Chapter 14
Harry stared across the opera, wishing they hadn’t had to leave the box. A restlessness swept over her as she studied Rob and the Duke of Drake. Rob was clearly annoyed. He’d acted strangely, well more strangely than previously.
Given their kiss just the day before, she supposed she wasn’t surprised. But, how did she explain to him that she would not forget what had transpired between them, even if he could?
Except. . . she’d felt his gaze burn upon her the moment he and Drake had entered their box. He wasn’t indifferent to her. And she was determined to find out what was amiss with him.
Was it foolish to pursue it?
Her heart hammered in her ribs.
Perhaps it was foolish. But there was no question that the voice, deep within her, she’d always followed without second thought was urging her to choose. . . Rob.
Such a thing never would have occurred to her but a short time ago. Now? Ever since the night of her presentation, he had dominated her thoughts and whenever he was near, she felt alive in a way she never had. And she knew he felt something akin to it, too.
She would not let that go without some investigation and she wasn’t satisfied with his answers regarding the highwayman business.
Even though she knew, technically, it was none of her affair, the Gentleman Highwayman had rescued her and her mother. . . and she’d been fascinated by him since the moment she read of him the papers. Rob had also meant so much to her when she’d been a child. She could not imagine simply cutting him out of her life, now that he had entered it again with such intensity.
She gripped her ivory-handled fan, focusing on the carved ridge.
“You’re staring, my dear.”
“Pardon?” Harry asked far too quickly as she snapped her gaze away from Rob. Opening her fan in one sweep, she waved it rapidly.
Just as her mother was about to comment, Eglantine fairly bounced into the box, lush hair curling about her face. Her pink striped, silk gown skimmed her curvaceous body and she gave a quick curtsey.
Harry’s mother indicated an empty chair beside them.
Eglantine lowered herself to the blue silk cushion and leaned forward. “I do hope you’ll forgive me, but I had to escape my mother. I adore her but she does keep pointing out all the most boring gentlemen.”
“Wealthy gentlemen?” Harry’s mother teased lightly.
“Well, yes,” Eglantine agreed. “But they do all seem to have fewer wits than titles.”
“Titles have not been synonymous with wit since before the Stuarts,” Harriet’s mother sighed.
Eglantine grinned then her eyes widened. “I saw you speaking with the Duke of Drake.”
Harry nodded. “Yes, he’s a friend of my brother’s.”
“But is he not frightening?”
“Not a bit!” Harry replied. “Well, perhaps a little. He does have the ability to look at one as if he could slay a person with a glance.”
Eglantine nodded. “Exactly. He can make the most determined matchmaker slink away in terror.” Suddenly Eglantine arched a brow. “Have you decided on a duke then?”
Harry piped a sound of warning which was lost behind her fan, but her mother did turn to them.
“A duke?” her mother asked.
“Have I made a faux pas?” Eglantine asked, her cheeks flushing. “You two have no secrets, and I simply thought after you danced with the Duke of Blackstone and now you were visiting him in his box—”
“He is an old family friend, as you know,” the dowager duchess said.
Eglantine’s pink lips pursed. “Well yes, but—”
Harry widened her eyes at her friend, wondering why the devil she’d decided to put her foot in it. Had Eglantine surmised that there was something between her and Rob? It certainly seemed so.
Out of the corner of her eye, though she desperately wished she could look more closely, she spotted Rob slip out of the Duke of Drake’s box.
“Eglantine?” she said suddenly. “Would you accompany me to the cloakroom? Is that all right, Mama?”
The dowager duchess nodded. “Of course, off you go. My favorite act is about to begin.”
Harriet stood quickly, smoothing her skirts, and all but seized Eglantine’s arm as she led her out into the hallway.
“I say, I can walk on my own, you know.”
“I do know,” Harriet hissed. “But I need you to do something for me.”
Eglantine stopped and gave her wary look. “I’m your dearest friend. So, of course, I will help you. But—”
“No buts,” Harriet whispered. “I want you to tell Mama that I was feeling unwell and asked the footman to escort me home.”
“You wish me to lie to your mother?” Eglantine asked, as if Harry had asked her to charge into battle.
She gave a tight nod.
Eglantine’ mouth suddenly made a perfect O. “You’re not about to ruin yourself are you?”
Harry bit her lower lip, contemplating a lie but she couldn’t do it. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know!”
Harry scowled. “I’ve no intention of being caught.”
Eglantine groaned. “You were always too bold for your own good. I thought you wished to make a good marriage.”
“I do. And I will. Never you worry. Now, I must dash.” Harriet gave her friend a quick kiss on the cheek and bustled down the quiet hall and headed to the stairs which led down to the waiting coaches outside.
She had to hurry if she was going to follow her impulse. That impulsiveness had never led her wrong in the past and, well, she wasn’t about to start ignoring it now. Not when she was certain that her future depended on it.