Merry tilted her head and eyed the spines of the books in front of her. An array of red, green, and blue leather, each lettered with gold spanned the entire wall in front of her. She sighed and turned to Mr. Jameson. “No new titles then?”

The shopkeeper shook his head. “You know I would tell you if there were, Lady Merry. Every time I visit London, I inquire for you.”

“I know.” She tried not to sigh again but she had been hoping that there was at least one book on Greek myths she had not read yet. Almost monthly, she visited the book shop in the center of the village in the hopes there might be something.

“You should read slower, my lady,” Mr. Jameson teased, his eyes creasing in the corners. “Or find another topic you feel so passionately about.”

“I know,” she repeated.

Her obsession with all things Greek had started as a child when she had run away from her governess and picked up a book on Greek myths. The adventure, the romance, the magic...it had all swept her away. It was not that she never read anything else, but nothing quite took her away from the world like those myths did.

“I shall be in London again soon, so I shall make some further inquiries,” he informed her. “We shall find you something new to read, don’t you worry.”

She smiled at the old man who had been selling her books since she was a little girl. “Thank you, Mr. Jameson. You are too good to me.”

“I cannot have my favorite customer disappointed now, can I, my lady?”

Before she could reply, the bell above the door rang and Arabella, Sophia, and Bella barreled into the shop.

“Not more books!” Bella rolled her eyes. “You have enough.” She reached for her hand. “Good day, Mr. Jameson,” she trilled before dragging her out of the shop. “Books are not what you need right now.”

Merry tugged her hand from Bella’s and folded her arms. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, you do not need to be tucking yourself away and reading. You need to be spending time with friends—”

“Is that not precisely what I am doing now?” Merry motioned to her three friends who had gathered in a circle around her.

“What Sophia is trying to say”—Arabella cut in—“is that we want to make sure you are well, and that perhaps some fresh air might do you some good.”

Merry uncrossed her arms and glanced around at the concerned faces. It had been a week since she’d buried her father and she had to admit she had not exactly been sociable. There had been a lot for her to mull over. But the strange empty feeling had already begun to ease. She was sorry he was dead and sorry they never had the relationship she had hoped for, but she had hers and Daniel’s future to think of now.

“You do not need to worry for me, I promise,” she assured them all. “I am a little numb to it perhaps, but I am well. I am not brooding, I promise.”

Arabella hooked her arm through Merry’s and they started down the main road of the village. Set back from the cliff edges and tucked between two hills, Lulworth consisted of mostly thatched cottages. Several of them were home to shops and at the end of the long road that dissected the village was a sizeable inn. For those who like London or Bath, it had little to offer, but for Merry, it was perfect. Her friends thought so too. Here they could avoid worrying about whether they would run into anyone important and what they would do if they did. None of them enjoyed those sorts of interactions.

“I am determined to be moved into the dower house before Daniel returns,” Merry explained as they strolled down the road in a row. “If he is to be taking on the title, he will have a lot to deal with and he does not need to be worrying about me or whether the dower house is ready.”

Arabella frowned. “There’s so much work to be done, though. Surely you would be better off waiting until he returns? Have you even looked inside the house recently? What if there are...I don’t know...holes in the roof?”

Chuckling, Merry shook her head. “I think it is quite sound, just a little dirty and unloved.”

“That sounds like Bella after she’s been tending to the pigs!” Sophia said.

Bella thrust out her tongue. “I shall have you know the pigs love me very much.”

“They’re the only ones who will,” Sophia teased.

“I did not come out here to be insulted. I thought we were here to support Merry.” Bella gave Sophia a gentle shove, sending her a few steps sideways.

Sophia nudged her back, knocking her into Arabella and then into Merry.

“Careful!!” Arabella exclaimed as she steadied herself.

“Do not forget that we have vowed to go without men,” Merry reminded them.

“Yes, we vowed not to marry them, but that does not mean we cannot ask them for help,” pointed out Arabella.

“Oh look, new bonnets!” Bella pointed toward the drapers.

