Her hair even looked more lustrous, and Harriet had no idea how such a thing was possible. “You are a wonder, Millie. A genuine miracle worker.”
Millie smiled in approval. “Not at all, Miss Harriet. It is all you, and you look so beautiful.”
Harriet laughed. “Now all I have to do is keep my mouth shut and not embarrass the duke and his grandmother.”
Millie gave her hand a gentle pat. “You could never embarrass them. You are too kind and clever.”
Once more left alone, Harriet debated whether to walk downstairs or wait for the duke or his grandmother to escort her to the waiting carriages. Upon glancing out the window, she could see several young men and ladies gathered by a row of carts and more stylish open carriages.
A moment later, someone knocked at her door.
She rushed to open it and found the dowager duchess standing on the other side of the threshold. “Are you ready, Harriet?”
“Yes.” She nodded with enthusiasm even though she dreaded meeting everyone. Still, it was an adventure. When would she ever have such an opportunity?
They walked downstairs arm in arm.
Harriet was more concerned with the duke’s response than that of any of his guests.
Would her supposedly stylish appearance meet with his approval?
Everyone turned their gazes on her when she walked out beside the dowager duchess. The duke strode toward them, his smile noticeable as he approached. “Harry, you look like a princess,” he whispered.
She blushed. “Do not study me too closely or you will see me for who I truly am, a mere schoolteacher.”
“No,” he insisted. “You are a princess.”
“One in disguise,” his grandmother added in jest.
But the words ‘princess’ and ‘disguise’ must have been overheard and obviously misconstrued because the duke’s guests suddenly began to whisper among themselves.
Oh, dear.
They could not possibly believe she was a member of the royal family here incognito. But it seemed they did, for several gentlemen suddenly approached to assist her into one of the open carriages. “We have all been wondering who is this vision Pendrake has kept hidden,” one of the men said.
The ladies looked on curiously.
Some smiled and some frowned, depending on whether they regarded her as a good connection to have at the royal court or competition for the duke’s affections.
“I shall properly introduce all of you to this young lady of mystery upon our arrival at the picnic grounds,” the duke announced, and then hopped in the lead carriage with his grandmother, Lady Philomena, and the young lady’s father.
Harriet was not greatly surprised to find herself seated beside Lady Beatrice and across from two gentlemen who introduced themselves as the Duke of Folkstone and the Duke of Ware. When one of them referred to her as Lady Harriet, she quickly corrected them. “Oh, I am merely Miss Comeford,” she assured.
Lord Folkstone then cracked a jest about his companion. “He is Ware, but we call him the Duke of Beware or simply Beware because he is a shameless womanizer.”
“Indeed, beware of him,” Beatrice intoned, “for his smile is quite dangerous.”
They grinned, and Ware turned the force of his rakish gaze on Harriet.
Uncertain what to do, she simply smiled back.
“Ah, will you look at that? The princess smiles at me.” He was obviously willing to play along with what he believed was her ruse. After all, if this princess wished to pretend she was a commoner, who were they to deny her?
Harriet would discuss this misunderstanding with the duke after the picnic, assuming they could manage a moment alone during this busy day. Ware was a handsome man, but he was being solicitous of her because he thought she was related to the royal family.
Ugh, he kept looking at her and smiling.
He thought she was one of their ilk and perhaps a marriage prospect for the Duke of Pendrake like these other young ladies.
