“I hope that expression you are wearing disappears before we arrive at the party. I have been looking forward to showing off the woman I am courting to my friends, and a sour look will spoil the evening, making me quite angry. And trust me, you do not want to make me angry.”
“I’m afraid the lamb she had for dinner may have upset her stomach,” Lydia said. “It tends to not sit well with her whenever she eats it.”
Lord Miller turned his glare on Lydia. “It is about time you remember your place,” he said in a low growl. “You are a chaperon at the moment and nothing more. Do not speak to me again unless I ask your opinion.” He turned to Harmony. “This night is very important to me. Do not think you will ruin it by misbehaving.”
The way his eyes flared sent Harmony’s heart fluttering with fear. He had hurt her before, and she feared he would likely do so again if she did not follow his commands.
Rather than arguing, she looked down at her hands in her lap and took on an expression of meekness. “I will behave.” Oh, how she despised being treated like a child! “I am honored to be with you tonight.”
The vehicle came to a stop, and the skin on her arms prickled as Lord Miller’s eyes remained on her. The lust they carried was a great cause for alarm, for she could not help but fear he would attempt to take what he thought was his before they had spoken their vows. Perhaps even there in the carriage in front of Lydia!
When the door opened, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe, at least for the time being, and she alighted from the carriage. Glancing around, she frowned. Their carriage was the only one parked in the drive. “Where are the other guests?”
“The party does not begin for another hour,” Lord Miller explained, offering her his arm. “I thought we could spend some time conversing together before the others arrived.”
With great reluctance, Harmony placed her hand on his arm. As they walked up to the door of the house, she prayed Nathaniel would come in search of her.
Then she sighed. He was not aware there was a party, so how would he know she needed rescuing?
The butler greeted them, gathered her wrap and Lord Miller’s overcoat, and led them to the sitting room, where Lord Windhelm and his wife waited.
“There is no need to have a chaperon, for Anna is here,” Lord Windhelm said. “Your lady’s maid may join the other servants in the servants’ hall. I am sure they will find something to keep her occupied.”
Harmony pulled at her lip. “Lydia may remain…”
“Lydia may stay with the other servants,” Lord Miller interrupted.
The butler dipped his head and led Lydia away, closing the door behind them.
“I understand that congratulations are in order,” Lord Windhelm said with a wide smile. “Miller has informed me that you have accepted his offer to court. You are now a step closer to marriage! Allow me to be the first to congratulate you.”
“Thank you,” Harmony replied, unable to keep the dryness out of her tone.
Lord Windhelm walked over to the table that held a variety of spirits. “Please, sit, both of you. May I pour you a drink?”
Harmony followed Lord Miller to a sofa covered in crimson fabric. She had hoped to take the chair beside Lady Windhelm, but she should have known better.
“Miller has informed me that Lord Lambert was banished from your estate. Why was that?”
“I do not know,” she lied. “Yet, it does not matter, for I am here now.”
Their host handed them each a glass — brandy for Lord Miller and sherry for her — before sitting in the chair beside his wife. That poor woman sat once again with her head hanging, a clear sign of defeat. This was evidently a loveless and cruel marriage. Was this what she would be forced to become if she married Lord Miller?
No, she would not give up hope that Nathaniel would come for her! Somehow they would be together, and that thought made Harmony sit up straighter. She would not be reduced to nothing!
“Will your other guests be arriving soon?” she asked.
Lord Windhelm raised his brows. “Other guests? There are no other guests.”
She glanced at Lord Miller. “I understood this was to be a party.”
With a wide grin, Lord Miller turned to her. “Oh, this is indeed a party. We are here to celebrate the wonderful news your father gave me today.” The room began to spin as Harmony waited for the words she knew were to come. “I asked for your hand, and he readily accepted.”
***
Harmony wanted to scream, to run far away. Yet, Lord Miller placed his hand atop hers as if to hold her in place.
