The Viscount's Sweet Temptation (6 page)

Whatever else she said was lost to Morley when her father chuckled. Lord Alderford spoke softly, as if wishing only his father-in-law could hear him, but Morley was able to make it out. “Do you know, Danby, I believe this is the first time we’re in agreement on anything.”

The duke echoed the laughter. “Quite so. I must say my plan worked quite well in this case.”

“You cannot claim credit for this match. I defy you to show me how you could have orchestrated my daughter’s near elopement.”

“Near elopement? She claimed it was just a kiss. You don’t mean you believe there was more to this affair than Morley let on? Do you think their meeting at the inn was arranged?”

“I’m not quite sure what I believe. If this were Miriam or Lee, I would expect such shenanigans. But Harriet…She has always been such a biddable child. I see now it has all been a ruse. She is just as scheming as my other children.”

Being no fool, Morley knew it was time to make their escape. Placing Lady Harriet’s hand on his arm, he steered her towards the door in hopes of quitting the room before the men discovered their absence.

 
Once they were safely in the hallway, he took her hands and drew her close again. His hands shook with relief or excitement, he wasn’t certain which. He had his own letters to write, first to his father, to advise him of the arrangements that needed to be made. But his head only had room for Harriet at the moment. “This is a most unusual Christmas Eve.”

She gasped. “I’d forgotten. And I don’t have a gift for you. I wonder if I might join some of my cousins in a brief trip to the village.”

“There is one gift you can never give me too often.” With his palms on her cheeks, he lifted her face and gazed into her eyes. “Sweet Harriet, I find myself believing I am the luckiest of men. I should be angry, I should be terrified of the thought of settling down, but instead I am excited to get to know you.”

Morley bent and captured her mouth. Her lips parted beneath his and she pressed herself against him, her hands tangling in his hair. She felt so right in his arms. His heart pounded as his body urged him on. He kept his own hands firmly behind her shoulders to keep from mauling her in the hallway where anyone could see.

Harriet apparently felt no such restraints, allowing her tongue to dance most erotically—and utterly surprisingly—with his. She stood on her toes, tugging to bring him closer. Her panting breaths were a siren’s call stirring his desire.

Morley knew he would be sorely tested to not make love to her before they spoke their vows. How long did it take to acquire a special license? Better still, they were much closer to Gretna Green than London. They could slip away just as soon as his horses were rested.

A hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder and tore him from Harriet’s arms.

Chapter Eleven

“Morley, how dare you!” Nick swung his fist at Archie, landing a hard blow to his face.
 

Harriet shrieked, practically feeling the pain herself. She reached out for Archie.
 

He staggered and cupped his jaw. “Blast it, Nick, that hurt!”

“It was intended to hurt. What the blazes were you thinking, man? She’s my cousin, not one of your merry widows.” Nick blew on the knuckles of his right hand while continuing to glare at her betrothed.

Rushing to Archie’s side, Harriet clutched his sleeve. Her chest hurt with the pain of holding her breath. “Are you all right?”

He nodded, never taking his eyes off her cousin. “Why did you hit me? Because I was kissing Lady Harriet? It’s all right–”

“No. It’s not all right. What were you thinking, traveling alone with her? And where were you taking her? You’ve never mentioned an affection for her in the past.”

Archie smiled wryly, glancing at her before looking back at Nick. “It’s actually a complicated story. I’m rather surprised you’ve heard any of it. I believed Lady Harriet was going to keep still about it.”

“I didn’t say anything,” she interjected.

“She didn’t need to,” Nick explained. “I heard the shouting from upstairs and came down to find out who had crossed the old man. I imagined it to be one of my cousins, so I was quite surprised to hear your voice in the mix. I caught enough of the tale to know you attempted to run away with her.”

“Yes, well, I’m rather surprised at the turn of events, myself. I had intended to spend the holiday with my aunt in Bath.”

Some of her cousins peered at them from the dining room doorway down the hall, so Harriet made a suggestion. “Shall we step into the parlor to finish this discussion? There is no need to continue to entertain the rest of the family with the sordid details.”

“Sordid are they?” Nick’s fist clenched and unclenched and his lips thinned.

