Thea considered how to answer. ‘There were some rumours, but nothing specific.’ That wasn’t quite true, but neither was she sure how accurate her sister Tabitha’s information had been.
‘We were too bold – or at least I was. Emma was cautious to a fault but there was just the one time that she allowed itto happen outside of a secret and meticulously planned two-o’clock-in-the-morning tryst.’
Thea’s heart bled for her friend. ‘And you were found?’
‘In the most compromising position you can imagine,’ agreed Harriet. ‘I have heard the rumours, and they were mostly true. It’s hard to deny it when another woman’s face is… well, nowhere it should be in polite society.’
‘I imagine it is.’ Thea could only imagine the reaction of their families. ‘And what about now? With Emma I mean.’
Harriet shrugged. ‘We mostly manage. It hasn’t gone between us – I can tell that, but you know Emma. She will be who she is supposed to be in society despite any personal cost – to herself or anyone else.’
Thea nodded. She did know that. Always proper. She leaned forward and put a hand on Harriet’s arm. ‘Something good will come for you.’ She expected Harriet to be downcast, but she only laughed.
‘Thea, something good already has! I am a jilted wife at twenty-nine. No man will touch me and that is jolly excellent. I have an independent living and am quite able to enjoy myself unencumbered by a husband. There are worse ways to live as a woman in London.’
Thea smiled. ‘Well, if you put it like that.’ She leaned her elbow on the back of the seat and cupped her chin in her hand. ‘It would be nice for you to meet someone though.’
‘All in good time,’ said Harriet, back to her jolly self and waving around the glass of port in a way that made Thea fear for the upholstery. ‘But now, I did not bring you here to talk about myself. I have shared my woes, and we now understand one another better, I think?’ Thea nodded and swallowed nervously. She thought she knew what was coming. ‘So now, I want to hear your story.’
Thea hesitated. This was hard. Saying it out loud was scary. ‘My story?’ she asked, just to buy herself some time.
Harriet tutted at her. ‘Don’t be coy, Thea. I know you. Husbands make one angry and frustrated and miserable. They do not make one this heartbroken.’ She waved an arm upwards and downwards in Thea’s direction as if indicating all of her. Thea automatically took a breath to deny it, but Harriet held up a hand. ‘Don’t tell me you’re not. I have experience, Thea, remember.’
Thea swallowed and knew she had to share, but where should she begin? A little smile appeared, when she thought about how surprised Harriet would be when she learned about Martha. But Harriet was too impatient.
‘I think,’ she said, holding one index finger in the air. It waved around a bit. ‘That you kissed Speckle’s gardener.’ Her characteristic boldness was returning now she had shared a secret that obviously weighed on her.
‘Herbert’s gardener,’ corrected Thea.
‘You did kiss her,’ announced Harriet, arms in the air triumphantly. ‘I knew it. Nobody is that sad when a gardener leaves.’
‘She was a good gardener,’ said Thea, still struggling despite how relaxed Harriet seemed about this whole thing. And the port.
‘And a good kisser?’
Thea hesitated and couldn’t stop a little giggle escaping.
‘You definitely kissed her!’
Thea held up her thumb and forefinger, so they were a small distance apart. At least she thought they were, she couldn’t focus very well. ‘Only a tiny bit.’
Harriet snorted. ‘How do you kiss someone a tiny bit?’
‘Easy,’ said Thea. ‘You kiss them a tiny bit, and then you stop because it was… unsatisfactory.’
‘And why was it unsatisfactory?’ asked Harriet, leaning forward and narrowing her eyes.
‘Because there is nothing between you, I suppose,’ said Thea, who had thought about this a lot in recent weeks.
‘And?’ Harriet sat forward and fixed her with a stare.
Thea slumped against the back of the sofa. She knew when she was beaten. ‘And because they are not the woman you want to kiss.’ She looked up at Harriet, knowing she would understand.
‘Aha!’ announced Harriet, delighted. She placed her port on the table and clasped her hands in front of her. ‘Iknewyour heart was broken. So, who was it?’ A beat of silence went by. ‘Good god it isn’t me, is it?’ she asked, suddenly serious.
Thea giggled. ‘Sorry, but no.’
Harriet lifted an eyebrow, evidently relieved. ‘Someone I know?’ she guessed.
