Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,365

long to mope over her situation, because a few hours later her friend, Lady Ariane arrived. Her father was hosting a ball tomorrow, the night before Christmas Eve, when her betrothal was supposed to be announced, and Harriet had invited Ariane to stay. Mainly for moral support.

The two young women had been friends for a few years and had had their first season together in May. Ariane had found her Prince Charming. She had accepted an offer from George Fogel, Viscount Kingsley. He was the Earl of Southerby’s eldest son and heir, and Ariane loved him with all her heart. It was an excellent match. Their wedding would be in the spring.

As Harriet waited for Ariane to ascend the stairs, she could not help the small stab of envy. Why couldn’t Blade have swept her off her feet this season too? The ladies had often giggled about having a double wedding. But Harriet’s dreams of a love-filled marriage with Blade were now burning into ash.

The ladies embraced on the top step, and Harriet quickly pulled her friend toward the drawing room. Her younger sister, Diane, was in the village gathering last minute Christmas items. Her father, brothers, and Blade were nowhere to be seen, and she wanted to take the opportunity to talk with Ariane before the men in her life descended. It was times like this, since her mother died, that she felt the vast hole in her life. She didn’t realize how much she craved female company.

Oh, she had Diane, but she was a few years younger than Harriet and until she matured, the conversations shared between them were not very enlightening as to affairs of the heart.

The ladies had barely taken their seats when Ariane asked, “So, were you right? Is His Grace here to ask for your hand in marriage?”

Harriet smiled and pressed her finger to her lips while pointedly starring at the servant who was just leaving, having deposited a tea tray on the small table between them. She waited until the door was firmly closed before admitting, “Yes.”

Ariane’s eyebrows rose. “I see. You don’t seem to be overjoyed. Did he tell you why he didn’t court you this past season?”

“Oh, I asked,” and she handed her friend a nice strong cup of tea. “He didn’t however give me an answer.” She waited a moment before adding, “But I found a list he’d made.” She held out the parchment and waited while Ariane put down her teacup with quite a bang on the table.

“A list? What sort of list?”

“Just read it.”

Ariane read out loud.

The Duke’s Must Haves…

She must be of good breeding

She should not be too tall, or too short

She should be obedient

She must be intelligent

She must have an even temperament

“Goodness, gracious. The man has the affront to make a list after spending the entire season chasing… Whoops.” Ariane’s eyes opened wide.

“Chasing? Who was he chasing?”

Ariane threw the list on the table and sighed. “I wasn’t going to tell you if you had accepted Blade’s offer. He was chasing Lady Jane Bennett all season. She’s Princess Charlotte’s lady-in-waiting. The rumor was he was completely smitten with her, but she was promised to Lord Stanthorpe. They married last month.”

“And I thought he was after Princess Charlotte.” Harriet slapped her thigh. “Now I understand why he’s made a list. He lost his first choice, so he is looking for someone to fulfil a role. It would seem he’s decided on how he’ll select a woman to become his wife, and I fit the categories on his list.” A pain started in her stomach and traveled up her chest, almost choking her. “Well, he may be prepared to settle, but I’m not. I won’t be picked because I fit a list of cold, rational requirements. I won’t let my father wrap me up and deliver me as a Christmas gift.”

“The question you need to ask before you say no to his offer is, could you picture yourself married to anyone else? Maybe he could come to love you. You’re very loveable you know.”

She wanted to return Ariane’s kind smile, but her pain filled jealousy of Lady Jane saw her mouth firm. Her friend had a point. Could she make a man like Blade love her? Was it worth taking the risk? If she turned him down, could she marry another while he filled her heart?

“Why couldn’t he have fallen in love with me this season?”

Ariane shrugged her shoulders. “Funny that his list says must be intelligent. Lady Jane