Lady Hannah's Holiday (Spirited Storms #5) (The Spirited Storms)

by Jane Charles

  “I’m certain Wingate would prefer no guests, nor could he receive any if he’s not able to be properly clothed.” Walking along the beach barefooted was one thing, receiving guests in a parlor lacking footwear was highly improper.

  “I suppose,” Jillian sighed. “He can be a stickler for propriety, though not as horrible as my father had been, or Henry for that matter.”

  “Are you speaking of me, dear sister?” The Duke of Eldridge asked as he wandered into the parlor.

  “Only that you wouldn’t engage visitors without wearing boots.”

  “That would depend on the visitor.” He grinned.

  Jillian rolled her eyes. “You’d do so only to thumb your nose at Society, whereas Ashton would not even think of doing so.”

  Eldridge looked to Hannah. “Again, I suppose it depends on the guest.”

  Did they all know that Ashton was courting her?

  Not that it was a secret, but Hannah wasn’t aware that any announcement had been made. Then again, they were all family, through marriage and some through blood, so she supposed it was something that might have been mentioned.

  “I will not visit him because it wouldn’t be proper, and I don’t wish Lord Wingate to be uncomfortable.”

  “But you’d be with me and Jillian visiting my sister, and if he happened to be present, it would simply be a coincidence,” Isabella maintained.

  “I’m certain he’d prefer to recover in peace and not be required to participate in social niceties.”

  It wasn’t proper to call on a gentleman no matter what the guise, so she’d await his visit. Though, she had called on him at his plantation, but that had been unintentional since she really wanted to nose about the property…and hoped that he was there.

  Hannah shut down her thoughts before she accused herself of being a hypocrite.

  Oh, she wished he’d heal quickly so that he could call on her. It had been three days since she’d seen him. Three days since he’d asked to court her. Three days since he kissed her and then quickly left before he could even take tea.

  “Hannah!” someone yelled, causing her to jerk and return to the conversation.

  “Where did you go?” Isabella asked. “It was as if you were looking right through us.”

  She blinked. Oh dear, she must get a hold of herself. “I apologize.” She certainly couldn’t tell Jillian or Isabella what weighed on her mind. “What were you saying?”

  “We were discussing that we are certain Wingate wouldn’t mind the company, boots or no boots.”

  “It wouldn’t be right,” she insisted again. “Besides, I’d prefer not to be seen by anyone until my skin has finally healed.”

  Jillian frowned. “I suppose, though it shouldn’t take more than a day or two.”

  A day or two that could stretch to eternity while she waited for Ashton to call on her.

  “Well, since nobody will be visiting anyone, I propose we settle on the veranda to enjoy luncheon,” Jillian announced as she stood.

  “I think I will visit my sister,” Isabella announced. “I have not visited as much as I should.”

  “Do go on and have a pleasant time.” Jillian smiled. “Give her my best.”

  For a moment, Hannah almost changed her mind and asked to be included. But, as much as she wished to see Ashton and see how he fared, she also didn’t want him to see her in this state, no different than a snake shedding its skin.

  Chapter 14

  “Can I have something stronger than blasted tea?” Ashton grumbled. He’d get it himself, but he tried not to walk any more than necessary because the bandages pulled at the blisters.

  “Was that Silas Palmer who just left?” Bianca asked as she breezed into the parlor.

  “Unfortunately,” Roxburg grumbled as he crossed to the sideboard.

  “Tell me that you aren’t giving any consideration to marrying his daughter,” Eve begged as she settled onto the settee across from him.

  “Of course not,” Ashton assured his sister. Besides, he didn’t even know who the daughter was, her name, age, or anything. How could he possibly agree to such madness?

  Except, he might not have a choice.

  Where the blazes was he going to come up with twenty thousand pounds?

  Roxburg handed him a glass of rum and then took a seat and studied Ashton. “Now you know why he wanted to see you.”

  “How much is the property worth. House and land?”

