Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters (Spinsters Club #1)(44)

“I have a private investigator I can call on for help. He was unable to discover anything previously, but things have developed since then.”

“So with any luck, you shall find out who is trying to harm her. But what will you do about the marriage thing?” Griff asked.

Harcourt gave the reins a flick and sent the horse into a gallop. “You know me, Griff,” he said. “I have never been one to give up easily.”





Chapter Nineteen





“No, you need to lift it at that corner,” Sophia ordered, bending down to demonstrate lifting the corner of the huge painting.

“I think I know perfectly well how to lift a painting,” Bella grumbled.

Merry grimaced. Today was meant to have been nice and easy. All they need to do was hang a few paintings. But Bella and Sophia were determined to argue over everything they did today.

Orion darted into the room, racing around Sophia then brushing past Merry before heading into one of the other rooms. She shook her head. Orion did not want them to make much progress either apparently.

“Why do we not take a quick break?” Merry suggested.

Arabella returned to the bedroom. “I’ve hung that smaller one. Do you want to take a look?”

“In a moment. Let’s move this big one,” said Sophia.

“I was talking to Merry actually,” said Arabella softly.

“Let’s move this one first so that Sophia and Bella can stop arguing,” suggested Merry.

Sophia scowled. “We are not arguing.”

“You were,” said Bella.

“It was you who was doing all the shouting,” shot back Sophia.

Shaking her head, Merry stepped forward. “Why don’t Arabella and I do it instead? You two can take those two smaller ones downstairs.” She motioned to two she had selected to hang in the hallway.

“We can manage.” Bella lifted her corner of the painting.

“Yes, we’re not incapable, Merry.” Sophia bent down to snatch up her end, but she lifted it too quickly and the painting slid from Bella’s grasp, the corner crashing down on Bella’s toes.

Bella let out a pained yelp and hopped back, grabbing her injured foot.

Arabella hastened forward. “Oh no, are you hurt?”

“I’ve probably broken my toe thanks to Sophia.” Bella sent a daggered look Sophia’s way.

Sophia folded her arms. “You should have had a better grip.”

“It wasn’t my fault either. You have big, clumsy man hands.”

Sophia sucked in an outraged gasp. “I do not. You’re the one with huge hands. Look at those big ugly things!”

Merry pressed fingers to her temples and drew in a long breath. If they could not even move paintings without getting into some kind of disaster, what hope did they have of ever finishing clearing the house without anyone’s help?

Arabella stepped forward and held up her hands. “You’re upsetting, Merry,” she said softly.

Bella and Sophia glanced at her. Sophia grimaced. “Forgive me, Merry. I did not sleep well and I’m feeling grumpy.”

“No doubt it’s because you were snoring all night. Arabella, said as much, did you not?” Bella folded her arms across her chest.

“Bella,” warned Arabella.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I am sorry. Even though you do snore a little.”

Sophia narrowed her gaze. “So do you. If I have big, clumsy man hands, you snore like a man who’s passed out after a great meal and vast quantities of sherry.”

Merry held her breath while Bella’s face reddened a little. She could feel the tears burning behind her eyes. Why did everything seem too hard suddenly? Why did everything feel like a battle? Even Harry. Each meeting with him, she felt like she had to raise the defenses and man the moat. Everything had become so complicated suddenly.

Most especially her feelings toward him.

A sudden peal of laughter escaped Bella. She drew in a breath and clamped her lips together until the giggles were suppressed. “I am sorry. Truly. And Sophia is right. I do snore like a drunken man—especially when I have had a sherry myself.”

Sophia perfected a smug look.

“It just all seemed a little amusing for a moment. Arguing over paintings and all the disasters we have come across. Perhaps your family curse is nothing to do with marriage,” she said to Merry. “Perhaps this house is cursed.”

“Merry is not cursed,” Arabella declared. “In any way at all. Not when it comes to marriage, nor when it comes to this house. We just have to try a little harder, that is all. We shall get it finished and you can finally have your little escape away from the world.”

Merry gave a soft smile. At the moment, nothing appealed to her more than the idea of being able to tuck herself away in this house away from the estate and housekeepers who interfered in her life too much, and men who wanted to send her into a tizzy every time she saw them.

“Come on, let us get back to work.” Sophia snatched up the end of the painting once more. “If we get these hung, we can eat that lavender shortbread my cook made. That must be incentive enough.”

“Oh yum.” Bella rubbed her stomach. “I do wish father would hire a new cook. Mrs. Hitchens is a grumpy old bat.”