"I found the body." Gideon smiled into her springy hair. "And it was very much alive. Morland was at home nursing his wounds."
"He is alive?" Harriet stepped back, clasping her hands in front of her. Her brows came together in a serious line across her nose. "Are you certain?"
"Quite certain. You may relax, my dear. You did not succeed in killing him. More"s the pity. But I believe everything is under control now. I congratulate you on your aim, by the way."
Harriet heaved a sigh. "As much as I cannot like the man, I am glad he is not dead. It might have caused no end of complications."
"I doubt it." Gideon loosened his cravat and shrugged out of his jacket as he walked over to the connecting door. "Even if he had been found dead in that chamber full of bones, it would have appeared that the large stone had merely fallen on him accidentally." He opened the door and went into his own bedchamber.
"Do you think so?" Harriet followed him quickly. "Mayhap you are right, my lord. Well, I am vastly relieved it is all over with, although I do wish there was some way of punishing Mr. Morland for his disgusting behavior. I suppose I must be content with knowing I did him an injury."
"Umm," Gideon said noncommittally as he tossed aside his cravat and jacket. He stripped off his shirt.
Harriet gave him a sharp glance. "You said you went to see him at his house?"
"Yes." Gideon poured water from the pitcher into the basin and started to rinse his face. He probably should shave again before going out this evening, he decided. His dark beard was a constant nuisance. "Are you not going to dress, my dear? We are scheduled to attend the Berkstones" ball tonight, I believe."
"Yes, I know," Harriet said impatiently. "Gideon, what precisely occurred when you went to see Mr. Morland?" She hesitated and then asked cautiously, "You did not do anything rash, by any chance, did you?"
"I am not a rash man, my dear." Gideon grabbed a towel and dried his face and hands. He surveyed his features in the looking gla.s.s. "Do you think I ought to shave?"
"Probably. Gideon, look at me."
He met her eyes in the gla.s.s and quirked a brow. "What is it, Harriet?"
"I have the distinct impression you are trying to avoid something here."
"I am merely trying to get ready in time for the ball. We are going to be fashionably late as it is."
She scowled at him. "You are never concerned with whether or not we arrive on time for a ball. What has happened, Gideon?"
"Nothing that need concern you, my dear."
"d.a.m.nation, Gideon, I demand to know the truth."
He slanted her an a.s.sessing glance. "Such language, my dear."
"I am very overset, my lord," she retorted. "My delicate sensibilities, you know."
He grinned. "Yes, I know."
"Gideon, what have you done to Mr. Morland?"
"Very little. Not nearly what he deserves."
Harriet put her hand on his arm. "Tell me the truth, my lord."
He lifted one shoulder, knowing full well she would learn the facts this evening at the ball or tomorrow at the latest. Everyone would be talking about it. His choice of seconds ensured that much. "I did what any gentleman in my situation would have done. I challenged him."
"I knew it, " Harriet exclaimed. "I was afraid of this. As soon as you told me he was still alive, I was afraid you might have done something idiotic like this. I will not allow it, Gideon. Do you hear me?"
"Calm yourself, my dear. You are not going to talk me out of this the way I allowed you to talk me out of challenging Applegate," Gideon said quietly.
"Yes, you most certainly are going to let me talk you out of it. You are not to conduct a duel with Morland. I absolutely forbid it. You might be killed or wounded. Mr. Morland would not fight fairly. That should be perfectly obvious."
"I shall have my esteemed seconds there to make certain everything is conducted fairly."
Harriet grabbed his arm. "Your seconds?"
"Applegate and Fry. Ironic, is it not? They are both delighted to a.s.sist."
"Dear heaven, I do not believe this. Gideon, please stop talking as if there were no alternative. I will not allow you to go through with this."
"Trust me, Harriet, all will be well."
"Gideon, we went through this once before when you were threatening to shoot Lord Applegate. I simply cannot tolerate this sort of behavior. There is too much risk involved. Anything could go wrong and you could wind up severely injured or dead or running from the authorities." Harriet drew herself up and lifted her chin. "I forbid it."