  “In its current state?”

  “Of course.” Though he’d love to sell for what it could be worth had it been properly managed and not destroyed in the revolt.

  “How many enslaved?” Roxburg asked.

  “They are not to be considered in the value,” Ashton insisted.

  “You might want to reconsider, given the amount Palmer is asking.”

  “I’ll not free myself of debt at their cost.”

  “Very well,” Roxburg acknowledge. “With the house and land, given its current state, between ten and twelve thousand pounds. It’s depreciated because of the repairs that need to be made and the land is fallow.”

  His stomach sank.

  “If the enslaved were included?” Just asking sickened Ashton, but he needed to know all his options.

  “That would depend on how many men, women and children your father owned.”

  Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose. “Forget the enslaved. I couldn’t live with myself if they were included in the price.”

  “Palmer will not offer you near the value,” Roxburg stated.

  “I’ve no doubt he will attempt to cheat me at every turn, which is why I’d like you and Storm, if he is willing, to go over every entry in the accounting. I’ve no knowledge of the cost or value of anything in Barbados and trust your wisdom.”

  He nodded.

  “Are you selling Grell Hill?” Samuel Storm asked as he entered the parlor with his sister-in-law, Isabella.

  Bianca turned and looked to the entrance. “Is no one else with you?”

  “This is the welcome I receive after you were complaining that I don’t visit you enough,” Isabella complained.

  Bianca laughed. “Of course not. I was just wondering if we’d need to request more tea.”

  “Everyone else remained at home, but Sam was kind enough to accompany me since he was to meet with your husband.”

  Sam turned to Ashton. “I thought you’d give yourself more time before deciding on selling or keeping the property.”

  “Palmer has called in a debt and I might not have a choice.”

  Samuel grimaced. “Do I dare ask?”

  “Even at the highest possible price for the plantation, it still wouldn’t be enough to pay off the debt.”

  “I have an idea,” Roxburg stood. “Sam and I will visit your plantation, ride the land, inspect the outbuildings and the house, and return with what we believe is a reasonable price if you choose to sell, or use it to lessen your debt to Palmer.”

  As he had no idea what he should ask, Ashton appreciated their offer.

  “As we are interested in purchasing the property, I do promise to be fair,” Samuel insisted.

  “Palmer will not be,” Roxburg reminded him.

  That much Ashton had already determined. “Thank you.”

  But, even if he did sell the plantation, what was he supposed to do with the enslaved if there was no place for them to live?

  The two left, leaving him alone with Eve, Isabella and Bianca.

  “Well, as long as you don’t marry his daughter, that is all I care about,” Eve insisted.

  That was because Eve had no idea how far in debt they truly were.

  “Marry Palmer’s daughter?” Isabella asked with alarm.

  “Palmer tried to marry a title when he was younger and failed,” Bianca explained. “Now he is doing what he can so that his daughter becomes a lady.”

  “I wonder if Miss Palmer is aware,” Isabella asked.

  “What do you know about her?” Ashton questi
oned.

  “It doesn’t matter because you are not marrying a stranger,” Eve argued.

  “She’s nice, rather pretty, but very quiet and keeps to herself,” Bianca answered. “I believe she is nearing five and twenty.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s not marrying her.” Eve was quite adamant in her decision, not that she had a say.

  “I may not have a choice,” Ashton finally admitted, which stunned everyone.

  “Of course you do. Simply pay the debt, whatever it turns out to be, and be done with this.”

  It pained him, more than he’d allowed himself to believe it would, how badly their situation was, and now having to confess. “Even if the debt is only half of what Palmer claims, or half of that after I sell the plantation, it is not a debt we can pay. I can pay.”

  Eve sat forward. “You mentioned that Father left debts. Is it more than you let on?”

