’s praises once they discovered he did not adore their dog at all. Had they noticed the tightness in his jaw, the stiff set to his shoulders, and his obvious displeasure at being made to carry out such a feminine chore? Harriett certainly had. She noticed all of it, including the glare the lieutenant cast in her direction.
A genuine smile lifted her lips. Darling, darling Pippin. What a wonderful, accommodating creature. Harriett had always been fond of animals, but little Pippin was quickly earning a special place in her heart.
“I do so admire military men,” Mrs. Bidding said, eyeing Harriett with a look that could only be described as knowing. “I believe you are of the same mind, are you not? I can see it in your eyes that you find the lieutenant charming. Did you enjoy your tête-à-tête? I had hoped that if Mr. Bidding and I allowed you some time to converse privately, you’d become as thick as thieves in no time.”
Harriett’s amusement dwindled in an instant. Mrs. Bidding believed her to be charmed? How was that even possible? Either Harriett had marvelous acting skills, which was certainly not the case, or her hostess was in dire need of a pair of spectacles. How else could she mistake expressions of annoyance, frustration, and displeasure for adoration?
Mrs. Bidding patted Harriett’s knee in a comforting gesture. “Not to worry, my dear. I shall never let on that I know. A woman must be allowed her secrets, hmm?”
Harriett blinked at Mrs. Bidding in surprise. According to Colin and Lucy, the woman was quite the stickler for propriety and frowned on any and all scandalous behavior. Surely, she would never intentionally leave Harriett alone with such a man as Lieutenant Jamison?
Yet she’d done precisely that.
Harriett swallowed, choosing her words carefully. “I must say, Mrs. Bidding, that you do not strike me as the matchmaking sort.”
The woman smiled as though she knew something Harriett didn’t. “I do not usually condone meddling, my dear, but I could not help but notice how well suited the two of you seem.”
Well suited? Certainly not! Colin and Lucy were well suited, as were Jonathan and Cora. Harriett and the lieutenant, on the other hand, were very much ill suited. How was that not obvious?
Mrs. Bidding persevered. “Come now, Lady Harriett, and confess. You think him quite captivating.”
At a loss as to how to respond, Harriett clamped her mouth shut. Something told her that Mrs. Bidding would not appreciate being informed that her judgment of the lieutenant was far from sound, but Harriett could not pretend to agree that she thought him captivating either. But how to nip such matchmaking attempts in the bud without injuring the woman’s pride?
Harriett finally settled on, “I'm afraid I don't know the lieutenant well enough to comment on whether or not he is deserving of such admiration.”
Mrs. Bidding gave Harriett’s knee another pat. “Never fear, my dear. I will be sure to arrange more opportunities for you to further your acquaintance with the good lieutenant. If the weather is as pleasing tomorrow, I was thinking a picnic would be just the thing.”
Harriett gave a slight nod, all the while wondering what plans Mrs. Bidding had in store for her and Lieutenant Jamison. Did she intend to place Harriett in one compromising situation after another until the man had no choice but to offer for her? Not that he ever would as that would require him to behave as a gentleman.
What was Mrs. Bidding thinking to encourage such a match? Perhaps military men cast some sort of enchantment over her. It was the only explanation.
Harriett nearly sighed in relief when the lieutenant started back in their direction with Pippen in tow. As she watched him approach, she again wondered what the Biddings would think of the lieutenant if they knew he was not fond of their precious dog. Would Mrs. Bidding continue to play the matchmaker, or would such a revelation dissuade her?
Hmm…
As Lieutenant Jamison handed Pippin’s leash back to Mr. Bidding, Harriett eyed her hostess. “I agree that a picnic would be just the thing, Mrs. Bidding, but you really ought to bring Pippin along for the lieutenant’s sake. He would undoubtedly be saddened if his new little admirer was left behind, don’t you think?”
“Of course we’ll bring Pippin,” inserted Mr. Bidding as though the matter had already been decided. “She must get her exercise.”
“Yes,” agreed his wife. “It goes without saying that wherever we go, Pippin goes.”