Lord Windhelm chuckled. “It does not appear your future bride is pleased with your news,” he said. “Perhaps we should allow the two of you a bit of privacy to speak.”
The room still spun around her, and it was not until the couple was at the door before she realized they meant to leave her alone with Lord Miller.
“I should have Lydia return,” she managed to say. “I will need a chaperon, after all.”
“Come now,” Lord Miller said, moving his hand up to her shoulder. “We are now engaged. There is no need for a chaperon at this juncture of our relationship.”
“Please,” she pleaded. “I do not think it proper to be alone with you.” She went to stand, but he added pressure to his grip on her shoulder.
“Are you frightened of me?” he asked, clear amusement in his tone. She shook her head. “Then why do you not want to be alone with me?”
“It is not right,” Harmony explained, tears brimming her eyes. “Engaged or not, I should not be alone with you before we are married. If you allow me to send for Lydia, we may speak then. She can be trusted.”
“Harmony, Harmony,” he said, taking her hand in his. “This was to be an evening of celebration, yet you have embarrassed me once again, causing my friends to leave. Have you not realized that there really is no point in fighting the inevitable?”
“But I do not want to marry you,” she whispered, cursing the tears that rolled down her face. Why could she not be strong? “I am in love with Nathaniel Lambert.”
Lord Miller pursed his lips. “The boy is not here, but I am.” He moved closer to her and wiped away the tears, although more took their place. “Do you not know how long I have wanted you? You are constantly in my thoughts, making it difficult to think of anything else. It is why I paid men to attack me and then put the blame on Lambert.”
“I knew he would never do such a thing,” she said. “Nathaniel is a good and honest man.”
“What you say may be true, but goodness and honesty will not assure his victory. But my careful planning has.” Without warning, he pressed his lips to hers.
She beat against his chest, but he refused to release her, devouring her like a wolf devours its prey. When the kiss ended, she went to wipe it away, but he grabbed hold of her wrist.
“Do not dare touch your lips,” he growled. “Let my kiss linger, and tonight, I want you to think of how many more we will share once we are married.”
Harmony shook her head. “You will not have me,” she said. “I do not care what you or my father want.”
“You speak as if you have a choice in the matter,” Lord Miller replied with a chuckle.
The door opened, and Lord and Lady Windhelm returned.
Lord Miller lowered his voice and added, “I assure you, you have no choice. You never have.”
***
That night as she sat on the edge of her bed, Lydia at her side, Harmony reflected on the evening. She was thankful the Windhelms had not left her and Lord Miller alone again for the remainder of their time there.
“What am I to do?” she asked as she clutched the coverlet in her fists. “I have no desire whatsoever to marry that lout, but I have no choice. Life is so unfair!”
Lydia nodded sadly and squeezed Harmony’s hand. “Well, I told you I’d think of a way to fix things, and since I was sent away to sit and do nothing for the evening, it gave me the time I needed.”
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“You found a solution?” Harmony asked. “Please, tell me, for I am desperate!”
Lydia turned to face her. “Now, what I’m about to tell you is madness, but I think you should take a coach to Scarlett Hall.”
“But Father will never allow me to…” She paused as she realized Lydia’s meaning. “You mean that I should run away?”
“I know it’s not proper, but if you don’t, I fear you’ll be forced to marry Lord Miller. I’ve some savings; it’s not much, but it should be enough to take a pay for passage to Rumsbury.”
Harmony was overcome with thankfulness for the woman beside her. Although she was only a few years older than Harmony, Lydia had always been more like a mother to her than her own mother.
“I should sleep now,” she said, “but I will think on it more tomorrow.” She gave her friend a tight embrace.
“Yes, rest,” Lydia replied. “Tomorrow I’ll make inquiries on the price of a ticket.”
Once Lydia was gone, Harmony slid beneath the covers and looked up at the ceiling. Although Lydia’s offer was thoughtful and kind, she was uncertain if she should defy her parents to such a degree. They could simply go to Rumsbury and collect her, and she could do nothing to stop them.
