When Harry Met Molly

Chapter 38

Molly walked with the other women to the log she and Harry had sat on so recently, and she felt a wisp of loneliness curl in her belly.

She and Harry would never sit on this log together again.

In a few moments, she’d find out if she had won the Most Delectable Companion contest. If so, Harry would win another year of freedom. If not, he’d be among those bachelors forced to pull straws, one of whom would find out tonight if he was to get legshackled to a woman of his club’s choosing.

“How will you feel,” said Molly to the other mistresses when she sat down, “if your bachelor is the one forced to marry?”

Bunny squeezed in next to her. “You know I wouldn’t care. I shall be leaving him anyway.”

“Really?” Athena was astounded. And so it seemed were Joan and Hildur.

Bunny nodded. “Yes. I was on the verge of telling Delilah earlier that I’ve a friend I can stay with in London. She’s an assistant to a seamstress with a thriving business. I think she might be able to get me work.”

Molly hugged her. “That would be too, too wonderful!”

Bunny smiled. “You inspired me, Delilah. Thank you for believing in me.”

“The truth is, ladies,” said Athena, “whether or not Maxwell draws the short straw, we shall soon part ways. He’s not the sort to stay with one woman for long. And my career as an actress is providing me with sufficient income to live comfortably. I shall no longer require a protector.”

“That’s marvelous!” Molly said, and everyone clapped.

“Perhaps I can help with your costumes?” Bunny asked Athena. “And your gowns, as well, if you’d like.”

Athena smiled and tossed her hair. “You must come to Drury Lane to visit me at your earliest convenience.”

When it came to Joan’s turn, she chuckled. “I have great affection for Lumley, of course. Who wouldn’t?”

Molly knew exactly what Joan meant. Lumley had such a big heart.

“But he is more like a brother to me now,” Joan went on. “And I say that as the highest compliment.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “He’s providing me with sufficient funds to move north and be with my son and my sister. And then he’s sending my son to a good school not far away from home.”

There were gasps along the log, and happy tears were shed by all for some few minutes.

“And you, Hildur?” Molly eventually asked. “What will you do if Captain Arrow must marry?”

“I go where it’s hot. I’m a pirate.”

“You mean you’ll find a pirate protector on an island somewhere?” asked Bunny.

“No,” said Hildur, pointing to her chest. “I steal gold.”

“Arrow told her he’d arrange her passage,” Athena said, rolling her eyes.

Molly grinned. She could actually imagine Hildur as a female pirate!

“What are your plans, Delilah, if Lord Harry must get legshackled?” Joan asked. “Will you stay with him? When you performed tonight”—she hesitated—“it seemed as if you would be truly pained to be parted from him.”

Molly looked around at the other mistresses. She’d been kidding herself, hadn’t she? She’d tried so hard not to care about Harry beyond their friendship and kisses and jokes, but she loved him.

She loved him, and she wanted to be more than his mistress.

She did!

She wanted to be his wife.

She sighed. “I believe Harry, once settled into marriage, won’t be the type of man to seek out a mistress. He would devote himself to his wife, whoever she is.”

Whoever is lucky enough to win him, she thought.

There was a long silence.

“For Impossible Bachelors, this group is certainly more serious-minded than anyone thought, aren’t they?” Joan said.

“Except for Sir Richard, of course,” Bunny interjected.

“Yes,” said Athena. “Except for him, they’re all good men.” She put her hand over Molly’s. “If Lord Harry decides to have both wife and mistress, will you stay with him?”

Molly shook her head.

And then she had to shut her eyes. She felt that hot sand welling behind them that signaled tears about to flow. She squeezed her eyes shut harder, but one, lone tear escaped.

There was a painful silence.

“You do love him, don’t you?” said Bunny.

Molly nodded, still unable to speak.

There were many sighs from the other mistresses.

“I understand why you wouldn’t want to share the man you love with another woman,” said Athena gently. “But sometimes it’s the only way.”

“That’s the lot of the mistress,” Joan reminded her.

Molly blew out a shaky breath. “I can’t do that,” she said. “I would rather be…alone.”

And now she realized that she would. She couldn’t be Harry’s mistress. Not when he was a bachelor or married. Not when there were other women in his life.

Hildur patted her shoulder. “Start over.”

“In a new life,” said Bunny.

Or in her old one, Molly thought. Could she pick up where she’d left off? Could she go back to being the person she was before she’d taken off with Cedric on their ill-fated elopement?

She wasn’t sure she could. She would have to take each day as it came. At least for now.

Athena stared at her, a thoughtful crease on her brow. “You’re the only one of us here who really has a stake in this competition,” she said. “If you won, it would mean another year of freedom for Lord Harry. A year he could spend with you.”

Molly wished she could tell them that tonight, no matter what, was her last night with Harry. Because if she won, he was obligated to help her find a husband. And he’d made no promises to her that he’d be anything but his old, dissolute self, biding his time until he had to marry Anne Riordan.

But she couldn’t tell her new friends. She’d promised Harry she would play the role of his mistress.

And she must play it to the end of the competition.

Would the other mistresses hate her if they found out her true identity was not that of a mistress at all? She hoped not, but she wouldn’t blame them if they did.

“I want you to know,” she said carefully, “your friendship has meant the world to me this week. The absolute world. I was so scared. And—and you made me feel at home.”

Hildur wiped at her eyes. “I don’t know what you say, but it’s sad.”

Molly patted her hand. “Whatever happens, I hope you know that I care for you all. Very much.”

“And we, you, Delilah,” said Bunny.

“It’s time, ladies!” Harry’s voice rang out.

The women exchanged hugs and best wishes.

And for the last time, they journeyed to the curtain.