Harriet looked at Paul as the last of them vanished downstairs. “Are you all right? You seem to have had an interesting time of it.”
“You have no idea,” sighed Paul, walking up to her and lightly brushing a finger over her cheek. He found he took pleasure in just standing there next to her, weary though he was. Then he looked at the fireplace. “Behold your Yule log.”
“MyYule log?” She gave a little laugh. “You spoil me, sir. I cannot imagine what I did to deserve such a gift.”
He stared at her. “You don’t have to do anything, Harry. Just be you.” She met his gaze and he felt the world fade away. “Harry…”
“Paul, we have to talk. And it’s very urgent.” She blinked away the moment and reached out to touch his arm. “Can we be private for a few minutes? I have something most important to tell you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to vomit into a vase or anything, are you?”
“Good God, no.”
“All right. Let me just wash the dirt of that wood monster off me and I’ll meet you in the small parlor in five minutes.”
She nodded. “I’ll bring tea. Or maybe brandy. You’ll need it.” She hurried off.
Paul went in the opposite direction, knowing he was frowning. What on earth could Harry have to tell him that would require brandy? Half of him wanted to know, the other half wondered if he was better off not knowing.
Either way, he needed to change his shirt. Best to be clean and comfortable when facing a crisis.
*~~*~~*
Harriet had the brandy out and ready to pour when Paul returned.
He nodded at it. “I think we both should have a wee drop. If nothing else, to settle our nerves. It’s been a tense time, these last couple of days.” One eyebrow rose as he watched her fill the glasses more than a third full. “I’m guessing your day has been quite tense as well,” he noted.
“Letitia and James were here.” She took a swig.
“What?” His eyes opened wide. “When? Are they all right?”
Harriet nodded. “They stopped here on their way to London.”
Paul blinked. “Harry, FitzArden Hall is a twenty-minute walk from Ridlington Chase. The Inchworthy hunting box in which we now stand, is perhaps two hours or more away from both of those places and would add those hours to their trip up to town. If they did juststop by, that’s the longest detour I’ve ever heard of.”
“Of course they didn’t. But they’re being very cautious when it comes to us and our whereabouts.” She went on to relate the matters as they stood in London with regard to her sad demise.
“Fuck,” he swore softly without apology. “Those bastards.”
“Quite.” She sighed and dropped down onto one of the small chairs dotting the room. “So you see why Letitia had to be careful. Neither she nor James want one hint of our whereabouts ending up in the wrong ears.”
“Yes, I do see, and I’m very grateful to them.”
“You might possibly be even more grateful when you hear about the family conference that this news brought on at Ridlington. Edmund, Rosaline, Simon, Tabby and the newlyweds.”
“Umm…”
“Yes, they deliberated at length about the best way to handle the current situation. Apparently, we’re considered family and they are now operating under the mandate that if any family member is in trouble in any way, the others will come to the rescue as best they can.”
“Well,” said Paul, “that’s very nice of them. And kind too.”
“Indeed.” She finished her brandy in one long swallow, knowing the burn of the liquor would help the next words that would come out of her mouth. “Their solution was really quite simple.” She rose and faced him. “Paul, would you marry me, please?”
His brow was wrinkled in thought. “Yes of course, I…er…what?”
Harriet drew another breath. “I asked you if you would marry me, please.”
Paul stared at her. He blinked. Twice. Then he cupped a hand around his ear. “I don’t think I’m hearing you aright…”
