Page 20 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge (Safely in Scotland #3)

H arlow stared at the place where Reese had left the room to go see his mother. As if he had been unaffected by what had happened between them.

On legs that felt much too wobbly to hold her, she made her way down the hall to the drawing room. She settled into a chair and opened the book, hoping it looked as if she’d been alone in that room for some time.

Her heart still hammered in her chest as she tried to relax and look like her world had not been tilted on its axis moments before. Had she begged Reese to take her virtue?

Yes, she had. Perhaps he’d been right to make her wait until her head had lifted from the fog of longing. But even now, clear-headed and downright frightened to be called out for what happened, there was still a desire to be with Reese in that way.

He’d thought she would change her mind when she was not heated with lust, but she still wanted him. She wanted to see him naked. She wanted to explore his body and touch him. See what he looked like when he took his pleasure.

He had touched her and had her touch herself. He’d has his mouth… She should be embarrassed. But she wanted more. She wanted everything with him.

And now he was going to bring his mother in here to introduce them.

Harlow was certain the woman would take one look at her and know exactly what had transpired minutes before.

Was Harlow’s hair under control? Were her cheeks flushed? She heard footsteps approaching and looked about the room desperate for a place to hide, but it was too late. The door opened and Reese held out his arm for a small blonde woman to enter before him.

“Mother, this is Lady Harlow Haverston, daughter of the Duke and Duchess Ar—”

“Ardmere, yes. I know your mother well. You are the very image of her.”

Harlow didn’t know how well acquainted the women could be as she’d never known Lady Breckenridge to visit their home, but she smiled.

Harlow was pleased to be said to look like her mother, for she thought her mother to be quite beautiful. She certainly was when she smiled. She had a number of dimples that Harlow lacked.

But most of all, Harlow was just glad the woman had not pointed at her and called her a harlot.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Breckenridge. Thank you so much for coming to aid in the preservation of my reputation.”

“Yes, well, I was not given a choice in the matter, but I hope to be of some assistance. I understand you have been here all this time unattended,” the woman said shrewdly as Harlow tried to keep her breathing even.

That feeling of wanting to dart away like a rabbit being chased by a wolf had returned.

“As I mentioned, Mother, it was through no fault of Lady Harlow or myself that we have come to be in this situation. Your statement that nothing untoward has transpired will serve to assure all those interested that Lady Harlow has not been compromised.”

“As you say. But I am being told to put my good name on the line when I know not what has happened in all these weeks you were alone. The best thing for everyone would be for the two of you to be wed. Then there could be no question on the matter.”

Harlow could not look at Reese. To see the horror he must be feeling would hurt her more than she realized.

She thought she might be ill. She didn’t want Reese to be forced into marrying her.

Not when he’d helped her and offered every kindness.

She knew he didn’t want to marry under such conditions and to be the one forced upon him…

She’d not been like those women who had tried to trap him but the result would be the same. No.

“I assure you, Lady Breckenridge, your honorable son has already offered, and while I’m touched by the gesture, it is entirely unnecessary for him to make such a sacrifice. Besides, nothing untoward has happened.”

She silently sent out a thought of gratitude to her brothers and all the schemes that had resulted in them being able to lie so effortlessly. The skill had grown rusty with disuse, but enough remained to get her out of this difficulty.

“I take it you declined his offer of marriage?” the lady said with an unhappy tilt to her head. Was she upset she couldn’t force her son into marriage or put out with Harlow for rejecting her child. Harlow couldn’t tell and this whole matter was growing tedious.

“I will deal with the consequences if you are unable to vouch for our propriety.”

Lady Breckenridge let out a sigh and turned toward her son. The man Harlow had yet gathered the courage to look at.

“I am beginning to think the only way you may ever marry is if you are caught in your altogether with a woman. You slip through the parson’s noose much too easily.”

“After your deceit, I feel you owe me this reprieve, Mother. You will tell all that you have served as chaperone and, in fact, you invited Lady Harlow to Slains Castle.”

“My, such an elaborate ruse. It makes one wonder what has really happened.”

“So long as one tells everyone what one is instructed to say, one may have the funds to purchase a new gown before the next Season.”

Harlow barely followed all of that but it was clear Reese was daring her to try him.

“Threats, love? Hmm…” She raised her brows and Harlow couldn’t help but compare the countess to that of a cat toying with a mouse.

