Page 57 of The Earl and the Reluctant Lady
Mattresses, positioned side by side, padded the floor. A myriad of weaponry graced the top of a table. And then it hit Agnes. Lord Davenport knew about their group. Agnes smacked Harriet on the arm. “He knows?” she hissed.
Harriet grimaced. “I’ll explain later.”
“Miss Watkins, have no fear, your secret is safe with me.” He walked toward them, then his wintery eyes settled on Harriet. “You may continue your training here without the concern that anyone will discover you. This area is off-limits to everyone save the two of you,” he said.
Despite her initial caution, Agnes could not hide her glee. “This is marvelous, my lord. Thank you.” Besides, she couldn’t chastise Harriet when Fletcher also knew of their group.
“Now then, I shall leave you to it.” He stopped right next to Harriet. “Know that when you are my wife, you will have access to this and any other resource you need. I wish not to change anything about you.” Then he whispered something for only her ears.
Harriet stared at the closed doors, her mouth gaping open.
Agnes bumped her friend’s hip with her own.
“Why would he do this?” Harriet asked.
“Because he quite obviously likes you,” Agnes said.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No, you’re ridiculous.” Agnes slipped off her shoes and bounced a bit on the mattresses to test their give. This was precisely what she needed. A physical outlet that might help her overcome her obsessive thoughts about Fletcher. Or at the very least, keep them at bay for an hour or two. Then she remembered something she’d overheard the night before. “Do you know that I heard the most extraordinary thing about Lord Davenport?”
Harriet’s eyes widened. “And you haven’t told me yet?”
“I haven’t had a chance.” They sat facing each other on the mattresses. “His overspending serves a greater purpose.”
“That makes no sense.” Harriet shook her head as if to shake off the words themselves.
“Actually, it does. His ties to Benedict’s. Rumor has it that they grew up together and lived near each other. Oliver’s father, a marquess, convinced Benedict’s father, a baron, to make a certain investment. They lost everything. Benedict’s father had to sell the title and small estate. Davenport is reported to have funded Benedict’s gaming hell and then ensured it became the most popular club so that his friend would regain his own family’s lost fortune.”
Harriet sucked in a breath.
“They also said that he did the design of this house, to rebuild it, and did much of the labor himself,” Agnes continued. Her friend’s cheeks had turned a pretty shade of pink.
“Perhaps I have misjudged him,” Harriet whispered.
“Perhaps. Do you want to talk about it?” Agnes asked.
Harriet shook her head.
Agnes sprang to her feet. “Shall we practice then?”
“Yes.”
“Should we invite Justine and Tilly?”
Harriet shook her head. “I can’t imagine that they would be upset, but I’d rather they not know that Lord Davenport is aware of our group. So many members blamed Iris for the exposure in Lord Ashby’s newspaper.”
Agnes hid a wince considering both of their friends knew that Fletcher was in on their secret. “Yes, I believe you’re right.”
After warming up, Harriet and Agnes sparred for several moments before either of them spoke again. “I have missed this,” Agnes said. “I do hope we uncover Lady X’s identity soon so that we can return to our duties.”
“Indeed. That woman has ruined everything for us. Before we know it, pickpockets will have the run of Bond Street,” Harriet said.
“Perhaps Iris and Lord Ashby are having some fortune uncovering the woman’s identity,” Agnes said.
“Or they’re busy planning their wedding.”
“As you could be planning your own,” Agnes said.
Harriet scoffed. “He doesn’t truly want to marry me.”
She wondered how her friend could be so very blind. It was quite evident that Lord Davenport was rather smitten with her, but Harriet refused to see it. If there was enduring love, she knew her Harriet would be the one to find it. No one deserved it more.
Agnes felt a pang of jealousy. A ridiculous feeling since she didn’t even want to get married. Still she wanted to know what passion felt like. Unrestrained, unguarded passion. She was likely a fool that she was considering her mother’s advice. She wanted one night in the arms of the man she desired more than anything.
