Page 33 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

Chapter Twelve

Harlow looked tired when she came down to breakfast that morning, despite him knowing she’d been sleeping soundly when he’d left her in her room. Perhaps she’d woken uncomfortable for still being dressed. Mayhap he should have sent Mrs. Garrison in to help her change for bed.

He hadn’t needed thoughts of Harlow in a night rail to add to his affliction. He’d taken matters in hand—quite literally—and was better equipped to face the day as they had previously. Before his urges had taken hold of him.

Harlow was a beautiful woman. She was funny and witty as well. But he need not lose his head. Or worse, his heart. For she didn’t want him. Just as none of the other women he’d thought suited him had wanted him.

He empathized with Harlow for she searched for a man who would want her for herself, rather than her dowry. She was hunted for a bounty rather than for herself. He found himself in a similar predicament. Desperate women tried to trap him into marriage so they could be a countess, but they didn’t care about him as a person. He was simply his title.

In a perfect world, he and Harlow would find each other and make an impeccable match. But it was not a perfect world. And he’d not lay himself open only to be rejected once again.

“You look tired this morning, my lord,” Harlow said, stirring him from his silence.

“Odd. I was thinking the same of you. Did ye not sleep well?”

“I started out well enough, though I don’t recall how I got to my bed.” She raised a dark brow and he pointed at the dog sitting by the door.

“Belle grabbed you by your hair and dragged you up the stairs.”

“Ah! That explains all the drool in my hair.” She laughed and he joined her. He enjoyed how they teased each other in this way. Everything was so easy with her.

“I’m sorry. I should have sent in Mrs. Garrison to help ye dress more comfortably.” He turned his gaze back to his plate so as not to have to see the pink flush on her cheeks. Oh, but she was even more lovely with color on her face.

“No matter. Belle assisted later when I woke. She bit through my laces to free me.”

“Good lass,” Reese said and flipped a piece of ham to the dog who eagerly accepted without a bit of guilt that she’d done nothing to deserve it.

Harlow laughed again and then when they had both resumed eating, she swallowed and said, “I had a dream.”

“I’m sorry.” He knew she’d been cursed with night terrors since her ordeal on the ship. Many a night as he’d sat by her bed watching over her, she had thrashed about, attempting to fight off the monsters of her dreams.

“It is not your fault. It’s not as if they were of you,” she said so quickly he thought she might be lying. When he was trained as an agent, he was taught to detect a lie. He’d even sought the help of his friend to test himself.

A lying person would seldom be able to look the other person directly in the eye, as Harlow was exhibiting now with her gaze drawn to the meat on her plate. They often fidgeted or attempted to deflect the conversation to some other topic, similar to the way she was hacking the ham to bits with her cutlery.

“I’d like to go down to the beach today,” Harlow said as she tucked a non-existent lock of hair behind her ear.

He smiled as he watched her shift in her seat.

She had dreamed of him. She would never admit it, but he knew her well enough to know he was correct. What he wouldn’t give to know the details of that dream. He’d consider giving up his very soul for the opportunity to make them reality.

“Your dreams must have frightened you terribly. People say talking about them helps,” he kept his voice calm despite the way his heart was racing to push her to tell him.

“Oh, no. Thank you. That is, I don’t need to speak of them. It’s better they just…” She waved toward the stairs and her room beyond. “I know they aren’t real.”

“Hmm…” He frowned at his breakfast and let the subject drop.

They finished their meal in silence and the quiet continued as they descended the steep stairs to the beach. Even their footsteps made no sound where they walked in the sand. Belle had run off as was her way.

“She will return with something she’s found on the shore. I shall pray it is only a stick.”

Harlow chuckled. “Do you worry you may find another woman washed ashore?”

He looked up at the sky. “I guess I have plenty of room for a few more.”

She smacked his arm lightly.

“I wish I could have seen your face when you found me.”