“Harriet.”
Her heart pounded at the achingly familiar tone, and she looked up to see Joseph approaching. “Joseph. What are you doing here?”
“My apologies for intruding, but I was coming to call on you again when I saw your carriage leaving. I took the liberty of having my driver follow you.” The emotion in his eyes tugged at her. “I realize my behavior is untoward, but I truly do have something I need to tell you.”
“Here?” She glanced around, noting the clerk watching them closely. Perhaps what Joseph had to say wasn’t personal in nature after all.
He followed her gaze, then shifted his back to the clerk, effectively blocking Harriet from his view. “Yes. It can’t wait because it might be important to you.”
The oddly worded statement only made her more puzzled. “I see. No.” She shook her head. “Actually, I don’t.”
Joseph grimaced. “I’m sorry I’m not being clearer. Perhaps this won’t matter at all. But I discovered that Henderson isn’t who he claims to be.”
Harriet blinked at the unexpected news. How silly of her to think Joseph had been about to make some sort of declaration about his feelings toward her. The deep ache of disappointment caught her off guard. She tightened her hold on her reticule in an effort to keep her sorrow at bay. “He’s not?”
“No. He is a fraud. A charlatan. I don’t know if it matters, but I thought perhaps he was part of the reason for your unhappiness the other day.”
“He is,” she whispered. Though she didn’t know if this reduced his threat. He could still ask questions and make suggestions to her stepfather’s friends about his death. But maybe his posing as a reverend would cast him in a questionable light.
“I’m trying to share the news with as many people as possible. Several, including my father, have demanded that he return their donations.”
Harriet nodded, a faint hope stirring within her. It sounded as if Henderson would have his hands full with his own problems. Perhaps that meant he would have little time to bother her and her mother.
“Harriet,” Joseph whispered, “I would still like to speak with you in private. If you’d allow me to call on you...”
She blew out a quiet breath. Perhaps he did care for her. At any rate, he deserved an explanation as to why she couldn’t see him. “Yes.” She glanced at the display of tea as she gathered her thoughts, wondering what to tell him. “This afternoon?”
The relief in his expression and his slow smile pinched her heart.
If only...
But no. She would have to find a way to make him understand that she wasn’t fit for anyone, especially a wonderful man like him. She should suggest he consider Frances even if she didn’t think he would, no matter how much she adored her friend.
“Excellent.” He nodded, his pleasure only making her wish she could tell him now, so he didn’t have false hope.
But with Cora watching, along with the shop clerk, this was not the place for what she had to say.
“Two o’clock?” she asked.
“I look forward to it.” With another smile and a bow, he took his leave.
Harriet watched him go, her heart aching for a future that could never be and the happiness she still craved.