Ravished (35 page)

"Excellent. Just in time for a ride in the park."

Harriet scowled. "Felicity, please tell his lordship that I do not feel like a drive in the park today."

Felicity hid a grin as she looked at Gideon. "My sister says to tell you that—"

"I heard," Gideon murmured, his eyes on Harriet. "Nevertheless, I wish to ride in the park this afternoon and I know she will want to accompany me. I am most anxious to see her mounted on her new mare."

"What new mare?" Harriet demanded. Then she realized she had addressed the question to Gideon. She rounded on her sister quickly. "Ask his lordship about this new mare he mentioned."

"Good grief," Effie muttered. "I cannot believe this. It is ridiculous."

Felicity, however, was enjoying the game. "My sister is curious about the new mare, sir."

"Yes, I imagine she is. Tell her that the mare arrived in our stables yesterday and she will see her for herself when she joins me for a ride in the park this afternoon."

Harriet glowered at him. "Felicity, kindly tell my husband that I will not be bribed."

Felicity opened her mouth to relay the warning, but Gideon forestalled her. He held up a hand.

"I understand. My wife does not wish me to think I am trying to get her to break her silence with the gift of the mare. Please assure her I have no such intention. The mare was purchased before she stopped speaking to me, so she need have no qualms about riding her."

Harriet flashed him an uncertain glance and then looked at Felicity. "Tell his lordship I thank him for the mare, but I do not feel today would be a good time for me to go riding with him. We would not be able to converse and the ride would be quite tedious."

"She says—" Felicity began.

"Yes, I heard," Gideon said. "The thing is, if I go riding in the park alone today after what happened last night, people will most certainly talk I shall be the subject of a great deal of unpleasant speculation. It is even possible that some will say I am beating my wife."

"Rubbish," Harriet snapped to Felicity.

"I am not so certain about that," Gideon said thoughtfully. "People expect the worst from the Beast of Blackthorne Hall. Beating his wife would be perfectly in keeping with the rumors about him. And after Rushton's dire predictions and accusations last night, everyone will definitely be waiting for the worst to happen. Don't you agree, Mrs. Ashecombe?"

Effie gave him a thoughtful look. "Yes. Very probably. One thing is for certain, there will be no lack of gossip today. What with one thing and another, the two of you have managed to make yourselves notorious."

Harriet gritted her teeth, alarmed at the possibility that he was right. People were always willing to believe the worst of Gideon and he did nothing to stop them. Last night she had actually added to the scandalbroth that always swirled around him. If she was not seen with him today, the rumors of a rift between them would be rampant.

"Very well." Harriet lifted her chin. "Felicity, you may inform his lordship that I shall join him this afternoon for a ride in the park."

"I am pleased to hear it, my dear," Gideon murmured.

Effie rolled her eyes. "I have had enough of this crazed conversation. Let us be off."

"Certainly." Harriet led the way out of the library. She refused to look back at Gideon because she knew he was silently laughing at her.

A few minutes later, when Effie and Felicity were seated across from Harriet in the carriage, Felicity succumbed to a burst of giggles.

"I fail to see what is so amusing," Harriet grumbled.

"How long can you maintain this pose of not talking to him?" Felicity demanded. "I was told on the dance floor last night by several of my partners that there are bets being placed in the clubs. Everyone is trying to guess the exact length of time the Quarrel will last."

"It is no one's business," Harriet retorted.

Effie gave her a severe frown. "If that is the case, you should have kept your Quarrel private."

"It was impossible to do so," Harriet said. "Gideon insists on provoking me at every turn. Just as he did in the library a few minutes ago. He refuses to respect the fact that I am not speaking to him."

Effie eyed her curiously. "You cannot be surprised to learn that Society is finding this all quite fascinating. Your husband has always been a source of gossip."

"I know," Harriet admitted.

"Attacking Rushton as you did last night has just added another dollop of excitement to the rumors."

Harriet scowled. "Rushton called St. Justin a beast again. I cannot abide it when anyone calls him by that horrid name."

