It had been two days since she had spent the fateful night with Gideon. Cradling the fossil in her hands, Harriet gazed around her at the cavern which had altered her life. The stolen goods had all been removed by Mr. Dobbs under the supervision of Gideon and the local magistrate.

Even the canvas bags that had served as a bed that night had been removed.

Still clutching the fossil tooth, Harriet wandered over to the spot where she had lain in Gideon's arms. The searing memories nearly overwhelmed her once again. She recalled the raw need in his eyes, the sweat on his brow, and the taut, corded muscles of his shoulders. He had been at the limits of his own self-control that night.

But his main concern had been the pain he was causing her, Harriet reflected. He had done everything he could to minimize her discomfort, even though he had clearly been driven hard by his own pa.s.sion.

Harriet shivered as she remembered what it had felt like to have Gideon inside her. He had filled her so completely that he had almost made himself a part of her. For a timeless moment they had been bound together more closely than she would ever have believed possible. The sense of shattering intimacy had been more than physical. Harriet had felt as though she had touched Gideon's soul. She knew he had touched hers.

The unaccustomed flight of poetic fancy startled her.

"Rubbish," she muttered aloud. That was probably just the sort of thing all young ladies in love told themselves after having done something quite silly such as surrendering their virginity before marriage. One had to justify the recklessness somehow.

But perhaps she could be excused for her poetic inclinations. She was, after all, definitely a woman in love.

Harriet had known that for two days now. In truth, she had known it even before Gideon had made love to her.

What tore at her heart and made her stomach reel with dread was knowing that Gideon was only marrying her because of his honor.

Harriet knew there was no way of dissuading him from the marriage. His honor had been mauled too savagely in the past. He would not allow it to happen again, especially not under such similar circ.u.mstances. His pride was a raw wound. He would attack anything that threatened it.

Harriet picked up her lamp and walked slowly out of the cavern where she had discovered that love was not nearly as simple or as sweet as she had once a.s.sumed it to be.

It was much easier to deal with riddles in stone such as her beautiful fossil tooth than it was to comprehend the complex nature of a man like Gideon, she decided. A man like Gideon simply had to be accepted and loved.

He was far too proud to explain himself or to ask for understanding.

Felicity bounced into the study just as Harriet was preparing to begin a sketch of the tooth she had found in the cavern.

"There you are. I thought I might find you in here." Felicity closed the door behind her and sat down. "How can you bring yourself to work on those horrid old fossils after all the excitement lately?"

Harriet looked up. "To tell you the truth, I find my work something of a refuge these days."

"Hah. If I were you, I would be busy planning my trousseau. Just think, Harriet, you are going to be a countess."

"Viscountess."

"Oh, well, for the present, yes. But someday, when St Justin's father dies, you will become the Countess of Hardcastle. Just imagine. Do you realize how this changes my life?"

Harriet's brows rose. "Your life?"

"Well, of course. I am no longer under so much pressure to marry well. If and when I do get to London, I shall be able to enjoy myself rather than hunt for a suitable husband. What a relief."

Harriet put down her quill and sat back in her chair. "I had not realized you felt under pressure, Felicity."

"Of course I did. I knew you and Aunt Effie were counting on me to make a good marriage and thereby secure my future." Felicity smiled happily. "And I would have done my duty, of course, if it had been necessary. After all, I do not want to be a burden. But now I am free."

Harriet ma.s.saged her temples. "I am sorry I never realized how you felt about our plans. I just a.s.sumed that if we got you to London you would attract any number of excellent suitors and you would be able to fall in love with one of them."

"I seriously doubt that love goes hand in hand with practicality very often," Felicity said dryly.

"I suppose you are right. Just look at the situation in which I find myself."

"What is wrong with your situation? If you ask me, it looks very pleasant, indeed. You are extremely fond of St. Justin. You cannot deny it. I have seen the expression in your eyes when you speak of him."

"I am fond enough of him," Harriet murmured, thinking that fond was far too bland a word for what she really felt for Gideon. "But there is no getting around the fact that he is offering marriage only because his honor requires it."

Felicity scowled. "For heaven's sake, Harriet. Of course he must marry you, although Mrs. Stone is still predicting he will not. You have been ravished, after all." She paused meaningfully. "You were, were you not? Not that the actual facts matter, according to Aunt Effie. Appearance is everything."

