Leonora burst out in laughter. “Very well, I shall stop if it bothers you so much.”
“I amnotbothered.”
Leonora nodded with a knowing smile, and Harriet leveled a glare at her.
Selena set down her cup. “Ladies, ladies. How about we do away with the tea and enjoy a glass of sherry?”
“We’ll need more than one glass,” Leonora said with a wink.
Harriet balked at the thought of drinking. She glanced at the clock. “It’s noon.”
Leonora motioned for a footman to retrieve sherry. “When has that ever stopped us?”
“Leeds has already accused me of being a drunk.”
Leonora sputtered tea all over the table. “He didwhat?”
“Well, not in so many words, but I’m sure he alluded to it.” She couldn’t remember his exact words. But he also didn’t care that she enjoyed a glass here or there, so he must not care all that much. But then why would he? He would probably love the chance to tease her again!
“What did you do for him to make such a remark?” Selena asked.
Harriet shrugged, deciding to admit this much. “I got drunk on our wedding night after I barred him from his own chamber. Normal wife stuff.”
Selena burst out laughing. “Remind me to come get some helpful hints from you if my brother ever arranges a marriage for me.”
Leonora chuckled. “Me too.”
“Your situations will be different from mine, I’m sure.”
“You’re right,” Selena said. “My brother would never arrange a marriage for me. He treasures his life too much.”
“I wish I could have a brother such as that,” Harriet murmured with a smile. Her half-brother was still a boy, and they weren’t close at all.
“Trust me, he is the worst.” The footman came with the sherry and three glasses. Selena filled each one to the brim.
“Are you attending the Stewart ball later this week?” Leonora accepted her glass.
As did Harriet. She took a small sip. Not that bad. “Yes, Leeds and I shall be attending.”
“Splendid!” Leonora exclaimed. “It shall be the first time you attend a ball as a married woman. Thetonwas quite shocked when the news was announced in the papers this morning. I daresay all eyes will be on you.”
“Perhaps I should claim a headache then.” There was a reason she’d been a wallflower.
“No! You must go! You must show all the people you are still Harriet Hillstow, a force to be reckoned with.”
Harriet cast a doubtful glance at her friend. All she could hear was:Everyone is going to look at you like they might look at a bug under glass.
She loathed that the most.
However, she was not the sort to hide away, headache suggestion notwithstanding. Plus, the event would get her out of the house again. Declining to attend would mean another night alone with him. While the house was big, there seemed to be no hiding from him.
Leeds was everywhere.
Which was to be expected. Except something feltdifferentthan before. She could barely catch a breath, her awareness of him had become so strong, which caused her wits to scatter everywhere. This man was playing havoc with her mind. She needed to find a way to turn the tables.
“And you know,” Leonora continued after a pause, “balls are the perfect opportunity to dazzle your husband with your beauty and uncover all his secrets in his dazed state.”
Dear Lord.
