Sidmouth moved close to Harriet’s face and bellowed back at her. “Why does everyone assumeIdid something wrong?”
Although Richard had his suspicions about what Harriet would try to do next, even he was startled when she advanced on her coach driver who was still checking the extent of the damages from the broken axle.
“Please unharness Katje for me.”
Sidmouth waved his arms above his head and frowned, signaling his displeasure with such a move only to be thrown a deadly stare from Harriet. He lowered his arms in surrender.
When she had the driver give her a boost up onto Katje’s back and cantered off down the lane, Sidmouth reluctantly trudged to Richard’s side. “Looks like we’re good for nothing between the two of us except strong backs to repair this mess.”
Richard said nothing, but wandered over to join the coachman. “What should we do?”
“All we can do now, Lieutenant, is send for the blacksmith in town to cobble together a new wheel and shaft.” With that, the man un-hitched the remaining horse and led her back toward the stables at the hunting lodge.
Richard turned toward Sidmouth. “Looks like we’re not even good for that. How about we join Captain Thorne and Nicholas at Rose Cottage to clean ourselves up?” and he pointed to the duke’s split lip and bleeding gash above one eye.
Sidmouth, in a petulant tone, said, “You look worse.”
When they started their climb back toward the cottage, Richard laughed out loud.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. It’s just that we probably look like comrades-in-arms coming home after a fierce battle.”
Sidmouth clapped him so hard across his back, he decided to remain silent for the rest of the trip. He hoped to God the man had no idea what he’d done with his fiery-haired cousin, just the day before in front of the Rose Cottage hearth.
As if reading his thoughts, Sidmouth suddenly said, “I’m not finished with you yet, Bourne. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to with Lady Blandford.”
9
After turning Katje over to her groom, Harriet asked to have her own mare saddled before going inside the lodge to change into a riding habit. The rolling six miles between the lodge and Bocollyn should not take her more than an hour to cover, and besides, she’d neglected exercising Ginger the last few days.
She’d probably have to spend the night at s’s estate, but she didn’t want to delay getting to the bottom of what could have possibly gone wrong in her cousin’s marriage after only six weeks. She hid an involuntary smile from her lady’s maid whilst trying to imagine what kind of woman had finally bested Sidmouth.
She looked in on Nana, who was napping peacefully, for once, on a chaise in her bedchamber next to Harriet’s. She then visited the kitchen to leave instructions for Cook to prepare something substantial and comforting for a late tea for all the stubborn men, including Nicholas, who would be descending on the lodge after righting the carriage. She suspected Sidmouth, once he’d bonded with Richard over their mutual pummeling, would bring him back to the lodge for further interrogation.
Once on the narrow path between the lodge and Bocollyn House, she savored the last of the day’s sunlight filtering through the branches of the giant beeches towering overhead. Winter could not be far behind with the cold winds they’d had this year. Richard and his crew would have to leave soon to avoid the deep winter storms out on the Channel, and she would have to watch him go. She could see the ships leaving and entering Falmouth Harbor from the bluff where she’d loved to watch them when she was a child. She’d had no idea back then that one day, the sight of sails disappearing into the distance would break her heart.
Sidmouth’s duchesswas nothing like Harriet had expected. His beloved first wife, who had died tragically shortly after their marriage, of typhus in Venice, was delicate and blue-eyed, with lush golden curls. She’d been what thetonreferred to as a “diamond of the first water” when she came out the year before she married Sidmouth.
This woman’s steady, dark gaze drew Harriet to her immediately. She reminded her of a finely tuned, tightly coiled instrument. She was of average height, which meant the top of her head would reach the level of Harriet’s chin. Her lithe body bespoke many hours of exercise in the saddle as well as in the stables, and she moved purposefully around the small cottage.
“Your Grace, I apologize for not coming to see you sooner, but Sidmouth has been behaving strangely. I wasn’t sure whether or not you were ready to receive visitors yet.”
Her mouth quirked in a secretive smile. “Yes, I imagine hehasbeen behaving strangely. I’m so pleased to finally meet you. I assume you’re his cousin, Lady Blandford.”
“Yes, of course. I’ve been looking forward to getting to know you better.”
“Our wedding was a huge crush. I’m sorry we didn’t have much of an opportunity to talk. I barely knew Sidmouth before we married, let alone his family.”
“Is there…is there something I can do to help?” Harriet was at a loss for how to get to the heart of the matter, and it appeared Sidmouth’s duchess was not going to be of any help.
“Thank you for your kind offer, but I have everything I need here.”
Harriet took a deep breath and tried again. “I know how difficult my cousin can be, but he means well. He really is a good man.”
“Lady Blandford…”
“No, Harriet, please.”
