Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

T he day of the dinner finally arrived. Harriet was already up before the first light of day, her mind racing with the many tasks that needed her attention. There was so much at stake tonight, and she was determined that everything would go flawlessly.

Harriet moved through the house with purpose as she oversaw the final preparations. The dining room was being set with the finest china and crystal, the silver polished until it gleamed. Fresh flowers were arranged in elegant vases, their subtle fragrance filling the air. The menu had been meticulously planned.

All the preparations were in place. Now — she just needed the night to go exactly as she had planned.

Earlier, Harriet had written to Emma Spencer in private, explaining her intentions for the evening. The letter had been carefully worded, outlining the opportunity this dinner presented — a chance for Emma to win Tobias’s favor, to show him what he might be missing out on — a chance for them to start anew. Without being forced into a union.

To no surprise, Emma had agreed, recognizing the gravity of the situation. Emma was in dire straits, so it was in her interests to go along with the plan that Harriet had proposed. Emma had written that she was willing to do whatever it took to secure her daughter’s future.

But Harriet knew that the evening needed to go perfectly. The smallest misstep could set Tobias off, could send him running back to his old habits, and that was something she couldn’t allow. She needed to create an environment where he felt both comfortable and subtly pressured, where he could see the future that awaited him if he chose to step up.

There was a knock at the door, and Harriet turned to see one of the maids standing there, her expression anxious. “My lady, the guests have started to arrive.”

Harriet nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “Thank you. I’ll be down shortly.”

Harriet had picked a small number of guests — a total of five families. The main guests were, of course, the Spencers. But Harriet had been careful to invite others so as not to make Tobias suspicious of her true intent.

She had to make their reconnection as natural as she possibly could.

As she descended the grand staircase, Harriet could hear the soft murmur of voices from the drawing room. The guests were gathering, the evening was about to begin. She forced herself to smile, to project an air of calm confidence, even as her nerves threatened to overwhelm her.

Entering the drawing room, she was greeted by the sight of Emma, who stood by the fireplace next to her family. She looked quite nervous, and Harriet could not blame her.

Their eyes met, and Harriet gave her a reassuring nod.

Tobias had not yet arrived, but that was to be expected. He was often late, and Harriet had accounted for that in her planning. She saw Simon already intermingling with some of the guests.

He had been so supportive of her this entire time that it was making her heart swell for him. As though it was not possible to fall in love with him more.

But here she was, falling harder by the minute.

Focus. She reminded herself quickly, lest she let her daydreaming get the better of her.

Finally, as the clock struck the hour, Tobias finally arrived. Harriet had instructed the maids to let her know as soon as he did; she had wanted to talk to him first before he got a chance to see the other guests.

“Tobias!” she greeted him by the door. “So lovely of you to make it. I must say, you look quite dashing.”

Tobias was dressed in a three-piece suit. He looked very much upper-class, and polished. A man who was dressed to impress.

“Well, thanks to you my allowance was reinstated, and I was able to get a crisp, new suit for myself,” he grinned. “I am happy to come.”

He began walking over to the drawing room, but Harriet stopped him. “Just… just one thing before you go, Tobias. You know this evening is important for your brother and me, as we wish for you to find yourself a suitable match.”

Tobias nodded. “Yes, you told me as much.”

“I do not wish to judge you, but knowing your reputation, I know that you do not feel any sort of hesitance around women. In fact, you are quite charming, as they say.”

Tobias nodded, looking confused by the direction she was taking.

“Well, consider this advice from someone who cares for you. To have an affair with and to pursue a woman seriously are vastly different things.”

Tobias gave her an expression, as if to say, really?

“It may sound like simple advice to you,” Harriet continued. “But it really is profound, if you decide to think about it.”

“I am not sure what wisdom I am meant to be taking out of it, Duchess…”

Harriet shook her head. She was going to be have to be direct after all.

“Remember, Tobias. You must be careful when choosing your person. The right woman will not wait for you for too long, as she will already have a line of suitors waiting for her.”

That seemed to make him contemplate for a moment.

“Well, thank you. I shall be sure to keep that in mind, then.”

“Happy to help,” Harriet smiled, pushing down her nervousness.

It was pivotal that tonight went exactly as planned.

