Next to the two of them, Cromby resembled a cockroach more than anything else.
“I’ll have the servants send sandwiches and tea,” Leeds said as she lowered onto the chaise that looked the most cozy.
“Don’t bother.”
“You didn’t eat last night and refused the bread prepared earlier. You need to eat.”
Harriet almost smiled at his stern tone. “I’m still asleep. This is a dream.”
“Dream or not, I’ll have them send a tray anyway. Calstone will stay with you. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
The duke plopped down on the sofa. “I won’t decline food.”
“Don’t worry,” Harriet said. “I shall be a dutiful prisoner.”
“Thank God,” Calstone said. “I didn’t sleep a wink last night, and the carriage was too cramped to rest comfortably.”
“See you soon,” Leeds said, sending her one last look before striding from the room.
Today is the day, then.
A decision needed to be made. Leeds would get his special license, collect the priest, and she would have to stand beside him and either devote herself to a yes, or execute a no. Either follow her father’s betrothal agreement, or fight for the promise she had made her mother.
Fight . . .
It all came down to whether she believed Leeds had fought enough to be worthy of her hand or not. But then, her mother had never given her any qualifying measurements to define what it meant to fight. She would have to determine that herself.
“William isn’t a bad man,” Calstone suddenly said in a lazy voice. “I gather you must have some misunderstanding about him, but he is a good man.”
Harriet dropped her head back against the sofa. Perhaps he was telling her true. Since meeting the duke, and throughout their encounters, she hadn’t sensed any malice or ill-intentions in him. But then again, men could hide their true nature very deep—just take Leeds as an example. Trusting the word of a man, even this one, would be the same as trusting a wolf not to bite you when you turned your back.
“I know, but forgive me if I don’t take your word for it, Duke.”
“What a tangled answer.”
She peeked at him from the corner of her eye. “I suppose such a labyrinthine answer is too much for you.”
“Christ, yes. It hurts my brain.” He glanced at her. “Time will tell, I suppose.”
Time might tell, but what exactly would the hour reveal?
“How long have you known Leeds?” Harriet asked. She had been curious about their acquaintance since she’d met him.
“All my life.”
As I expected. Two peas in a pod.
“You seem to care for him a great deal.”
“He is a brother to me,” the duke admitted. “Do you wish for me to recite our adventures as children? The days at Eton are especially vivid.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
He slanted her a glance. “Not curious at all?”
“My curiosity has nothing to do with your childhood or your days at Eton.”
“I suppose you want to know why Leeds wants to marry you.”
