“I cannot believe it,” he choked out. “I wish to dance with you but, once again, I’m thwarted by Dorset. The man stole my waltz.”
“Yourwaltz? I hadn’t realized you were claiming a dance.” Her teeth chattered.
He pulled the lapels of his coat she wore together in an attempt to ward off her chill. “How was Penny after her nightmare?” he said, changing the topic.
His question had the intended effect. Her gaze softened, and she smiled. “She wanted reassurance of finding her sister, Melinda, and dived into her studies with much enthusiasm.”
“Dived into her studies?”
“I’ve acquired a governess to assist with teaching Penny, Mary, Steven, and Agnes to read. A Miss Bristol. She seems quite capable.”
“I… see.” The silence in the gardens was nice. Not uncomfortable, not ominous, not disapproving. The contentment sank into his bones, along with the icy air.
“Were you in love with Rowena Hollerfield?” she asked softly.
His contentment shattered in an instant. Harlowe’s heart thudded against his ribs. His skin felt as if a case of itching welts were breaking out. “What sort of question is that?” he demanded.
“I should have mentioned it sooner, of course, and I apologize. Truly, I do.”
“Get to the point,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Rowena left behind a diary of sorts.”
“A diary. It either is a diary or it isn’t.”
She bristled beneath his abruptness, but he couldn’t help it.
“It is.”
“And you read it?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it.” Her jaw turned ridged under the ballroom candlelight that spilled out over the gardens. “But youkissed me, and I failed in remembering to mention it. So in retrospect, it’s your fault I didn’t tell you.”
“Because I kissed you?” He suddenly felt a little more forgiving.
“Don’t fun. You know the effect you have on my usually pragmatic senses.” Her lips formed an unusual, for her, moue.
He took her gloved hand in his. “I do?” A lightheadedness invaded him.
Her shoulders straightened, and she looked down her adorable nose at him.
Harlowe cleared his throat. “What was, uh, in this diary?”
“Rowena had singled you out for Corinne. She wanted her to marry into her class. She mentioned something about you having fallen in love with her, Rowena, and almost usurping all her plans for Corinne. Did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Fall in love with Rowena?”
He grinned his most wolfish. “Not that I can remember,” he whispered, then kissed her.
Later that night, or rather, in the wee morning hours, Maeve’s feet and lower back ached from the absurd amount of dancing she’d been forced to endure. Perhaps “forced” was not the correct word. Truly, it was the most fun she’d had in an age. Still, all she wished at the moment was a night of uninterrupted sleep. Just one night.
“But, ma’am, ye promised.” Penny’s sobs had grown more hysterical by day. At night, her dreams were terrorizing Mary and Agnes, even reaching into Stephen’s chamber, until Maeve finally brought Penny into her own bed to sooth her fears and listened as Penny spoke at length of Melinda. “She don’ look like me. She be purtier with light hair. She was always wantin’ a nice dress like the one ye gots me. I wish she could have mine.” She shot to sitting, her eyes glistening in the moonlight streaming through the open window.
“You are a very loyal sister, my dear. But don’t you think Melinda would want a dress of her own. One that would fit her?”
“Aye, m’lady. That she would.” She lay back down and snuggled against Maeve. She smelled sweet, and somehow of believing, despite the dregs her life had been up to now.
