Lady Blue (13 page)

“Whatever you wish, Harmony.”

It wasn’t long before they reached the point on the road where the coach could go no farther. Anthony didn’t wait for Sneed but opened the door and handed Harmony down himself.

“Just wait for us, please, Sneed. I’m not sure how long we’ll be.”

“Of course, Lord … Farmington.”

Harmony had dressed carefully that morning, in a gown of yellow muslin sprigged with pink rosebuds that grew from green-leafed stems. Her slippers matched and made it difficult to walk down a hill slick with summer grass. Anthony noticed.

“May I help you?”

She feared his touch. It made it so much harder to think straight. But neither did she wish to land on her bottom and go sliding down the hill.

“Thank you.”

He put one arm around her waist and curled his free hand around her fingers. He was entirely too close. At the bottom of the hill, near the willow, she promptly extricated herself from his grasp.

“We have to talk.”

“So you said.”

The rushing of the little river was musical. A breeze puffed, rustling the hanging boughs of the willow and blowing a long strand of dark hair across Anthony’s forehead. He pushed it behind his ear and smiled patiently.

Harmony had thought it would help her to return to this magical spot. She had felt so comfortable, and she was sure of their privacy. So why did she find it so difficult to speak? Irritated with herself, she cleared her throat.

“I want to be honest with you about why I came out with you today,” Harmony began eventually.

“I respect your honesty,” Anthony replied simply.

“Do you?” When Anthony remained silent, Harmony experienced a twinge of guilt. She reminded herself she had every right to question his honesty and forged on. “I feel betrayed by you, Anthony. But I have also been betrayed by my sister. Since she is my only living relative, and you and I are scarcely acquainted, I feel her betrayal is the greater. I am entirely alone in England but for you and Agatha. Therefore, I must now turn to you.”

Anthony’s expression remained perfectly sober and composed. “I told you before that I loved you. Whether you believe it or not, it is the truth. I would do anything for you, Harmony. You only need to tell me what you wish.”

How she wished she could believe him. Perhaps just one little test.

“Yesterday you told my sister you had to leave because you had to travel to London so you could leave from there early in the morning to travel somewhere else on business. I had thought that meant I would not see you today. Yet, here you are. Did you lie to my sister yesterday?”

“To get away, yes. Certainly. I certainly did tell a lie.”

Once again, Harmony cleared her throat, both to stall and gather her thoughts, and to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You’ll recall,” she continued at last, “I told you my parents left my inheritance in my sister’s care until I attained majority. Their wills also dictated I live with her until that time.”

Anthony nodded.

“Well, I … I’ve discovered that Agatha has discretion over my inheritance. She need not give it to me at all. At least, so she told me. According to her solicitor the terms of the will were broad enough to leave room for interpretation.”

Anthony knitted his brow. “Did the two of you have an argument?”

“How did you know?”

“You told me she hadn’t believed you were kidnapped, that you concocted the event to extort money from her. That doesn’t sound like something a loving sister would say. I imagine, in fact, that she’s quite hard on you.”

“You’re so right.” Harmony had to swallow back a sudden lump in her throat. “She’s told me that she will never exercise her discretion to give me my money.

She says I haven’t the judgment or moral character to handle it.”

Seeing the tears well in her eyes, Anthony longed to reach for her, crush her to his chest, and make all the evils in her world go away. He also knew how tentative the moment was, how fragile. Beyond all reason, all hope, he had been given a second chance. He wasn’t going to destroy it.

“We can fight her, Harmony,” Anthony replied calmly. “I know people who can help.”

“In the meantime, how and where would I live? I wouldn’t be able to live with my sister if I brought the fight with her out into the open. And I have no money to live anywhere else.”

“Harmony—”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s only Agatha who thinks I’m lacking morally. If I were to accept
anything
from you … anything at all … what would the rest of the world think?”

Anthony dropped his gaze. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He lifted his eyes once again. “But I think you have something in mind. Please tell me what it is.”

Harmony curled her fingers and pressed her fingernails into her palms. “I told you I was going to be honest with you. Totally honest.”

“And I told you I respect your honesty.”

