Free An Exception to His Rule by Lindsay Armstrong

her curiously again. ‘You’re full of surprises—docile and ladylike on one hand then quite a termagant.’
    ‘Docile!’ Harriet pulled a face. ‘That sounds awful. So does termagant. I’m sure I’m not either of those.’
    ‘You’re also younger sometimes. The ladylike you could be ten years older.’
    ‘That’s ridiculous,’ Harriet objected but found she had to laugh a little. ‘You know, the art world takes itself very seriously sometimes, so one may get into the habit of being very serious-minded without quite realising it.’
    He laughed then glanced at his watch. ‘OK. I’ve got things to do.’
    He got up and untied his horse but Harriet stayed where she was, quite unaware that she looked disappointed.
    ‘Harriet?’
    She looked up to see him frowning down at her.
    ‘This is how you want it, isn’t it?’ he queried.
    She froze then a heartbeat later she scrambled up. ‘Sure! Let’s go!’
    But upstairs in the flat after she’d showered and was eating breakfast alone, it wasn’t how she wanted it at all, she had to confess to herself.
    * * *
    She worked furiously for the next couple of days then Charlie came home for a long weekend and it was his birthday and he’d decided to have a party.
    If she hadn’t been so engrossed in her work, she’d have noticed the preparations going on in the big house, but she hadn’t. Therefore it took her by surprise when Isabel asked her what she’d be wearing.
    ‘Wearing?’
    ‘To Charlie’s birthday party.’
    ‘When?’
    Isabel clicked her tongue. ‘Tomorrow. You’re invited.’
    ‘No I’m not.’ Harriet put down the ivory figurine of a dolphin she was holding.
    ‘But I put an invitation—’ Isabel broke off, looked around and stepped over to the table beside the door where she picked up several items of mail, one of which she then brandished at Harriet, looking exasperated. ‘Even if you didn’t see this, surely you noticed that something was going on?’
    Harriet coloured. ‘No. I’m sorry. And thank you very much for inviting me—’
    ‘Charlie did,’ Isabel corrected.
    ‘Charlie then, but I couldn’t possibly come.’
    ‘Why on earth not?’ Isabel stared at her with the light of battle clearly lit in her dark Wyatt eyes.
    Harriet heaved a sigh. ‘I’m—I’m an employee, Isabel,’ she said but tartly despite the sigh, ‘and don’t forget it! Look, I’m sorry if I sound snippy or rude but sometimes it’s the only way to deal with you Wyatts.’ To her horror, tears stood out in her eyes but she carried on relentlessly. ‘I’m not coming and that’s that.’
    ‘Not coming where?’
    Both Harriet and Isabel swung around to see Damien standing in the doorway.
    ‘Charlie’s party,’ Isabel said bitterly.
    Harriet turned away. There had been no more dawn rides on the beach; in fact she’d hardly seen Damien since that magical morning.
    ‘That’s OK,’ Damien said easily. ‘It’s her choice.’
    Isabel took a sharp angry breath. ‘Men! You’re all the same; never there for you when you’re needed. If anyone could have persuaded her, you could have. But, on top of being unreliable, most men are as thick as planks!’ And she stormed past Damien and out into the night.
    Harriet closed her mouth and blinked several times.
    ‘Ditto,’ Damien murmured. ‘You wouldn’t change your mind and come, would you, Harriet? If for no other reason than for me to regain some credibility in my aunt’s eyes.’
    Harriet hesitated then sighed. ‘I might just put in an appearance. But that’s all,’ she warned.
    ‘Far be it from me to urge you otherwise,’ he said gravely. ‘No, I wouldn’t dream of persuading you to take part in what you might see as mindless revelry in some way beneath you—or whatever. So, goodnight, Miss Livingstone,’ he added reverently and he too stepped out into the night. He also closed the door.
    Harriet discovered herself to be possessed of a burst of anger and she picked up an object to