They headed over and peered into the shop window. An array of new bonnets were indeed displayed. Feathered monstrosities and large brimmed hats filled the display, all in bright gaudy colors. Merry grimaced. “It looks as though Mrs. Bryce has been shopping again.”

Sophia nodded. “She always thinks she has the best taste in fashion.”

“Let us go try some on.” Bella darted into the shop before any of them could protest. Rolls of fabric were laid out on the center table and lined the shelves. Ribbons hung from above. Bella snatched up the biggest, ugliest bonnet she could find and plopped it on her head before posing. “What do you think?”

“Hideous,” Sophia said. “What was Mrs. Bryce thinking?” she murmured. “These are her worst yet.”

Bella picked up a wide-brimmed froth of lace and straw and dunked it on Merry’s head. “This looks like it was made for you.”

Merry almost staggered under the weight of the thing. She blew away a piece of lace that hung in front of her eye and tried to adjust it. She crossed her eyes. “I can hardly see out from underneath it!”

“Oh, but it does suit you so well.” Arabella giggled.

“It really does, my lady.” Mrs. Bryce stepped out from the rear room and Merry winced at her beatific expression. Round and short, Mrs. Bryce always dressed in what she considered to be the most fashionable clothes. Her color choices were never quite right, however, and always clashed with the perpetual ruddiness in her face.

Mrs. Bryce flicked her gaze over Merry. “It does not go so well with your mourning wear, but you should purchase it nonetheless. It will be something to look forward to wearing.”

“Oh, I do not think—” Merry paused, not quite willing to crush the woman’s hopeful expression. “Well, I suppose it would not hurt to own another bonnet. But I do think Bella should purchase hers as well, do you not think, Mrs. Bryce?”

A slight gasp emanated from Bella. Merry gave her a smug look.

The woman’s smile broadened. “I do indeed. You look quite well in that, Miss Bella.” Mrs. Bryce tilted her head “Almost...pretty.”

“Almost pretty,” Bella hissed. “What a compliment. If that bonnet makes me look almost pretty, I must be ugly indeed.”

Merry knew Bella considered herself untraditional. Her strong features were not what was fashionable but that did not make her ugly at all. It didn’t seem to matter how many times they told her that, though. Bella always dismissed their compliments and told them she did not care if she were the ugliest woman in the world. Merry was not so sure that was true.

Once they had paid for their bonnets, Bella snatched Merry’s and shoved it back on her head. “She needs to wear it right now, do you not think, Mrs. Bryce? It will make her feel so much better.”

Merry gave her friend’s ankle a tap with her boot and shot her a look.

“Indeed I do.” Mrs. Bryce beamed at her. “It really does wonders for your complexion and you do not want to gain anymore freckles now, do you, my lady?”

Merry held back a sigh and thanked the shopkeeper. “As soon as we are out of sight, I am losing this bonnet,” she muttered to Bella. “It’s quite windy today, is it not? What a shame it would be if it blew away into the sea.”

“Look how happy you made her, though,” Bella said, glancing back.

“I know.” She glanced back at Mrs. Bryce who had hustled away and could be heard humming to herself even from the door. Merry supposed she had at least done her good deed for the day.

As she pushed open the door, she tumbled into a chest—a strong, masculine chest that spanned her vision. She tried to peer up at the owner of the chest, but the ridiculous breadth of the bonnet prevented her from seeing anything but his cravat. She’d recognize that chuckle anywhere though.

“New bonnet?”

Merry divested herself of the thing immediately, clasping it in one hand. Harry smiled down at her and her stomach did that strange flip thing again. In shining hessians, breeches that clung to his thighs, and an elegantly embroidered navy waistcoat, he looked far more fashionable than she ever would, even without the bonnet.

She glanced at the man next to him who was dressed just as finely and had black hair and a blue gaze that was so bright and curious that she looked away immediately. “Um, yes.” Merry bit down on her lip and peered at her friends who were huddled behind her.

“It’s a little on the large side.”

