Everyone broke into excited conversation. Harriet felt dazed. She tried to catch Lady Youngstreet's attention. "Do you mean there will not be a duel?"
"Apparently not. Morland has turned coward and fled," Lady Youngstreet said. "St. Justin has driven him right out of the country."
Sir George nodded, looking wise. "Always said St. Justin had plenty of gumption. Had to have it in order to put up with the sort of thing he's faced during the past few years."
"Obviously the things that were said about him must have been lies," Lady Youngstreet declared. "Our Harriet would never have married him if he had not been a man of strong character."
The other members of the group murmured agreement.
Harriet was so relieved, she barely heard what the others were saying. "Felicity, there is not going to be a duel."
"Yes, I know." Felicity laughed. "You can stop quarreling with St. Justin now. It is all over. And if I am not mistaken, I believe your husband has managed to wipe the stain off his honor in the process. Quite remarkable."
"There never was a stain on his honor," Harriet said automatically. "It was all just gossip."
"Yes, well, that is apparently everyone else's opinion now, too." Felicity smiled. "Amazing how swiftly Society can do an about-face, is it not? Everyone prefers to back an obvious winner. St. Justin is going to wake up tomorrow morning and discover that he is all the rage."
But Harriet was no longer listening. She saw the crowd part and realized that Gideon was striding toward her through the huge throng. Several people attempted to speak to him, but Gideon looked neither to the right nor the left. His gleaming gaze was fixed on Harriet and it did not waver as he came to a halt in front of her and took her hand.
"I believe they are about to play a waltz, my dear. Will you favor me with this dance?"
"Oh, Gideon, yes. " Harriet cried softly. She rushed into his arms.
Gideon laughed exultantly as he swept her out onto the dance floor.
A long while later, seated in the carriage on the trip home, Harriet confronted Gideon. It was the first time she had had him alone all evening.
"Is it truly over, Gideon?"
"It would appear so. It took some work for Applegate and Fry to discover what happened to Morland, but they finally tracked down the facts this evening. I think they were quite disappointed to learn that he had fled the country. They had been looking forward to fulfilling all their duties as seconds."
Harriet eyed him intently. "Tell me, Gideon, is this the way you planned it all along? Did you know Morland would run away rather than face you in a duel?"
Gideon shrugged. "It was a distinct possibility from the start. I knew him to be a coward."
"You should have told me, Gideon I have been so worried."
"I could not be certain it would work out this way. Which was why I did not confide in you, my dear. I did not want to raise your hopes. There was still the chance that I would actually have to meet him and I knew the notion upset you."
Harriet was torn between relief and anger. "I do wish you would discuss things with me, my lord. It is very annoying to be kept in the dark."
"I did what I thought was best, Harriet."
"Your notion of what is best does not always coincide with mine," she told him forcefully. "You are far too accustomed to acting without bothering with explanations. You must learn to curb that tendency."
Gideon smiled faintly. "Are you going to spend the rest of the night lecturing me, my dear? Personally, I can think of other things I would rather do."
Harriet sighed as the carriage came to a halt in front of the townhouse. "If I were not so terribly relieved to know you are safe, I vow, I would lecture you all night and straight through until morning."
"But I am safe," Gideon drawled softly as a footman opened the door. "And you are relieved. So we shall skip the lectures and go to bed, hmm?"
Harriet threw him a wry glance as she was handed down. Gideon stepped down behind her, took her arm, and guided her up the steps. He was still smiling.
The door opened and Owl appeared. His dour face looked even more grim than usual. "Good evening, my lady. Your lordship."
Harriet eyed him warily. "Has someone died, Owl?"
"No, madam." Owl looked at Gideon. "We have guests."
"Guests?" Gideon stopped smiling. "Who the hell is paying us a visit at this late hour? I have not extended an invitation to anyone."
"Your parents have arrived, sir."
Harriet was delighted. "Wonderful."
"My parents," Gideon exploded. His eyes darkened with anger. "Bloody hell. What the devil are they doing here?"
Owl switched his gaze to Harriet. "I am told they received an invitation from Lady St. Justin, sir."
"Yes, indeed." Harriet ignored Gideon as he turned on her, his face set in lines of growing fury. "I invited them because I thought they might be able to assist me in stopping the dreadful nonsense with Mr. Morland."
"You invited them? Without my permission?" Gideon asked in a dangerous voice.
"I did what I thought was best, my lord. If you do not confide in me, you cannot expect me to confide every little thing in you." Harriet hurried past him up the steps to greet her in-laws.
The Earl and Countess of Hardcastle were seated in the library in front of the fire. They had been supplied with a pot of tea. They both glanced up with expressions of alarm and anxiety as Harriet rushed into the library.
The earl glanced first at Harriet and then he looked past her at Gideon. He scowled at his son, who returned the look with an equally fierce expression.
"We received a note," Hardcastle said gruffly. "Something about events of a dire nature that threatened scandal, bloodshed, and possible murder."
"Hell," said Gideon. "Harriet always did have a way with notes."
Chapter Eighteen
Two hours later Gideon kicked open the connecting door between Harriet's bedchamber and his own and stalked into his wife's room. He was spoiling for battle.
Harriet sat up in bed against the pillows. She was prepared, more or less, for this confrontation. She was well aware that Gideon had been keeping a tight rein on his temper since the moment they had arrived home to find his parents waiting for them in the library.
Gideon had been civil to the earl and his mother. Barely. He had even given them a brief summary of events which had appeared to stun them.
It was clear that he was not feeling at all civil toward Harriet, however. Everyone had been extremely nervous about that fact except Harriet.
Gideon clamped a hand around the carved bedpost at the foot of the bed. He had undressed except for his breeches. The candlelight highlighted the contoured muscles of his broad shoulders and chest as he loomed in the shadows. His eyes glinted.
"I am not pleased with you, madam," Gideon said grimly.
"Yes, I can see that, my lord."
"How dare you take it upon yourself to issue an invitation to my parents?"
"I was desperate. You were running about London making plans for a duel and you would not listen to me. I had to find a way to stop you."
"I had everything under control," Gideon raged. He released the bedpost and moved closer. "Everything except you, obviously. Damnation, woman. A man is supposed to be master in his own home."
"Well, you are master in this home. For the most part." Harriet tried a placating smile. "But now and again one or two things pop up which require me to take forceful action. You were in one of your stubborn moods and you refused to listen to me."
"The business with Morland was my affair."