Smiling, she rose and poured herself a glass of wine. She returned to her seat on the couch and sipped at the liquid as images of what life married to John would be life played in her head.
***
Hannah awoke with a start and her eyes settled on the dying embers inside the fireplace. When she glanced at the clock on the mantle, her eyes went wide, instantly snapping her out of her drowsiness. It was past one in the morning! Her cheeks heated as she recalled the dream she was having. She must have nodded off thinking of John, for in her dream, she and John stood beneath a tree in the middle of a field, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. She could almost feel his lips pressed against hers, and the thought brought a smile to her face.
Rising from the couch, she stretched and then made her way to the door. She needed to get to bed; sleeping on the couch was not the best idea. When she opened the door, she nearly screamed when she walked into the tall, imposing figure of her butler.
“Forbes!” she gasped, her heart racing. “You startled me.”
“My apologies, Miss Hannah,” he said with a bow. “I came to see if you had retired for the night.”
“I am afraid I fell asleep,” she replied. Then she frowned as she took a step backwards into the room. Forbes followed her in. “How did you know I was here?”
The man smiled. “I came in an hour ago and thought I would let you rest a bit longer. You appeared to be sleeping so soundly, I could not bring myself to disturb you.”
Hannah was relieved he had not, for what she had been dreaming would have embarrassed her far greater than she cared to admit. Yet, that was silly; he could not have known of what she had been dreaming!
“Thank you,” she replied. The man had always been so caring, so kind. “Before I go to bed, I wanted to share something with you.”
“I would be honored,” the man replied. He turned to close the door. “I do not know the servants in this house; we do not need any curious ears.”
“No, we do not,” Hannah replied. She took a seat on the couch and patted the place beside her. “Please, sit with me.”
The butler nodded and did as she bade.
“The news of which I wrote in my letter to you?” Hannah said. “It is my hope and suspicion that he will ask for my hand. I believe him to be the worthiest of suitors.”
“It appears to be so,” Forbes replied.
“He is brave, strong, and kind. His heart is gentle, and I believe that he is what I need in my life.”
“If you are confident in your decision,” Forbes said, “then I wish you all the best.”
Hannah frowned. The man did not seem as happy as she thought he would be. “Do you have something you wish to share?” she asked. “Please, your opinion is important to me.”
Forbes shrugged. “I am but a mere butler,” he replied. “Certainly, you can receive better counsel from others.”
Hannah sighed. “Please.”
The older man chuckled. “Very well, if your heart is telling you this man is the one for you, then I am happy for you.” His smile faded slightly. “You are certain he is the one for you? You have no doubts he cares only for you and no one else?”
“I have no doubt,” she replied, although his words bothered her. She had not doubted John’s sincerity in the past, but now she could not help but wonder.
“I have spoken out of turn,” Forbes said as if hearing her concerns. “My apologies.”
“No, you are right to ascertain that I am making the right decision.”
He smiled. “It is only because I care and do not wish to see you hurt.”
“Thank you,” Hannah said and then gave the man an embrace. “I have always cherished speaking with you. You are a true friend, and I wish for you to speak to John at the party, even for a moment. I believe you will like him.”
“I am sure I will,” Forbes replied. Then he added, “I have a present for you.” He reached into his coat pocket and produced a small ornate wooden box with a rose carved into its lid. “This is for you.”
Hannah could not help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. “You are too kind,” she said. She took the box from him and opened it, her eyes widening as she removed a hair pin, one of her favorites overlaid with jewels. Now, however, it had a blue butterfly with two green gemstones for eyes and gold webbing for wings that had been added to it. She smiled. “It is beautiful! Is this mine?”
He nodded. “I found it in the library under a seat cushion not long after you left for the season. It must have fallen at some point.”
Hannah frowned. She did not recall even losing it, but she pushed the thought away.
“I must admit,” Forbes continued, “I found I missed you all the more when I came across it, and when you wrote about Lord Stanford, I knew you needed something special.”
Tears welled up in Hannah’s eyes. “You remember how much I adore butterflies,” she said, touched by his gift. “You knew that and put it into my favorite pin. I will wear this at the party on Friday.” It truly was a beautiful addition, and Hannah was overcome with emotion. “I have missed you, as well, and I do not know how to thank you for such kindness.”
“Perhaps I can be the first to see it on you,” he replied. “Might I have that honor?”
Hannah nodded and placed the pin in her hair. “What do you think?”
“It is just as I suspected,” he replied with a smile. “There is no comparison. Miss Hannah will be the most beautiful woman in all of London.”
A tear escaped Hannah’s eye, and she hugged him once more. “Thank you for everything,” she whispered. “You will always have a special place in my heart.”
It was at that moment that Hannah realized she had never seen the man smile wider than he did just then.
“As will you in mine, Miss Hannah.”
Chapter Twenty-One
John placed the quill back in its holder and sighed. What a relief it was to finish the last letter, this one to his mother explaining that he was in London and not in Wales as he had led her to believe. The others were to various women from whom he had stolen kisses and then left them to wonder if he would return. In those letters, he apologized for his childish behavior and had asked their forgiveness for his forwardness.