“I hope you still do when I’m finished.” Harmony looked away for a moment at the silvery water rushing between the sloping, grassy banks. She took a deep breath. “My sister told me the only way I could escape my dilemma would be to marry. As much as I am loath to admit it, she’s absolutely right.”

“Harmony, I—!”

“No.” She pulled away when Anthony tried to take her hands. “Please don’t say anything you might regret.”

Anthony had to clasp his hands behind his back to keep from reaching for her again. He made a concerted effort to keep his voice as calm as possible.

“I haven’t regretted a single thing I’ve said so far,” Anthony said quietly. “I know, I understand, why you can’t trust what I say. But it’s true nonetheless. I love you. I’ll marry you if—”

“Please, Anthony, don’t say it!” Harmony put her hands to her ears. “Please,” she begged. The uncomfortable lump had returned to her throat. She bit her lip until she tasted blood.

“I … I have feelings for you,” she went on finally. “I won’t deny it. But I can’t trust those feelings any more than I can trust you. I … I want … I need … time. Do you understand?”

“Time,” Anthony repeated slowly. “You mean … time with me?”

Harmony nodded hesitantly. “I won’t lie to you.

If Agatha hadn’t told me what she did, I would never have wanted to have anything to do with you again. But … here we are. You’re my only way out of an impossible situation. The way my sister lives, I know I’ll not be able to meet many other people. I have to rely on you.”

Anthony felt as if he might snap, the tension was strung in him so tightly. “You want to go out with me to … meet other people?”

“Yes,” Harmony replied. “I know of no other way. My sister said I should pursue you and get you to marry me because you are a lord, wealthy and socially desirable. I could never use someone like that. I could never be so dishonest.”

Anthony winced as if he had been stung. It gave Harmony no pleasure.

“If you were my escort, however, with the entrée you have into society as a lord, I might—”

“Meet someone suitable,” Anthony finished for her. It was difficult keeping the bitterness from his voice. “Someone who doesn’t play … games.”

“That’s right.” Harmony felt her heart might break in two. But she had to say it. What he had done was outrageous. And now she could say what else she had to say.

“Or,” Harmony said softly, a tremor in her voice, “I might find that I am able to trust you … and my feelings for you.”

Anthony didn’t move a muscle. He wasn’t sure he could. He wanted to savor the moment, make it last forever. Because every step he took from now on was going to be a treacherous one. The present, this moment, now, might be the only moment of happiness he would ever know with Harmony again.

Why was he looking at her like that? Had she said the wrong thing after all? Had she been wrong to believe, even a little, that he had told the truth when he had told her he loved her? Had she made a fool of herself?

Anthony had spent many hours hunting. He knew the look of a frightened deer that was poised to flee. He knew the exact second to loose his weapon.

Harmony had no time to react. One minute he was standing before her; in the next he had taken her face in his hands, gently, ever so gently. His eyes closed as he lowered his lips to hers.

It was as it had been before. She was burning. The instant his mouth closed on hers she became a pillar of fire. Quite against her own will, her own determination, she melted into the embrace, let her body sink against his, longed to feel the hard, masculine length of him.

It was over as quickly as a flame might consume a sheet of dry, brittle paper. Anthony held her at arm’s length.

“I won’t press you, now or ever,” he said, voice husky. “I’ll do exactly as you ask. I would do anything, risk anything, to bring you happiness.” Although he knew the difficulty, and the danger, of what he pledged with all his heart and soul, he was powerless to do otherwise.

She could hardly catch her breath. She didn’t even think about the meaning of his words.

“I … I think we should go back,” Harmony mumbled. She turned before Anthony could reply and started back up the hill.

L
ike a very large dog, Maggie wiggled all over with delight when she greeted her favorite customers.

“Tony! What’re ye doin’ back here s’soon, me luv?”

“Hello, Maggie.”

“An’ all dressed up, y’are. Look at yerself!”

“Look at
yourself,
Maggie. Beautiful as ever.” Anthony leaned over the bar and kissed the blushing woman on the cheek. She giggled.

“Are ye stayin'? Or did ye just come by t’give ol’ Maggie a kiss?”

“It appears my business is going to take a little longer than I thought, Maggie. Can you put us up again?”

