And maybe he should have endured his awkwardness and approached Lady Harriet in a different fashion, like courtship, but he hadn’t wanted to take the chance of her being ruined by a wily fortune-hunter or risk her father marrying her off to someone else.
He’d seen his chance. He’d recognized an opportunity to marry the woman he’d been obsessing over day and night and hadn’t given thought to anything else.
But he couldn’t tell her any of that.
To theton, she had the reputation of being a demure chatterbox, which was utter nonsense. There was nothing meek about Lady Harriet. Chatterbox? He had yet to glimpse such a thing.
“So you think I’ll be a useful addition to your estate, and these so-called wagers make me easy pickings, is that it?”
Will flinched. “That’s not what I meant, either.”
“You say a lot of things you don’t mean, don’t you?”
“We are a good match, Lady Harriet. Can’t that be enough?”
“Nothing about this marriage feels right.”
Will racked his brain for a solution. “How about we go for a ride in Hyde Park? There is nary a cloud in sight today.” He could watch the sun dance off the hue of her hairandset her mind at ease.
Something, emphasis onthing, caught the corner of his eye.
Will’s head swiveled to the crawling creature and cursed, putting himself between Lady Harriet and thething, backing her into the wall.
“What are you doing?” She pushed at his back.
“There is a creature approaching us. Do not be alarmed, I shall protect you.” Will looked around for an object he could use as a weapon.
Lady Harriet snorted. “That is not a thing. That is Chester.”
Will glanced at her in shock. “Chester?”
His gaze whipped back in horror at the thing-creature-Chester crawling slowly toward them.
“What the bloody hell is that thing—um, Chester?” Will asked, unable to keep the disgruntlement from his voice. The thing had nails as long as pikes and a short, flat head.
Lady Harriet slipped from behind him and strode over to the animal and picked it up. Its long arms circled her neck.
Christ above.
“It’s a sloth,” she said.
“A what?” He had never heard of such a thing.
“A sloth,” she repeated.
“Lord no, that must be the ugliest animal I’ve ever set eyes upon.”
“Oh pish, he is adorable.” She patted its head. “A friend rescued him from a merchant who collects exotic animals. I’m caring for Chester until my friend returns.”
Will stared suspiciously at the sloth in her embrace. It truly was the ugliest thing he had ever seen. But somehow, the look she bestowed upon the animal made him want to yank the thing from her embrace.
Will sighed.
Jealous of an animal. He really had sunk too low. Before he could reply, a knock at the door interrupted them.
Her eyes widened. “Yes?” she called out.
“My lady, the priest has arrived.”