Wonderful, thought Harriett, leaning forward to give the creature a gentle rub. Perhaps if Pippin continued to accompany them, Lieutenant Jamison’s dislike of the creature would be made obvious, his true colors shown, and Mrs. Bidding would come to the realization on her own that this particular military man was not nearly as charming or dashing as her husband had been.
Harriett pulled herself up and looked at the lieutenant. “Did you enjoy your walk, sir?”
He took a seat on the bench beside her and, in a diplomatic fashion, answered, “Not nearly as much as I enjoyed my walk with you, Lady Harriett.”
His words seemed to please Mrs. Bidding immensely, much to Harriett’s displeasure.
“Lady Harriett and I were only just discussing the enchantments of picnics, sir,” said Mrs. Bidding. “Do say that you will come with us on the morrow.”
“Yes, do,” added Harriett. “Only think of how fun it will be to escort Pippin around.”
Lieutenant Jamison’s eyes narrowed for a brief spell before he mustered a smile. “Of course I will come, Mrs. Bidding. A picnic with Pippin sounds… delightful.”
From the corner of her eye, Harriett watched the Biddings to gauge their reaction. Surely they detected the sarcasm in his answer. It was impossible to miss. But Mr. Bidding was once again occupied with his beloved dog while his wife continued to appear as pleased as punch.
Good heavens. Whatever enchantment Lieutenant Jamison had cast over the woman was strong indeed. But no matter. With Pippin’s help, it was only a matter of time before any and all enchantments wore off.
MUCH TO HARRIETT’S DELIGHT, she awoke to sunny skies, chirping birds, and the luscious smell of dew-kissed earth. With a smile on her lips, she sipped her chocolate, ate a bite of toast, and turned herself over to the ministrations of her maid, Tabby.
The two women were similar in age, height, and build, but where Harriett had fair skin and dark curls, Tabby had a great many freckles and hair so blonde it almost looked white. The maid obviously spent a great deal of time out of doors without a bonnet. Most would consider her complexion shockingly neglected, but Harriett found it refreshing. Tabby had been blessed with a sunny disposition, and it was apparent that she placed greater importance on living a joyful life than attempting perfection. It was an enviable perspective, to be sure, not that Harri
ett was ready to give up her bonnets just yet.
“Aren’t you in a chipper mood, this mornin’, milady,” commented Tabby as she arranged Harriett’s hair in a lovely knot on the crown of her head. Her quick smile never failed to lift Harriett’s spirits on the rare occasions they dipped low, such as this past week. Too many days of solitude would have landed her squarely in the doldrums if not for Tabby’s cheerfulness.
“Yes,” agreed Harriett. “I believe the change in weather has done me good.”
Through the looking glass, Tabby grinned coyly. “From what’s bein’ said below stairs, I would’ve thought a certain lieutenant was the reason.”
Harriett suddenly felt much less chipper. “What, exactly, is being said below stairs?”
Not easily cowed, Tabby replied pertly, “Nothin’ to wipe that smile from your face, milady. Only that an ‘andsome lieutenant came callin’ yesterday, and if an ‘andsome man were ter call on me, I’d be a sight more chipper too.”
Harriett didn’t think it possible that her maid could get any more cheerful, but she couldn’t deny that Tabby was correct in a way. Harriett’s reflection in the mirror did look happier. Her eyes sparkled brighter, her complexion appeared more radiant, and her countenance glowed with increased energy. Tabby would have to be blind not to notice the change, although she’d given credit to the wrong source.
“’Tis only the sunny skies, Tabby. Nothing more.”
“Aye, Miss.” Tabby’s eyes continued to dance merrily as though she did not believe a word Harriett said. The maid was a romantic at heart, and if she wanted to believe a handsome lieutenant had come to sweep her mistress off her feet, she would believe it despite Harriett’s claims to the contrary. Besides, the lieutenant was responsible for her elevated spirits in a way. She very much looked forward to watching him take a turn about the park with a certain small dog on a leash. Perhaps she should commission a sweater to be made for Pippin—a pink one to match its bow. Wouldn’t the lieutenant enjoy that.
The Pursuit of Lady Harriett (Tanglewood Book 3) Page 3