  As much as this was an embarrassment, one not of his making, they were family and would not think poorly of him. “We are facing bankruptcy. When we return to England, I’ll need to sell everything that is not entailed in order to try and bring solvency to our coffers. I’d hoped that the plantation might have provided some income, but we are not in a position to wait the necessary months until the sugar cane can be grown, let alone processed and sold.” He focused on Isabella. “Please advise your husband and his brother that I will call on them as soon as possible to discuss a more personal matter.”

  “You don’t mean to break the betrothal.” Isabella demanded.

  “I wasn’t aware that you knew, but yes, I must.”

  “No,” Isabella argued.

  “You really are betrothed?” Eve questioned. “I assumed you were simply telling Palmer such to avoid marrying his daughter.”

  “A private agreement between myself and the Storm brothers.”

  Eve’s eyes widened. “Lady Hannah had not mentioned that to us.”

  “She isn’t aware and now I prefer that she never know.” It was one matter to keep the secret until Hannah would welcome their union, in a way that she didn’t feel that it was being forced, but quite another to find out she’d been betrothed all along and nobody bothered to tell her until it was broken.

  “If they require recompense, I shall endeavor to meet their demands,” he said to Isabella. “I hope they will give me time.”

  “Do not be hasty,” Bianca insisted. “There must be a way to avoid bankruptcy, if that is what you claim looms, and still remain betrothed to Lady Hannah.”

  “I see no option.” He took a sip of the rum as darkness invaded his heart, replacing all hope with necessity and focused on his cousin. “Please tell me more of Miss Palmer.”

  “I will not listen to this.” Eve stood. “I’ll not allow you to ruin your life. To be forced into what might turn out to be a miserable marriage. I’ll not see you suffer as our parents, or your children endure what we were forced to witness.”

  “I shall do my best to keep a peaceful home,” he assured his sister. No matter what, his children would not suffer because of his father’s poor decision.

  “I know little of Miss Palmer. No more than what’s already been mentioned,” Bianca offered.

  “Please, invite her to tea, once I’m recovered enough to entertain. I’ll not meet the miss as her father watches on and manipulates. Besides, an invitation from Her Grace is not something to be ignored.” With that, Ashton stood. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve an agreement to review.” He picked up the documents Palmer had left behind and made his way to his chamber where he intended to get good and bloody drunk.

  “We must do something. We cannot allow this travesty to occur.”

  Hannah paused outside of the library and wondered as to why Isabella was so upset?

  “There is nothing we can do,” Nate insisted. “Wingate must make the decisions as it not only affects him, but his family as well.”

  “Because he’s foolish,” Jillian argued. “I can’t believe he’s even considering marrying Miss Francine Palmer.”

  Hannah placed her hand against the wall as a wave of dizziness assaulted her. Marry Miss Francine Palmer?

  Who was she and why hadn’t Hannah ever heard the name?

  Further, if Ashton…No! Wingate! If Wingate was betrothed, why was he courting and kissing her?

  “He has little choice,” Sam insisted.

  “Loan him the funds,” Jillian said.

  “I offered, but he will not sink further into debt.”

  “What of purchasing his plantation?” Isabella asked.

  “Roxburg and I will make the offer,” Sam answered. “But it will not be enough.”

  “That still depends on the balance due to Palmer,” Roxburg offered.

  When had His Grace arrived?

  “Once we’ve reviewed the accounting, I’m certain it will be less than what Palmer is trying to claim,” offered Sam. “He thinks he can cheat Wingate, but we won’t allow it.”

  “His property is barely worth ten thousand pounds in this state.” Was that Roxburg’s voice?

  Hannah tried to follow the conversation. Apparently Wingate was deeply in debt to a Mr. Palmer and becoming betrothed to Miss Francine Palmer. Was the daughter being traded to erase the debt or was it a love match?

  Regardless, Hannah wasn’t going to stand out in the corridor any longer and eavesdrop. With those thoughts, she entered the library, stunned to note that not only were her two brothers here, with their wives, along with Roxburg, but Bianca, as well as His Grace, the Duke of Eldridge.

  They all grew silent at her entrance, which didn’t bode well for what she’d overheard.

