“Never mind my ancestors. Tell me what happened.”
“Harrison was to meet me in the library. When he didn’t appear, I went to his bedchamber. I found him in a chair by the fire. He was fully dressed, but dead, I’m afraid.”
“Did you see anyone?”
“Not a soul.”
She gasped. “What did you do then?”
“I undressed him. Put him in his nightshirt. Fortunately, there was very little blood.”
She put her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, don’t!”
Gerard cocked an eyebrow. “Do you want to know or not?”
“Oh, but why move poor Harrison?”
“It would have cast suspicion on Harrison to find he had dressed again in the middle of the night.”
Harriett accepted the wisdom of this. “What then did you do?”
“I made a rent in his nightshirt over the wound and tucked him into bed. And then I left.”
“But the documents, do you still have them?”
“A new contact approached me on the day of the funeral. I went to meet him before the reading of the will, and passed the information onto him. They are working from their end to trace the spy.”
“This is so extraordinary, it’s hard to believe.”
Gerard seized her shoulders and shook her gently. “We are at war. Believe it, Harry. And please remain quiet about it.”
“You don’t have to manhandle me,” she said crossly. Every time he touched her with those big capable hands of his, her nerves leapt in response. It made her want to yield to him, to melt into him. Vexed by the erratic and unpredictable emotions he produced in her; she smoothed her gown and fiddled with her bonnet strings.
“Promise?” His hand stilled hers, making her breath catch in her throat. Was he aware of how powerfully seductive he was? Did he use it to keep her on side?
“You can trust my father to be discreet.”
He shook his head. “As soon as your father learns anything of this, his life, and possibly your mother’s and yours will be in great danger. I look forward to the time we can all enjoy a quiet evening without such worries. Perhaps, when Leonora returns, we can play a game of whist together.”
Harriett felt a glow of rage and bit her lip.Leonora again.
Before she could reply, Gerard glanced over her shoulder. “Deuce it. Here comes Madoc. I don’t like the fellow.”
A surly, heavy-set man crossed the quadrangle. He gave a nod in their direction.
“Do you think it might have been him in the barn that night?”
“Possible.” Gerard drew Harriett into the barn and enfolded her in his arms. “Let’s give him a show, shall we?”
She felt her knees weaken as Gerard’s mouth descended. His kiss sent spirals of ecstasy through her. Harriett shamelessly kissed him back. Her fingers roamed over the satiny skin of his shoulder. Something happened to her breath as she drew in the smell of his woody soap, leather and healthy man’s sweat. Almost overcome, she had to grab hold of his arms, the strength of his muscled biceps beneath her fingers, made her moan against his lips.
With a heated expression, Gerard almost staggered back, breathing heavily. He left her mouth burning with the memory of his kiss. “Harry! You kissed me like you meant it. I’m beginning to hope he comes back.”
“Nonsense. It was just an act,” she said, when she’d regained her breath. “We had to make it look real.”
His blue eyes studied her for a moment, and then he shrugged. “Well, it mustn’t happen again. Madoc won’t mention it if he wants to keep his job, and I’ve sworn the groom to silence. It’s the perfect cover!” He looked out the door. “He’s gone. You must too. Off with you.” He patted her on the derriere.
She swung round to stare at him speechlessly.
“Your mother is right. A little weight on your bones suits you.” He grinned. “It seems to have gone to all the right places. Don’t forget tonight.”
The perfect cover! “Insufferable!” Harriett stomped off down the path. When she reached the steps into the sunken garden, she found she didn’t want to return to the house until she’d relived the heady feeling of his mouth on hers. She sank down on the stone bench still quivering, and gazed blankly into the distance. A smile crept to her lips and she touched them with her tongue. Gerard dallied with her, while he fully intended to marry her sister. A plan began to form. He would get his comeuppance, and she would become that old maid with a decidedly shady past.
