Page 85 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“Even if he had not used me to seek revenge, he doesn’t wish to marry.”

Her mother laughed and Harlow wasn’t used to her mother being unkind.

“I’m sorry,” her mother said only slightly gaining control of her mirth. “It is just that every man says that. Your father didn’t wish to marry when he met me. David didn’t wish to marry until he met Tabitha. Your other brothers do not wish to marry, but I daresay, they will seek out a wife eventually. It is the way of men at a certain age to fight it. Don’t put much stock in such a declaration.”

Harlow considered her mother’s words. It was true enough that Harlow had said she hadn’t wanted to marry someone because of a compromising situation, but she had fallen in love with Reese who had certainly compromised her in many different situations over the time she’d been at his home.

“Well, whether Lord Breckenridge has changed his mind, he hasn’t asked for my hand.” At least not lately. At least not when he meant it. Harlow wiped at the new tears that escaped.

“If he did, would you accept?”

Harlow didn’t know the answer. Now that she’d had some time to think, she wasn’t sure Reese had feigned his feelings for her when he’d taken her to his bed. Or during all the times they’d spent talking in his gardens or the looks and laughter they shared while reading to one another.

Rather than get into that, Harlow merely shrugged. Perhaps the man did care about her, and this scheme to use her for revenge was something he couldn’t pass on when it presented itself.

Still, he’d put her in danger. How much could he care if he’d done that.

When the silence continued, her mother patted Harlow on the leg. “Give it more time. You may find that you are capable of forgiving him for his thoughtlessness. If you can, you will be well-suited for marriage. For there is a lot of forgiveness to be given—and received—in a marriage. Men are rather mutton-headed at times. It’s best you know that going into the endeavor.”

Harlow smiled at her mother and felt somewhat better.

Soon after her mother left, her brother knocked at the door.

“How are you?” Luke asked.

Harlow shrugged. “I’m in love with a man who used me as a pawn in his game of revenge. That is not a great thing to be.”

He frowned. “I think you might be wrong about that, Lo.”

“How so?”

“It’s just that as we were leaving, I saw him punch Lord Collins, laying him out right there in the drive. I didn’t understand it at first, but having had some time to think about it and what he said when we were leaving. Or rather tried to say, I think you might have it wrong. I think all this mess with Merrick showing up was Lord Collins’s doing, not Breckenridge. He looked truly terrified when Merrick grabbed you.”

“Perhaps I was hasty in leaving without allowing him to explain?” she said it as a question, hoping someone would tell her what to do.

“It would not be the first time you’ve jumped to conclusions and run off without giving the innocent party a chance to defend their actions.”

“I know you are likely referring to the time you forgot to come look for me in the orchard, Luke Haverston, and I was not wrong in that matter.”

They laughed together for a moment but when silence fell, she ran a hand over her skirt.

“Perhaps I did rush out of there rather quickly. Without giving the man a chance to explain.”

“Perhaps,” Luke allowed. “There is one way to find out.”

*

“Your presence is requested for the noon meal, m’lord,” Finch said from the doorway of Reese’s study.

Reese frowned at the idea of eating. His poor stomach had taken a great amount of abuse from his efforts to rid the castle of every drop of whisky in the last three days. And his sour stomach was only second to his aching head.

“Rupert has drawn a bath.”

It didn’t take skills in deciphering coded messages to understand that his staff thought he smelled bad.

“Who has requested my presence?” Reese asked, knowing he was the only one in the castle besides the staff.

“Lady Breckenridge.”