The old John relished in his previous deed; however, the new was disgusted with the acts in which he had partaken. His hope was that the letters would bring peace to those women he had wronged and therefore bring peace to himself. A peace that had come through meeting Hannah, the woman he loved.
He grinned as he opened one of the tiny drawers in the writing desk and removed a small box. Inside it held a ring. Hannah had captured his heart and mind, and his plan was to propose to her. He was not certain if doing so tonight after dinner would be the best time; he would speak to Laurence about the matter.
His carriage would be ready in just a few minutes, and he would then be off to spend a wonderful evening with not only Hannah, but her mother as well. He had spoken only briefly to Lady Eleanor, and he looked forward to engaging in conversation with her in hopes he would meet her approval. However, he knew deep inside that, even if she did not, the approval of Hannah was all he needed.
The door opened and Chambers entered the room. The butler gave a deep bow. “Your carriage is ready, my Lord. Is there anything I must attend to in your absence?”
“No,” John replied but then looked at the letters on the desk. “Yes. I will need these letters posted tomorrow.”
“I shall see it done, my Lord,” Chambers replied with another bow.
“Good. Then I suppose that is all,” John said. He went out to the entry and allowed Chambers to help him with his coat.
“Do take care,” the butler said as he handed John his hat. “The weather has turned a bitter cold.”
“I will,” John said and then sighed. “Tonight is important to me, for the mother of the woman I care for will be joining us for dinner.”
“I have no doubt she will be most impressed by you,”
Chambers replied.
A loud knock on the door made them both turn. John frowned. He was not expecting anyone. However, perhaps it was the driver. That, of course, made little sense, and John waited for Chambers to open the door, curious as to who would come calling without sending word beforehand.
His curiosity turned to dread when he saw who waited on the other side of that door.
“Mary,” John whispered. His heart raced as the very woman from whom he was running stood beside her mother on the stoop of his London home.
“Lord Stanford,” Lady Harding said in her haughty tone John would have recognized anywhere, “I know such arrival without invitation is unorthodox, but considering the circumstances of your disappearance, I thought it was warranted.”
John sighed. “Perhaps we can arrange a time…”
“I believe it is imperative we speak now,” the woman said, the soft wrinkles at the corner of her mouth deepening with her frown. “Unless you prefer I tell all of London of my daughter’s heartbreak?”
Fear coursed through John, for he knew that such talk would not only ruin his name but also destroy what he had developed with Hannah. With an important dinner in less than an hour, he truly felt at odds as to what to do. He glanced at Mary, who looked at the ground, giving now indication as to her thoughts.
He would invite them in, clear the air, and still have enough time to arrive at Laurence’s townhouse, albeit late more than likely. However, he had no choice.
Therefore, he forced a smile and moved aside. “Please, come in. We should speak at once.”
The two women entered, and John leaned in to whisper to Chambers. “Tell the driver to wait. I should not be long, but I must take care of this matter.”
The butler nodded and collected the ladies’ cloaks before giving a bow and leaving John to lead them to the drawing room.
“I am glad you have come,” John said as he offered them a seat on the couch.
“Are you?” Lady Harding asked, a sly smile at the corner of her mouth. “I would have thought that, by escaping to London, you were attempting to avoid my Mary. You are aware you left her brokenhearted, are you not?”
Guilt stabbed at John, and he gave a nod. Like the others, he had not meant to hurt her. However, with her blue eyes and hair the color of wheat, he had wooed the woman until he received what he wanted. A kiss.
“I understand,” he said. He stood and pulled the bell chord. “I will have tea sent up immediately. I imagine you are chilled.”
The idea of tea seemed to please Lady Harding, for she smiled. “Indeed,” she replied with a light shiver.
For the first time since their arrival, Mary looked up at him. There was no doubt the woman was handsome, and John felt horrible for what he had done to her and the way he had left things between them. Her eyes seemed distant and sad, and it pained him to know he was the cause of that sadness.
“I take it your journey from Cornwall went well?”
“Yes,” Lady Harding replied. “The roads are far better than when I was young.”
John nodded, although his stomach continued to knot. “The weather is cold, is it not?”
The conversation felt stilted, as if both he and Lady Harding were just becoming acquainted. John looked at Mary. “And what about you, Miss Harding? How are you faring?”
Mary smoothed her skirts, and John wished she would speak; he needed some sort of indication as to what she was thinking.
Then she surprised him by responding, “We had snowfall in Cornwall. I believe you would have enjoyed it.”
Lady Harding gave a heavy sigh. “Enough talk of weather,” she said, her steady gaze moving to John. “I journeyed here not to speak of snow but something far more important.” Dread filled John as the woman leaned forward. “I must know. Are you a gentleman of your word? Do you still intend to marry my daughter?”
***
Concern had tickled Hannah’s mind when, ten minutes after dinner was to begin, John had not yet arrived. However, traffic could have held him up, or so she thought, and she waited with her family.
