“The duke is an honorable man,” Albina defended. “I am certain that he’ll do right by you.”
“Here you are, defending someone whom you do not even know. What about your daughter? Do you not care at all?”
Sentiments had gotten quite intense during their argument, the raised voices making William — Harriet’s father and the Earl of Ramsbury — come out of his room.
“What is going on, here?” his voice boomed loudly across the room as he made his entrance. He had his arms folded in front of him, looking at both mother and daughter with groggy disappointment.
“Mother has?—”
Albina cut her off halfway, “Do you hear in what tone your daughter is speaking to me? I understand that you have always been more lax when it comes to dealing with her attitude, but surely you must put your foot down sometime, William.”
Harriet stared at her own mother in disbelief. Was she really complaining of her being a bad daughter when she had done something no mother should? She looked to her father, wondering if he would speak some sense into her mother but he was in no mood.
“Is it true what your mother is saying?” he demanded.
“It is true to the extent that she was behind it,” Harriet replied, gruffly.
“That does not answer my question. Is it true that you were discovered unchaperoned with a gentleman?” his voice raised considerably.
Harriet nodded, begrudgingly.
“Then, you have no right to defend yourself. You should have known better,” he said. “You should have never put yourself in that situation.”
“But father, can you not see that it was not my fault?” Harriet found herself at a loss — neither of her parents were willing to see her side of things.
That signaled to her that perhaps she had gotten herself into more trouble than she had ever before. Usually, she was able to talk her way out of a bad situation.
But this time, if her parents were being this harsh, then society would be doubly so. Had she finally found herself in a situation that she could not talk her way out of?
“Harriet, you must go to your room,” he commanded.
“That is wildly unfair. I cannot?—”
“Harriet,” he warned, mincing no words. “Do as you are told.”
“Fine,” she huffed, and turned to leave.
Harriet finally went upstairs to her room, a sinking feeling in her stomach.
That night, Harriet had a fitful and restless sleep. She tossed and turned, but no amount of shifting could dispel the anxiety that was brewing inside of her.
When she finally rose from her bed, the sun was well into the sky. Harriet knew she was late, but the dread of facing her parents again made her linger. Eventually, she dressed and made her way downstairs.
“She is awake,” she heard her mother say.
“Harriet, dear,” it was William’s turn to speak now. “Might we have a word with you in the drawing room?”
Harriet sucked in a deep breath, bracing herself. “Good morning, Mama and Papa.”
“Take a seat.” William gestured at the empty sofa in front of him, in which Harriet reluctantly took a seat. The way that her parents were eyeing her made her believe that something had transpired in her absence. They looked unbelievably calm for two people whose daughter had been caught with a stranger only the night before.
Harriet gulped loudly, crossing her legs out in front of her. “Is everything well?”
William’s expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. “We have news. The Duke of Atherton was here first thing this morning.”
Harriet’s heart began to thump wildly inside of her chest. “What did he say?”
“You lucky, lucky girl,” Albina answered, barely able to contain her smile. “He has asked for your hand in marriage.”
