A slow, faint smile curved Gideon"s mouth. "I"ll grant you that much. Your eyes are, indeed, the only ones that matter. And you have very beautiful eyes, Harriet. Have I told you that?"
She warmed instantly to the compliment. "No, sir, you have not."
"Then allow me to do so now."
"Thank you." Harriet blushed as the phaeton moved on down the park path. She was not accustomed to being told she had any fine points. "Felicity said the color of this bonnet would bring out my eyes."
"It does indeed." Gideon was obviously amused.
"But do not think that gallantry will make me forget your odious tendency to issue orders, sir."
"I will not forget, my dear."
She slid him a calculating glance. "Are you sure you will not tell me why it is you wish me to avoid Mr. Morland?"
"Suffice it to say he is not the angel he appears."
Harriet frowned. "Do you know, that is exactly what I thought he looked like last night. An archangel out of an old painting."
"Do not confuse appearances with reality."
"I will not, my lord," she said stiffly. "I am not a fool."
"I know," Gideon said gently. "But you have a tendency to be rather obstinate and headstrong."
"It seems only fair that I should have a flaw or two equal to your own," Harriet said sweetly.
"Hmm."
Harriet was about to pursue the subject of Bryce Morland when a familiar face appeared out of the crowd of riders on the path. She smiled in welcome at Lord Applegate, who was riding a sleek, prancing black gelding. The animal was fashionable in all the ways that Gideon"s horses were not. It had a fine-boned, high-spirited elegance which perfectly complemented its rider"s equally elegant attire.
"Good afternoon, Miss Pomeroy. St. Justin." Applegate guided his graceful gelding alongside the yellow phaeton. His eyes lingered wistfully on Harriet"s face framed in her ruffled turquoise bonnet. "You are looking exquisite today, Miss Pomeroy, if I may say so."
"Thank you, sir." Harriet glanced at Gideon out of the corner of her eye. He appeared distinctly bored. She looked at Applegate again. "Have you had a chance to read that article on fossil tooth identification in the last issue of the Transactions?"
"Yes, indeed," Applegate a.s.sured her eagerly. "As soon as you mentioned it to me I went straight home and read it. Very interesting."
"I was especially taken by the section on the identification of the fossil teeth of reptiles," Harriet said cautiously. She did not want to give away any hints yet about her own precious tooth, but she was getting desperate to discuss it with someone.
Applegate a.s.sumed a serious, contemplative expression. "Quite a fascinating discussion. I, myself, have serious doubts about just how much one can a.s.sume from teeth, however. Such a small bit from which to draw major a.s.sumptions. A toe bone is so much more helpful."
"Yes, well, it is definitely helpful to have more than merely a tooth to work with before one draws conclusions," Harriet said, anxious to make polite conversation. Gideon, she noticed, was not being at all helpful.
Applegate smiled in warm admiration. "You are always so precise and methodical in your approach to such matters, Miss Pomeroy. It is always instructive to listen to you."
Harriet felt herself blushing all over again. "How kind of you to say so, sir."
Gideon finally deigned to notice Applegate. "Would you mind very much moving your horse a bit, Applegate? He is making my gray edgy."
Applegate turned red. "Beg pardon, sir." He jerked his sleek black aside.
Gideon gave the signal to his team. The big horses immediately broke into a thundering trot. The phaeton pulled away from Applegate, who was soon lost in the crowd. Gideon eased back on the reins once more.
"You seem to have acquired an admirer in young Applegate," Gideon observed.
"He is very pleasant," Harriet said. "And we have a great deal in common."
"A mutual interest in fossil teeth?"
Harriet frowned. "Well, actually Lord Applegate is more interested in toes. But I think he focuses on the wrong anatomical points. I can frequently deduce what sort of feet an animal has on the basis of its teeth. Eaters of vegetation often have hooves, for example. Carnivores will have claws. Fossil teeth are ever so much more useful than fossil toes, in my opinion."
"I cannot tell you how relieved I am to hear that Applegate is wrong-headed. For a moment there, I suspected I had a serious rival."
Harriet had had enough. "I believe you are mocking me, sir."
Gideon"s expression softened as he looked down into her eyes. "Not at all, Miss Pomeroy. I am merely somewhat amused."
"Yes, I know, sir. But it is becoming obvious that you are amusing yourself at my expense and I do not care for it."
The softness in Gideon"s eyes vanished. "Is that so?"
"Yes, it is so," Harriet retorted. "I understand that you are not particularly pleased to find yourself engaged under such circ.u.mstances and I have tried to be tolerant."
