She took a step forward. Then a step back.
This is madness!
She was in her nightdress, for heaven’s sake. Not to mention the fact that her hair was down and her feet were bare. Any longer out in the cold like this and she was bound to fall ill.
Hannah’s step back was reluctant, curiosity urging her forward. It was a bad idea, but she wanted to see what he was up to. She wanted to know the reason he kept going into the woods at night. The fact that it wasn’t every night made it even odder to her. Was he meeting someone?
Hannah shook the thought from her mind and swiftly turned on her heels, making her way back to the manor as quickly as she could. It wasn’t any of her business anymore, now that she decided to leave him alone, but that wasn’t going to stop her from getting to the bottom of this.
I’m not going to lose him next time.
Chapter 19
Rowland ran his fingers around the edges of the paper, skimming his eyes over the words he had read over and over again. The very same words that had knifed his heart with pain now felt...dull. The hurt that had filled him when he had first read it was now only a distant memory.
When did that happen?
It baffled him and so he kept reading, learning the words by heart. The sentences that had hurt the most, where Miss Peggy Flynn had expressed her complete rejection of him, didn’t hit him as hard as it used to. In fact, Rowland felt nothing as he read it.
He frowned, letting his hand fall. He was in the manor’s main library, where Lady Hannah had followed him to not so long ago. He wanted to avoid the Duke, knowing he would want to be joining him with whatever plan he had for the Prince. Rowland wasn’t in the mood for it. He wanted to sort through these odd feelings instead.
Without stopping to think, Rowland went over to the fire and threw the letter into the flames. He watched it burn, wishing what was left of his feelings would be burnt away along with it.
He hadn’t thought about Miss Flynn in a while. At first, he went a couple days without thinking about her and he had liked it. He thought he was healing. But when she did pop back up in his mind, the pain slammed into him as hard as a lead ball. Rowland never once thought he was getting over her.
So why did it feel like he had, all of a sudden?
He brought her image to mind, her gorgeous turquoise eyes, and long hair the color of apricots. She was a beauty, his first love, and someone he didn’t think he would ever get over. She had haunted him during his first few days at the manor, but now it felt as if she had hardly existed.
How?
Rowland looked toward the door of the library, remembering the way Lady Hannah had peeked inside. The thought brought a smile to his face. It almost felt like she was here, staring at him with her hands clasped before her, and her head cocked to the side.
“Are you all right, Mr. Albertson?”
Rowland blinked. No...she really was here.
“Lady Hannah...how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know that you were so deep in your thoughts, you didn’t notice I was here.” With her chin cocked, she came forward. Not toward him but toward a bookshelf. Rowland watched her closely enough to see that she wasn’t really seeing anything.
“I thought you’d be with Prince Viktor.”
Lady Hannah stiffened at that. She’d been spending all her time with Prince Viktor since last night’s dinner, going riding with him in the morning, then accompanying the Duchess to the woods to watch the Duke and the Prince hunt. He was honestly surprised to see her here. If he were the Prince, he would have wanted every bit of Lady Hannah’s time.
He envied the Prince for her attention, which made him even more eager to grab on to this opportunity.
“He is with my father,” she said, stiffly. “I’ve done enough entertaining for the day.”
“Is that what it is?” he asked, not able to help it. “Just entertainment?”
Lady Hannah looked at him. She was a smart lady. She would be able to sense the hidden question, just as he had sensed hers. “Yes, Mr. Albertson. It is just entertainment. I am expected to do so as the Duke’s eldest daughter, aren’t I?”
“So, is that what you did when I first arrived at the manor?” Rowland looked elsewhere, feigning nonchalance. “Is that why you made such a point of going riding at dawn?”
“I wanted us to be friends.”
He glanced at her. “Ah, I see.”
Lady Hannah took a deep breath, then turned away. “I should go look for my sisters. I fear they are somewhere in the manor causing havoc on Miss Jolley.”
“Lady Hannah, wait.”
She paused, not turning to look at him. Rowland expected as much. He was beginning to see it, the reason she was angry all this time.
She didn’t just want to be his friend. She had wanted more. The interest she had placed in him wasn’t wholly platonic, but was filled with as much yearning as his was.
“I think about that kiss every day,” he told her, because it was the truth. Because they were alone, which they hadn’t been since the day at the stream. Because he was finally beginning to realize why he was no longer in love with Miss Flynn.
Lady Hannah didn’t move immediately. She remained in her position, then after a few long moments passed by, she turned and made her way up to him. Her face was blank, emotionless as she said, “What exactly have you been thinking, Mr. Albertson?”
“How wonderful it was,” he said honestly. “And how much I want to do it again.”
“It didn’t seem that way to me.”
“I wanted to be polite. I didn’t want to seem like an improper …”
“Heartbreaker?” she suggested.
