Asher’s other brow rose to join the first one. “Of course she was looking horrified. Ladies do not enjoy being placed in a position where the gentleman of their affections is put on the spot to declare his intentions.”
Harrison frowned. “Which does make perfect sense now that I consider it. However, you were not around to lend me such valuable insight, and as such, I blundered ... badly.”
“I’m in full agreement with that, but now find myself curious as to how you managed to conclude you’d made a grave error.”
“I had an epiphany once I reached the high seas when I was sailing toward Boston to meet my father.”
“And it didn’t cross your mind to turn your ship around so you could make amends with Gertrude directly after you had this epiphany?”
“I’m afraid not. I needed to mull the matter through to satisfaction.”
Asher clicked his tongue, sending his horse into motion. “On my word, Harrison, you’ve grown up surrounded by women. Surely you know by now that it’s never a good idea to allow ladies any great amount of time to dwell on their disappointments. In all honesty, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn Gertrude’s now decided you’re an idiot and that she’s better off without you.”
“Again, information that would have been useful before I landed myself in this mess.”
“We’ll get you out of this mess, one way or another, and—” Asher turned in the saddle—“we’ll also get to see if our theory is correct regarding over-the-top romantic gestures. As you know, I’ve compiled a list of just such gestures from some novels I had my secretary pick up for me at the bookseller. Why, I have to imagine if enacting a few of them allows you to get back in Gertrude’s graces, we’ll be held up as heroes to our gentlemen acquaintances, once word gets around about our success.”
Harrison steered Rupert after Asher and out of the stables, blinking as bright sunshine practically blinded him. “I don’t remember agreeing to share our results, Asher.”
“It would be selfish of us not to if we do, hopefully, succeed.” He lifted his face to the sun. “I can feel success within our grasp, and I’m going to take it as a positive sign that it’s stopped raining, although we did need that rain in order for you to enact number two on the list I created.”
Digging his hand into his pocket, Harrison fished out his copy of the list. Written across the top in Asher’s fine hand wasRomantic Gestures to Win Gertrude’s Heart.
Scanning the page, he frowned. “Number two suggests I place my jacket over a puddle and then encourage Gertrude to walk over that jacket.” He gestured to his jacket. “Did you not hear me when I mentioned I only recently picked up this jacket on an obscure island, drawn to it because I think the color suits almost every pair of trousers I own?”
“You should have left the jacket on that island because it’s the most lurid shade of green I’ve ever seen, and I doubt it suits a single pair of your trousers.”
“I thought the jacket was slightly orange.”
“How many shades of orange do you think are out there?”
“Obviously too many, but...” Harrison returned his attention to the list. “What if we’re completely off the mark and Gertrude decides I’ve taken leave of my senses?”
“You took leave of your senses when you didn’t declare yourself and the affection you hold for her at Grace Church. However, because you told me she seemed to enjoy you sweeping her up into your arms the night of my engagement celebration, I think romantic gestures are the best place to start for you. Besides, this was the only thing I could come up with on such short notice.”
“I suppose it can’t make the situation worse.”
“That’s the spirit! So onward we go. Miss Mabel has had plenty of time to deliver Permilia’s request. That means you need to ride Rupert past Miss Snook’s school, then wait until Gertrude’s moving down the sidewalk before you whisk her right up on your horse, delivering her to Rutherford & Company in style. I’ll keep an eye on the situation from afar, and if I think you’re floundering, I’ll ride to your rescue.”
Harrison glanced down Broadway, blowing out a breath when he noticed how crowded the street was. “I don’t know, Asher, perhaps I should leave the whisking her up on my horse for another day. If you’ll recall, I mentioned my concerns about that gesture. There’s every chance she’ll have a different reaction than we’re expecting, one that won’t leave her feeling overly fond of me. Besides, the only whisking scenes I’ve read are centered around the heroine’s life being in danger because of bandits or an approaching train. It seems somewhat odd to use this particular gesture when Gertrude’s life isn’t in danger since she’s simply walking to your store.”
“I’ve found seven instances of the hero whisking the heroine up onto his horse in those novels. In every one of them, the heroine was suitably impressed by the masculinity displayed by the hero because of the strength it takes to pluck a woman from the ground and get her situated just so on a horse.” Asher smiled. “Because you’re an expert rider, there’s no question in my mind that you’ll be able to accomplish this feat with great skill, suitably impressing Gertrude in the process. Why, I’ll bet she’ll be so impressed, there won’t be a need to make use of the other suggestions on the list.” With that, Asher spurred his horse forward, leaving Harrison trailing after him. Gesturing him forward a short time later, Asher pulled his horse to the side of the street and sent Harrison a nod.
Realizing there was nothing to do but see if this harebrained idea might work, Harrison urged his horse forward, keeping hidden behind all the carriages on the street until he’d passed Miss Snook’s school. Turning Rupert around, he blinked when he saw Gertrude a little ways down the sidewalk, the cream-colored walking dress she was wearing accenting her charming figure to perfection. Taking a deep breath, and not allowing himself time to reconsider what might very well be yet another blunder, he set Rupert into a gallop, coming up behind Gertrude far quicker than he’d anticipated. Leaning over Rupert’s side, he reached out, then almost pulled back when he noticed Gertrude was not alone but with his sister, and ... they’d entwined their arms together.
Before he could fully grasp what that meant, his hand closed around Gertrude’s arm, and then she was flying up in the air in front of him and onto his horse, her legs flailing about as she began to scream at the top of her lungs.
Unfortunately, Rupert was not a horse possessed of a mild manner, so the second the screams began—and an unexpected weight landed on him—he was off like a shot.
Turning his head when Gertrude’s hat flew by, Harrison spotted Edwina sitting on the sidewalk, apparently having been knocked to the ground when he snatched Gertrude. Unable to do anything about that troublesome situation because Rupert was galloping faster than ever, Harrison tightened his grip on Gertrude, who was screaming so loudly his ears were beginning to ring.
She was also practically falling off his horse with her skirt flying every which way, exposing a good deal of petticoats and a nicely turned feminine leg in the process.
Calling himself every type of fool, he pressed his knees into Rupert, but instead of having the desired effect of bringing Rupert to a stop, the horse continued bolting down the street, causing people who’d been trying to cross the street to leap out of their way.
Wincing when a gentleman dove onto the sidewalk, losing his hat in the process, one that Rupert then trampled under his very large hooves, Harrison shouted an apology right as the sound of someone blowing a whistle met his ears. Glancing over his shoulder, Harrison didn’t know whether to laugh or groan when he recognized none other than Agent McParland racing after them.
“I think I’m going to be sick!” Gertrude yelled.