Furthermore, what would she do if she arrived at Scarlett Hall only to find Nathaniel angry with her?
All of this was too much to consider as her eyes grew heavy. Thoughts of Lord Miller and his kisses left her tossing and turning, for once they married, more than kisses would occur. That thought made her feel ill.
Yet, somewhere out there was Nathaniel, and she prayed he would come to save her from the fate her parents had placed before her. A fate of a lifetime with a fiend she despised. A fate away from the man she loved with all her heart.
Chapter Thirty
To say he was exhausted did not describe Nathaniel’s current state. In fact, he felt as if he could sleep for years. His mind and body were both tired, but he would never give up.
He had arrived outside the Radcliffe home only moments ago, but as he stood on the portico, he wondered if what he was doing was right. Although he had considered the advice Reverend Creassey had given him, he decided against using his power and instead would approach Mr. Radcliffe as the gentleman he was.
He stared at the closed door. Harmony was inside this house, and if he was successful in his endeavor, they would be reunited once more.
Squaring his shoulders, he knocked on the door, and a few moments later, it opened to the butler.
“I have come to speak to Mr. Radcliffe,” Nathaniel stated. “It is a matter of utmost importance.”
The butler nodded and stood aside to allow Nathaniel to enter. The house was quiet, and Nathaniel glanced around in hopes of seeing Harmony.
“Mr. Radcliffe is in a meeting at the moment,” the butler said. “He has instructed me that he is not to be disturbed for any reason. I shall show you to the drawing room and then ask if he will see you once his meeting is completed. I hope you do not mind waiting.”
“Not at all,” Nathaniel replied. “Thank you.”
He followed the man and took a seat in the drawing room, well aware Harmony’s father would be irate that Nathaniel had ignored his demand that he was not to call. Yet, he had readied himself for the outburst. He would not be bullied!
To his surprise, it was not long before heavy footsteps came to his ear, and Nathaniel rose from his chair as the door flew open to a very angry father.
“You!” Mr. Radcliffe shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Nathaniel. “I told you I never wanted to see you in my home again. Did you not receive my letter?”
“I did,” Nathaniel replied, keeping his voice calm in hopes of calming the older man. “I thought it best to come anyway, to plead with you and convince you that I am the best choice as a husband for your daughter.”
“What I saw at your home is well above and beyond unconscionable. If you do not want the entirety of the ton to learn of what I saw — and I know what I saw! — then you will stay away from my daughter. If you do not, then I have no reason to keep anything to myself.”
Nathaniel clenched his fist. He needed to remain calm — getting angry would not help his cause — but it would not be easy. “I understand how upsetting what you witnessed was for you and your wife, but I assure you that the butler has been dismissed and will no longer set foot in my home.”
“Be that as it may,” Mr. Radcliffe replied pompously, “it does not take away from the fact that your mother was a willing accomplice in this travesty. Do you not see? I cannot have my daughter marry a man whose mother carries on with the servants! She sets a terrible example for my Harmony, and I do not want any daughter of mine to believe such actions are acceptable.”
“Carries on with the servants, you say?”
Nathaniel turned, and his jaw tightened as Lord Miller entered the room.
“So, tell me, Lambert, is your mother paying wages by less scrupulous means?”
It took every ounce of his being to ignore the jibe and return his attention to Mr. Radcliffe. “If there is a price to pay to earn your forgiveness, then please tell me. Is it land? An estate? Two? Name it and it shall be yours.”
Lord Miller’s laugh filled the room. “Are you a man who believes he can purchase Harmony? That is not the proper way to deal with a woman. Then again, the example your mother sets says it all. You send men to attack me, and then…”
Nathaniel took a step toward Lord Miller. “You have no right…”
“Enough!” Harmony’s father bellowed. The man’s face was a deep crimson, and Nathaniel worried he would have an attack of apoplexy. “Harmony has been spoken for. She is to marry Henry, and you have no say in it. Now, leave my home this instant!”