Archie slapped his friend genially on the back and guided him toward the parlor. “I fear they’ll be exceedingly dull in comparison to our past adventures.”

Harriet followed them into the lavishly decorated room and sat in a chair between them near the roaring fire. She hadn’t realized how close an acquaintance Archie had with Nick. They were of an age and similar consequence, so it was likely they had become good friends in school.

Once they were settled, Archie began. “By some odd bit of fate, I stopped at the same inn where Lord Alderford and his family were resting for the night. Lady Harriet feared the duke had chosen a husband for her. When she saw my carriage, she assumed my sisters were aboard, so she snuck out of the inn to await their departure. By the time I discovered her, we’d traveled some miles alone before her father found us broken down on the road. After some consideration I came here to speak to Alderford. It took some convincing, but I was finally able to make Lord Alderford see that marriage is the best solution to protecting Lady Harriet’s reputation.”

His eyes narrowed on Archie as Nick asked, “And what of Lady Susan?”

“Lady Susan?” Gasping, Harriet brought a hand to her lips.

Archie shook his head, giving Nick a furious glance before turning to Harriet. “Lady Susan is of no concern to you. To any of us. She is a scheming, conniving wench who tried to entrap me when I visited her father’s estate.” His cheeks darkened. “Forgive me, Harriet, I shouldn’t speak of this in front of you, but you deserve to know the truth. Lady Susan slept in my bed on my last night there.”

The drawing room took a spin and Harriet flung her arms out to support herself, knocking a porcelain figurine off the side table. By some miracle it bounced on the thick carpet and landed without breaking. She drew in a deep, slow breath and forced herself to remain calm. Gentlemen were allowed to have their tête-à-têtes, especially before they married or became betrothed. They shouldn’t dally with a single young lady of Quality, however. Harriet suddenly grew warm as a wave of nausea hit her. This could ruin her chance of marrying Archie. “Her father is a marquess. Won’t he insist you marry her?”

“He’s trying to, and might have a leg to stand on if I had shared my bed with her. I was up all night playing cards with her brothers. I am honestly rather surprised this hasn’t already been resolved. Her brothers can vouch for my whereabouts. Dawn had already broken when I went to my bedchamber and discovered her there. I was still fully dressed when her maid walked in pretending to be shocked to find us together. With her reputation, I am astounded Boxworth hasn’t married her off to some ancient baron who’d put up with her assignations.”

He closed the distance between himself and Harriet and lifted her hand. “I assure you, Lady Susan will not stop us from marrying.”
 

Harriet noticed Nick continued to flex his hand, so she offered some assistance to change the subject to something she could bear more easily. “Shall I ring for some ice, Nicky? You appear to have hurt your hand.”

Archie chuckled. “Don’t tell me my jaw has broken your knuckles.”

Ducking his head and looking towards the fire, Nick admitted, “This wasn’t the first punch I threw this morning.”

“What?” Archie’s surprise echoed Harriet’s.

“I don’t understand what is taking place among my cousins,” Nick said, glaring at Archie. “And my friends. Sharing bedrooms and carriages with ladies of Quality with no concern for the repercussions. The damage they caused to the young ladies’ reputations. I found Trent in Lady Elizabeth’s chamber this morning.”

Harriet gasped, then fought to hide her giggle. All worries over Lady Susan fled. Elizabeth’s behavior was much more shocking than Harriet’s. Perhaps she and Archie would not be the main
on dit
at the ball that evening, after all.

She must try to speak to Elizabeth as soon as possible. She had so many questions about relations between a man and a woman.

“Bennett?” Archie shook his head. “So he will be leg-shackled also.”

“To hear some of my other cousins tell it, the duke has arranged for special licenses for at least half the family,” Nick added. “And I believe the vicar will be attending the ball tonight.”

Archie winked at Harriet. “I doubt there is one with my name on it, although there might be one with Lady Harriet’s.”

She laughed, her eyes widening. She turned to her cousin. “Do you know if he had chosen a husband for me and the others? It must have come as quite a shock when Archie marched into the library. The poor man will be sent away without his bride.”

“Archie is it, now?” Nick glanced from Harriet to his friend.

