Page 21 of A Virgin for the Rakish Duke

My God, she is quite magnificent when she is angry. Those eyes sparkle so. I am almost tempted to continue making her angry just to see the color rise in her cheeks and those eyes dance as though they were green flames.

“Very well. I lied to preserve both of our reputations. You would have come off far worse than I had the Winchesters’ discovered our predicament—”

“A predicament entirely ofyourchoosing,” she shot back.

“Conceded!” he snapped, not enjoying being interrupted.

Harriet glanced at him, and he fought to control his irritation.

I need her far more than she needs me.

“Conceded,” he repeated in a smoother tone, “and I apologize. Truly, I believed you to be another, andshewould have been entirely consenting to the game I had in mind, I assure you.”

Harriet sniffed, lifting her chin. “Would that other happen to beEloise de Rouvroy?”

Jeremy’s head whipped toward her. The Dowager Countess had stopped and was sitting on a bench. Beecham hovered beside her, but his eyes were on the approaching couple.

“Yes—how did you know?” Jeremy asked under his breath.

“Because she sought me out a few days ago and threatened me togive you up. Threatened my reputation, and my brother's,” Harriet muttered, “which, as I'm sure you can imagine, I shan’t tolerate.”

Jeremy gritted his teeth in frustration.

“I will speak to her. She will not follow through on those threats.”

“She seemed serious to me,” Harriet pointed out.

“Then I will persuade her otherwise,” he gritted between his teeth. “Lady Harriet—Harriet, I need your help.”

Harriet glanced at him, but they were now within earshot of the butler. She smiled instead.

“These steps lead to the water-garden that is being built for us. It might be muddy and unsightly.”

“I'm sure I will manage, Lady Harriet. My compliments to your brother. The gardens are a credit to you both,” Jeremy replied.

“Oh, dear, I think I have come as far as I can go,” the Dowager Countess huffed, her voice trembling slightly.

Harriet sat on the bench beside her, taking her hands. “Grandmama, are you quite well? You look pale.”

“Too much exertion too early in the morning. I must learn to pace myself. I will return to the house, but the three of you can go on and inspect the water gardens.”

She patted Harriet's hand and rose, but immediately wavered as though dizzy. Jeremy darted forward and caught her arm. Harriet caught the other, and they guided her back to the bench.

“I do not think you should be walking anywhere alone,” Jeremy said with concern.

“Beecham, escort the Dowager Countess back to the house,” Harriet ordered.

The butler hesitated, his gaze snapping between the Dowager Countess and Harriet as though torn.

“Now, man!” Jeremy barked, “Unless you care to have Ralph’s ire bearing down on you when he returns.”

“Of—of course, Your Grace,” the butler stammered.

The Dowager Countess pushed herself to the edge of the bench and lifted a hand to the butler. She peeked at Jeremy briefly and winked with a sly smile. Then, as Beecham helped her up, she gave a moan and appeared to sway. The butler took a firm hold about her waist to hold her up.

“I shall be fine once I have a seat inside and a hot cup of sweet tea,” she said in a voice that seemed on the verge of the grave.

Beecham led her away, too occupied with keeping her upright to look back at Jeremy and Harriet.