Page 102 of The Viscount Who Vexed Me

“Are you all right?” Hattie asked. “Is something wrong?”

Flora rolled her eyes. “I think you know.”

Hattie shook her head in confusion. “I don’t know, I swear it. Did I forget something?”

“Honestly, Hattie! You’re pretending to be innocent, but I know you’re not. I don’t need you anymore.”

Hattie’s mouth fell open. The news was a punch to her gut. Didn’tneedher anymore? “I don’t understand, Flora. I thought we were friends—”

“Friends?”Flora laughed bitterly.

“Flora!”

“You think I haven’t noticed, don’t you?” Flora sneered. “You think I can’t see that you’re in love with Lord Abbott.”

Hattie was stunned. Had she somehow hinted at it? But how... “I’m not!”

Flora laughed, and it sounded a bit wild. “Yes, you are, Hattie! I’ve seen it.Queeniehas seen it! And we both think you are mad! Do you honestly think that he can look past your family? Your horrible brothers, your mad mother, your miserly father?”

Hattie recoiled like she’d been slapped. “How dare you,” she said quietly.

“How dareI? All this time you pretended to be my friend, tohelpme, and really, it was just a reason to be close to him. But that’s the saddest thing of all, because he willneverconsider you, Harriet Woodchurch. And if he has given you any reason to believe it, it’s only so he might have his way with you.”

Hattie was so appalled, she was shaking. She was horrified by the way Flora was speaking to her and impugning her character. It was especially devastating because Hattie had believed they were friends.

Somehow, she managed to dig deep enough to find her composure. She lifted her chin. “If you mean to hurt me, you can’t. I have always known who I am. At Iddesleigh, you all made sure to remind me in every possible way—and you still do. I am keenly aware of how my family is perceived. But you know me, Flora. I thought I knew you, too. I thought you had compassion. Clearly, I was wrong.” She brushed against Flora as she stepped around her to the door. “I have always tried to help you. Because I have always believed we were friends. Thank you for disabusing me of that notion. I wish you the best. Good day.”

Flora snorted. And she did not call her back.

Hattie walked to the foyer. The rain was coming down in buckets. The butler took pity on Hattie and handed her an umbrella. But it was raining so hard that Hattie was still soaking wet by the time she got home, dragging herself in like a drowned rat.

Daniel stepped into the foyer as she removed her cloak and poked his head around the grandfather clocks. “Where have you been?” he asked her, eyeing her curiously.

“Out, obviously.”

“You have a caller.”

Her head jerked up. “I do? Is it Lady Aleksander?”

“No. Why? Are you still harboring some hope she’ll put your name in the hat?”

Hattie closed her eyes and wished for strength. “Who is here, Daniel?”

“Anearl,” he sneered.

Anearl? She pushed past him and hurried to the drawing room. Lord Iddesleigh was inside, looking very much trapped by her father.

“Look who washed up to our humble door,” her father said, and with his chin, indicated Lord Iddesleigh.

“I didn’t wash up to your door, sir, I came in a carriage. Miss Woodchurch, might I have a word?”

“I...” She looked down at herself. She was soaked from the knees down, and she could feel her hair frizzing.

“It won’t take a moment,” he said.

“Whatever you have to say to my daughter, you can say to me,” her father said.

“Papa,” Hattie said wearily. Was there no end to him? “Please, my lord,” she said, and gestured to the hall.