"This is the first time we have had an opportunity to see you alone," Felicity said, leaning forward intently. "And I have been dying to know just why it is you are not speaking to St. Justin. Does it have anything to do with these rumors of a challenge we have been hearing? What is going on, Harriet?"

Harriet looked at her sister and her aunt and nearly broke into tears. "You have heard about the duel?"

"Everyone has heard," Felicity assured her. "For heaven's sake St. Justin chose Fry and Applegate for his seconds. Neither one of them could keep silent. They are both far too taken with the notion of themselves as men of the world now."

"It is absolutely outrageous," Effie complained. "A duel is supposed to be conducted in some secrecy, for goodness' sake."

"There are always rumors about duels," Felicity pointed out.

"Yes, but in this case the matter has virtually become a public spectacle. The entire world knows about it."

"Oh, dear." Harriet groped for a handkerchief in her reticule. "It is all so awful I am so afraid St. Justin will be shot or forced to flee the country. And all because of Mr. Morland. He is not worth a duel. I have explained that to St. Justin, but he refuses to call it off."

Effie gazed at her thoughtfully. "Is that why you are not speaking to your husband? You are angry with him for risking his neck in a duel?"

Harriet nodded morosely. "Yes. And it is all my fault, in a way."

Felicity leaned back in the seat. "St Justin challenged Morland because of something Morland said to you? Is that what happened?"

Harriet sighed. "It was a bit more than just an insult, I'll grant you. Nevertheless—"

"How much more than just an insult?" Effie demanded.

"Mr. Morland attacked me, if you must know the truth." Harriet saw the horror in her aunt's eyes and hastened to reassure her. "But there was no great harm done. Except to Mr. Morland. I dropped a rather large stone on his head. But St. Justin refuses to let the matter rest."

"I should think not," Effie retorted. "This news changes everything. Of course St. Justin must do something."

"Oh, Harriet," Felicity breathed. "St. Justin is going to fight a duel over your honor I think that is terribly romantic."

"Well, I do not," Harriet snapped. "I have got to find a way to prevent it."

"He must love you very much," Felicity observed, eyes filled with wonder.

Harriet grimaced. "It is not that at all. It is simply that St. Justin takes his honor very seriously."

"And as you are his wife, your honor is tied to his own," Felicity said softly.

"Unfortunately, yes." Harriet straightened with resolve. "But I will find a way to stop this stupid duel. I have already taken steps."

"Steps?"

"This morning before you arrived I sent for assistance."

Effie stared at her. "What sort of assistance?"

"St. Justin's parents," Harriet said with satisfaction. "I dispatched a note to them informing them that something dreadful was about to happen. I am certain they will help me find a way to end this matter. After all, St. Justin is their only son and heir. They will not want him risking his neck in a duel any more than I do."

The rumors of the duel and the Quarrel and Harriet's attack on Rushton were not only titillating the
ton
. Harriet discovered that afternoon that they were also the talk of the Fossil and Antiquities Society meeting.

Fry and Applegate, both looking solemn and extremely important, assumed the stature of Dashing Men of Action the moment they walked into Lady Youngstreet's drawing room. Everyone edged close to the duo in hopes of picking up a crumb of information.

"Matter of honor," Fry declared in grave tones. "Cannot discuss it further, of course. Very serious matter. Very serious indeed."

"Absolutely cannot talk about it," Applegate said. "Quite certain you all understand. Can only say St. Justin is dealing with this as a gentleman. Afraid I cannot say the same about the other party involved. Refuses to see us or name his seconds."

Harriet, who was sitting on the sofa, overheard Applegate's remark and brightened slightly. She wondered desperately if that meant Morland would manage to find a way to call off the duel. Perhaps he would send his apology to Gideon. She leaned forward, straining to hear more from Applegate.

Unfortunately, Lady Youngstreet chose that moment to sit down beside her. She gave Harriet a droll wink. Harriet realized she had already had a nip of her afternoon sherry.

"Well, well, well, my girl," Lady Youngstreet said grandly. "That was quite a production you staged last night. Flew at Rushton like a little tigress, you did."

"He called St. Justin a beast," Harriet said defensively.

