Harriet paced the hall outside the little library. The footmen she had gone to fetch had already entered her brother’s study. Surely, they would be finished soon.
The door to her brother’s study opened and one of the men exited quickly. He was likely going to fetch other men. That seemed to be how these things worked with her brother.
A footman would be holed up in Edmund’s office for a bit of time, and then, he would scurry away through the servant’s halls and entry way.
She expected to see a half-dozen other men arrive to call on her brother within the hour. The little library would be well-used today!
She took one more circuit of the hall, from top to bottom, before entering that little library and creeping softly to the door that adjoined her brother’s study. She strained to hear anything, but the most she could decipher was the tone of voice.
That was her brother.
That was the colonel.
One of the footmen asked a question.
Ah! There was a promising sound. Shifting chairs and the opening and closing of the door to the hallway.
Quickly, she made her way to the small table that held the colonel’s hat. She ran her finger along the edge of it as she held it. He would not leave without this, and she was not going to give it to him until she had receive a few minutes of his time.
She glanced at the miniature of her eldest brother that stood next to similar pictures of her parents, as well as she, Samantha, and Edmund.
A lady simply did not know when someone she loved would leave her for the final time.
And knowing that her brothers – and likely her father before them – as well as Richard, were employed in dangerous, but necessary, pursuits, there was absolutely no way she was going to let her colonel leave without him knowing that he was cared for. So very dearly.
Several minutes ticked by before the secret door opened, and Richard exited. Alone.
“Is my brother behind you?” She placed his hat behind her back.
“No, he said he had some work to do.” His expression was one of amusement. “Are you planning to keep my hat?”
“Only as long as necessary,” she replied.
“And how long will that be?” His tone was teasing but not as carefree as it would normally be. Of course, that was understandable.
“My brother is …” She paused and shook her head. “What he did was deplorable, and I will be speaking to him later.”
This caused a genuine chuckle to escape Richard’s lips.
“Will I be allowed to have my hat before then?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” she assured him with a smile. “But not until you know just how greatly I am upset with him on your behalf and that of your cousin and Miss Elizabeth.” She sighed as her shoulder sank. “They will be well. We must believe that.”
She held out her hand to him, and he took it. “You are the best my brother has to offer, since he refuses to enlist my services,” she added with a playful smile to lift the heaviness of the emotions that surrounded her.
“He had better not enlist your services,” Richard growled. “Someone needs to keep you safe.”
“And you would trust him to do that after what he has done to you?” She gave him a pointed look.
“He does not work alone.”
“Oh, I know that.”
“No, I mean he has men in your household.”
Harriet blinked. “Of that I am aware, though to be honest, I have not yet figured out just how many.”
He shook his head. “I should have known that you would know.” He placed the hand he held between both of his. “I am tired and should be on my way, but before I go, I must ask you what exactly you have done.” His left eyebrow arched over a pointed look.
“What do you mean?” she asked cautiously.
“Your brother has informed me that I am no longer unacceptable as a suitor for you, and that I can present myself to him to offer for you after this particular assignment has been completed.”
Harriet chuckled as a wide grin engulfed her features. “It seems he was quite serious about wishing for someone else to take care of me. I thought that he was, but one cannot be too certain until the proof has been presented as irrefutable.”
Richard closed his eyes and shook his head as he repeated his question. “What exactly have you done?”
“I simply proved to him that there is one female who would make an excellent partner for his best man and dear friend.”
“How precisely did you do that?”
She swallowed and looked away. He was not going to be happy to hear this. “It had to be done,” she said to preface her admission.
“What had to be done?”
She bit her lip as she met his gaze. “I found Andrew’s watch.”
His eyes grew wide, and he dropped her hand to run one of his through his hair. “You did what?”
“I went shopping with Jimmy – he is one of Edmund’s men, you know.”
“Yes, I know.”
“And while shopping, I just happened to find a place that deals in loaning money to people in exchange for various items.”
“A pawnbroker? You went to a pawnbroker?” He huffed and shook his head as if he could not believe her.
Harriet crossed her arms and glared at him. “I had to. My brother needed to know that I could be an asset and not a liability to you. And I will have you know that Edmund did a fine job of scolding me already, so you do not need to.”
“I believe I do,” he returned. “For I have a feeling that you did not bow to his admonishments. He has always had trouble being anything but generous with you.”
“That is not a fault, is it?” She smiled at him and fluttered her lashes. “I took precautions. And, as I said, it had to be done, because I will not marry anyone but you. I do not care how many Mr. So and So’s or Sir or Lords he tries to push at me. You are the only man I will ever love.” She placed his hat back on the table before taking his hands. “I have told Edmund so before. Many times. However, he refused to listen. So, I showed him just how serious I am.”
Once again, Richard was shaking his head. “You are…” He seemed lost for words.
“Edmund said I was impossible when he was yelling at me regarding the watch. To which, I replied that I was passionately independent, and that led to him saying I was staunchly recalcitrant. And that was right before he threatened to punish me.”
“He yelled and threatened to punish you?” He turned to look towards the door to Edmund’s office. “Your brother?”
“Yes.” She waited until she had his full attention again. “Which is how I know that what I did was excessively dangerous. But you, my dear sweet colonel, are worth it.”
“Harry, when are you going to learn that it is my job to say such things to you and not the other way around?” He placed a hand on her cheek.
“Can we not both say them?”
“You are a treasure. Do you know that?” He sighed. “Please, do this one thing for me, and keep my precious treasure safe. Can you do that for me? I have enough people to worry about. I do not wish to add you to that list.”
How could a lady say anything but yes to such a delightfully romantic thing? Well, a lady who did not immediately promise to do just as requested would have to be a lady very unlike Harriet. For Harriet was the sort who was incapable of not occasionally being daring. Therefore, the best reply should could make was, “I will do my best.”
He chuckled. “See that you do. For when I am finished rounding up some scoundrels and returning Georgie and Elizabeth to their families, I will be back for you.” He pulled her into his embrace. “I am broken because of the danger that threatens them,” he whispered. “But I would be beyond repair should anything happen to you.”
Tears gathered in her eyes, both at the thought of his pain and how treasured she was. “Then, I will do so well that Edmund will wonder what has happened to his sister.”
“Just do not do so well that he changes his mind about you being my burden to bear,” Richard teased before preventing her from any retort by claiming her lips with his.
Harriet wound her arms around his neck and held him firmly to her. He deepened the kiss, and she responded in kind. She was passionate. So very passionate about many things but none so fiercely as this man who held her heart and who trusted her with his. There was nothing that would keep her from seeing him safe and well – even if it meant making changes to her own behaviour.
Surely, she could be inquisitive and even a touch daring and still make sure that she was not the cause of him being broken forever.
“Take care,” she whispered when her head rested over his racing heart as he simply held her tightly. “For if you do not, I will not refrain from coming to your aid.”
A chuckle rumbled through him. “I would say the same.”
He pulled back from her and then took her face between his hands. “Do not ever change, my darling Harry. Always be as ardent as you are now. Just please, apply that zeal to your safety as strongly as you do to provoking your brother, for in keeping yourself safe, you will be protecting my heart.” He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Then, taking up his hat, he said, “I shall return when this mission is done.”
She snatched his hand before he could leave her. “Send word as soon as the ladies are safe.” She kissed his knuckles and then allowed him to depart.
As she watched the door to the house close behind him, she smiled and sighed for she knew that soon he would return to claim her as his forever.