To his surprise, Rowland breathed a laugh. “Yes, that’s the best way to put it. I didn’t know I was coming off as cold in the process.”
“Yes, you were,” she said with a nod, but he was relieved to see that some of her own iciness had melted. “I did wonder if that kiss meant nothing to you.”
It meant more than words can express.
He didn’t say that. He didn’t want to chase her away. Not like how he had chased Miss Flynn away.
“It was wonderful,” he said instead. Her eyes lit up. Rowland, on instinct, stepped closer.
It was just like it had been on that day. Her lips parted, her cheeks deepening into a blush. She held his gaze though. She didn’t shy away or act demure like a lot of ladies would. Lady Hannah stood her ground, her gaze dropping to his lips then back up his eyes. He saw the shimmer of need in those green and gold eyes and it stoked his own.
Before he knew it, he was wrapping an arm around her waist. She gasped when he pulled her into him, placing her hands on his chest. “Lily will be looking for me,” she murmured. “I don’t want to worry her.”
“She’ll be fine,” Rowland whispered.
He didn’t think he would be fine. As he drew her closer, Rowland understood everything that had made him so confused before. He was falling for her.
He recognized the signs. It was just as it had been with Miss Flynn. The prior confusion, the slow realization. His heart was turning away from Miss Flynn, and toward the beautiful lady he held in his arms.
Rowland thought he might go mad if he didn’t get to taste her soon. He dipped his head toward her, wanting to feel her lips beneath his, but before he had the chance to, the door banged open.
The force at which it did wrenched them apart. Rowland twirled toward the bookshelves, while Lady Hannah spun to face the two little girls rushing into the room.
They came to a sudden halt when they saw them. “Hannah?” Lady Violet said. “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean what’s going on?” Lady Hannah asked. To her credit, her voice was normal, as if nothing had happened. Rowland didn’t think he would have been able to manage it. “I should be asking you that. Why are you two charging in here like crazy persons?”
“It was Violet,” Lady Rosamund screeched, pointing a fi
nger. “She was the one who came in first!”
“No, I wasn’t!” Lady Violet gasped.
“It’s all right, it’s all right,” said Lady Hannah. “I’m sure whoever did it didn’t intend to. Now, what is the matter?”
“Mother wanted us to fetch you,” Lady Violet said.
At that moment, Miss Jolley came running through the door, panting. She stopped short the moment she saw Lady Hannah. “Forgive me, M’Lady. They got away from me.”
“It’s fine, Miss Jolley,” Lady Hannah said. Rowland could hear the smile in her voice. “I should be the one apologizing to you for these two.”
“Hannah!” the girls said in unison.
Lady Hannah laughed. “All right, let’s go see what I’ve been summoned for, shall we?”
She gathered her sisters up and herded them out the door. Miss Jolley lingered, shooting Rowland a curious look. Lady Violet and Lady Rosamund may not have noticed that they had been in the room alone, but Miss Jolley certainly did.
As soon as they were gone, Rowland collapsed back into the chair he had been sitting in. There was no mistaking it now. He was falling for Lady Hannah and he’d be damned if he let her slip out of his fingers like Miss Flynn had.
Chapter 20
“Lady Hannah!” Prince Viktor’s voice was high and slurred, already drunk. Hannah released a sigh. “I’m so happy you could join us.”
“I sent for her, Your Highness,” the Duchess said. She was sitting, a cup of tea in her hand. “I know you enjoy her company.”
“Ah, that I do, Your Grace. I’ve said it time and time again, you have a marvelous daughter.”
Hannah stopped halfway through the room, noting what was happening. The Duke and Duchess were entertaining the Prince, as they had been since the moment he arrived the morning prior. Hannah herself had spent all of this morning with him, stroking his ego, and made him feel as welcomed as she could. Doing so had taken a toll on her energy so she wasn’t very keen on being near him again.
Not to mention the fact that she was still all riled up from her time in the library with Mr. Albertson. He had nearly kissed her again. They’d been so close this time, until they were interrupted. Hannah wanted to go back there and finish what they started, not play host to the Prince.
But, her duties came first.
“Hannah, why don’t you show Prince Viktor the gardens?” said the Duke. “He happens to be a lover of horticulture and I do believe you’d be able to do it more justice than any of us would.”
Hannah doubted it. She hadn’t given the gardens much thought since she grew out of her wild, play-in-the-dirt-whenever-you-can phase. But she nodded respectfully. “If you’d follow me, Your Highness,” she said, gesturing to the door.
Lily was waiting for her outside. She stood at attention when Hannah came out, opening her mouth. She had caught up with Hannah on her way to her mother and had wanted to ask why she had disappeared from her. Had Miss Jolley and Hannah’s sisters not been around, Lily would have been. But her chances were dashed when the Prince walked out.
