He’d known from her first reaction that he had approached the entire situation wrongly. But he couldn’t go back in time no matter how much he wished to.It’s no use dwelling on regret.All he could do was try to make up for his failures from now on.
She was the bravest woman he had ever met. Much braver than him.
I don’t deserve her.
The door suddenly creaked open and Calstone appeared, a brow rising when he saw Harriet curled up in the bed.
“Is everything all right?”
Will nodded. “Is everything arranged?”
Calstone nodded and traipsed into the room, setting down a pair of shoes at his feet. “They are preparing food as well.”
“You eat. I’ve no appetite.”
“What of Lady Harriet?”
Will shook his head. “Let her rest. She will eat when she wakes. You’ve sent word to her father?”
“Yes, and the priest.” A short pause. “I’ve also sent a note to the archbishop. However, I can’t promise word won’t get out that you lost not one, buttwospecial licenses. Your rigid reputation will be ruined, I’m afraid.”
“That might not be a bad thing,” Will muttered.
“And they’ll send someone to light the hearth soon. There’s a sofa in the drawing room downstairs with a lit hearth already. I’ll make myself comfortable there.”
Will looked over at his friend. “Are you sure? Harriet might take offense that her chaperone did not do his duty.”
“Do ahusbandandwifeeven need a chaperone? What century is this?”
Will’s mouth curved into a half-smile.
“I see you can still smile. So you survived her wrath after confessing your sins—some of them at least.”
Will ignored him, his gaze returning to Harriet.
“Well, all is not lost. She must trust you on some level.”
“How can you tell?”
“She’ssleeping, you cretin. I’ll have you know, sleep is the human’s most vulnerable state.” Calstone chuckled. “You chose a very spirited lady.”
“I had no choice in the matter. You know this.”
There was a fire in Harriet Hillstow. A light so strong he could not resist its beckoning. It wasn’t an obvious fire, but neither was it too deeply hidden. One only had to look past the surface to encounter its embers. There was no other woman for him.
“It would be remiss of me not to point out that your bride-to-be, trusting or not, is terribly resistant to this match.”
“I know.”
“Did I mention theterriblybefore resistant? Her resistance goes beyond any acceptable level.”
“I am aware.”
Calstone nudged him with a boot. “And you’re still going through with it?”
“Like I said,” Will looked at his friend, “I have no choice.”
“But she has. You know this, too.”