“You’ll be wantin’ yer same room, I expect.” Without waiting for a reply, Maggie reached under the bar for a key. “You, too, Mr. Sneed?”

The man nodded, expression dour.

“Here y’go then.”

Sneed caught the key Maggie tossed in his direction and followed Anthony up the narrow flight of stairs. Once in the second floor corridor, he put a hand on Anthony’s shoulder.

“Don’t say anything, old friend,” Anthony said quickly.

“Just tell my why. The world is full of women.”

“Not like this one.” Anthony opened the door to his rooms and stepped inside, Sneed on his heels. “I’m certain this one will prove to be the one I’ve been searching for.”

“You’re taking a very big risk,” Sneed said when Anthony had closed and locked the door. “This is the longest time you’ve ever spent in this area.”

“It’s going to become longer still.”

“Someone is bound to recognize you sooner or later. It will change everything.”

Anthony sighed. “Maybe things are meant to change. Maybe the way I’ve been living my life isn’t such a good idea after all.”

“Might I say it’s been highly effective?”

“You may.” Anthony smiled ruefully. “I’ve been successful, I’ll admit. I’ve gotten almost everything I want. Everything except for what I want most.”

“I daresay you think you’ve found it now, however. Haven’t you?”

Anthony nodded slowly. “She’s worth the risk, Sneed. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

Sneed lowered his gaze, then looked up from under his ponderous brow. “The biggest risk you’re taking is with the young woman herself, you know. How is she going to react when she finds out you’ve continued to deceive her?”

“I’ll deal with that when the time comes, Sneed. In the meanwhile, I’ve got to make plans to accommodate the young lady’s … wishes.”

“For you to be her escort into society, you mean?” This time Sneed lifted his brows.

“Exactly.” Anthony turned and gazed out the window for a long moment. “Contact Applegate, Hall, and Turner. I can trust them. Have them arrange a … an evening.”

“Very well. And then?”

Anthony clapped the man on the back. “Then you can fetch our things upstairs, and I’ll buy you a drink.”

“A dinner party?”

Agatha smiled unctuously. “I thought I would give you the opportunity to be the first.”

Lady Margaret Donnelly fingered the long ropes of pearls that lay across her ample bosom and gazed about at the opulent splendor of her parlor. With a feeling of immense satisfaction she smiled tightly at Agatha in return.

“His name is … Lord Farmington … you say?”

“Anthony Allen, Lord Farmington. Surely you’ve heard of him.”

“I can’t actually say that I have. Ah, here’s our tea.” Lady Margaret indicated a gallery table to the right of her plush, gold-brocaded armchair. “Set it there, please. I’ll pour.”

The maid did as she was bid and withdrew from the sumptuously appointed room, footsteps silent on the pale green and gold Aubusson carpet. When she withdrew from the salon she pulled the doors closed behind her.

Lady Margaret gave a single brief nod, touching one of her chins to her silk-clad bosom, and with a practiced hand, served tea from the elegant silver service. She held up a Limoges cup.

“One lump or two?”

“Two please.

Dainty silver tongs nearly disappeared in her meaty hand, but she handled the instrument skillfully and deposited the lumps in Agatha’s cup.

“Cream or lemon?”

“Lemon. Thank you, Lady Margaret.” Agatha held her pinkie out daintily to sip her tea. “Excellent,” she pronounced. “No one makes it like you, Lady Margaret, I must say.”

Lady Margaret made a satisfied noise that came from somewhere deep in her overly generous bosom. “You’re too kind. But tell me more of this … Lord Farmington.”

Agatha set her cup on a small, gilt table and folded her hands in her lap. “Well, you’re simply not going to believe how we met him,” Agatha began. With undisguised relish, she described the holdup of the coach on the journey back from London.

“How horrible!” Lady Margaret exclaimed. “And a sapphire ring was stolen, you say?”

“From my poor, dear sister. Yes, indeed.” Crocodile tears filled Agatha’s eyes. They disappeared as she related Lord Farmington’s fortuitous discovery of the purloined item. “Can you imagine?”

“Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Not to mention the luck involved. The scoundrel who stole it was not only base but clumsy to have dropped the ring. And how clever of Lord Farmington to go at once to the authorities upon its discovery.”