She chuckled. “That is putting it tactfully. When did you get back?”

“Last night.” He motioned to his companion. “Please let me introduce my friend, Lord Thornford.”

“Oh, he’s the son of the Duke of Harington,” Bella hissed behind her, non-too-subtly.

Lord Thornford’s lips quirked. “A pleasure to meet you all. Please call me Griff.”

“Um. What brings you to Dorset, Lord, um, Griff?” asked Sophia.

“I wanted to see this wonderful village that Easton always talks about. I can see why he was eager to return home.” His gaze ran across all the women as he grinned.

Merry saw the color in her friends’ cheeks. It was not often they had a stranger in their midst, particularly spectacularly handsome ones, but they had to be as aware as she was that the rumors surrounding the Duke of Harington’s son were far worse than those surrounding Harry.

“How are you?” Harry asked her.

The concern in his eyes made her feel strangely soft inside. She found her gaze kept falling to his lips while she recalled how soft and warm they had been. By some miracle, she’d managed to forget that kiss. Until now. Until they were surrounded by their friends and he was right in front of her. She’d managed to convince herself she’d practically made it up, that it had been the chaste kiss of a concerned friend and that it did not light feelings that she had long suppressed.

“I...” Those feelings that were currently frothing forth, blanking her mind and making it impossible to say a word.

“She’s going to move into the dower house soon,” Bella spilled out. “Before Daniel returns.”

“Yes, thank you, Bella,” Merry said tightly.

Harry’s brows lifted. “The dower house? It’s a bit of a wreck, is it not?”

“I always intended to move there once Daniel returned, but I think it necessary to move before he comes home. He will have enough to be worrying about without having to set up my home,” she explained.

“And let me guess, you intend to do it all alone.” His lips curved.

“Well, not exactly...” Merry huffed. “I can manage you know. I am not completely helpless.”

He lifted a hand. “I would never imply such a thing, but if you need some help, I would be more than happy to lend a hand.”

“As would I,” offered Lord Thornford.

Merry shook her head vigorously. If he made her stomach flip simply by standing in front of her, she could not bear to have him helping her at the house.

“It might be useful...” Arabella started.

Merry shook her head again. “I’ll manage. My friends are going to help, are you not, ladies?”

Glances swung between them and they eventually all nodded.

“Um, yes, of course.” Arabella twined her hands together and color bloomed on her cheeks. Merry resisted the desire to roll her eyes. Arabella was the worst fibber, she really was.

Harcourt’s lips quirked. “Well, I shall like to see how things are coming along anyway. I shall see you soon, Merry. Have a good day, ladies.”

Lord Thornford bid them farewell with a tip of his hat, and both men strode down the street. Merry watched their confident walk as did her friends. Once he vanished, she eyed Bella.

“You did not need to tell him about the house, you know.”

Bella held up her hands. “I did not think it was some great secret. Besides, I thought you considered Lord Easton your friend. Why should he not know?”

“Because well...well...” Because he had kissed her. Because it felt strange. Because she was scared that she might want another kiss. This was not how it was meant to be. Sophia was right, Harry was her brother’s friend—and nothing more. He had kissed her to comfort her, and she was a fool to think anything more of it.

“You should have accepted his help, Merry,” said Arabella. “You could probably clear the house in half the time with a strong man to help.”

“And Lord Harcourt Easton is certainly strong,” giggled Sophia.

“So is Lord Thornford,” added Bella. “So strong.”

“Have you forgotten everything we said?” snapped Merry. “No men. We made vows!”

“Yes, not to marry them. It does not mean we cannot admire a muscle or two,” Sophia said saucily. “If you had once been married to a dry old stick of a man, you might wish to admire muscles too.”

Merry pressed her lips together and tried not to laugh. How Sophia had ever survived a marriage to such a man, she did not know, but she was grateful she had come out of the match with her sense of humor intact.

“No matter how muscular a man is, we do not need them,” Merry determined. “We shall fix the dower house ourselves. We do not need men.”