Simon nodded, hesitantly. “I shall send out the invite then.”
“Lovely.”
“Harriet…” he started again, “Tell me again why this is a better method than me talking to him directly?”
“Because you know your brother. If he was one to listen, he would have listened you all this life. But he is not the sort. Quite the opposite, if anything. To get through to someone like Tobias, we must take on some creative measures.”
“But you are aware that in the midst of all of this, little Catherine’s future hangs in the balance?”
Her expression turned serious immediately. “Simon, I think of her in every waking moment. Trust me, I would not suggest this plan if I was not confident in it.”
“Well, then. If you are confident, then I will not stop you. I shall send out the invitation immediately.”
A smile formed on her face. “Thank you, Simon. For putting your faith in me.”
CHAPTER 28
The day of the dinner finally arrived. Harriet was already up before the first light of day, her mind racing with the many tasks that needed her attention. There was so much at stake tonight, and she was determined that everything would go flawlessly.
Harriet moved through the house with purpose as she oversaw the final preparations. The dining room was being set with the finest china and crystal, the silver polished until it gleamed. Fresh flowers were arranged in elegant vases, their subtle fragrance filling the air. The menu had been meticulously planned.
All the preparations were in place. Now — she just needed the night to goexactlyas she had planned.
Earlier, Harriet had written to Emma Spencer in private, explaining her intentions for the evening. The letter had been carefully worded, outlining the opportunity this dinnerpresented — a chance for Emma to win Tobias’s favor, to show him what he might be missing out on — a chance for them to start anew. Without being forced into a union.
To no surprise, Emma had agreed, recognizing the gravity of the situation. Emma was in dire straits, so it was in her interests to go along with the plan that Harriet had proposed. Emma had written that she was willing to do whatever it took to secure her daughter’s future.
But Harriet knew that the evening needed to go perfectly. The smallest misstep could set Tobias off, could send him running back to his old habits, and that was something she couldn’t allow. She needed to create an environment where he felt both comfortable and subtly pressured, where he could see the future that awaited him if he chose to step up.
There was a knock at the door, and Harriet turned to see one of the maids standing there, her expression anxious. “My lady, the guests have started to arrive.”
Harriet nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “Thank you. I’ll be down shortly.”
Harriet had picked a small number of guests — a total of five families. The main guests were, of course, the Spencers. But Harriet had been careful to invite others so as not to make Tobias suspicious of her true intent.
She had to make their reconnection as natural as she possibly could.
As she descended the grand staircase, Harriet could hear the soft murmur of voices from the drawing room. The guests were gathering, the evening was about to begin. She forced herself to smile, to project an air of calm confidence, even as her nerves threatened to overwhelm her.
Entering the drawing room, she was greeted by the sight of Emma, who stood by the fireplace next to her family. She looked quite nervous, and Harriet could not blame her.
Their eyes met, and Harriet gave her a reassuring nod.
Tobias had not yet arrived, but that was to be expected. He was often late, and Harriet had accounted for that in her planning. She saw Simon already intermingling with some of the guests.
He had been so supportive of her this entire time that it was making her heart swell for him. As though it was not possible to fall in love with him more.
But here she was, falling harder by the minute.
Focus.She reminded herself quickly, lest she let her daydreaming get the better of her.
Finally, as the clock struck the hour, Tobias finally arrived. Harriet had instructed the maids to let her know as soon as he did; she had wanted to talk to him first before he got a chance to see the other guests.
“Tobias!” she greeted him by the door. “So lovely of you to make it. I must say, you look quite dashing.”
Tobias was dressed in a three-piece suit. He looked very much upper-class, and polished. A man who was dressed to impress.
“Well, thanks to you my allowance was reinstated, and I was able to get a crisp, new suit for myself,” he grinned. “I am happy to come.”