Lady Youngstreet tilted her head thoughtfully to one side. "Do you know, I was never particularly aware of Rushton until lately. Don't believe he had the blunt go into Society much. But one sees him everywhere these days, doesn't one?"

"Yes," Harriet muttered. "One does."

The more people talked about the duel, the more ominous and inevitable it all became. It was clear to Harriet that her campaign to change Gideon's mind by refusing to speak to him was not working. She wondered gloomily if she should drop the tactic.

He did not even seem to notice her anger.

That afternoon when he helped her mount her beautiful new mare, he conducted a pleasant, one-sided conversation just as if Harriet were responding normally.

"Well, then, what do you think of her? The two of you make an excellent pair." Gideon tossed Harriet lightly up onto the saddle and then stepped back to admire the sight of her perched on the mare. He nodded his satisfaction. "Stunning, in fact."

Harriet, dressed in a ruby red habit with a perky red hat on her thick hair, could hardly keep silent. The little Arabian was truly beautiful. Harriet had never in her life ridden such an elegant horse. She patted the sleek neck in wonder.

Gentle, intelligent, and well-mannered, the mare pranced cheerfully along beside Gideon's massive bay stallion. The Arabian was clearly not the least intimidated by the bay's size.

Harriet was acutely aware of the stares as they rode into the park. She knew she and Gideon probably made a riveting couple, not only because of the gossip that surrounded them, but because of the picture they made together on horseback.
A knight astride his destrier on an outing with his lady on her palfrey
, she thought whimsically.

Harriet was so struck by the image that she almost broke her vow of silence to tell Gideon about it. Her lips parted on the words and then she firmly sealed them.

Gideon smiled blandly. "I know this business of being silent must be extremely hard on you, my dear. And completely unnecessary. You have said yourself I am inordinately stubborn. You are not likely to change my mind with your silence."

Harriet glowered at him and knew he was right. The man was impossibly stubborn. She gave up the campaign of silence with a sense of relief mixed with annoyance.

"You are correct, my lord," she said crisply. "You are extremely stubborn. But you do have excellent taste in horses." She smiled happily down at her beautiful mare.

"Thank you, my dear," Gideon said humbly. "It is always nice to know one is useful for some purpose."

"I have a great many purposes for you, my lord. But you will not be of any use to me at all if you get yourself killed in this stupid duel." She turned to him impulsively. "Gideon, you must not go through with this thing."

Gideon's mouth curved. "You are certainly persistent, madam. I will tell you once again there is nothing to concern you in this. Everything is under control. Try to have some trust in your poor husband."

"It is not a question of trust, it is a question of common sense." Harriet gazed straight ahead over her mare's ears. "Allow me to tell you that you are not displaying any at the moment." A sudden thought struck her "Gideon, is there something going on here I do not know about? Are you by any chance concocting one of your mysterious schemes?"

"I have a plan, my dear. I usually do. That is all I am prepared to say at the moment."

"Tell me about it," Harriet demanded.

"No," said Gideon.

"Why not? I am your wife. You can trust me."

"It is not a matter of trust." Gideon smiled briefly. "It is a matter of common sense."

Harriet frowned at him. "You do not think I can keep a secret? I am insulted, sir."

"It is not that, my dear. It is just that in this instance, I am convinced it would be best if no one besides myself knew what was planned."

"But you have taken Applegate and Fry into your confidence," Harriet protested.

"Only partially into my confidence. Forgive me, my sweet. But I am accustomed to dealing with things on my own. It is an old habit."

"You have a wife now," she reminded him.

"Believe me, I am well aware of that."

Two evenings later when Harriet entered the Lambsdales' ballroom, she heard the buzz of anticipation and knew she was in for more of the maddening gossip. It was starting to make her frantic.

There had been no sign of Gideon's parents yet. She was beginning to wonder if her message had gone awry or if the animosity between Gideon and his father was so great that the earl would not deign to come to his son's assistance even in a matter of life and death. Or perhaps the earl was not feeling well enough to travel.

There were all sorts of explanations, but the end result was that she was dealing with the disaster of the impending duel alone.