“The lifelong satisfaction of having beaten a Davies,” Harriet temporized quickly. “It’s worth more than gold.”
Madeline glanced up at her husband with a sly smile. “Oh, I quite agree. No money in theworldcan beat that.”
They reached Bleeding Heart Yard, and Gryff helped Maddie back into their carriage. He turned to assist Harriet, but Morgan cleared his throat.
“I can take Miss Montgomery if you like. I’m going past Bloomsbury.”
Gryff glanced at Harriet in question. “Are you sure you want to share a carriage with this reprobate?”
She met Morgan’s eyes. “Oh, yes. That would be fine.”
Maddie poked her head out of the carriage and shot Morgan a threatening glare. “Morgan, I know what you’re like. Promise me you’ll be nice to Harriet while you’re alone. You used to be horrid when we were younger.”
“She gave as good as she got.” Gryff chuckled. “Don’t you remember that time she whacked him with a sword?”
“It was a stick,” Morgan countered evenly. “Iwas the one with the sword.”
“And she still bested you,” Gryff snorted.
“She did indeed.” Morgan slid another hot glance over at Harriet as he touched his chin, then looked back to Maddie. “Andof courseI promise to be nice. Miss Montgomery will have nothing to complain about from me.”
Harriet’s heart pounded at the double meaning of his words.
Maddie looked as if she wanted to say more, but Harriet stepped up into Morgan’s carriage and sent her cousin a cheery wave through the open doorway. Morgan settled himself on the seat opposite her.
“See you at Lady Scarborough’s on Sunday?” Maddie called out.
“Yes.” Harriet could barely choke out the word.
Gryff sent Morgan a hard stare. “Take care, Brother.”
Morgan nodded. “I will.”
The other coach rattled off, and Harriet grabbed the leather strap above the window in preparation for their own departure, but Morgan didn’t call out an address to the driver. She glanced over at him and was disconcerted to find him watching her with his usual amused, slightly mocking look on his face.
“Where shall I direct him, Harriet? To Bloomsbury? Or back to my house?”
Her eyes grew wide as his meaning sank in.
“Good Lord, you can’t mean to do ittoday? Now? In the daytime?”
He chuckled at her obvious shock.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.” He brushed some brick dust from the sleeve of his jacket. “This may offend your maidenly sensibilities, Montgomery, but people—many, many people, in fact—engage in all manner of scandalous behavior before the sun goes down.”
Harriet was lost for words. Whenever she’d been brave enough to imagine it—them—her brain had always pictured soft, flattering lighting and plenty of concealing shadows to preserve her modesty.
“But… won’t Rhys be at your house?” she stammered.
“Not until Friday. He’s gone to visit an army friend down in Kent.”
“We can’t. I mean… I’m sure wecan, technically, but I hadn’t expected it to be so—”
“Imminent?” he finished with a wicked smile. “So urgent?”
“I think I need time to prepare.”
He snorted. “This isn’t a pitched battle. You don’t need to prepare anything.”
