“He promised it tasted better.” She lifted a pretty pink ribbon. “What about this one?”
“What color dress are you wearing to the ball?”
“Blue.”
“Light blue? Navy blue? Royal blue?
“The same color as a clear blue sky?” Harriet murmured, thinking of the dress she had prepared.
Rohan searched through the ribbons and pulled out a blue ribbon. “Like this?”
She looked over. “Yes! That one will do.”
Rohan nodded, then said, “There is another reason why Leeds might have married you.”
“Oh? Pray tell.”
“He fancies you.”
“Fancies me?” Harriet laughed, but she couldn’t stop the butterflies from fluttering their wings in her belly. “I don’t think so.”
“Why don’t you think so?”
“Men who get married in a rush don’t fancy the women they marry. There is always another reason.” A scenario suddenlyoccurred to Harriet, spurred forward by a remembered phrase. “Since he did not marry me for my dowry, perhaps he married me because he had no choice.”
“Lord, do I even want to know what’s going through that head of yours?”
“Inheritance!”
Rohan arched a brow.
“What if his father left a stipulation in his will that Leeds must marry before a certain age or else he will lose all of his unentailed inheritance?”
Rohan stared at her blankly. “You read too many romance novels.”
“It does fit the situation though, does it not? It would also explain why he took the wagers as an opportunity to propose marriage.”
“He still chose you over all the other heiresses.”
“That’s right.” Harriet pursed her lips. “Perhaps in that regard I was the more convenient choice. All the other heiresses are pretty, strong, and outspoken.”
“Instead of letting your imagination run wild, why can’t you fathom that perhaps the man fancies you?”
“Because Leeds has no lack of prospects. He could have any woman he wants, yet he chose me. A wallflower.”
“There is nothing wrong with you, Harriet.”
She agreed. But . . . “I’m no diamond.”
“There are more beautiful jewels on this planet than diamonds, darling. Perhaps Leeds saw what you fail to see.”
“When did the two of you become such close friends for you to take his side?”
“Believe it or not, I’m on your side.” His gaze turned thoughtful. “It’s true that many women would have wed your marquess at the snap of his finger. But sometimes the most obvious answer is the true answer. Perhaps you are clinging toresistance because you are still clinging to old dreams and are scared to get hurt.”
“Is that so wrong?”
“How the hell would I know?” Rohan asked. “Dreams, however, are not unyielding objects—they can reshape and are never lost. Just think about that.”
