“Excellent. I’ll have a maid bring you the items while I inform the duke and duchess of your arrival.”
The butler vanished and Harriet breathed a sigh of relief. The tension building inside her since having her money stolen dissipated enough for her to relax. If only a little.
“You can sit if you like,” Mr. Evans informed her while studying her with too much interest for her liking.
She turned her gaze away from his, choosing instead to go and admire the street view. “My clothes are filthy. It would be ill-bred.”
“I was worried about you, you know.”
The comment caused her heart to beat a little bit faster. “Really?”
“Of course. Everyone was. Mr. Hudson included.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Oh.”
“He said it was very unlike you to stay away from work without sending word of your absence.” A pause followed and when Harriet said nothing further he asked, “So will you tell me what happened?”
“My sister’s sick. I need to fetch a doctor for her.”
“And this brought you here?”
“It was the only place I could think to go,” Harriet told him wearily.
He said nothing to this and a silence ensued for a while before he suddenly asked, “How do you know the duchess?”
“It’s…er…”
Thankfully the maid arrived in that instant, enabling Harriet to avoid the question. The young woman she’d met before at the kitchen entrance nearly dropped her tray. “You’re here?”
“Yes.” Harriet sent her a smile. “I’m sorry if my appearance put you on edge before. Thank you for bringing these things so I can clean up a little.”
“You’re welcome.” She set the tray on the table closest to where Harriet stood and bobbed a quick curtsey before retreating with hurried steps.
Harriet dipped her hands in the bowl of water and watched it turn a grimy shade of pink.
“Well?” Mr. Evans pressed. “I’m genuinely curious to know.”
“Know what?” Harriet asked as she dipped the corner of the towel she’d been brought into the washbowl so she could dab at her face. She hissed in response to the sharp sting.
“How are you, a compositor, well enough acquainted with a duchess to call upon her at her home?”
“I knew her before she married,” Harriet said, doing her best to appease his curiosity with just enough information for her presence in Westcliffe House to make sense. “Her uncle owns a bookshop and often orders from Hudson & Co. I met Her Grace during some of my deliveries. The two of us became friends.”
“Really?” There was an edge to Mr. Evans’s voice now that made Harriet slightly more uncomfortable. “And that’s all there is to it?”
“Of course. What else would there be?”
“I don’t know. You’re a handsome young man, roughly her age. It wouldn’t be strange if you’d taken a fancy to her. I simply want to make sure—”
“I promise you I have not,” Harriet said with a laugh.
“All I’m saying is that the duke ismyfriend. I’d hate to think you might pose a threat to his marriage by showing up here.”
“No. I…” Harriet dropped the towel she’d been using and frowned as she met Mr. Evans’s gaze once more. “Tell me, how does an assistant editor get to be friends with a duke? One wouldn’t imagine you run in the same circles.”
“It’s complicated.” His shuttered expression informed her that she had touched on a subject he’d like to avoid, which piqued her curiosity immensely. There was definitely a story here.
“Complicated oftentimes equals interesting,” she said, enjoying the wariness with which he eyed her. It was rather satisfying, having him sit in the interrogation chair for a change and watching him squirm. “Of course, there’s a chance you’re not really friends and that Mr. Hudson sent you here instead. It’s working hours, after all. So maybe the duke has written a book that he plans to publish. Anonymously, of course.”