  Of course, they probably assumed she would soon be crushed to learn that Wingate was to marry another after he’d been courting her, so she decided to ask directly. “Lord Wingate is betrothed to a Miss Francine Palmer?” Thankfully she sounded calm and almost unaffected.

  “Not yet and not ever if I can help it,” Jillian insisted.

  “We have no say in what decision our cousin makes,” Eldridge reminded her.

  “That doesn’t mean I’ll remain quiet either,” Jillian retorted. “I spent far too many years biting my tongue because I didn’t want to upset Father and will not do so in the presence of Wingate, especially when he’s acting the fool.”

  “If he loves her, it is nobody’s decision but his.” Hannah’s heart sank further and further, but she forced herself to remain calm and obtain any details she could. Crying would come later when she was quite alone in her chambers.

  “Love?” Jillian laughed.

  “He’s not even met her,” Bianca advised.

  Hannah had expected that they’d tell her that the two had met, he was smitten. “Why is he marrying someone he doesn’t know?” This was all very confusing.

  Except, they’d mentioned debt. Did Wingate need to marry an heiress? Was Miss Palmer that heiress? But, how could he know if he’d never met her.

  Unless, he’s heard about her and his need was so dire that he was looking for the richest heiress he could find.

  Then what had she been to him?

  Had he just been toying with her at the beach?

  Nate crossed to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy and then pressed it into Hannah’s hand before leading her to a seat.

  “Thank you,” she murmured as her mind continued to try and make sense of what Wingate was about.

  “I don’t understand what has happened,” she finally admitted.

  At her statement, Jillian launched into the details as she knew them, with added information from both Bianca and Isabella.

  Hannah had not realized the debt they referred to was so deep, not that it mattered to her. Money did not bring happiness, unless one was starving and had no place to live, she supposed.

  She did hurt for him. Especially since Wingate had little choice as to his situation since it was one he had inherited and not of his own making. Thus, he could be forced to marry a stranger to set matters r
ight.

  Oh, it was so unfair to him. And her. Of course, there had been no promises between them, but they’d entered into a courtship, he’d kissed her, and Hannah had been hopeful for a future. Now that was being taken from her.

  But she mustn’t focus on herself. It was Wingate who was to suffer the most.

  “Is Miss Palmer at least a pleasant person?”

  Isabella blinked at Hannah as if she’d lost her mind, as did Jillian.

  “If he is to be forced to spend his life with her, I hope she is kind at least.”

  Jillian and Isabella shared a look before they focused back on Hannah.

  “Did we misunderstand your attachment to Wingate?”

  “No,” Hannah answered slowly. “But given the circumstances, and it does pain me, there is little choice for him.” Blast, tears were forming, and she mustn’t let them fall. Hannah blinked quickly then sipped of the brandy. She’d shut down her own heart, if necessary. Besides, it wasn’t as if Wingate had professed any emotions such as love. She had no ties to him, even though she was angry at being denied what she’d hoped was her future.

  Oh, everything she told herself was rational and maybe someday she’d be able to accept this as the truth, but in this very moment, her heart was shattering and all she wished to do was run to her chamber, fling herself on to the bed and have a good long cry. However, she must remain strong and keep her emotions in check. It’s not like they were betrothed, and she had little to no claim to his heart.

  “Are you in love with Wingate?” Jillian asked quietly, which only made her want to cry all the more.

  “I care for him.” It was all she would offer. Hannah hadn’t thought of him in terms of love. She’d been too afraid to attach a name to her emotions. At least, not until he declared himself. And, given that he would never be hers, it was best that she not examine her own heart too closely.

  Bloody hell, who was she fooling. She took another drink of the brandy. Honesty and truthfulness were important to her in others and she must be true to herself. Yes, she loved Wingate. She’d fallen in love with him last spring and had done her best to keep that blasted emotion buried until such time that she was certain it might be reciprocated, which she now knew would never occur.