Anger boiled in Nathaniel. This was not the expected outcome! Reason and sense should have won out, and yet they had failed miserably.
“Come along,” Mr. Radcliffe said as he walked toward the door, indicating that Nathaniel was to follow. “Leave now before I have you thrown out.”
Lord Miller gave Nathaniel a victorious grin that only added fuel to the flame of fury that burned inside him.
As he followed Harmony’s father, Nathaniel pushed down his anger and considered what to do next. Should he follow the advice Reverend Creassey had given him and threaten Mr. Radcliffe? Or should he attempt to reason with the man further? Never had he felt so utterly confused in all his life.
If that damned Miller had not been there! he thought. Yet, a glance over his shoulder said he would not get even a moment alone with Mr. Radcliffe, for Lord Miller followed behind them, a look of amusement on his features.
“Please, sir, I beg of you,” Nathaniel said, making one last attempt to compel the man to see reason. “I care for Harmony, and you know she returns my affections. Is her happiness so insignificant that you would deny her wishes?”
“Nathaniel!”
He turned to see Harmony at the top of the stares. Looking lovelier than he remembered in a white dress and gloves, she reached a hand toward him as if wanting him to take her away.
“Harmony!” He took a step forward, but Lord Miller blocked his way.
Mr. Radcliffe opened the door. “Come to my house again, and I will see you arrested for harassment. I may not be titled, but even I can expect a certain amount of privacy in my own home.”
“And I can see it holds up in court,” Lord Miller said. Nathaniel considered removing that grin with his fist!
Harmony called out his name again, but he was pushed out onto the portico and the door slammed shut, cutting off her cries.
Nathaniel let out a howl of despair. He had failed in his attempt to convert her father, and now she was being forced to marry Lord Miller. With a sick feeling in his stomach, he turned and walked down the footpath toward his carriage, his feet feeling as if they had stones tied to them.
“My lord!”
He turned toward the hushed call and found Lydia hiding behind a tree.
>
“Lydia!” he said as he hurried over to her. “Lord Miller…Harmony…” He could not speak the words aloud.
“Yes, I know,” she replied. “Harmony is devastated. She never received the letter you sent her. Her father hid it from her.” She glanced at the house. “She wants to run away.”
Nathaniel shook his head. “I knew it would come to this,” he said. Then an idea occurred to him. “Tomorrow, will you bring her to the bench in the park? At noon.”
“I’ll try,” Lydia replied. “Do you have a message in case we’re unable to get away?”
For a moment, Nathaniel considered. “Tell her,” he said and then paused. “Tell her that when I swore to her nothing would stop us from marrying, I meant it. Tell her I intend to keep that promise.”
With a nod, Lydia hurried toward the house, and Nathaniel returned to his carriage. Tomorrow, he would explain his intentions of returning her to Scarlett Hall regardless if they had her father’s blessing or not.
Chapter Thirty-One
Henry was overcome with a sense of satisfaction as he watched Lambert thrown out of Eastwood Estate. Once the door closed, Walter went to speak to his daughter, and Henry could not help but sigh with thoughts of the future. Soon, she would be his wife, and he would enjoy the right every husband deserved.
As he waited in the foyer for Mr. Radcliffe to return, the front door opened, and Lydia entered. Before the door closed, Lambert’s carriage pulled away, catching Henry’s attention. The boy had been ushered out several minutes earlier. Only one thing would cause such a delay in his departure.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“I…I’m coming from outside, my lord,” she said, dropping into a deep curtsy. “Forgive me for not curtsying immediately. I didn’t see you there.”
As she moved to walk past him, he grabbed hold of her arm. “Wait. Were you speaking with Nathaniel Lambert?”
She gave him a startled look. “Why, no, my lord. Would you like me to? I can go after him if you’d like.”
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