Page 27 of Indecently Daring

The thought struck Harry that her eyes were not nearly so lovely as Miss Cadogan’s. Miss Steadman’s eyes were a very pale blue, whereas Miss Cadogan’s were that oddly piercing colour that seemed to change with the light, reminding him sometimes of the Mediterranean Sea, and at others of somewhere cold and storm-tossed. That was generally when she was in a snit with him, though. Harry returned his attention to the girl before him, horrified that he’d been distracted at all, let alone by that troublesome minx.

“I see,” he said again, inwardly rolling his eyes as he repeated himself. “And does this fellow return your… er… regard?”

“I don’t know,” she said sadly. “But I hope so, for I know we are meant to be together, if only he would realise it. We’re quite perfectly matched, you see.”

“I see… I mean… Who is this fellow?” Harry asked, deciding he’d best get to the heart of the matter. If no harm had been done, perhaps Harry could persuade him to do the honourable thing and sod off. Though if she’d been compromised… Harry jolted as Miss Steadman grasped hold of his lapels.

“Why, don’t play coy, Harry, you know it’s you,” she said, before standing on tiptoes and pressing her mouth to his. Harry, encumbered as he was with the box, froze with shock.

“Miss Steadman, do put the vicar down. He does not appreciate your unsolicited advances.”

The voice was cool and firm and had Miss Steadman stumbling away from Harry with an expression of mortification.

“Miss Cadogan,” Harry said, relieved beyond measure that it was her and she’d grasped the situation. “I am so pleased to see you.”

“I’ll just bet you are,” she muttered, folding her arms before turning back to Miss Steadman. “How would you like it if some boy of only fourteen came up and kissed you, without a by-your-leave?” Miss Cadogan demanded of the girl.

“It’s not at all the same thing,” the girl said indignantly, her cheeks flushing scarlet.

“Of course it is. Reverend Martin is a grown man. To him, you’re a little girl and you’ve just embarrassed the poor fellow by behaving very badly. I believe you owe him an apology.”

Rather to Harry’s surprise, Miss Steadman folded her arms and glared at Miss Cadogan, her expression mutinous. “You’re just jealous.”

Miss Cadogan rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. That old chestnut. I am nothing of the sort. Now do stop acting like a complete nitwit. Apologise and go home before you get yourself into trouble. You can’t just go about the countryside kissing vicars without consequences, you know.”

Miss Steadman’s scowl deepened. “You just want him for yourself. I know, I can see the look in your eyes. You’re not that much older than me, either. Only four or five years. That’s nothing. You’re after him, aren’t you? I bet you only fell in that pond on purpose, so he’d have to drag you out again.”

“Miss Steadman!” Harry said, feeling this had gone on quite long enough. “That will do. Miss Cadogan rescued Jeb at considerable risk to herself, and I will not tolerate this silliness. Now do as the lady bid you and go home to your mother.”

Miss Steadman turned her arctic glare upon Harry with an expression of such fury he was quite taken aback. Without another word, she turned on her heel and stalked away.

Miss Cadogan gave a low whistle. “Oh, now you’ve done it.”

“Done what?” he demanded irritably, though why he was irritated with her he didn’t know, bearing in mind she’d saved him from an awfully delicate predicament.

“Love and hate, two sides of the same coin, you know.”

“I think hate might be considerably safer for my peace of mind and my reputation,” Harry retorted.

They walked on, crossed the bridge and turned left, happily in the opposite direction to the one Miss Steadman had taken.

She shrugged, walking easily beside him despite his long strides, and turned to regard him with interest. The sun glinted upon her blonde hair, turning it to gold. Harry looked away.

“How on earth did you get yourself in such a pickle, in any case?”

“Doing my job,” he said, wishing he didn’t sound so irritable, but really, Miss Steadman was bad enough for his nerves. Miss Cadogan was like a spark in a room full of gunpowder. Harry sighed, reminding himself he was a gentleman, and a man of the cloth, and that he owed the lady a debt. “I beg your pardon, Miss Cadogan. I’m afraid I’m a little out of sorts. I did not mean to sound so sharp.”

“That’s quite all right,” she said, amusement lurking in those troublesome eyes. “It’s little wonder you’re a bit cranky in the circumstances. First Miss Steadman, then that trying creature who makes you so unreasonably cross.”

Harry sighed. “You don’t make me cross, Miss Cadogan.”

“Yes, I do,” she said, grinning at him. “You may as well admit it. You don’t like me.”

“I never said anything of the sort!” he exclaimed, rather shocked she should say so.

She snorted, an unladylike sound he ought to disapprove of, but it only made him want to smile. What a dreadful girl she was. “You didn’t need to. That disapproving look is never far from your eyes. You think me too bold, too outspoken. Too much trouble.”

Harry sighed. “And you think me a dull dog,” he said dryly.