was one of the latter.’ Hattie lifted her chin proudly. ‘I told you after Charles died that I had no intention of marrying anyone and I meant it.’
‘I declare, Harriet Wilkinson, you carry your devotion to your dead soldier too far. I know Charles was the love of your life, but you are facing ruin. Ruin of the most public kind. You couldn’t afford to turn him down. Livvy can’t afford to have you turn him down.’
Hattie stared at her sister, torn between laughing and crying. What she felt for Charles was a schoolgirl crush that had long since vanished. The Kit-shaped hole in her heart would take far longer to mend. Until the night of the lecture, she’d really believed in him. But there was little point in explaining this to Stephanie. Stephanie only heard what she wanted to hear.
‘He made the offer with the expectation that I’d refuse,’ she said carefully. ‘He knew my feelings on marrying again.’
‘Was your first marriage that idyllic?’ Stephanie snapped. ‘People get married for reasons of duty and then make the best of it. Will you ever marry again, Hattie? Do you truly require perfection?’
Hattie regarded her hands. The old Hattie would have simply allowed the assumption to stand, but it was time she stopped hiding behind a façade. ‘You were always wrong about my marriage to Charles. It was a sham from start to finish and I only found out too late.’
‘Sham?’ Stephanie looked perplexed. ‘You were so in love with him.’
Rapidly and with as few words as possible, Hattie explained about her discovery and what she had done about it. Stephanie listened in absolute silence. Telling her proved far easier than telling Kit.
‘And now you see why I can’t marry Kit,’ Hattie finished.
‘Oh, Hattie, you should have said something!’ Stephanie held out her hand. ‘You are my sister. You should have trusted me enough to explain. I want the best for you.’
‘There was nothing you could do.’ Hattie gave a shrug. ‘And I thought if I pretended that it had never happened that it would go away.’
Stephanie rolled her eyes. ‘Perhaps you were right. If I had known, maybe I would have been more determined that you marry.’
Hattie glanced at Stephanie. A huge weight fell from her shoulders. Stephanie was behaving remarkably well. And she was right. She should have had enough courage to say the words years ago. ‘I most definitely wouldn’t have wanted more matchmaking. You’ve done enough as it is.’
Stephanie tapped a finger against her lips. ‘Do you love Sir Christopher?’
‘Yes … or rather I thought I did. I thought he was a different man.’ Hattie pressed her hands together. Her feelings for Kit were all jumbled up. She wanted to hate him, but a tiny piece of her kept trying to convince her that he was the sort of man for her. ‘Don’t you see, Stephanie? I have done the same thing again—fallen in love with an illusion.’
‘Sometimes, Hattie, you have to take a chance. You would have done everyone a favour. Think of the doors which would have opened for Livvy.’
Hattie shook her head. Trust Stephanie to be thinking of herself and her family’s advancement. ‘I refuse to marry simply to satisfy society, Stephanie.’
Stephanie pressed her lips together. ‘This is the first time Sir Christopher has offered marriage?’
‘To me? Yes.’ Hattie pleated her skirt between her fingers. ‘He only did it because of his mother, I am sure. He was adamant two days ago in his opposition to marriage. It is the only reason I can think of. Imagine being married because his mother forced the issue.’
‘His mother?’ Stephanie made a face. ‘Surely Sir Christopher is old enough to decide what to do without his mother’s input. Who is she that she commands such respect? If Sir Christopher is half the man he seems to be, he will have made the offer because he is worried about your reputation. This is typical of your excuses, Hattie. You see problems where there are none. You must trust me on this. I am your older sister.’
‘Mrs Reynaud is his mother. They are no longer estranged.’ Hattie clasped her hands together to stop them from trembling. Stephanie had to understand why she had refused the proposal. She was not some desperate young miss grateful for the smallest crumb to fall from his table. ‘You should have heard the proposal—all about how he didn’t want this and how he was breaking all his rules. It was ungracious. He expected me to refuse. It certainly deserved a refusal.’
Stephanie sat in silence. ‘And where is Sir Christopher now?’ she asked finally. ‘I would like to speak to him.’
‘Do not interfere, Stephanie. Allow me to run my life for once. I am a grown up and fully capable of doing so.’
Stephanie opened and closed her mouth several times. ‘If that is what you desire, Hattie. I wash my hands of you. I will not interfere again, even if you go on bended knee to me.’
‘I suppose Mr Hook will go to London,’ Hattie said, trying to change the subject. ‘Now that he has given his lecture, do you think he is suitable?’
‘Livvy needs a successful Season before she thinks about marriage.’ Stephanie shook her head. ‘I fear Mr Hook is not for her. Did you hear what he said in his lecture? Poor Mr Parteger was beside himself with rage.’
‘I thought it was laughter,’ Hattie said, remembering the snort. ‘Livvy will have to choose her husband carefully.’
‘No, Livvy will marry who I tell her to. Honestly, I don’t know what possesses that child these days. She keeps going outside to think. Portia says that she goes to the cedar of Lebanon and sits.’
‘Do you want me to have a word with her … now that you are satisfied that I remain respectable in society’s eyes?’ Hattie asked. ‘Put it in terms she might understand? Remember how you chafed when our parents forbade you meeting Mr Parteger?’
‘I suppose a refused marriage offer is better than nothing.’ Stephanie gave a loud sniff. ‘As long as I have your word that nothing untoward like this will ever happen again, you may speak to Livvy and see if you can reason some sense into her.’
‘I am through with romance and all other affairs.’
‘Good to hear.’ Stephanie fluffed out her skirts. ‘Then we can discuss more interesting matters such as what will Livvy wear for her Season which now won’t be ruined.’
Hattie’s head throbbed so much by the time she left Stephanie’s that she decided to walk straight home, rather than seeking out Livvy.
Later after the baby was born, Hattie decided that she would go abroad. Livvy could go with her. Between the excitement of a Season and going abroad, Mr Hook’s charms didn’t stand a chance. Hattie tucked her head down and started to increase her pace. She had a trip to plan.
‘You need to watch where you are going, Harriet. You nearly walked straight past me without saying hello. Hopefully we are not that far out of civility.’
Hattie stumbled. Strong hands caught her. Instantly a pulse of heat coursed through her. Kit here and dressed in his day clothes with tan breeches and high-topped boots.
Her body wanted to melt against him. She kept herself
