In the Arms of an Earl (The Duke's Daughters Book 4)(15)

“You have chosen someone else, have you?” he whispered, threateningly. “Who is he?”

“Luke,” Amelia said again, before Harmonia could speak. “Harmonia and her choices are none of your business. Need I say it to you again? You have no more business here.”

“You are mine,” Luke grated, ignoring Amelia and keeping his gaze on Harmonia. “You will never belong to anyone but me.”

Shaking off Amelia’s hand, Harmonia stepped forward and looked up at Luke directly, ignoring the pounding of her heart. She was filled with a great sense of strength, her courage suddenly bursting to life as she looked up at his hate filled eyes.

“Get out of this house at once,” she said, firmly, not backing down an inch as his mouth fell open in shock. “You are no longer welcome here, and I know my father will say so also once he discovers what you have said and what you have tried to do. I will not be intimidated into doing what you wish. I know my own mind and I know my own heart. You mean nothing to me, Luke. Your manner and speech disgust me, your clinginess overpowers me. I will have nothing more to do with you.” She drew in a deep breath, seeing the slow flush of crimson climb up Luke’s face. “Now, you will leave this house at once, else I shall send for the footman and butler to assist you out onto the street.” She tipped her head and looked up at him. “I do not think that would do much good for your reputation.”

He stared at her, the seconds ticking by with an infinitesimal slowness. Harmonia held her breath, refusing to look anywhere other than directly into his eyes.

He snarled, made to reach for her, only for Amelia to step forward and link arms with her sister.

“Go,” she said, firmly. “Now.”

Without another word, Luke turned on his heel and stormed towards the door, anger oozing from his every pore. He was clearly furious, but Harmonia did not care about that. Instead, as the door shut behind him, she felt a huge sense of relief and a small amount of pride that she had managed to make her position clear without allowing him to intimidate her.

“My goodness,” Amelia breathed, slumping into a chair behind her. “That was…. surprisingly difficult.”

“Thank you for being here with me,” Harmonia said quietly. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Amelia smiled as Harmonia went to ring the bell for tea.

“You know,” Amelia said, quietly. “I think you could have done it yourself, Harmonia. I’ve never seen that side of you before. You’re stronger than you think.”

Harmonia sat down and shook her head. “I just hope what I said made it absolutely clear to Luke. I didn’t expect him to be so angry.”

Sighing, Amelia held her gaze. “Nor did I. Let’s make sure to talk to father, just in case Luke decides to speak to him like he said he would.”

Thinking that this was a good idea, Harmonia nodded. “I’m just glad father will listen to me, even if Luke will not.”

Amelia chuckled. “That, he will. How different it is for you compared to me! Back then, father was pushing me in almost every direction in the hope I’d get married very quickly. But now, his worries appear to have diminished.”

“And he is not as ill as he once thought,” Harmonia finished, with a glad smile. “I am sure that, from now on, things will be much calmer for him – and for me.”

“Lord Newford on your mind?” Amelia teased, but Harmonia simply shrugged.

“I will not pretend that I have not been thinking of him very often, Amelia,” she admitted. “I am already hoping for a future with him. I cannot see myself with another.”

The smile on Amelia’s face turned warm, her eyes filled with happiness for her youngest sister. “Then I wish you all the happiness in the world, Harmonia,” she said softly, just as the tea tray arrived.





Chapter Eight





“You look remarkably cheerful this evening, if I may say so.”

Phillip looked over at his friend, Lord Benjamin Marshall, and grinned. “Mayhap I have something to be cheerful about.”

“Oh?”

Phillip gave a slight shrug, inciting his friend’s interest all the more.

“This is to do with that young lady, is it not?” Lord Marshall asked, with a chuckle. “I know you too well, you see? I remember that you were asking after her at that ball some weeks ago.”

“It was not the ball but the theatre,” Phillip corrected him, his grin widening. “Lady Harmonia?”

Lord Marshall’s face grew astonished. “Never say that you have made progress there!”

“I have called upon her and taken a visit to the bookshop. But why are you surprised?” Phillip asked, with a slight frown. “Did you think I would not?”

“No, tis not that,” Lord Marshall replied quickly. “It is more than I thought she was already spoken for. That cousin of hers. The rumors have been all around town.”

“Well,” Phillip said, firmly. “As you know, I am not inclined to listen to rumors. I have spoken to the lady herself and she has made it very clear that her cousin is not in any way her suitor or the like.”

Lord Marshall slapped Phillip hard on the back, chuckling aloud. “Well, well, well. So, you have inserted yourself in his place, have you?”