Gideon"s lashes half closed over his tawny eyes. "Tolerant?"
"Yes, tolerant. But I would appreciate it if you would bear in mind that I am not exactly thrilled with our situation, either. It seems to me, sir, that we must both endeavor to make the best of matters. And it would help a great deal if you would refrain from mocking me and my friends."
Gideon looked momentarily nonplussed. "I a.s.sure you, Harriet, that I had no intention of mocking you."
"I am delighted to hear that. Then you will want to try very hard not to insult my friends or my interest in fossil teeth, will you not?"
"Harriet, I think you are overreacting to a minor observation."
"Better to begin as I mean to go on," Harriet informed him. "And I can a.s.sure you, St. Justin, that if we are to have any chance of a peaceful, serene married life, you will have to learn to be less overbearing and sarcastic. I will not have you snapping and growling at everyone who comes near. It is no wonder you have a limited circle of friends."
Gideon scowled furiously. "d.a.m.nation, Harriet, you have a great deal of nerve accusing me of being overbearing. You can be a regular little tyrant yourself, on occasion. If you indeed desire a peaceful and serene married life, I would advise you not to gainsay your husband at every turn."
"Hah. You are a fine one to give advice on marriage. You have never even been married."
"Neither have you. And I am beginning to think that is one of the reasons for your shrewish tendencies. You have lived too long without a man"s guidance."
"I have no particular desire for a man"s guidance. And if you think it will be your duty to guide me after we are wed, then you had better reconsider your role as a husband."
"I know my duty as a husband," Gideon said through clenched teeth. "You have yet to learn yours as a wife. Now, kindly cease prattling on about a subject you as yet know very little about. People are starting to take notice."
Harriet smiled very brightly, well aware of the curious stares they were drawing. "Gracious. We certainly would not want to become the focus of public attention, would we?"
"We already are the focus of public scrutiny."
"Precisely my point, sir," she murmured. "What is a public argument here or there? People are going to stare, regardless. We might as well have our squabbles take place in the park for all the world to see and enjoy."
Gideon gave a small, m.u.f.fled exclamation that could have been either a laugh or a groan of despair. "Harriet, you are impossible. If we were anyplace other than the park at this moment, do you know what I would do?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Nothing violent, I trust."
"Of course not." Gideon looked thoroughly disgusted. "No matter what anyone tells you, I would not hurt you, Harriet."
Harriet bit her lip, sensing the angry pain behind the words. She could not imagine Gideon using his great strength against her. Whenever she recalled the night they had spent together in the cavern, she was overwhelmed anew with memories of the way he had controlled his own magnificent physical power.
"Forgive me, Gideon I know very well that you would never become violent with me."
His eyes met hers suddenly. "How can you be so certain, Harriet? Do you trust me that much, little one?"
She felt herself turning pink. Her eyes slid away from his and she focused intently on the ears of the horses. "You forget how intimately I am acquainted with you, St. Justin."
"Believe me, I do not forget for one single moment," Gideon said. "I lie awake at nights remembering just how intimately we are acquainted. I have not been sleeping at all well lately, Harriet, and it is all your fault. You have invaded my dreams."
"Oh." Harriet was not certain how to respond to that. She could not tell just how much Gideon minded having his dreams invaded. She wondered if she should mention the fact that he was currently invading hers. "I am sorry you are not sleeping well, sir I occasionally have a problem with sleep myself."
Gideon"s mouth curved wryly. "While you no doubt spend the occasional restless night thinking about fossil teeth, I fill in the sleepless hours imagining just how I shall make love to you when I finally have you in my bed."
"Gideon."
"And making love to you is what I would do to you right now if we were not sitting in an open carnage in the middle of a public park."
"Gideon, hush."
"Remember that the next time you are tempted to get mouthy with your future lord and master, Miss Pomeroy." Gideon smiled in unsubtle threat. "Every time you challenge him, you can rest a.s.sured he will get even by thinking up new and unique ways to make you shudder and throb with pleasure in his arms."
Harriet was shocked into speechlessness, an event which appeared to give Gideon great satisfaction.
Harriet sensed an odd undercurrent of tension in Lady Youngstreet"s drawing room when she attended the hastily called special meeting of the Fossils and Antiquities Society. She felt Lord Fry"s gaze on her several times during the session and she was aware of Lord Applegate looking at her with a curious resoluteness. Lady Youngstreet appeared strangely excited, as if she harbored a secret of some sort.
