“Contrary to what youobviously believe, I am no longer ruled by my father. But he hashis heart set on this union. I am fond of him and hate todisappoint him. He has wanted me to settle down for some time. Sayshe might turn up his toes without seeing his first grandchild.”Harry paused. “If we just give it time, I’m sure he’ll relent…” Heraised an eyebrow. “Help you to do what, exactly?”
“Come with me. At least seeme onto the boat at Holyhead. I’ll be fine from there.”
“Apart from everythingelse, you truly believe I would ride all the way to Holyhead?” hespluttered. “I’d rather travel on the back of a haywagon.”
Might he be relenting? It would be somuch easier if he took her there. And riding did raise somedifficulties. “You must own a vehicle of some kind. Can’t you hireone? It won’t raise eyebrows if we’re two men travelingtogether.”
“Ha! You think you’d make aconvincing man?”
“I’ll cut myhair.”
“You wouldn’t look like aman if you shaved your head and dressed in a subaltern’suniform.”
“Why? I’m tallenough.”
“Your…” He waved a vaguehand. “Figure.”
Erina looked down at herbosom. She had been cursed with a rather large one. “I shall usebinding. Honestly, you are merely throwing excuses in my way. Womendressed as men in Shakespeare’s works. InTwelfth Night, it worked perfectlywell for Viola.”
He sighed. “That was a play. This isreal life.”
“Very well, don’t come withme. Remain here to please your father. I shall goalone.”
“No, you won’t, damn it.”He threw up his hands. “It so happens that I own a curricle. But Iinsist you dress normally. You can be my sister.”
She tried to hide her glee. “We don’tlook alike.”
“Cousin then.” He attackedhis hair again, which just flopped neatly back into place. “My God,what am I agreeing to?”
“Too late to renege,” shesaid silkily. “You’ve given your word.”
“I intend to send a letterto my father somewhere along the route. To set his mind atrest.”
Harry raised his eyebrows. “Howthoughtful.”
She reddened and lookedaway.
“You know what will occurto them, don’t you?” he said.
“What?”
“An elopement.”
Pleased, she nodded. “But that’s agood thing, isn’t it?”
His brown eyes narrowed slightly asthey studied hers. “Is it?”
“They won’t worry. Fatherwill think I’ve done it to save him the expense of awedding.”
He tapped a booted foot and sighed.“All right. We’ll depart from London on Thursday. I’ll contact youon Wednesday to make the final arrangements.”
Erina’s heart began to bang joyfully.“Oh good. This is exciting, isn’t it, Harry?”
Harry scowled. “I said you’d exhaustme if we married. How right was I? And we’re not even man and wife.I don’t know about you, Lady Erina, but I’m going tobed.”
Erina watched him stomp away into thedarkness. Then she squealed and performed a few steps of an Irishreel while Jessie watched her with soft brown eyes. She must writeto Cathleen once it was all arranged.
Chapter Six