"The challenge has already been issued, my dear." Gideon arranged his shaving things on the washstand. He mixed up the lather and began applying it to his face. Shaving with cold water was unpleasant, but he did not want to take the time to order hot water from the kitchens. "You must allow me to handle the situation."
"No," Harriet declared. "I will not allow you to go through with this nonsense."
"It will be all right, Harriet." He met her eyes again in the gla.s.s and saw the fear and concern in her beautiful turquoise gaze. The fear and concern were for him, he knew. The knowledge warmed him deeply. "I give you my word I will not get myself killed."
"But you cannot know that for certain. Gideon, I could not bear it if anything happened to you. I love you."
Gideon slowly lowered his razor. Face swathed in lather, he turned to confront her. "What did you say?"
"You heard me," Harriet said. "I do not see why you should act so astonished. I have loved you for quite some time. Why on earth do you think I allowed you to make love to me in that cave?"
A surge of elation went through Gideon. For a moment he could not think coherently. "Harriet."
"Yes, yes, I know, it is a nuisance for you and I am well aware that you do not love me," she said swiftly. "That is not the point. The point is that we have agreed to make a go of this marriage and if we are to do so, then you will have to respect my wishes in certain matters."
"Harrieta""
"And this is one of those matters, my lord," she concluded fiercely. "I will not allow you to go about fighting duels on my behalf. Sooner or later someone will get hurt."
"Harriet, will you kindly hush for one moment?"
"Yes," she retorted. "Yes, I will hush. As a matter of fact, I shall give you perfect silence, if that is your wish, my lord."
"Excellent."
" In point of fact, sir, I am not going to speak to you until you have put an end to this foolishness. Do you understand me, my lord?"
Gideon narrowed his eyes. "Not speak to me? You? Keep silent for more than fifteen minutes? That should be amusing."
"You heard me. Not one more word. As of this moment, I am no longer speaking to you, sir."
Harriet swung around on her heel and marched out of Gideon"s bedroom.
Gideon stared after her, torn between a mad desire to shout for joy and an equally strong wish to turn the little shrew over his knee.
She loved him.
Gideon hugged the knowledge close to his heart, the way he held Harriet herself in the middle of the night.
Chapter Seventeen.
The gossip about the rumored challenge between Gideon and Morland was almost overwhelmed by the gossip about what soon came to be known throughout the ton as the Quarrel.
All of Society, much to Harriet"s disgust, appeared to be fascinated by her refusal to talk to her husband. Word spread like wildfire that evening at the ball. The Bride of the Beast of Blackthorne Hall was giving her lord the cold shoulder. Speculation was rife concerning the cause of the Quarrel.
Ultimately Harriet"s reasons for refusing to talk to her husband were far less interesting to Society than the fact that the Quarrel itself was proving such delightful entertainment.
Harriet soon learned it was exceedingly difficult to ignore Gideon when he chose not to be ignored. And he seemed to delight in baiting her in public.
She was involved in an absorbing conversation with a group of fossil enthusiasts at the ball when Gideon appeared. He had been mercifully absent all evening until now. But at eleven o"clock he strode through the door and made his way straight toward Harriet. As usual, he did not bother to greet anyone along the way.
"Good evening, my dear," he said calmly as he came to a halt in front of her. "I believe they are about to play a waltz. Will you dance with me?"
Harriet lifted her chin and turned her back to him. She plunged back into the conversation as if her very large husband were not looming directly over her.
The group of people around her made a valiant effort to continue the discussion of marine fossils, but it was obvious no one could concentrate on it now. They were all far too curious about this latest development. Harriet might be able to ignore the Beast, but no one else could.
Gideon did not appear to notice that he had been rebuffed. "Thank you, my dear. I knew you could not refuse a waltz."
Harriet gave a m.u.f.fled shriek of surprise when Gideon"s ma.s.sive hands closed around her waist from behind.
He picked her up and carried her effortlessly out onto the floor amid a flood of stifled giggles and disapproving gasps. He set her on her feet, took her into his arms, and swept her into the waltz. There was no escape from the gentle prison of his arms.
