(There’s a new part of this story dropping Saturday in the Broadsheet, so it’s time to give last month’s part it’s own post so it can be found more easily.)
Find previous chapters (to previous Harriet and the Colonel stories) here.
Chapter 1 (part 1)
“Life is very dull in the country,” Harriet Philips complained to her sister, three-weeks after she had been allowed to help her brother and his men find a missing maid.
Samantha laughed. “Perhaps it is not as exciting here where there are no criminals to outsmart, but the air in the country is so much better than in town during the summer.” She rested a hand on her ever-growing abdomen. “And I am allowed to put my feet up without a pair of stockings in sight.” She wiggled her toes where her feet rested on a tufted footstool.
“I am quite certain that you could do that in town as well,” Harriet grumbled. “However, I will allow that the air in the country is better.” She rose and walked to the open window that faced south – the exact direction in which they would need to travel to return to town in two-week’s time or so.
“I am very glad that you were able to come to Papa’s estate for a time. Your being here does make things a trifle less dull.” She shot a mischievous smile over her shoulder at her sister. “But you truly can do so little now that you have decided to be a mother.”
Samantha clucked her tongue. “Just you wait, Miss Everything Should Be an Adventure, your time of feeling quite miserable and motherly are not so far off.”
“Is it truly dreadful?”
“Currently, yes because it is just so hot – or I am, at least,” her sister replied.
There was a breeze blowing through the window, but it was a warm summer day. Not overly hot, but undoubtedly warm.
“I declare this child is going to be just like his or her father.” Samantha continued. “Julian is always warm – even in the depths of winter. I am certain that is what is making me overly warm. I am carrying a human furnace.”
Harriet chuckled at that. “Do you wish to go for a walk in the grass? Or perhaps we could procure a large basin of water and sit in the shade with our feet in it?” She held up a finger to keep her sister from answering as she leaned forward to better see the rider who was approaching.
“What is it?” Samantha whispered as she placed her feet on the ground and pushed up from her chair.
“A rider.”
“Is it the Colonel returned from his visit to Hertfordshire?” Samantha crossed to the window to peer out it with her sister.
Harriet shook her head. “He will be returning from there to town.” And that was likely why she was finding it difficult to entertain herself for this past week. She missed Richard – more than she missed any sort of adventure.
“Perhaps it is a letter,” her sister offered.
“It could be that.” It was a hopeful thought that one of them might have something of interest to read and perhaps a bit of news to share with the other. “I think…” she leaned a bit further forward. “I think that is Samuels.”
“Who is Samuels?” Samantha asked.
“He frequents the little library at Lillesley house.” That was where her brother greeted all of the men who worked with him on covert assignments. She tipped her head. “But why is he alone. I thought he was supposed to be watching that Wickham fellow.”
“The horrible kidnapper?” Samantha whispered. There were things her sister was not supposed to know – but did. Who Wickham was and what he had done was one of those things.
But in truth, it was for Samantha’s safety that Harriet had shared a few details of what had happened in London before they had left. Edmund might carry around secrets that posed dangerous to his sisters, but Harriet would not. This was Samantha after all. The woman was capable of keeping a few names and details to herself.
“Yes.” Harriet moved toward the door to the sitting room. “We will require some refreshment for ourselves and our guest,” she said to the butler. “And please see that my brother is made aware that his presence is required in the drawing room. His office is far too stuffy at this time of day.”
“Why am I needed in the drawing room?” the very brother of whom she spoke said from the grand staircase.
“Did you not hear that we are to have a guest? And I am afraid there is no little library here.”
He frowned at her. “A guest?”
She nodded. “Do come down here so that we can speak more privately.” She could see him sigh. It was not a dramatic lifting and lowering of his shoulders, but they had risen and fallen.
“You do know that I am still the master of this house and my professional domain, do you not?” he grumbled when he had reached her.
“Of course, I do, but I am not about to make Samuels sit in your stuffy study when he has had to ride in the sun for who knows how long to get here.”
“Samuels is here?” Edmund hurried across the room to the window where Samantha was still standing.
Harriet allowed him to verify her words without saying anything. It was an impressive feat, if she did say so herself.
“We cannot speak freely here,” Edmund said with a tip of his head at Samantha.
“I can keep a secret,” Samantha said. “But if you prefer, I can take myself to my room. Truly, I would not mind at all, since I am not required to remain dressed there.” She wiggled the neckline of her gown as if trying to cool herself with it. “Yes,” she said very decidedly. “That is just what I need. I will go to my room and have a rest with a cool cloth and a tray of my very own refreshments.”
She gave her brother’s cheek a kiss and left the room.
“Mr. Wickham is not with him,” Harriet said as they stood watching Samuels dismount his horse.
“I noticed that. I am not blind, nor have I forgotten that he was assigned to Samuels.” He turned toward the door to the drawing room and waited for it to open. “I am sure Samuels will explain himself.”
“Good day, Lord Lillesley, Miss Philips,” Samuels said with a bow upon entering the room.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. We will have some refreshments soon.” Harriet took herself back to the chair she had abandoned out of boredom not so very long ago. “Edmund.” She motioned to the chair Samantha had been sitting in.
“I am rather dusty,” Samuels said.
“Well, that is a problem, but not one without a solution.” Harriet rose, retrieved a blanket from a sideboard, and handed it to the man. “This will be easier to clean than the chair.”
“Why do you have blankets in that cupboard?” Edmund asked.
“Because there is no little library,” Harriet replied. “And your study is stuffy at times.” She turned back to Samuels who was arranging the blanket on the chair before taking a seat. “Your companion did not join you?”
“You mean Wickham?” he asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
Samuels chuckled. “I was not about to bring him here. You and your brother might not mind it, but the colonel would be livid. But do not fear, I did not leave him unattended. However…” He was now seated, and leaned forward before speaking in a lower voice. “He is the reason I am here.”
