Page 64 (1/2)

Prologue

Early February, 1741, London

“Sweet Lord in heaven,” Harriett whispered, still in shock over her sister’s unhappy revelation “What are we to do?”

“We are going to keep quiet,” snapped her father “Because if this gets out, neither you nor Catherine will have a chance” Rising, he went and poured hilass of port His hands shook as he lifted the decanter “We’ll move her to the country—quickly, before her condition can be discerned,” he went on “God willing, no one will ever know At the very least, we must hope no one learns of it until after you and Catherine are safely married”

Married A wave of melancholy washed over Harriett No I cannot think of William now The crisis at hand demanded all of her attention “And hen will Lord Oxenden be infore” or think of him as her brother-in-law

“Why bother?” he growled “It isn’t as if the blackguard is going to claim it”

Though she knew his fury was not directed at her, Harriett treht to at least provide for his child”

A snort erupted frorew even more thunderous “You wish to appeal to his sense of duty, do you? Do you really expect him to own to his perfidy?” He sla the crystal it bore to shudder and clink “No! The rotten scoundrel will deny it—and with coing the worst sort of disgrace upon us all, including our poor Elizabeth”

Our poor Elizabeth indeed Once, she’d been jealous of Elizabeth for having escaped with her fairytale prince, leaving her behind to retted her resent to her own sister? What madness had possessed her to lose all sense of honor and decency? “Surely Elizabeth won’t allow hiued after a moment “After all, the child is innocent of any crime”

“You enerous perspective, Harriett, but I doubt Liz would be so forgiving” He took a s of port “The mere existence of the child would be a constant thorn in her side, a living reminder of betrayal I certainly wouldn’t expect any quarter from her”

Harriett leveled a hard stare at hih this child isn’t a reality, but it is Or at least it shall be in a matter of months”

“Not as far as Elizabeth is concerned,” he replied, squaring his shoulders “If at all possible, I mean for her never to find out”

“What? Papa, be reasonable It’ll be next to i like this from her I know you wish to protect her from further distress, but—”

“We need only keep them apart until Arabella is recovered and the child can be disposed of” Heof her disentled “We will have to find a home for it, naturally”

“Liz onder at her prolonged absence,” Harriett insisted “She’d be a fool not to suspect so

“Perhaps,” said her father His lips pursed “But she won’t ever know for certain, will she?”

“But it will take months for Arabella to look her old self after the babe coer, and—”

“They will be kept away from each other, even if I have to send Arabella to the Continent for a year or two” He paused, taking a sip “And she will keep her silence upon her return That, I can guarantee”

The chill in his voice put a knot in Harriett’s stomach “Do not be too harsh with her, Papa,” she pleaded “After all, she is but seventeen—and he deceived her in the most terrible manner”

“Do you think er is any less toward hination “He deceived us all! I should run the devil through, would it not risk exposing our shame As for Arabella, I have little choice but to be harsh She knerong,” he rasped “She ought to have fled the devil the first time he approached her rather than allow herself to be persuaded into such wickedness! You cannot tell me our Catherine would have made the same choice had she been in her place”