When John had not arrived an hour after the appointed time and Laurence announced they would begin without him, her worry increased monumentally. Throughout the entire meal, Hannah picked at her food, her appetite depleted as she wondered where John was. Every noise, every carriage that trumbled by, had her straining to listen for the knock that would announce his arrival.
Now, at ten at night, Hannah sat in the drawing room near tears. Had something happened to him? What if he was in an accident or he was taken ill? He was a man who was never late. In fact, he tended to be early to any event. This was no ordinary event; this night was important to Hannah, and John was well aware of that fact, for they had spoken often over the course of the days since learning of her mother’s visit.
Her mind drifted to her conversation with Forbes and whether she had any doubts about the man. Yet, although Miss Oakley came to mind, she quickly pushed the woman aside. He had remained a gentleman with that particular woman as much as any since she and he had begun courting, so it would not be another woman. No, something terrible had happened, and nothing she did eased that thought.
“Hannah,” her mother said from beside her, “His Grace asked you a question.” Although Laurence had repeatedly asked her mother to address him by his Christian name, she refused. Her mother had said on many occasions that she had too much respect for him to address him in any other manner.
“My apologies,” Hannah said, turning her attention to her brother-in-law. “I did not hear you.”
“I was asking about the party. Is there anything you or Isabel need beforehand?”
“No, thank you,” she replied. “We have been to every shop in London; I doubt there is anything left to purchase.” This brought on a bout of laughter, and Hannah had to force herself to join in.
Isabel set her wine glass on the table. “I really must speak to you concerning your gown,” she said. Hannah went to argue but she caught a look in Isabel’s eyes that caused her to nod in agreement instead. Isabel turned to their mother. “Must you leave Sunday? You will be tired and I believe your journey can wait another day.”
“Yes, I must,” her mother said with a sigh. “I really should not have left Juliet and would feel better if I returned to her as soon as possible.” She turned to Hannah and patted her hand. “I am glad I came, however.”
Hannah smiled. “As am I.” Now if she could just get John to arrive, everything would be perfect.
Her mother stood. “I believe I will retire for the night. I am afraid the hour has grown much too late for me. Good evening.”
Hannah kissed her mother’s cheek and bade her a good night as Isabel and Laurence walked to the door, their heads close together. Hannah could not hear what they said, but Isabel kissed her husband’s cheek before he followed their mother out of the room.
Once Hannah and Isabel were alone, Isabel closed the door.
“Do you wish to speak to me about my dress?” Hannah asked, although she had a feeling before Isabel spoke that her sister had another topic of discussion planned.
“No, of course not,” Isabel replied. “That was simply an excuse. I wish to speak to you about John.”
With her heart in her throat, Hannah nodded. Did Isabel have news? “I believe he may be in danger, yet no one seems to be worried but I,” Hannah said doing nothing to hide her frustration.
Isabel reached out and took Hannah’s hand. “It is lovely that you care for him, and I understand your worry. The truth is, he may have gotten caught up in a business meeting with no means for escape. How many times did Father do the same? Men can speak of trivial things for hours, and if money plays a part in their game, more reason for them to remain.”
“I know what you say is correct,” Hannah said with a heavy sigh. “However, something does not feel right. Do you not have times when you feel the same for Laurence?”
“I do,” Isabel replied thoughtfully.
“Then I must ask a favor. We must go to his home. I cannot wait here until tomorrow; I must know he is safe. If he is in a meeting elsewhere, his butler will know.”
Isabel glanced at the clock. “I do not believe…” She looked up at Hannah and sighed. “Oh, very well. You are right, and I must admit, I am worried myself.”
“Are you?”
“Indeed. Laurence dismissed the notion that John may be in trouble, but this night was important to you. There is no reason he would have missed it, even for a business meeting. Not without sending word.”
Hannah threw her arms around her sister. “That is what I thought! Thank you!”
Isabel pulled away and placed her hands on Hannah’s shoulders. “We made an oath, do you remember?”
“Of course.” How could Hannah forget? The three sisters and their cousin Annabel had stood in a circle as they held hands and swore to always be there for one another, and Hannah had no reason to believe it not to be true.
“An oath made is no good unless it is kept. I will inform Laurence of our plans and see the carriage readied.”
Hannah could not help but sigh with relief as Isabel left the room. They would be at John’s house soon, and she could learn what had caused him to miss the dinner, and, more importantly, allow her to ascertain that he was safe.
Chapter Twenty-Two
What John had hoped would be less than an hour turned into three, and he was growing more and more frustrated with his callers. They refused to agree to any terms, and as Lady Harding continued her rant, John sneaked a glance at Mary. What trouble he had caused these women!
John recalled what had brought on the issue they currently discussed. He had called on the younger Harding, the second in a week. They had gone out to the garden for a stroll, in the company of a chaperon, of course; however, when John hurried Mary into a corner, leaving behind said chaperon, he had pounced. Well, perhaps pounced was not the correct word, although it was the word Lady Harding had used on more than one occasion since then. Regardless, he had the opportunity to be alone with Mary, and therefore, he turned to shower her with compliments for her beauty and intelligence—mostly her beauty—and they had shared in a kiss.
Echoes of the Heart: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 2 Page 18
