She did not even wait for a response. She needed to get away, to collect herself before her emotions overwhelmed her completely.
Where is she going?
Simon noticed Harriet’s departure immediately, and felt the urge to follow her out.
“Do you think you can handle her?” Simon asked, looking at his brother.
Tobias seemed lost in his own little world, scarcely registering what Simon had said. Catherine seemed similarly transfixed with him.
“Never mind then, I’ll be right back,” he mumbled under his breath. On his way out of the nursery, he called for the maids to assist his brother.
“Where could she have gone?” Simon asked, as Harriet was nowhere to found in the hallway. With rushed movements, he arrived outside the door to her bedroom.
He found it ajar, and inside, he noticed Harriet slumped over the side of her bed, her hair out of place and soft whimpers arising from her throat.
He swallowed roughly, and then made his way inside.
“Harriet…”
CHAPTER 23
“Harriet…”
Simon’s voice was gentle, almost hesitant as he said her name.
Harriet looked up at him. In normal instances, it would be most embarrassing to have the duke walk in on her in the midst of such an emotional moment. But right now, the dull ache in her heart overshadowed whatever embarrassment she could feel.
A storm was brewing inside Harriet. She felt emotionally drained in a way that she had never experienced before. Her bones ached from carrying the weight of unfulfilled expectations, tears stung her eyes and her hands shook as she tried to compose herself by holding onto the side of the bed.
Given such turmoil, it was no surprise that she did not notice when Simon walked into the room, or heard the door close softly behind him.
“Are you…” Simon’s frown deepened as he took in the state of her, worry staining its edges. “Would you like to talk to me about what it is that is bothering you?”
Harriet did not respond, except to let out even more tears. She had heard from her sisters that the first few months of raising a child were a very emotional time in a woman’s life. Spontaneous bouts of crying, all sorts of irrational thoughts.
The same was happening to her, it seemed. Which was strange considering that she had not given birth at all.
Simon knelt down next to her, to join her on the floor. He took out his pocket napkin, and extended it to Harriet.
“Here. If you’re going to cry like this, at least do so in a napkin.” His voice was softer than she had ever heard it before.
With shaking hands, Harriet took the napkin and blew on it, rather loudly. Once again, she would have been turned the shade of tomatoes if this was happening on a regular day, but right now, she scarcely cared about how she was being perceived.
“Better?” Simon asked.
She shook her head. “I am afraid that a napkin isn’t going to fix what is wrong, Your Grace.”
He leaned forward, his hand hovering over her thigh for a moment before it settled onto her shoulder. “Every problem hasa solution, surely. But I fear that I am at a loss if you do not tell me what it is.”
Harriet clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white in the process. Her nails pressed painfully into her palms, but she did not so much as flinch. “I… I am not even sure how to articulate to myself.”
“Was it Tobias?” Simon frowned. “If so, I apologize really, in advance. However, this was one of his better first meetings with people. Usually, he has a hard time keeping his mouth shut.”
Harriet shook her head, “No.”
“Are you sure?” Simon did not even try to hide his surprise.
Harriet sighed, wiping the last remnants of her tears away. For a moment, she felt the duke’s hand twitch slightly, as though he wanted to be one to wipe them away.