Lily fell in step behind the two as Hannah led the Prince out of the manor. She was hardly aware of what she was doing. She’d left a piece of herself in the library, clinging to Mr. Albertson. Hannah had to resist the urge to lift her fingertips to her lips.
To her relief, Prince Viktor said little as they made their way to the gardens, but she knew that wouldn’t last long. As soon as they were there, the sun beating down on them as they walked the path through the flowers, Lily a short distance behind, he broke the silence.
“It’s a shame I’ll be leaving soon, Lady Hannah,” he said, struggling to properly form his words. Hannah couldn’t believe her father had allowed him to drink so much when it was only a little past midday. “When I was first on my way to Gresham Manor, I thought a few days here would be a little too long. Now, I fear it’s much too little.”
“Will you be visiting other territories, Your Highness?” Hannah asked.
“That I will be,” he said with a knowing nod. His nod was so heavy, she feared it would make him tip over. “Hence the reason I won’t be staying long. Only a few more days here in your company and then I am off to visit the Duke of Jonesburg.”
“I’ve enjoyed your company, Your Highness,” Hannah said, her mind barely present. “I’ll be sad to see you leave.”
Prince Viktor chuckled. He ran his hand over of the marble pillar of the gazebo as they passed. “Is that so?”
His distant tone brought her back to the present. Hannah tried her best to shove all thoughts of Mr. Albertson aside, though it was easier said than done. “Is there anything I can do for you to enjoy the rest of your stay before you leave, Your Highness?” she asked politely.
“It’s funny that you might ask that …”
Without warning, Prince Viktor grabbed her by the arm. He pulled her to the side, around the corner of the gazebo and away from the eyes of the gardeners littered about. There should still be a few where they stood, but right now it was empty, with only them and Lily.
Hannah’s defenses rose. She lifted her hand slightly when she heard Lily’s audible gasp. “Your Highness?”
“I am smitten with you, Lady Hannah,” Prince Viktor said. Hannah could smell the pungent scent of whiskey on his breath. “You’re beautiful and your eyes...oh, your eyes are magical. I feel as if you’ve cast a spell over me. Have you, My Lady?”
“Your Highness, I don’t think we should be doing this,” she said.
“Doing what?” he asked with a frown. “We aren’t doing anything. I’m just talking to you, like we have been all this time. And your maid is here. She’ll make sure nothing happens.”
That meant nothing. They all knew that if Prince Viktor were to attempt something right now, Lily would be powerless to stop it. “Perhaps we should sit in the gazebo,” she suggested. “I think we’d both be more comfortable.”
And in the line of site of other people.
He wasn’t listening. “It’s weird how easily I’ve fallen for you, Lady Hannah. You might truly be a witch of some sort. How could I love you so much when I hardly know you?”
“You do not love me, Your Highness.”
“Yes, I do.” As if to prove his point, he stepped closer, forcing Hannah to step back. Her back hit the wall of the gazebo but she still held out her hand to Lily, hoping the girl wouldn’t attempt anything foolish. “Do you want to become a Queen, Lady Hannah?”
“No, Your Highness.”
His features darkened. Hannah steeled herself. “Is it because you don’t think I love you? Because truly, I do. It was love at first sight, I tell you.”
“Your Highness, perhaps we should return to the manor. You are clearly not feeling well—”
“I’m feeling well enough!” he barked, tightening his grip on her wrist. Hannah tried not to wince. She kept her eyes on him, sorting through all the different ways she could possibly escape this. “I could prove it to you,” he said. “I could prove to you just how much I love you. And then you’ll be able to understand.”
“Your Highness, that’s quite all right. I believe you—”
“You don’t!” He grabbed her other wrist, pinning both to the wall. Hannah felt anger flare in her chest. She knew what he was about to do, and knew just as well that he believed she was powerless to stop it.
Hannah didn’t know what to do. So many things came to her mind, violent acts, scathing words. Things she knew she couldn’t do or say, especially to a Prince. But here in this moment, her dignity about to be taken away from her, Hannah wanted to do whatever she could in her power to stop it.
She didn’t get the chance to act on any of it.
“Your Highness.”
The words cut through air with such animosity that it had them both going still. Prince Viktor frowned, turning to the newcomer. Hannah did so as well after the voice registered, her eyes wide.
Mr. Albertson stood next to Lily, fists clenched at his side. Hannah di
dn’t think she’d ever seen him this angry and she feared what he might do. He glared at the Prince as if he wanted to punch him and she half hoped, half feared that he would.
Prince Viktor shook at the intensity in Mr. Albertson’s eyes. He must have saw the fury shining at him because he released Hannah’s wrists and quickly stepped back. “My Lord.” he mumbled, trying to regain his composure, but fear shook his body. “I haven’t seen you much since dinner the evening before.”
“I wonder why that is,” Mr. Albertson said. He left it at that for the Prince to interpret.
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