Why was she so fascinated by these changes? And why did they set her heart racing?
He was looking at her carefully, one brow raised in question, and her mouth started moving before she could stop it. “Did you father a child in Paris?”
The question caught Harrison off-balance. His face slackened, his brows shooting high. Maddie must have been equally taken aback because she immediately put her hand over her mouth, her expression filled with pure horror.
Silence descended for a long moment before her cheeks turned a dusky rose. “Forgive me. I have no right to ask you such a thing. Forget I even brought it up.”
Unlikely he could forget such an unexpected question. She and Kit had whispered all throughout dinner, so had his friend led her to believe Harrison had fathered a bastard in Paris? Kit was certainly capable of such troublemaking. “Who told you that?”
She carefully straightened the pleats of her skirt, not meeting his eye. “I won’t say. Besides, your personal life is none of my concern.”
He folded his arms across his chest, fighting a smile. Her discomfort was adorable. “Someone must have put the idea in your head. Who was it?”
“No one. I must have drunk too much wine.”
“Yes, I noticed you had a second glass.”
That made her look up, her brows pulled low. “Why would you notice such a thing?”
“Do not change the subject, Mads. I want a name.”
“I won’t tell you. So is it true?”
He studied her carefully. She seemed to be holding her breath, as if bracing for bad news, awaiting his answer. Was she worried he would say yes?
This was an interesting turn. Why would his answer matter? If she felt nothing for him, then she would not have pressed the issue. Was this jealousy?
Jealousy implied feelings. Deeper, non-brotherly feelings.
Was his plan working?
Spirits lifting considerably, he said, “I have no children, legitimate or otherwise.”
Her shoulders relaxed, though her voice remained nonplussed. “Oh.”
“Oh? That is all you have to say?”
“As I said, it’s none of my business. I don’t really care either way.”
She was a terrible liar. She bit her lip and looked down each time she lied, just as she was doing now.
He decided to explore this idea of jealousy a bit more. Leaning in, he dropped his voice. “If you must know, I had a close longtime friend of the female variety while there, and we were diligent about preventing consequences.”
She cleared her throat, and her hands curled into fists in her lap. “I see.”
Harrison pressed his lips together to keep from grinning at this turn of events. It was like a door had opened, a new path revealed, one that led to a future with Maddie. And he had no intention of going backward.
But he knew she didn’t like to be pushed, preferring to do the pushing instead. Therefore, he took pity on her and changed the subject. “Why did you wait until your third season to marry?”
“So I could play tennis.”
“Married women play tennis, Maddie.”
“I know, but I wanted to take time to really focus on my game, see if I could compete nationally. Mama agreed, thankfully.”
“Probably for the best. The English are quite stuffy about their royalty, you know. They like to produce heirs and keep up appearances. I can’t imagine Lockwood is keen on your tennis ambitions.”
“Wrong. He is entirely supportive. In fact, he sends me flowers to wish me luck before every match.”
Harrison nearly snorted. He knew dukes, and they all had a long string of boring names as well as ridiculous nicknames from Eton. They were, in short, insufferable prigs. “I met a few dukes during my time in Paris,” he said. “Generally not the most enlightened bunch.”
“Lockwood is not like that.”
Harrison seethed, his teeth clenched at her defense of the precious duke. “Are you certain?”
Twin spots of color returned to her cheeks, this time accompanied by a flash of anger in her gaze. “Of course.”
Kit arrived and frowned at them both. “Have you forgotten?” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Heiresses? Marriage? Stop arguing and go circulate.”
“We are not arguing,” Maddie said when Harrison remained silent.
“Maybe, but the two of you are having an intense conversation in the corner while a roomful of eligible women are watching.”
Sure enough, several sets of eyes were directed toward their corner.
“And,” Kit said quietly to Maddie, “if you are serious about this endeavor, then you mustn’t monopolize his time.”
Maddie opened her mouth, likely to argue, but Kit lifted an arrogant brow, daring her to deny it.
“I came over first. It isn’t Maddie’s fault,” Harrison said. Still, Kit was right. It was time to circulate.
Besides, he wouldn’t win her after one conversation. This was a dance that required him to advance, then retreat, advance a bit more, then retreat. Like a hunter, he had to use intelligence and stealth to get what he wanted. He couldn’t scare her with too much, too soon.
Standing, he crossed to the sideboard to get a drink. Lydia Hartwell was the first to approach him, asking, “Attend any races at Longchamp while you were in Paris?”
He picked up his crystal tumbler. “I did. At least two or three every season. Have you been?”
“No, though we went to Ascot two years ago. I love horse racing.”
“Horse mad, are you?”
“Guilty.” The edges of her mouth twisted in a self-deprecating smile. “I like to spend time outside. Sitting indoors, talking and sewing, bores me to tears.”
“That must be why you and Miss Webster are friends, then. She’s much the same way.”
She laughed, the lines of her face softening. “I once asked her to teach me tennis. After that, I decided to stick with hunting and riding.”
“She takes tennis very seriously. It’s her competitive nature.”
“I soon realized as much. She did not go easy on me, either. It was a thrashing.”
Harrison shook his head and took a sip of bourbon. “If it’s retaliation you’re after, take her shooting. She cannot hit the widest of targets and she hates to lose.”
“I like that.” She clinked her glass coupe to his crystal tumbler. “You have a devious mind, sir.”
He tried not to smirk. You have no idea.
Chapter Five
When Harrison left, Kit lowered himself onto the window seat. “I thought we were supposed to help him.”
She smoothed the fabric of her skirts. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Maddie, you must encourage him to find a bride. All the guests were staring just now, wondering what is going on between the two of you.”
He watches you all the time, like he’s obsessed with you.
She pushed Nellie’s words aside. “Nothing is going on.” Other than her thoughts running away from her. Inappropriate thoughts of her childhood friend . . . which had to stop. She couldn’t even claim surprise any longer, because she’d spent too much time in Harrison’s presence today.
The plan is for him to find a wealthy wife. Your plan is to win Nationals and marry a duke.