Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters (Spinsters Club #1)(28)

Merry pressed her head back against the wall and rolled her eyes. “Fine. I shall stay here and hide from the wind. Goodness, Harry, I never expected you of all people to be so jittery.”

“Can you blame me, when I have so fine a woman to protect?”

Her brows furrowed, and lips pouted. “I do not need protection from the wind.”

“So you do not deny you are fine?”

“Well, no...I mean...” She sagged. “Just go and find out what that was. I shall stay here.” She made a motion of crossing her chest. “I promise.”

“Good.”

Harcourt made his way gingerly upstairs. Nothing save from the slight rattle of wind and a clock ticking somewhere could be heard. He checked out each room, one-by-one until he spotted an open window. The one that he had seen footprints by the other day. His palms grew clammy. That could not be a coincidence. For some reason, someone was trying to get access to the house. Or to Merry.

He finished searching the house but could find no more sign of an intruder or anything untoward. As much as he wanted to protect Merry from being fearful, her safety was more important. He’d have to tell her what he’d seen.

When he returned to the kitchen, he found her still pressed against the wall. She jolted slightly then straightened as he stepped off the final stair. He caught her quick look of relief that was masked hastily. Folding her arms, she gave him a smug smile. “I take it there was no great danger?”

“No.” He eyed her. “But you were worried for me, were you not?”

“Do not be ridiculous. Why should I worry about what mere wind might do to you?”

“Is it so hard to admit you care for me?”

“Not at all.” She swept a hand down her skirt, straightening out a non-existent crease. “You are my brother’s friend. Of course I care for you.”

“And your friend, Merry. Do not forget that.”

“Of course not.”

“You will need to get the carpenter to fix the window in the rear dining room. The latch is broken.”

She sighed. “Another thing to add to my lengthy list.”

He grabbed his jacket and shoved his arms into it. “In the meantime, I do not want you in this house alone.”

“It will be days before the carpenter can fix it,” she protested. “I have too much to do. Who knows when Daniel will return.”

“With these winds, a good while longer I suspect.” He took her hand and led her upstairs, ignoring her little tugs on his arm. “I will not have you alone in an unsecure house.”

“Harry, this protective, overbearing attitude is getting a little tiring.” She wrenched her hand from his once they reached the hallway. “I know you feel an obligation to look after me, but I am a grown woman, and am completely capable.”

“Do you not think I know that?” If he was in a less concerned mood, he’d probably be thinking exactly how grown up she now was. “But something is amiss. Someone is trying to gain access to the house.”

She made a dismissive noise.

“Or to you,” he added.

Merry opened her mouth, then shut it. Then opened it again. “Why would someone wish to get to me?”

He shrugged. “I cannot say, but it is not a risk I am willing to take.”

Tilting her head, she eyed him. “Have you had an accident and not told anyone about it? A hit to the head perhaps?”

“Of course not.”

“That would explain...” She waved a hand up and down. “All this.”

“All this?”

“Why you think a spot of wind is an intruder and why you believe someone might wish to harm me. And, of course, why you...Well...” Her cheeks colored.

“Well?”

“Why you are talking of...why you keep...” She bit down on her lip and readjusted her glasses despite them being perfectly in position.

“Why I am talking of you and me, you mean? Of love?”

She swung her gaze to the clock in the hallway. “Oh, look at the time. I should be heading back to the house.”

Harcourt chuckled. The clock didn’t work and still read seven o’clock. “I shall walk you.”

“There is really no need.”

“I insist. I shall see you to the tree then you can walk alone from there. No need to be seen with a rake like me then.” He grinned.

“I was not fearing for my reputation,” she insisted. “I just do not need an escort. It is only a quick walk down the road and I am on my brother’s land.”

“I know that. But I am still accompanying you.”

Merry gave a great huff. “See? Far more stubborn than I ever am.”

“More determined too, Merry,” he warned. “Far more determined.”





Chapter Twelve





“But that is far more than we were paying before my father died!” Merry eyed the older man who had adopted a smug, sort of I know everything look as soon as she had stepped in the door.

“I am sorry, my lady, but that is just the way it is. For that many candles, I must charge you that much. You are welcome to buy from elsewhere...”

She narrowed her gaze at the candlemaker. He knew full well she would have to negotiate with someone in Brycesbury—the nearest town—if she did not buy from him, and the chances are the price would be no better. Whether they would treat her any better than Mr. Langford did, it was hard to say. The man clearly thought her incapable of running her brother’s household and was taking advantage of the fact she had never done it before. Even so, she was not foolish.