Page 16 of To Wager with Love

“Harriet, darling,” Lady St Clair said, holding out her hands. “I’m so happy. I confess I’ve been hoping for this day for such a long time. I’ve always considered you a daughter.”

Oh, no. Harriet’s heart sank. This would not be easy. She turned to see Jasper watching her warily. He’d washed and changed and looked abominably handsome. She, by contrast, looked how she felt. Utterly wretched.

“I’m so sorry, Lady St Clair,” she said, forcing the words out. “B-But I’m afraid I will have to disappoint you. I can’t marry Jasper.”

Lady St Clair’s smile faltered as Aunt Nell gave an audible gasp of shock.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Harriet,” her aunt snapped. “You must marry him. You’re ruined if you don’t.”

Harriet steeled herself for the onslaught that was sure to follow her next words. “I don’t want to marry Jasper, and I’m quite certain he does not want to marry me.”

“Don’t you dare put words in my mouth, Harry,” Jasper said.

His voice was quiet, but his expression was thunderous. She could almost believe him, so intense was the look in his eyes. She could almost believe that the godlike figure by the window truly wanted plain little Harriet Stanhope, and not that he was being a gentleman and doing the right thing by his childhood friend.

“I do want to marry you, and you have to marry me, like it or not. I’m sorry if that’s such a dreadful prospect, but you have no option.”

“Actually, Jasper, I do,” she replied, turning to look at him. “But either way, it’s my decision, no one else’s, so do be sensible. You must see that we’d be disastrous together.”

“No,” he replied, his tone clipped and angry. “I don’t see that at all, and what the hell do you mean?”

“Harriet Stanhope, you’ve been caught in… in flagrante delicto with… a man,” her aunt wailed, with such melodramatic fervour that Harriet almost expected to hear a clap of thunder to underscore it. None came, however, though her aunt turned a startling shade of scarlet. “You must marry!”

“I will marry,” Harriet replied irritably, deciding she may as well get it over with. “I’m just not going to marry him!”

There was a ringing silence as everyone stared at her in shock, and then they all jumped as a knock sounded at the door.

“Go away!” Jasper bellowed, just as Lady St Clair invited whoever it was to come in.

The butler appeared, looking stricken and unsure of whether to close the door again.

“Yes, Temple, what is it?” Lady St Clair asked, as calm and poised as always.

“There is a gentleman here, my lady, a Mr de Beauvoir. He’s asking for Miss Stanhope. He’s most insistent that he see her.”

All eyes swivelled to Harriet, who let out a breath of relief. She’d sent him an urgent message that morning but hadn’t dared hope he could come at once, as she’d demanded.

“Show him in, please, Temple,” Harriet said, ignoring the looks of disbelief being sent her way.

Temple looked to Lady St Clair, who nodded, then to Jasper, who looked as if he wanted to murder something. Temple retreated with haste.

“Who is he?” Jasper demanded, crossing the room to stare at her.

Harriet swallowed, a little unnerved by the depth of anger she could see in his eyes.

“Mr Inigo de Beauvoir,” she replied, her voice not entirely steady. “My fiancé.”

Jasper started as if she’d struck him.

“Your what?”

Harriet lifted her chin, trying hard to force the tears back. For a moment the temptation to throw herself into Jasper’s arms, cry, and tell him she was sorry was almost overwhelming, but that was stupid and weak. She’d been perfectly correct before. They’d make a disastrous marriage.

“My fiancé,” she said again, softer now as she realised his shock was palpable.

Poor Jasper, spoilt and adored his whole life. He never had got used to being told no.

She knew that marrying him would be perfect, her dream come true—at first. Jasper would be attentive and loving, and going on the way he’d made her feel last night she’d be putty in his hands. She’d not be able to keep the wall she’d built about her heart intact. Good Lord, he’d dismantled so much of it in the course of a few hours last night she knew she’d been right to keep him at bay for so long.