Harriet glowered up at him.
Gideon smiled down at her. His tawny eyes gleamed. "At a loss for words, my dear?"
She longed to lecture him, but could not. To do so would be to break her vow of silence. There was nothing for it but to finish the blasted waltz. Harriet was acutely aware of the fascinated stares and murmured comments from those around her.
What a delightful tidbit this little scene was going to make for the gossips tomorrow morning, Harriet thought resentfully. The ballroom was already humming with the tale.
One more outrageous act from the Beast of Blackthorne Hall.
Gideon talked casually of everything from the state of the weather to the size of the crowd that filled the Berkstones" ballroom. Harriet glared at a point just past his shoulder as he guided her around the floor.
"I see Fry and Applegate have arrived," Gideon murmured as the music came to an end. "You will have to excuse me, my dear. I have business to discuss with them."
Harriet turned on her heel and stalked stiffly back to join her friends. When she glanced back over her shoulder she saw Fry and Applegate hovering together with Gideon in what appeared to be a very serious conversation.
She was not the only one who noticed the trio. So did everyone else in the ballroom as word spread swiftly of what was happening.
"Rumors of a duel," Lady Youngstreet whispered darkly to Harriet when she returned to her friends. "Fry said it was all very secret, of course. He and Applegate are acting as St. Justin"s seconds. Don"t suppose you know any of the details?"
"No, I do not," Harriet stated firmly.
Effie came up to her a few minutes later. "The whole ballroom is agog. Is it true? St. Justin is going to fight a duel?"
"Not if I can help it," Harriet muttered.
Effie eyed her narrowly. "What is going on, Harriet? And what on earth was that outrageous business about a few minutes ago? St. Justin picked you up and carried you out onto the floor. Everyone is talking about it."
"People always talk about St. Justin," Harriet muttered. "I need a gla.s.s of lemonade. Or perhaps something stronger."
Lady Youngstreet beamed. "Here comes a footman with a tray. I sent for it earlier. Help yourself, my dear."
Harriet picked up the nearest gla.s.s, not noticing whether it was champagne or lemonade. She took a sip and stood tapping one satin-clad toe.
Effie frowned. "Try not to cause any more comment tonight, Harriet. There has been quite enough as it is."
"Yes, Aunt Effie."
Effie gave her one last quelling look and vanished into the crowd.
The small group of fossil enthusiasts gallantly tried to restart the conversation. But their efforts were thwarted when Clive Rushton appeared.
He elbowed his way straight into Harriet"s small circle and fixed her with his unsettling gaze. A hush fell over the little group.
"So," Rushton said in a rasping voice. "You have succeeded in marrying the Beast. Congratulations, Lady St. Justin. For you are married to a murderer."
Harriet stared at him in shock. "How dare you, sir?"
Rushton ignored her and the horrified reaction of the small cl.u.s.ter of fossil hunters.
"How long?" Rushton intoned. "How long can you abide fornicating with the demon? How long before the Beast turns on you? How long will you be safe, Lady St. Justin?"
Harriet"s hand was shaking with reaction. The gla.s.s she was holding wobbled precariously. "Please, sir. "Tis obvious you are still crazed with grief even after all these years, and you have my deepest sympathy. But you must go away before St. Justin realizes you are talking to me like this."
"It is too late," Gideon said quietly as he materialized at Harriet"s side. "I have already heard him."
Rushton"s intense eyes swung to Gideon. "Murderer. You killed her. You killed my daughter." His voice rose to the full-throated roar he had no doubt cultivated in the pulpit. "Hear me now. The Beast of Blackthorne Hall will soon take another victim. His innocent wife will be driven to her death just as my innocent daughter was driven to hers."
Before anyone realized Rushton"s intention, he grabbed the gla.s.s of champagne out of Lady Youngstreet"s hand and dashed the contents straight into Gideon"s face.
Rage swept through Harriet. "Do not call him a Beast, d.a.m.n you."