“No, I’m afraid not. But do not worry yourself about her. The Duke has made me swear that I will protect her prospects should this information lead her to ruin, namely that she was alone with this criminal before managing to escape his clutches.”
Harriet looked nearly ready to faint, and the Earl took notice. “Are you unwell, My Lady? I assure you, the girl in question was unharmed, the Duke has sworn to me. And I have agreed to marry her in order to ensure there is no gossip about her if this truth should ever be heard by others.”
Harriet let out a whimper so slight that Marjorie wasn’t sure she heard it. She looked at her sister and bade her be calm.
“That is truly noble of you, My Lord,” Marjorie answered for both of them, “but I assure you it is not required. The young lady who bore witness to the theft and who was absconded with is… my sister.”
The Earl looked between the two of them, back and forth to gauge what was happening. He all but forgot himself as he sat open-mouthed, trying to understand this better.
“You, My Lady? Lady Harriet, you were the poor victim? My word, that is horrible! How terrifying for you!” he said, stunning both young women.
“You are not repulsed, My Lord?” Marjorie asked, and Harriet held her breath in anticipation of his reply.
“Of course not! Why should I be? I’ve already been informed of the truth by the Duke…whose word I trust implicitly. You’ll have to forgive me for speaking of things that are so untoward, but how would it be Lady Harriet’s fault if something horrible had indeed happened to her? Why should a young lady of faultless actions and noble birth bear the ostracism and ridicule of those who are supposed to be the most supportive, all because a criminal set himself upon her?”
Both young ladies colored slightly at the topic of conversation. Women rarely spoke of these things together, let alone in the presence of a man. But at the same time, Marjorie felt another sense that the Earl of Lanercost was not like most members of the peerage. His words were the truest she’d heard spoken in a long time, and the sentiment behind them was genuine.
“My Lord, I am most humbled by your assessment of these matters,” Marjorie finally admitted. “Your view is not one that many of our set would take.”
“Then perhaps it’s time that ‘our set’ got a healthy dose of comeuppance. I dare say, there’s not a member of the ton who hasn’t faced this kind of scandal or something far worse. They just take extra caution to ensure that no one ever learns of it.”
The Earl paused, his tone becoming even more serious.
“Lady Harriet, you have my word that no one will ever hear of this outside of those with the need to know. Should you wish to entertain the thought of marriage, then I—”
“Absolutely not!” Harriet cried, jumping up from her chair and beginning to pace the room, pressing a hand to her chest in a vain attempt at slowing her racing heart. “I have no wish to entertain anything of the kind! I did not come here today to be foisted off as a charity case to someone who’s only making the offer out of a sense of obligation!”
Evan sat silently, turning his gaze to Marjorie. She was equally dazed by Harriet’s outburst, though, and knew not what words of comfort to offer her.
“Forgive us for our intrusion upon your quiet this morning, My Lord,” she said plainly. “As you can well see, we have both reached the end of our patience. I’m afraid our nerves have gotten the best of us today.”
“I understand, and you must think nothing of it. I don’t suppose an offer of marriage is what Lady Harriet was expecting when she awoke this morning,” the Earl replied softly.
“No, as a matter of fact, it was not! And I also still have not received an ‘offer,’” she interjected, fuming angrily. “What I received was the knowledge that you would deign to accept my hand in marriage in order to protect me when I have done nothing wrong! And that no one thought to consult me in the matter! You’ve had secret conversations with my sister’s fiancé about this subject, but not with her and not with me.”
Harriet sat back down suddenly and fought angrily against the tears that threatened to betray her. Marjorie patted her hand reassuringly, but chastised her all the same.
“Harriet, you are being unkind. The Earl is no more at fault in these matters than you or I. He sought to protect you above all else, and in the only way that he could. His very life may be at stake, but still you were the foremost concern he had.”
Harriet sniffled, but the Earl interceded. “No, she’s right. Lady Harriet, I am truly sorry. I never intended to offend you or to run rampant over your thoughts on the matter. Please believe that. If it is any consolation at all, I knew not that you were the young lady in question. The Duke would not even tell me as much, intent as he was on protecting your name in all of this.”
Slowly, Harriet turned to look at her sister and then the earl, hiccupping softly through her sobs. She looked down at her hands, ashamed now of her outburst.
“I’m the one who must apologize, My Lord. I’ve been so afraid for such a long time, and have only now come to make peace with the knowledge that the life I thought I knew will very soon be taken from me. It will be replaced with… well, I know not what. But you have been generous and kind in all of your dealings with my family and I should not have spoken to you so. Please forgive me.”
“Think nothing of it, Lady Harriet!” the Earl replied happily. “And let it trouble you never again!”
Only then did Harriet smile weakly, but Marjorie was more cautious. “My Lord,” she began timidly, “but this does nothing to clear your name. We must focus now on what to do next.”
“Well, that is the good news for now,” he replied. “I wish not to curse my own good fortune, but the Duke is interceding on my behalf. I will still speak to him and inform him that Lady Harriet does not wish to be married to me, but that might be a matter for the two of you to discuss with him. I did give him my word, and for me to take back that agreement now could seem very disingenuous.”
Harriet whimpered softly again, but Marjorie reassured her. “No one is forcing you into marriage, dear sister. Be calm! He only means that we must speak to the Duke ourselves, rather than he.”
Marjorie turned to Evan and said rather sadly, “My Lord, I think it best that we take our leave now. My sister has had her every nerve mangled these past few days, and in her emotional state, I fear for her health. I thank you for being so understanding, and as always, you know that you must call upon us if we can remedy anything about this situation. I will happily put our statement in writing and sign it with my own hand, if that is required.”
Marjorie and Harriet stood to take their leave, and Evan rose to show them to the door. At the last moment, he bade Marjorie stay but a moment.
“I’d like to get some air, if that’s all right with you,” Harriet said, ducking her head and taking her leave.