The Society had been convened on short notice by Lady Youngstreet to hear a lecture from a Mr. Crisply. Mr. Crisply gave a rather boring talk designed to show quite clearly that there was no way fossil animals could be the predecessors of modern animals. To give credence to the bizarre notion that there might have been earlier versions of contemporary animals was ludicrous, he claimed.
"To accept such an outlandish idea," Mr. Crisply warned in ominous tones, "would open the door to the blasphemous and scientifically impossible theory that human beings might have had some previous ancestors who were far different than the humans of today."
No one, of course, could countenance such an outrageous suggestion. At least not publicly. There was a desultory round of applause when Mr. Crisply finished his talk.
As the crowd broke up into smaller conversational groups, Lord Fry leaned over to murmur to Harriet. "I say. An excellent talk, eh, Miss Pomeroy?"
"Quite excellent," she responded politely. "I was somewhat disappointed he did not mention fossil teeth, however."
"Yes, well, perhaps next time." Lord Fry gave a start. "I say, that reminds me. After the meeting this afternoon, Lady Youngstreet, Applegate, and myself are going to visit a friend who has a most amazing collection of fossil teeth. Would you care to join us?"
Harriet was instantly enthusiastic. "I should be delighted to do so. Does your friend live very far from here?"
"On the outskirts of Town," Fry said. "We shall be taking Lady Youngstreet"s carriage."
"Thank you so much for inviting me, sir. I would love to see your friend"s teeth."
"Thought so." Fry smiled with satisfaction.
"I shall send a short note to my aunt"s house letting her know I shall be somewhat late returning this afternoon," Harriet said. "I would not want my family to worry."
"As you wish," Fry murmured. "Expect Lady Youngstreet can arrange for a member of her staff to deliver it."
Late that afternoon as the last of the other members of the Society took their leave, Harriet was handed up into Lady Youngstreet"s old-fashioned traveling coach. Lady Youngstreet smiled benignly as Harriet seated herself beside her.
"I always use this coach for traveling any distance in Town," Lady Youngstreet said. "So much more comfortable than the newer style of Town carriage."
Fry and Applegate sat down across from the ladies on the maroon velvet cushions. Harriet could not help but notice that their expressions were very strained.
"This should be a most enjoyable journey," Lady Youngstreet said.
"I am quite looking forward to it," Harriet said. "I just happen to have my sketchbook in my reticule. "Do you suppose this gentleman with the collection of fossil teeth will allow me to make some drawings?"
"I expect he can be persuaded," Lord Fry mumbled.
The heavy old carriage set off slowly through the crowded streets. When it reached the outskirts of the city, however, it did not slow. Instead, the coachman urged the four-horse team into a sedate canter.
Harriet began to grow uneasy. She glanced out the window and noticed that they were leaving the city and were now in open country. "Are we getting close to your friend"s house, Lord Fry?"
Lord Fry turned a dark shade of red. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. I think it"s time you were told what is happening, my dear Miss Pomeroy."
"Yes, indeed." Lady Youngstreet patted her hand rea.s.suringly. Her eyes were bright with excitement. "You may rest easy, Harriet. As your faithful friends, we have taken it upon ourselves to rescue you from marriage to the Beast of Blackthorne Hall."
Harriet stared at her. "I beg your pardon?"
Lord Applegate ran his finger around his high cravat and looked more resolute than ever. "We are headed for Gretna Green, Miss Pomeroy."
"Gretna Green? You are kidnapping me?"
Lord Fry frowned. "Not at all, Miss Pomeroy. We are rescuing you. We have been working on our plan since shortly after St. Justin arrived in London. It has become clear he is going to continue to play his wicked games with you. We could not allow it. You are our friend, a fellow fossil collector. We will do what we must."
"Dear heaven," Harriet whispered, stunned. "But why Gretna Green?"
Applegate squared his rather thin shoulders. "It will be my great pleasure to marry you there, Miss Pomeroy. We have decided it is the only way to put a stop to St. Justin"s machinations."
"Marry me? Good grief." Harriet did not know whether to laugh or scream. "St. Justin is going to be furious."
"Have no fear," Applegate said. "I shall protect you."
"And I shall a.s.sist him," Lord Fry proclaimed.
"So shall I." Lady Youngstreet patted Harriet"s hand. "In addition, we have the coachman to aid us. Never fear. You are safe from the Beast, my dear. Now, then, I have brought along a little something to warm the bones. A little nip of brandy always makes a long journey less tiresome, don"t you think?"
"I say. Excellent notion, my dear." Fry gave Lady Youngstreet an approving smile as she drew a bottle out of her large reticule.