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.Lost in memories, she was unaware of the presence of the subject of her thoughts, tying his horse to the vicarage fence, until Prue tugged her hand free and ran to meet him.Skidding to a halt, she dropped a curtsy.“Hallo, my lord.Did you come to see us? We went shopping and Harriet bought some peppermint bull's-eyes.You can have one if you promise not to tell Mama.”“Lords don't eat sweeties, silly,” Sally told her.“This lord does,” said the viscount, his laughing eyes meeting Harriet's over the children's heads.“So does Papa,” Prue assured him earnestly.“I have come to see your papa.” He was not laughing now; indeed, his voice was diffident.“Miss Cooper, do you suppose the vicar could spare me a few minutes?”“I expect so, sir.Pray come in.” Harriet was disappointed.She had hoped he was calling on her, not on parish business.They escorted him to her father's study, then repaired to the kitchen with the shopping.Leaving it for the cook-maid to put away, Harriet took the paper of bull's-eyes and gave the girls one each.“Go and fetch your books,” she said.“Mama and Judith are out, so you shall read to me while I do some mending in the parlor.”Ten minutes later she was patching a rent in the seat of Jimmy's breeches while Sally, on the sofa beside her, stumbled sticky-tongued through Mr.Charles Lamb's Adventures of Ulysses.The enchantress Circe had no sooner turned the hero's crew into swine than Lord Litton came in.“Off you go, girls,” he said cheerfully, “or I shall turn you into frogs.I want a word with your sister.”Harriet scarcely heard their protests as he herded them out.She sat frozen, the torn breeches in her hands, until he gently removed them, sat down beside her, and took her hands in his.“Marry me, Harriet,” he said.The warmth in his eyes made her blush and lower her gaze, but she had seen anxiety too.“Yes,” she breathed, “oh yes.”She could not say more, for he crushed the breath out of her, alternating tender words and tenderer kisses.Putting her arms about his neck, she pressed close to him.He must love her, for no other reason could explain his wanting so ordinary a girl for his wife.But did he understand that she loved him too? She had to be sure he didn't think she would marry him for his title.Pulling away a little, she took one of his hands and held it to her cheek.“I must tell you, my lord.”“Gerald.”“Gerald,” she repeated obediently.He stroked her other cheek.“Wild roses,” he murmured, and bent his head to kiss her again.“Wait, Gerald.Let me speak.You see, I love you.I tried hard not to, because you are so far above me in station I knew it was hopeless, but I could not help it.”“And it was not hopeless after all.” His laugh was joyous.“I fell in love with you at the cricket match, of all places.When you joined in, despite your qualms, to support your friend.No, it was before that, when you asked for a plain, inexpensive fan.Where is it, by the way? I have not seen you use it.”“It is too precious to use.I feared it might be the only thing I had to remember you by.”“You shall have a dozen fans, a hundred, and not a one of them plain or inexpensive.”“I shall still treasure that one.”That statement called for another kiss, which his lordship duly provided.Emerging at last from his embrace, Harriet said guiltily, “Oh dear, your neckcloth is sadly crushed.” She tried to smooth it, but he caught her hands, grinning.“Do you know when I decided that you would be the perfect wife for me? It was shortly after I fell in love, when you ordered poor Lloyd to guard my coat with his life.”Harriet chuckled, but before she could speak the door was flung open and two grubby boys bounced in.“Harry.Oh, hello, sir.Harriet, Sally says you bought some bull's-eyes,” cried Jimmy.“Where are they?”“Hello, sir
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