Page 59 of A Virgin for the Rakish Duke
“Grandmama, I have told you of the arrangement which thispeer of the realmseeks with me. That should tell you the kind of man he is,” she scoffed.
“The kind who responds to circumstances and has only ever acted to prevent a scandal that would damage you more than me,” Jeremy retorted.
“That is true, Harriet. From what you have told me, this arrangement is mutually beneficial, regardless,” Lady Agnes nodded thoughtfully.
“Oh, but I do not wish to purchase an opera house, nor have I social standing to speak of,” she grimaced sharply at him. “So, I fail to see how a scandal would impact me.”
Jeremy looked exasperated, turning away. Harriet rose delicately and walked to the door with wet feet, leaving a trail of damp footprints across the carpet.
“Grandmama, I think His Grace and I should continue our conversation in private for a moment,” she said.
“Unfortunately, I heartily agree,” the Dowager sighed.
Harriet led the way across the hall and into the library. It was lit by a single rectangular skylight in the middle of the ceiling, with walls on all four sides covered with tall shelves. Wheeled ladders stood in the corner, providing a means of reaching the highest of those shelves.
“Do I take it that you have no desire to continue with our arrangement?” Jeremy demanded as he closed the door.
Harriet rounded on him immediately. “I do not wish to let you off so lightly and fall back to the life I had before.”
He folded his arms. “Then what?”
“It is only a matter of time before Ralph returns from his business trip, and then the decision will be made for us. Before then, I still want to experience as much of life as I can. I have enjoyed a night under the stars and an exploration of the local countryside. It was invigorating. I… wish more.”
Jeremy suppressed an immediate surge of relief. That she was willing to continue meant that all was not lost. It also meant that he had the opportunity to spend more time with her. His frantic determination to find her was not simply born of his ambitions but of his emotions. The thought of something happening to her had been too much to bear.
It felt like a foggy memory, though, the worry that had driven him through the night. Now he was irritated and frustrated. There was much he needed to do. Judge the feasibility of cutting Simon into his deal, write to the Winchesters to try and secure another meeting. Deal with the jealousy of Eloise de Rouvroy.
“Tell me what you want.Specifically,” Jeremy began.
Harriet glanced around, then reached for the bellpull. Jeremy intercepted her hand, not wanting the moment interrupted.
“Tell me.”
“I forgot to bring a towel and my feet are wet,” she rolled her eyes at his antics, “I want some linen to dry myself on.”
Jeremy stripped off his waistcoat immediately, tearing a button in his haste, and dropped to his knees. He used the cloth to dry her feet—at first briskly, then with slower strokes. She stood over him, watching silently. He traced the arches, rubbed her soles, brushed over the delicate bones at her ankles. She carried the scent of the woods—damp earth, moss, crushed flowers—fresh and wild. When he glanced up, her eyes were fixed on him.
“I am not ready to return to my old life,” she began, her voice low. “Not after tasting a piece of the world. But I do not wish to be tangled in your personal affairs, nor to play any part in them. What lies between us will remain a transaction—professional—until either Ralph returns or you have your opera house.”
Jeremy sat back on his heels, looking up at her. In her disheveled state, she looked like a woodland nymph. Or an earth goddess. He rebelled inside at the notion that there could be nothing between them. He pressed the emotion, putting aside desire for the sake of ambition.
“I agree,” he uttered, “but you must know, there is nothing between...”
“Please!” she blurted, lifting a hand, “I do not wish to know. Not any of it. It is not my place.”
Jeremy's hands were still resting on her feet, his waistcoat still wrapped around them. Harriet stepped away from him, giving herself some distance, folding her arms. Jeremy stood.
“I will pay for the waistcoat,” she said.
“There is no need,” he replied.
“There is every need. It has been ruined. It must be replaced,” she insisted.
“I have many, and this is not even a particularly favored one.”
As if to emphasize the point, he tossed the garment towards the fireplace. It fell within the metal mesh guard, but missed the fire itself. Harriet shrugged.
“Very well. As you wish. Do you have an engagement for me to attend?” she started formally.