Page 55 of A Virgin for the Rakish Duke
“My parents are impressed with Lady Harriet,” Simon nodded, “though they are worried about your former... bachelor lifestyle.”
“Behind me. A thing of the past,” Jeremy shrugged.
“I'm glad to hear it. Tell me, what do you think of the merits of what I said about partnerships?” Simon continued.
“It very much depends on the men,” Jeremy replied.
“My parents are of the belief that two heads are always better than one.”
Jeremy sat back, watching Simon shrewdly, then looking at Harriet. She was conscious of Eloise's eyes on her and prayed Jeremy would not give the game away either in word or expression.
If his quest fails, then my brief window of freedom closes. I return to a life sheltered in Oaksgrove. It is in my interests to stop it from failing.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“We were almost caught. And by the very person who has the most to gain by tainting my name with scandal,” Jeremy groused as they strolled back to the church through the village.
Ahead of them, Simon walked arm in arm with Eloise. Jeremy noted the number of times Eloise contrived to look back towards them, but put it to the back of his mind.
“From this point on, I think we should agree to keep our relationship on the footing that we settled upon at Oaksgrove. The image of an engagement until I have the Opera House, but with no substance behind it.”
It is the only sane course. Lord knows I have sailed close enough to the wind already. First, by agreeing to meet Eloise at the Duke of Chelmsford’s ball with a set of handcuffs, no less. Then, engaging in intimacy after intimacy with Harriet. I have been mad!
“I agree,” Harriet said, after a heartbeat’s hesitation.
Jeremy looked at her, not missing the uncertainty.
“You agree, surely. This was never intended to be a genuine betrothal. It was born out of the necessity of the moment. Honor and common sense demand that we go back to the original sense of the plan.”
“I am in agreement,” Harriet nodded, her voice shaded slightly with... what? Disappointment?
Jeremy recognized it in himself, felt the same pang of loss that he fancied he could detect in Harriet's voice. But he refused to give in to those feelings.
Emotion will not cloud my judgment any longer. My goal is to exceed the achievements of my ancestors, and I will allow nothing to stand in the way of that.
“Good. I do not wish a partner in my enterprise, but Simon seemed to be suggesting it would be the only way. I may have to consider taking him up on the offer.”
“That has nothing to do with me,” Harriet said firmly.
“I did not say that it did.”
“Your face said it even if your mouth did not.”
“My face said nothing, I assure you.”
“Is Simon Winchester betrothed to Eloise de Rouvroy? This is the second time I have seen them together,” Harriet asked.
Jeremy was taken aback by the question. It had not occurred to him to wonder, and he did not know why it should be of interest to Harriet.
“I do not know. I should like her to stay out of my affairs, so hopefully they are.”
They had turned from a twisting road lined with cottages onto the village High Street, with the steeple of the church visible at the far end. There were few people abroad at this time of day, with most of the village's residents at their respective jobs, either as traders, craftspeople, or farmers.
“You did not always think so,” Harriet murmured quietly.
He glanced at her. “I did not, but my feelings towards her changed.”
His mind was still wrestling with the predicament posed by Simon Winchester, but he was aware that Harriet seemed subdued. He was increasingly aware that he did not like it when she was so quiet, preferring the energetic and lively young woman that he had pursued through the streets of London.