The carriage came to a stop in front of his home.
“Then we leave tonight and I’ll give you a pair of breeches, but I dare say, mine may be a little long on you,” he teased, as his coachman knocked on the carriage door.
Harrison opened the door, stepping out into the cold London day. He offered Kat his hand, assisting her down.
He ignored the rightness of it all as he walked her to his door, where Wilson was waiting patiently for him, his eyes slightly wide.
“My lord, you have a guest. I’m afraid she insisted on waiting for you,” his butler said, wringing his hands together.
“She?” Harrison asked, in confusion as he assisted Kat out of her cloak before removing his greatcoat.
“Yes, I wanted to speak to you directly.” Lady Selena Davenport stood at the opening of the parlor glaring at him and Kat.
“Thank you, Wilson. Please have tea sent to the parlor.” Harrison turned to Kat, hoping that he could speak to the other woman alone. “Perhaps you would like to go to your room and warm up.”
“No. I believe I would like to hear what she has to say.” Kat walked past him, ignoring his suggestion.
Sighing out in defeat Harrison followed Kat into the parlor where Lady Selena was waiting for them.
He was thankful that the fire was blazing in the fireplace to warm his cold bones, but there was no denying the cold emanating from both of his guests.
Selena leaned against the sofa; her hands folded over her small breasts as she observed Kat with a superiority that was highly unnecessary.
Harrison was a bit put out with Lady Selena’s behavior in his home. He had made the other woman no promises; in fact, their conversation was cut short because of the news of Kat being evicted from Pleasure House.
“Madame Delcour, as I live and breathe,” Lady Selena said.
Kat took a seat on the chaise lounge, relaxing against the embroidered pillows. Harrison fought the smile that tried to break free on his lips at the sight of Kat being comfortable in his home. Unlike Lady Selena, Kat belonged in his home, and in his heart.
Renewed hope surged through him, after their brief conversation in the carriage. Perhaps once she was free of this secret of hers, they could move on with a life together.
“Lady Selena, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of ever meeting you,” Kat said cooly.
“No, you haven’t. I’m surprised you know who I am at all. Especially since I am so above you in station,” Lady Selena said, before walking to sit on the sofa.
Feeling colder inside than he had outside in the winter elements, Harrison walked over to the sideboard, desperately in need of a drink. He was used to men, being one himself, but never had he imagined that women could be so calculating with their words.
“Above?” Kat’s voice rose slightly from behind Harrison. “I think we are very much the same. The only difference is that you don’t get paid for your services.”
Harrison choked on nothing, spinning around to stare at the two women. He was afraid that they would soon start bareknuckle boxing.
Fuck, and he thought his sex was the more aggressive one. How wrong he was; there was nothing more vicious than two women in a verbal spat.
Having heard enough of their verbal assault, he cleared his throat. “Why are you here, Lady Selena?”
She turned away from Kat, her gaze flicking up and down his body. “It is not unheard of for one to visit their betrothed, is it?”
“Your betrothed?” Kat sat up, her head swinging from Harrison to Lady Selena.
Running his hand through his hair, he tried not to panic, but clearly, Kat was not pleased by Lady Selena’s declaration.
“We are not betrothed. I did not accept your offer,” he reminded the woman.
Surely, he would remember if he’d agreed to being her husband and the father of her unborn child. Harrison could admit that he was going to accept the ludicrous arrangement before he ran out to get to Kat.
“After your departure, I informed my mother of our arrangement and she wrote to your mother. The plans are in motion and we will wed on Twelfth Night. It’ll be grand,” she said it like Harrison had no say in his own life.
However, he did. It was his life, and he didn’t care if the earldom was saved or not. All he wanted was Kat.