“Lord Morley, I mean. Forgive me, but he has been Archie to me for so many years, even though we just met. Lady Eleanor and her sisters call him thus. I must remember to address him properly, mustn’t I?”

“Is there a license with your name on it, Nick?” Archie’s grin hinted that he hoped his friend shared his fate. “Some fine young lady waiting in the wings?”

“I should say not.” Nick laughed, then glanced towards the closed doors and tugged at his cravat. “There had better not be. You don’t suppose Grandfather bribed some poor girl to come all this way with promises of a title? A baron has little consequence, but to some mothers in the marriage mart, any title is a good one.”

Archie nodded. “Perhaps you should ask the servants. They know everything.”

Nick rose and bowed briefly before Harriet. “You both will excuse me? I do believe I feel a chill coming on. A fever. Some sort of complaint. I’m sure you both will make excuses for me if I am too ill to attend the function tonight?”

Harriet smiled, knowing if her grandfather had decided it was time for Nick to wed, the young man would be helpless to prevent it.

Chapter Twelve

The ballroom of Danby Castle glowed brighter than any could Morley recall, but he wondered if the light beaming from so many faces of the newly betrothed and married young ladies had something to do with that.

He raked his hand through his hair. Now he was waxing poetic about beaming young brides. What had happened to him? Had he hit his head when the carriage lurched into the mud?

Danby’s Christmas Eve ball was a crush by any society matron’s standards. Beyond family, it appeared most anyone of Quality in Yorkshire had joined the locals in dancing in the holiday. Word of his engagement to Lady Harriet must have spread quickly, because the matrons barely paused when their gazes landed on him in their perusal of the room.

Perhaps there were benefits to marriage that extended beyond what he once thought. The ability to enjoy an entertainment without constantly looking over one’s shoulder was a boon, to be sure. And once he and Harriet were married, they could retire to his country house and spend time away from the city.

The butler had been announcing arrivals, and finally Morley heard the one he awaited. “Lord and Lady Alderford, and Lady Harriet Thornhill.”

Morley turned to watch her descend the grand staircase. Her pale pink gown set off her rosy cheeks and golden blonde curls. Her smile gleamed as she nodded a greeting to those she passed. Then her gaze found him.

She nearly stumbled, but caught herself in time. Her eyes lowered as if suddenly shy, and he had to laugh. Lady Harriet, shy? He couldn’t believe it. Not the young lady who burst out laughing upon realizing she was alone in a carriage with a strange man.

But she wasn’t coy, either. The prospect of getting to know her many facets grew more intriguing by the hour.

Bowing when he reached the family, Morley greeted them. “Lord Alderford. Lady Alderford. Lady Harriet, might I have the next dance?”

She curtsied quite gracefully and took his proffered hand. “Of course, Lord Morley.”

Harriet fell in step beside him. She waved a gloved hand at a pair of young ladies nearby. “I do think this must be the largest ball Grandpapa has given. At least since I’ve been old enough to attend. I don’t recall seeing so many of my cousins in attendance at one time.”

“Are your brother and sister here?”

“Miriam is in Bath with Papa’s sister. I heard Lee has arrived at the castle—and with a wife! Mama is beside herself with that news. I am so excited to meet her, my new sister. I had not heard he’d formed an attachment.”

Morley leaned close to her ear. “Perhaps he also discovered a stowaway?”

She gasped and threw him a brief glance. “We mustn’t speak of that. What would people think?”

“The same thing your father and cousin did, as you are all too well aware.”

Harriet pulled on his sleeve and led him behind a column. “Will you ever forgive me, Archie? It was ill-conceived of me to—”

He pressed his fingers to her lips. “Speak no more of it. As improper and unconventional as our meeting might have been, I don’t regret having met you. Nor anything else that has happened since.”

Rubbing a hand along his jaw, he grinned. “Although I might have preferred informing Nicholas in a more congenial manner.”

Her fingers traced the tender area, making him turn to press a kiss into her palm. Her sharp breath tightened his groin. Without thinking, he leaned down and captured her mouth, letting his tongue trace the seam of her lips. She leaned closer, her palms flat on his chest.

Heat coursed through him, and he longed to explore her curves, but realization of where they were broke through the passionate fog. He took a step back. “We mustn’t do that here.”