Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters (Spinsters Club #1)(16)

Bella wiped her hands down her gown as though the beetle had been crawling all over her. “The sooner we get that thing out of here, the better.” She came to the side of the dresser and gripped it. Between the three of them, they were able to lift it easily.

Arabella hastened over to the door and held it open. “I should probably direct.”

Merry nodded. “We will not be able to fit all four of us down the stairs like this anyway.”

With a few grunts and a curse from Bella that they all ignored, they maneuvered the piece of furniture out into the hallway and to the top of the stairs. Pausing to suck in a breath, Merry folded her arms and studied the dresser then glanced at the stairs. This would not be easy.

“Perhaps I should go down backwards,” suggested Sophia. “I am stronger than all of you.”

“Older does not equal stronger,” pointed out Bella.

Sophia straightened and lifted her chin. “Well, I am a good inch taller than you. And if the dresser falls, I have lived a long healthy, life.” She thrust out her tongue.

Arabella giggled. Merry pressed her lips together. “You are four and twenty, Sophia. That is hardly ancient. Besides, I would rather you did not have to cushion any kind of blow.” Merry tried to push the dresser to one side so that it did not block the stairs, but it was too large and angled oddly. “Perhaps we should just leave this somewhere...”

Bella shook her head. “No, we have come this far. We can manage, I’m certain. “You and I will hold onto the end while Sophia takes the weight. The two of us are strong enough to ensure it does not run over Sophia.”

Merry blew out a breath. They could not leave it abandoned here. “Very well. Let us go slowly, though.”

Between them, they inched it around. She and Bella took one end while Sophia positioned herself at the other, going backwards down the stairs.

“Be careful not to fall, Sophia,” Arabella warned.

They managed to tilt the dresser and take the weight of it. Sophia gave a grunt, bracing herself against the end. Step by step, they slid it down until they were about halfway from the bottom.

“We’re nearly there!” Bella exclaimed.

The weight of the dresser slipped a little. “Ugh, it’s crushing me,” Sophia complained.

Merry gripped it tighter to take the weight but it slipped again. “Something’s wrong.” It felt as though the dresser was being pulled down by something.

“I cannot hold it.” Bella grappled to keep hold of her corner. “Sophia, move!”

Sophia jumped to one side as the dresser slipped from their grasp. A ripping sound followed the thud of the piece of furniture and the carpet on the stairs tore out from underneath Merry and Bella’s feet.

“Oof!” Merry fell hard onto her bottom and Bella landed a step down from her. The dresser careened down the last few steps and Sophia let out a cry of pain as it swept past her. Merry suspected the furniture had run over her friend’s toes. The piece of furniture came to a crunching stop against the front door frame, splintering the wood surround and sending the drawers shooting out.

Arabella dashed down the stairs, careful to avoid the torn carpet. “Goodness, are you well?”

“A little bruised, but fine, I think.” Bella eased herself up and rubbed her bottom.

Merry stood and winced. She’d have a time sitting down for a while she suspected. “Sophia? Did you survive?”

Sophia plucked off a shoe. “I think so, but my shoe did not.” She waved the delicate slipper at them. “And I shall not be doing any long walks anytime soon.”

“I think we should get you sat down, Sophia,” Arabella said. “You might have a broken toe.”

“I think not.” Sophia put her slipper back on. “The same cannot be said for the dresser.”

“Or for my bottom!” declared Bella as she gingerly made her way down the stairs. “I think—” She snapped her mouth shut when two figures stepped into the open doorway.

Harry paused at the sight of all of them hobbling about and the broken dresser occupying the doorway. He took off his hat and a brow rose as he took in each of them.

Lord Thornford’s lips quirked. “Having fun, ladies?”

Merry straightened her skirts and took in the mess of clutter at their feet. The drawers had been filled with more insects and rocks and shells by the looks of it. They had succeeded in making more mess than there was before.

“We were just...” Merry waved a hand. “Well, we tried to...you see...” She let her shoulders sag. “We had a bit of an accident.”

Harry leaned against the doorframe. His lips were curved with amusement and creases surrounded his eyes. He was dressed to perfection, as usual, and she could not help notice how well he filled his waistcoat and remember how firm those arms were when wrapped about her. She forced her gaze down to the mess before he noticed.

“Do you think you might like some help after all, Merry?”

Behind her, she could tell her friends were nodding frantically without even looking at them. She pushed her shoulders back and with all the elegancy she could muster, she nodded. “Yes, I think that would be acceptable.”

Harry’s smile expanded.





Chapter Seven





A little rain broke the summer heat they’d been experiencing, bringing with it a beautiful rainbow that arched across the village, reaching down to the sands of Lulworth Cove. The scent of salt from the sea was strong today as a fresh breeze brought it across the cliffs. Harcourt did not take the time to admire any of it, however. He had more important things to do.