Harriet narrowed her eyes at her sister. "How on earth have you managed to grow up with such an unfortunate lack of delicacy, sister, dear?"

"I expect it has something to do with the fact that you are my sister and, until now, you have always been very straightforward about most everything. You have no social polish, as Aunt Effie is constantly reminding us."

Harriet nodded with grim resignation. "I knew that somehow it would be all my fault. Everything around here lately appears to have been my fault."

"Feeling sorry for ourself, are we?"

"Yes," Harriet muttered. "If you must know, I am feeling a bit sorry for myself."

"If I were you, my dear ruined sister, I would be thanking my lucky stars that the man who ravished me has offered marriage. Do you know what they are saying in the village?"

"No, and I doubt that I wish to know."

"Well, there is a great deal of talk about the capture of the thieves, of course, but people are far more interested in your situation."

Harriet groaned. "I can imagine."

"They are saying that history is repeating itself," Felicity confided with gleeful drama. "They are claiming that the Beast of Blackthorne Hall has ravished another young, innocent rector's daughter who will soon find herself cast aside."

Harriet frowned. "Do they know St. Justin and I are engaged?"

"Yes, of course. They simply do not believe he will go through with the marriage. They are convinced you will share poor Deirdre's fate."

"Fustian." Harriet picked up her quill again and went to work. "The one thing I can be sure of in this unfortunate situation is that I will be married. Not even the demons of h.e.l.l could stop St. Justin from doing the honorable thing."

"Let us hope so. This is all going to be very awkward if he does not."

The sound of a horse's hooves out in the drive intervened before Harriet could respond. Felicity jumped to her feet and went to the window.

"St. Justin," Felicity announced. "Where does he purchase his horses? They are true monsters. I wonder what he wants this time? He looks very grim."

"That means nothing. He frequently appears grim."

Felicity swung around, eyeing her sister's appearance. "The least you could do is take off that dreadful ap.r.o.n and straighten your cap. Hurry, Harriet. You are going to be a viscountess soon. You must learn to dress accordingly."

"I do not think St. Justin notices how I dress." Nevertheless, Harriet obediently removed her ap.r.o.n and began to fuss with her hair.

Mrs. Stone's voice sounded loudly from the hall. "I'll tell Miss Pomeroy you've come calling, sir."

"Never mind. I am in a hurry. I shall tell her myself."

Harriet turned toward the study door just as it opened.

She smiled brilliantly. "Good morning, my lord. We were not expecting you."

"I am aware of that." Gideon did not return the smile. He was dressed in riding clothes and Felicity had been correct about his expression. He did look grim. Even more so than usual. "I am sorry about this, Harriet, but it was either come here myself without notice or send a messenger. I wanted to tell you personally."

Harriet eyed him in growing alarm. "What is it, my lord? Is something wrong?"

"I have received a message that my father has taken a turn for the worse. He has sent for me. I am leaving for Hardcastle House immediately. I do not know when I shall be able to return."

Harriet jumped to her feet and hurried over to touch his arm in sympathy. "Oh, Gideon, I am so sorry. I do hope he will recover."

Gideon's expression did not soften. "He usually does. Shortly after I arrive. This is not the first time I have been summoned to his deathbed. But one never knows when it will be the real thing, so I must go."

"I understand."

"I shall leave you my direction in Hampshire." He stripped off one leather glove and stepped around her to the desk. Picking up her quill, Gideon jotted some lines on the paper she had been intending to use to sketch the tooth.

When he was finished, he straightened, folded the foolscap, and thrust it into her hand. His eyes met hers with unspoken meaning. "You will send word to me at once if there is anything I should know about, do you understand?"

She swallowed uncomfortably, well aware that he was telling her to contact him immediately should she discover she was pregnant. "Yes, my lord. I shall keep you informed."

"Excellent. Then I am off." He pulled on his glove and clamped his hands around her shoulders. Then he drew her close and kissed her with rough urgency.

Out of the corner of her eye, Harriet saw Felicity watching in amazement. She knew what her sister was thinking. Properly bred gentlemen never kissed ladies in public. It was a typical bit of outrageous behavior from the Beast of Blackthorne Hall.

Before Harriet could even begin to respond, Gideon released her and strode out of the study. A moment later the outer door closed and the clatter of his stallion's hooves sounded in the drive.

Felicity stared at Harriet with wide, interested eyes. "Good heavens. Is that the way he kissed you when he ravished you? I must say, it appeared rather exciting."

