She darted a glance toward the horizon whereThe Royal Oakwas already the size of a child’s toy. Perhaps it was for the best that this particular plan had failed. The last thing Rohan couldafford was a feud with a marquessanda duke. As a friend, she would hate to bring him trouble. Anyway, getting to Charleston and finding Rohan had not been her only chance to escape this marriage should Leeds fail to convince her.
He jumped into the Thames after you, a voice in her head reminded her. Did that make him worthy? It made him a lunatic, more like.
In any event, now that she had caught up to herbeforeCharleston, Harriet didn’t think Leeds would let her out of his sight again.
If she were him, she wouldn’t.
Never mind that. There were more ways than one to achieve a goal. Of course, she couldn’t say she would not attempt to run away given half a chance. If nothing else, it would vex the man giving chase after her. How many times would she get away with setting him on a merry chase before that cool composure of his snapped and he showed his true thoughts?
Leeds’s motives still confused her. No sane man would go to the lengths he had to secure her hand in marriage without being downright mad, would he? Jumping into the Thames proved that. That was purely ludicrous. And what about Calstone? Diving in after his friend? They both belonged in Bedlam.
This had to be about her dowry. In her experience, besides love, no greater motivation than money existed. She could come up with no other reason. He must have lost his fortune and somehow kept it secret. Harriet wasn’t stupid. She knew she was no diamond. She was just a wallflower who longed for love—a sentiment that rarely belonged to powerful people like Leeds and his friend Calstone.
And what about these wagers he had spoken of? Whatever the wagers, they couldn’t warrant this sort of pursuit, could they? Unless he had a stake in the business.
Harriet sent the man a suspicious look.
“The shore is in sight,” Calstone said with a heaving breath. The first words that had been spoken in the past hour. It almost felt out of place in their unusual setting.
“The shore has always been in sight,” Leeds pointed out.
“But now it ismorein sight. I can practically feel land beneath my feet.”
Leeds nodded. “We should reach land in about thirty minutes.”
Harriet let out a relieved breath. They’d already been rowing for an hour, and the skies were darkening with gloomy clouds. The last thirty minutes would surely pass in agony.
She snuck another glance at the insufferable marquess, her gaze dropping to the muscles in his arms bulging with each stroke. Did he have to look so handsome while rowing them to shore? Even shoeless and half-bedraggled the man still cut an imposing figure. Even more so with this rugged look.
Striking.
She tried to recall how he’d looked earlier when he went on one knee and promised her happiness. She’d always thought her future husband would ask for her hand in a heartfelt manner. Nothing too grand but endearingly soul-stirring. And she would leap into his arms and enjoy a happily ever after future.
Leeds had robbed her of that.
Now, the idea of him lowering down on one knee and proposing properly was laughable, and her response would be an immensely satisfying, albeit rude, “No, I will not.”
The mental picture calmed the tempest brewing in her heart a bit.
Telling Leeds to go to hell, even just in her head, was indeed gratifying. Would he lose some of his composure if he knew she’d whacked him over the skull countless times with her suitcase in her mind? Or would he just arch one of his brows in that infuriating way?
And why should she care if he was handsome, rich—maybe—and titled? Harriet had never weighed her options in such an old-fashioned way. Her father had been wrong. She could do better than Leeds. All that was required of her was to find happiness.
If she were to have him chase after her again, how and when could she do it so that she wouldnotbe caught so soon? No matter how she looked at it, she would not be able to board another ship. Her family would offer no shelter to her, and she did not wish to drag her friends into her personal matters.
Her only option was to hide in a burrow that Leeds could only find after he had overturned every single rock that led there.
Unfortunately, she knew of no such burrow.
Her gaze returned to the shore. She couldn’t tell which beach they were approaching, but they had headed in the direction of Canvey when they first set out to shore. They would either find lodgings, since the hour had already turned rather late, or they would head back home without delay.
“You are awfully quiet, Lady Harriet.”
Harriet ignored the duke. The wind was sweeping through her hair, and she tilted her head back to soak up the soft beams of the last rays of sun filtering through the dark, approaching clouds. Just for a moment, with her eyes closed, she could imagine herself free and content. It was the only small glint of happiness she found in the otherwise miserable journey to shore.
Do not marry a man who would not fight for you.
Her gaze lifted to Leeds, and their eyes locked.
