CHAPTER TEN
An Indecent Proposal
Harkin Manor was suddenly abuzz, when on an evening six weeks later, a carriage pulled up outside the house and Jonathan Pierce emerged from inside, making his way directly to the Harkin front door. The doorknocker resounded throughout the house, although most everyone had gathered in the drawing room after dinner for one of the family recitals, Julia accompanying of course. Lizzy stood on the sidelines as she was allowed to do when her sister played. The Barton girls were like half members of the family in Lizzy’s estimation, though she was regularly reminded that she still served at the pleasure of Nellie Harkin and had better mind her manners and be on her best behavior to stay in the woman’s good graces. Their six weeks back had been uneventful and ra