Harriet sank down into her chair. "Felicity, if you say one more word about that night, I swear I shall throttle you. I advise you to be cautious. Now that you are no longer intending to make a suitable marriage, you are not quite as valuable to this household as you once were."

Felicity giggled. "I shall bear that in mind. All the same, it was exceedingly fortunate that Aunt Effie did not witness that farewell kiss."

At that moment the study door was flung open once again and Effie swept into the room, her eyes stark with shock.

"What is this?" she demanded. "St. Justin was here? Mrs. Stone claims he came to tell you he is abandoning you."

Harriet sighed. "Calm yourself, Aunt Effie. He is leaving to go to his father, who is apparently dying."

"But there has been no formal announcement of the engagement. No notice has been sent to the papers."

"There will be plenty of time for the formalities when he returns," Harriet said quietly.

Mrs. Stone loomed in the open doorway. Her eyes were alight with vindication. "He will not return," she whispered darkly. "I knew this would happen. I told you it would happen. But you would not heed my warning. Now he has left. You will not see him again. Poor Miss Harriet will be abandoned to her dreadful fate."

Harriet glanced at the housekeeper in alarm. "Mrs. Stone, do not dare have a fit of the vapors. I am in no mood for it."

But it was too late. Mrs. Stone's eyes flickered and she collapsed to the floor.

The letter from Aunt Adelaide arrived the next morning. Effie opened it at breakfast and read it aloud to Felicity and Harriet with growing excitement.

My dearest sister and darling nieces: I am delighted to tell you that I am done with mourning and solicitors. I have at last taken control of the fortune my miserly husband managed to acc.u.mulate and I intend to spend it freely. The Good Lord knows I have earned every penny of it.

I have taken a house in London for the remainder of the Season and I want all three of you to join me at once. Do not waste a single moment, as the Season will soon be at its height. Leave everything behind. We shall procure new wardrobes for everyone.

I have drawn up a new will which ensures that Harriet and Felicity will each receive respectable portions upon marriage. In addition, whatever remains of my fortune, should I find I am unable to spend it all before I leave this earth, shall go to my two lovely nieces.

Yrs,

Adelaide

Effie raised her eyes heavenward and clutched the letter to her breast. "We are saved. It is the answer to my prayer."

"Good old Aunt Addie," Felicity said. "She stuck it out and finally got her hands on his money. What a wonderful time we shall have. When do we leave?"

"At once," Effie said briskly. "We shall not waste a second. Just imagine. You are both heiresses."

"Not quite," Harriet pointed out. "Aunt Addie says she is going to try to spend what she can of her fortune. Who knows how much will be left over?"

"No one in London will realize that," Effie said practically. "All Society will know is that you both have respectable portions. That is what counts." She glanced at the clock. "I shall send Mrs. Stone into the village to book seats for us on a mail coach. We must begin packing immediately. I want both of you ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"One moment, if you please, Aunt Effie." Harriet put down her spoon. "This is indeed a wonderful opportunity for Felicity, but I have no need to go to London. Nor do I wish to go. I am just beginning work on an extremely interesting new discovery. So far I have taken out only a tooth, but I am quite hopeful that I shall find more of the creature."

Effie put down her coffee cup, her blue-green eyes suddenly intent. "You will accompany us, Harriet, and that is that."

"But I just told you, I have no wish to go to Town. You and Felicity will go together. I am certain you will enjoy yourselves immensely. However, I am quite content here in Upper Biddleton."

"You," Effie said very firmly, "do not appear to understand, Harriet. This is a golden opportunity, not only for Felicity, but for you also."

"How is that?" Harriet asked, annoyed. "I am already engaged to be married. There is nothing more you can hope to accomplish by taking me to Town."

Effie's expression turned shrewd. "I would have thought," she said coolly, "that, as you are going to become a viscountess and someday a countess, you would wish to learn how to go on in Society. After all, you would not want to embarra.s.s your husband at some future time, would you?"

Harriet was taken aback. She had not even considered that aspect of the situation. "The last thing I would ever want to do is embarra.s.s St. Justin," she admitted slowly. "Heaven knows he has suffered enough humiliation in his life."

Effie smiled with satisfaction. "Very well, then, this is your chance to train yourself properly for your new position in life."

Felicity grinned. "A perfect opportunity for you to acquire a social polish, Harriet."