Harriet sighed. “She noticed you were smiling as you approached us, and questioned whether the smile was for her or for me.”
“And she thinks I smiled because of you?”
Harried nodded. “I tried to tell her this was ridiculous.”
“But she did not believe you,” Max added knowingly, concerned that his attraction to Harriet was obvious.
He needed to exercise more care when around her.
She was not one of his marriage prospects.
Nor would he ever be so disrespectful as to take her on as a mistress.
That was completely out of the question, and not only because it would betray the friendship he’d had with her brother. Harriet herself was lovely and decent, and deserved better than to become some man’s convenient bed partner.
“The two of you were talking for some time. What did Lady Beatrice say to you?”
The question seemed to add to Harriet’s distress. “How were the other ladies?” she asked in response, her own smile too bright as she purposely diverted his attention. “You rode in the lead carriage with Lady Philomena. Was she pleasant and entrancing?”
“No, the girl has not a drop of brain matter between her ears. She also has the most irritating giggle. But we were not talking about Philomena. I asked you about Beatrice and you immediately changed the subject to the other ladies. Is this your polite way of telling me Beatrice has no interest in me?”
“I think you are better served looking elsewhere, Your Grace.”
“All right,” he said, surprised he was not more put out.
But Harriet still looked quite pained.
“Harriet, is there something more going on that I should know?”
“I cannot say.” She released a heavy breath. “Perhaps you ought to talk to Lady Beatrice yourself and…”
Why had her voice just trailed off?
“Harry, you are worrying me.” Something was amiss. “Is it that youcannotsay…orwill notsay?”
“Both.”
“You’ve promised to keep a confidence? Then Beatrice has something to hide? I knew it.” But he did not feel triumphant about the revelation. “Is she going to do something foolish?”
“I don’t know. Please talk to her,” Harriet said and ran off toward his grandmother who was ensconced in a chair under a shade tree with several of their elderly guests.
Sighing, Max approached Beatrice. “Come walk with me.”
She cast him a sardonic smile as he did not await her reply but simply placed her arm in his and led her away from the others. “Why the interest in me, Pendrake? Has your little spy told you all about our conversation?”
“She has told me nothing, but she is obviously overset. What did you say to her?”
“I did not insult her, if this is what has you concerned.”
“I never considered that you would say anything cruel to her. My concern is for you since she is obviously worried about you, and yet, will not betray your confidence.”
“That speaks well of her,” Beatrice remarked, her manner still irking him because she would not simply tell him what was wrong.
“She is a very decent person.”
“A secret princess,” she said with a nod. “Her English accent is perfect, no doubt acquired at one of those fancy boarding schools on the Continent. Or did she have tutors at court? Was her father deposed and this is why she came to you?”
Max laughed.
