Though worry felt as if it were eating a hole in her stomach, she tried to keep it from showing on her face. She needed to do everything she could to calm her mother. Revealing how scared she was wouldn’t help.
“There has to be someone who can aid us. I’ll send a message to your uncle,” her mother said.
“Not unless we have to.” Harriet didn’t want to tell anyone.
She didn’t want to see the question in her uncle’s eyes every time he looked at her if she told him about her part in Lord Chapman’s death.
Her mother nodded and drew a shuddering breath. “You’re right. I’m allowing worry to gain the better of me.”
“We both are.” Harriet forced a small smile. “If Lord Chapman’s friends had questions about the accident, they would’ve asked long before now.”
“Yes. Of course.” Yet her face crumpled again. “If only I hadn’t married him.” She reached out to gently touch Harriet’s chest. “Then he wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“He hurt you, too, Mother.” Only some scars weren’t visible.
“But he’s gone and can’t do it anymore.”
Harriet bit her lip to keep from disagreeing. His death had cast a permanent shadow over them, one from which they could never emerge.
As if sensing her thoughts, her mother studied her closely. “I am lucky to have found love. And I want the same for you. Don’t allow him to keep you from opening your heart to the right man. You need only think of your father to know what’s possible. Perhaps that man will be Viscount Garland. The way he looked at you when he called made it clear how much he thinks of you.”
Harriet swallowed against the lump in her throat. She appreciated her mother’s words, but it was too late. She’d turned Joseph away and said goodbye. It wasn’t her stepfather’s actions, but her own that kept them apart.
“Your father was the best husband I could’ve ever had. My mistake was in trying to replace him. I didn’t believe I could be happy without a man in my life.”
Her mother closed her eyes and shook her head. “I thank God every day that Arnold is gone.” She opened them to look at Harriet. “That sounds terrible, but I can’t help it.”
“He was the terrible one. Not us.” Harriet rubbed her mother’s arms. “Why don’t I have tea sent to the sitting room, and we’ll discuss something more pleasant?”
“Yes.” Her mother drew a deep breath. “We will continue as before.”
The words pierced Harriet’s heart. The idea of continuing to pretend that all was well, that she hadn’t caused her stepfather’s death, and that she had a chance for a happy future was enough to cause bile to rise in the back of her throat. But what choice did she have?
The image of Joseph filled her mind, sending a pang of longing so strong that she pressed a hand to her heart.
If only—
She halted the thought before it went any further. There was no room forif onlyin her life now. Not with Reverend Henderson’s veiled threat hanging over their heads.
~*~
THOUGH JOSEPH WAS TEMPTEDto go directly to Harriet’s to share what his mother had told him, he feared it wouldn’t be enough to change her mind. He needed to take action first.
Of course, if he knew the nature of Harriet’s concern, moving forward would be easier, and the action he should take clearer.
Lord Chapman was dead, and Joseph couldn’t change that. Harriet hadn’t mentioned his death or seemed to mourn his passing. That meant the best chance of protecting her was to focus on Henderson.
The most effective way to strike him would be from a financial standpoint. Having those who’d donated to him demand their money be returned was a start. Spreading the truth about the man’s actions was important as well.
He hoped Melbourne hadn’t given him any money. The concern had him requesting his driver take him to Melbourne House. While he wasn’t certain whether the family had returned from their country estate, he could at least leave word that he had an urgent matter to speak with him about.
He knocked on the door of Melbourne House and when the butler opened it, he caught sight of the bustling servants in the entrance hall.
“Mr. and Mrs. Melbourne arrived a short time ago, my lord,” the servant advised. “Allow me to see if Mr. Melbourne is receiving.”
Joseph waited several minutes before he was shown to Melbourne’s study.
“Garland, good to see you again.” Melbourne strode forward to shake his hand.