“Now, I shall go in and greet the others…”

“Let me join you,” Harriet said, and walked alongside her brother-in-law. The drawing room had been converted into a room where guests could stand, and talk whilst they were being served an assortment of hor d’oeuvres

She kept a hawkish eye on Tobias, waiting for him to notice the one person that she had orchestrated this entire thing for.

And finally, he did.

Emma stood near the fireplace. She wore a dress of muted blue, simple yet elegant, a choice that made her stand out in the most subtle of ways. Her hands were clasped lightly in front of her, her expression composed but not without a hint of nervousness.

For a moment, Tobias froze. The mask of indifference he usually wore slipped, revealing the surprise that flashed across his face.

He hadn’t expected to see her here, not tonight, not ever again. His usual self-assured demeanor faltered as his gaze locked onto Emma.

Emma, sensing his gaze, looked up. Their eyes met, and the world seemed to pause around them. The noise of the room faded into the background, the other guests mere shadows as Tobias and Emma stood gazing at each other.

Is it working? Harriet found herself thinking. She held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

They sure seemed to have quite a strong reaction to one another. Not just Emma, but Tobias as well.Was it circumstantial evidence enough to indicate his feelings towards her?

Harriet knew that she had some more probing to do.

Quietly, she cleared her throat beside Tobias, who snapped out of his little staring contest.

“Do you have your eye on someone already?” she asked teasingly.

Tobias shook his head, and looked away. “No, it is just that… I have run into someone that I have met before, it seems.”

Harriet acted as though she did not know to whom he was referring.

“Well, I do not know if you noticed but Lady Emma Spencer is also in attendance with her family,” Harriet said. “Though, I am not sure you have much of a chance with her…”

Her tactic worked. Tobias shot back at her, annoyed, “Why would you assume that, Duchess?”

“Well, for one thing, I hear that she is engaged. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her, and she’s set to be married next week.”

Tobias’s expression shifted instantly — shock, disbelief, and a flash of anger all crossing his features in rapid succession. He stared at Harriet as if he hadn’t heard her correctly, as if her words couldn’t possibly be true.

“Engaged?” he echoed, his voice tight, almost disbelieving. “She’s engaged?”

Harriet nodded, her gaze unwavering. “Yes. It’s all been arranged. This dinner tonight is likely the last chance you have to speak with her before she’s married.”

Tobias turned back to look at Emma, his jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he processed what Harriet had told him. The idea of Emma marrying someone else did seem to strike a deep chord with him, and he was having trouble keeping his emotions in check.

“She’s just going to marry someone else?” Tobias asked, his voice strained. “Just like that?”

Harriet could hear the hurt and confusion in his voice, “She doesn’t have a choice, Tobias. Her parents have made this decision for her, and she feels like it’s the only option she has left.”

“There are always options…” he started, glancing back at her.

Harriet shrugged. “Well, perhaps if someone was to step up and prove to her that he is a better match…. perhaps something can be arranged. Do you happen to have anyone in mind?”

Tobias was lost in his own world, it seemed. His fists were clenched along his sides, and his expression was seething.

“Excuse me, Duchess. I have to be somewhere…” he said, and then without warning, disappeared down the hallway.

What was he up to now?

The dinner had progressed smoothly, the soft clinking of silverware and the low murmur of conversation filling the air.

Harriet and Simon were seated side by side, their plates nearly empty. Harriet had been keeping a close eye on Tobias throughout the evening, her senses finely attuned to every shift in his demeanor.

As she subtly observed the table, Harriet couldn’t help but notice the way Tobias’s eyes kept drifting towards Emma and her fiancé.

It wasn’t difficult to read the expression on his face — the tightening of his jaw, the way his hand gripped his wine glass just a bit too tightly. He was trying to keep his composure, but the emotion simmering beneath the surface was unmistakable.

He was jealous. That much she could tell.

Emma, seated across from them, was doing her best to maintain a pleasant conversation with her fiancé, a well-bred gentleman who seemed unaware of the tension his presence was causing. Emma smiled politely, nodded at the appropriate moments, but there was a certain stiffness in her posture, a guardedness that Harriet could easily detect. She wasn’t fully present, and neither was Tobias.

