Lady Bolton’s mouth dropped open. “How wonderful.”
“I can see we’ll soon be adding a library and a ladder.” Bolton heaved a resigned sigh even as he smiled at Lady Bolton.
“I hope you do,” Harriet said. “But be warned that the league members will be frequent visitors.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way.” Bolton grinned. “Especially since Phoebe and I owe our union to the league.” He paused and studied his wife. “Though I like to think I would’ve eventually realized the gem beneath my nose.”
Lady Bolton laughed. “I had grown weary of waiting for you to notice me. The time had come to take matters into my own hands.”
“Thank goodness.” The earl took her hand in his.
Once again, Joseph was struck by their obvious affection for one another. His gaze shifted to Harriet, wondering what she thought when she watched the couple.
The naked longing on her face was so poignant that it made him ache. But the look was gone as quickly as it had come, masked by a polite smile, leaving him wondering if he’d imagined it.
She pressed a finger on her chest, rubbing back and forth along the fabric, a frequent habit of hers.
Then she noticed him watching her and quickly dropped her hand, her expression almost guilty. How puzzling. He couldn’t imagine why she would feel that way.
They moved to where the other guests stood, though Joseph wanted to draw Harriet to a quiet corner and ask how she truly was and why she’d left without saying goodbye.
But that conversation had to wait.
With a deep breath, he collected his thoughts and tried to focus on the discussions around him. He needed to keep his goal of finding potential investors for the bank in mind.
But Harriet’s presence at his side made that much less important. The realization shocked him, and he wasn’t certain what to do about it.
He did his best to tuck away the thought and turned toward the duke.
“My apologies again, Your Grace,” he murmured.
The duke raised a brow. “Far be it from me to take your attention from a lady, especially one as lovely as Lady Harriet.”
Luckily, Harriet was involved in a conversation with Lady Tabitha and Lady Bolton and hadn’t heard the compliment. Joseph had no desire to compete with a duke for Harriet’s attention.
“She is that,” he agreed quietly. “I understand you have been busy at your country estate.” He had to shift the conversation to something else before he reached for Harriet’s arm.
“I have. But my aunt continually reminds me that I also have obligations in the city.” Trentworth leaned closer. “And that I should begin the search for a wife.”
“A necessity when one is a duke.” Joseph was relieved not to have the pressure of selecting a lady with all of Society watching.
With his handsomeness and charm, Trentworth had always drawn attention everywhere he went and with everything he did. Now that he’d inherited the title, it was even more so. Surely, he grew weary of the watching eyes. If he did, he hid it well.
“Don’t tell me I’m in this alone,” the duke said with a wry smile. “Isn’t it time for you to do the same?”
“Eventually.” Yet he couldn’t help but look at Harriet. Perhaps it would be sooner than he expected.
~*~
HARRIET HAD HALF-HOPEDJoseph might be at Phoebe’s dinner party. But finding him there was bittersweet. She’d thought more time apart would provide objectivity and allow her to remember the reasons a future with him was impossible. She’d meant to treat him as an acquaintance and nothing more.
Yet Phoebe’s words at the lending library made her reconsider her decision.
Then their eyes had met across the drawing room, and she’d realized how much she wanted Joseph in her life. As she watched him speak with the Duke of Trentworth, her heart continued to hammer.
When he’d mentioned the smaller library with such an intent look in his hazel eyes, her knees had weakened. Those moments were forever emblazoned on her mind, a passionate and tender interlude she would always cherish.
“Is all well?” Tibby asked from her elbow.