“Do be quiet, Harry.” Still frowning, Gerard grabbed her arm and dragged her into an empty horse stall. He did not appear to be a beau in the throes of passion.
“My lord!” Harriett wriggled furiously. “Have you had too much sun?”
“For God’s sake, don’t struggle. Your virtue is quite safe with me. For the moment,” he added with a quick grin. It faded and a serious light entered his blue eyes. “You must not mention anything you’ve seen. Not to anyone.”
Harriett put her hands on her hips. “But why?”
He gave her shoulders a little shake. “For goodness sake, Harry. I can’t tell you now. Promise me you’ll say naught about this. Can I trust you to do that?”
She paused. “But I don’t know why you can’t….” Over his shoulder, she saw the groom returning. The thought that Gerard might kiss her again made her step back. She might have welcomed it without an audience. “Very well. You have my promise.”
He winked. “I knew I could rely on you, Harry. Good girl.”
The groom waited with his hat in his hands. “Shall I have your horse brought round, my lord?”
“Thank you, Sefton.”
Harriett leaned her back against the barn door and picked at a piece of straw which had attached itself to her sleeve. “We return here next week for the reading of the will. I doubt Father will wish to attend the inquest, after all we weren’t here when it happened.”
“I’m glad you’re coming back.”
“You are?” She still felt the imprint of his soft lips against hers. Her heartbeat, which had not quite returned to normal after the last onslaught, quickened again.
“You’ve a good deal of commonsense.”
“Oh.” She threw the stalk away.
“Is Leonora coming too?”
“I believe so.” Harriett spun on her heel and walked outside, as the stable boy appeared leading Gerard’s roan.
Gerard took the reins and leapt into the saddle. He looked down at her. “Until next we meet then.”
Harriett watched him ride away; he had a very good seat on a horse. Her only experience was with hired hacks in Rotten Row, and she’d hoped to ride over the fields while she was here, but that wouldn’t happen now. She traced her bottom lip with a finger and took a deep, steadying breath. She wished she’d never come here, but knew she’d count the days until she saw him again.
♥♥♥
Gerard cursed loudly as he rode back to Foxworth causing his roan to prick up his ears. He should take more care with Harriett’s reputation. Harrison’s death seemed to have sent him careening out of control. As if he wanted to snatch at life, before he too, was dispatched from this earth.