Harriet leaned slightly towards Simon, lowering her voice so that only he could hear. “See?” she whispered, a note of satisfaction in her tone. “It seems to be working.”

Simon turned his head just enough to glance at Harriet.

“You think so?” he murmured back, careful not to draw attention to their conversation.

Harriet nodded, her eyes flickering back to Tobias. “Look at him,” she said softly. “He’s been watching them all evening. It’s as if he can’t stand the idea of her being with someone else.”

Simon followed her gaze, his expression contemplative.

“Jealousy is a powerful motivator,” he nodded. “But it’s not enough on its own, Harriet. He needs to do more than just feel jealous. He needs to act.”

Harriet sighed, knowing Simon was right. Jealousy could only push Tobias so far — what mattered now was whether he would channel that emotion into something productive, whether he would take the steps necessary to win back Emma and take responsibility for his daughter.

“I know,” Harriet replied quietly. “But it’s a start. At least we know he still cares, that he’s not as indifferent as he pretends to be.”

Simon nodded slightly, his eyes returning to Tobias, who was now glaring at his wine glass as if it were the source of all his troubles. “Let’s hope that care turns into something more. For all their sakes.”

And then, it finally happened.

As the last course was cleared and the guests began to rise from their seats, Tobias moved in one particular direction.

He crossed the room straight towards Emma. The room seemed to quieten as he approached her.

“Emma,” Tobias said, “I need to speak with you. Now.”

Emma looked up at him, surprised by the urgency in his tone. She hesitated for a moment, glancing towards her fiancé, who was engaged in conversation with another guest and seemed unaware of the sudden tension between them.

“All right,” she agreed softly. “Let’s talk.”

Tobias didn’t wait for further confirmation. He turned and led the way towards the garden. Behind him, Emma followed suit.

Harriet, who had been watching the exchange intently, knew this was the moment she had been waiting for. She excused herself quietly from the table, slipping away unnoticed, and followed them at a discreet distance as they made their way over to the garden.

Harriet stayed just out of sight as she watched them from behind a tall hedge. She could see the stiffness in Tobias’s posture, the way his hands were clenched at his sides. Emma, too, seemed tense, her steps slower, as if she were bracing herself for whatever was about to come.

When they reached a secluded spot near a stone bench, Tobias stopped and turned to face Emma. Harriet edged closer, her heart in her throat as she strained to hear their conversation.

“You are marrying him?”

Emma seemed to flinch at the harshness in his tone.

“What choice do I have, Tobias?” her voice trembled with emotion. “You left me.”

Tobias stepped closer, his fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to keep his temper in check.

“Did you decide to do this, or was it your parents?” He gestured angrily toward the house, where both her fiancé and family were oblivious to the storm brewing outside.

“Why does that even matter?” Emma shot back.

“It does,” Tobias pressed. “It matters to me. Did you choose him?”

“It was my parents’ decision. But they were only looking out for me. Need I remind you again that you left me to fend for myself? You left our daughter?”

Tobias was silent. He paced around, his fists curled.

Come on, Tobias. Admit it. Tell her that you love her.

Harriet was hoping against all odds.

“You cannot marry him,” Tobias finally spoke — his voice devoid of emotion.

“Unless you have something better for me, I cannot listen to you,” Emma’s own words were anguished.

“You wish for me to ask for your hand?”

“It is what is expected.”

“Emma, you cannot make me take a decision like this so hastily,” Tobias argued.

“Is that the case?” Emma said. “Well, then I have no business speaking to you. I thought that you would come to your senses, but I was mistaken. I was blinded, once again. I…”

Emma ran off before she could complete her sentence, overwhelmed with emotion.

Oh no.

Oh no. No.

This was not how Harriet had expected things to go. She watched Emma run off in the distance, and knew that it was too late to catch her.

But it was still time for her to talk to Tobias.

“Tobias,” she emerged out of the bushes, startling him.

“Heavens — I — what are you doing here?” he inquired.

“It does not matter. Why did you not ask for Emma Spencer’s hand?” Harriet felt like an older sister for the first time in her life, reprimanding a younger sibling.

Tobias opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it back.

“Was I meant to? Just out of the blue like that?”

Harriet felt herself grow disappointed. He had not done as she had expected him to.

Perhaps her plan had not worked so perfectly after all.