“Very well. I will assume everything was above board in the time I’ve been away, and I will do my duty as chaperone to watch over the lady as I should.

But know this, if I learn of anything untoward having happened, I will insist upon a wedding.

I know you are put out by my machinations during the Season, but you have a duty to produce an heir so the Breckenridge title continues into succession.

Do not blame me if I’ve grown tired of waiting for you to see to it. ”

With that, the woman turned and paused at the door.

“I am tired from my travels. I will retire to my room and see you both for dinner.”

When the woman was gone, Harlow risked a glance at Reese who was still looking after the wake of the formidable woman. He turned back to Harlow and let out a breath.

“What happened here before she arrived cannot happen again.” And then he turned in much the same way as his mother had, and quit the room, leaving Harlow standing there alone.

*

Reese slumped in his chair behind the heavy desk in his study and poured himself a third glass of whisky. The first two had done little to stop thoughts of Harlow from taunting him.

He imagined since the lass was destined to stay at Slain’s until their ruse was played out, he would need to find a better way to deal with the temptation she posed. Drinking himself into a stupor day after day wasn’t a viable plan.

Reese had been with many lovely women over the years. But he’d never spoiled a maid. Harlow hadn’t been his for the taking, but while he’d thought himself an honorable man, he doubted a monk could have turned away a woman as lovely as she.

When she’d looked up at him with those green eyes filled with lust, he’d nearly come undone with his clothes still on.

He was rather proud of himself that he’d not succumbed. He’d protected her, as well as himself. For if he’d given in, he surely would have found himself on the wrong side of the marriage alter.

Although now he wasn’t sure which side that was. He should have been pleased that she’d stopped his mother from pressing them into a union, but a part of him wished she would have agreed.

It was cowardly of him. He wanted her without the risk of rejection. But clearly he’d been right. If he’d asked for her hand, she would have turned him down. Again.

She’d seen reason once her blood had cooled, and he was sure she would be grateful he’d turned her away. And now that his mother had arrived, he and Harlow would be safe from any further entanglements.

Setting the glass aside, he stood and checked his legs before heading into the dining room. His mother was already seated at the opposite end of the table from his seat.

He glanced to the chair next to his where Harlow had sat previously. Would she sit next to him tonight? Or would she sit next to his mother? Surely down there away from him was best.

As soon as he was seated, a footman came to set a napkin across his lap as another began serving.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Lo—Lady Haverston?”

“The lady has requested a tray be brought to her room, my lord,” Elkins reported as he held a dish for the woman at the end of the table.

“I see. She’s been tormented by megrims since washing ashore. It’s not uncommon for her to take her meals in her room,” Reese said for his mother’s benefit, even if it had only been true in the early days of Harlow’s arrival, when she was anchored to her bed chamber because of her sore ankle.

Still his mother didn’t need to know the specifics and his staff would never speak against him. It would help prove to his mother that they were nothing but the epitome of innocence all these weeks.

“I will check in on her after our meal,” his mother said.

“Thank you, Mother.”

He nodded, but his lips were pressed too tightly together to offer a smile. For if his mother had not arrived, he would be free to check on Harlow himself. Now he must let it be up to someone else while he worried about her.

Why had he written for his mother?

He shook his head. No. This was better. He could not be tempted into ruining anyone if his mother was in attendance. Doing anything with Harlow would be too great a risk.

The meal seemed to drag out and he found he wasn’t so very hungry. Possibly because his belly was filled with an adequate supply of whisky already. But he was glad when his mother dabbed at her mouth with her napkin and nodded to the footman to help her stand.

“You’ll report back if it is more than a megrim and I will call for a doctor,” Reese said as his mother made for the door.

“Of course.”

He waited for nearly an hour before assuming all was well and the lass didn’t require medical attention. Or his attention.

As he traveled up to his room, he found he missed Harlow, despite having seen her just hours earlier.

However, this distance was for the best. In fact, if he didn’t see Harlow until her family arrived, that would solve all his problems.

But he soon realized as he removed his cravat and shirt the temptation remained. For he wanted her as much as he had before. He found himself remembering every detail. The way her skin felt against him. The scent of her. The softness of her hair.

Shaking his head, he tried again to dispel the memories. For Harlow Haverston didn’t wish to marry him. She would never be his.