by Laura Beers
“I don’t believe I will.”
His father brought the glass to his lips, then stated, “Being alone is the only way to truly protect oneself.”
“You are not alone, Father,” he attempted.
With a disbelieving huff, his father left the study with his glass in his hand, not bothering to spare him a parting glance.
Martin stared at his retreating figure, feeling a mixture of contempt and pity for his father. He knew there was a decent man hidden below the gruff surface, but he was struggling to see if that side would ever reveal itself.
He shifted his gaze towards the ledgers on the desk and sighed. His father’s gambling debts could ruin them. The easiest solution would be to marry Lady Isabella, but he refused to marry a woman he didn’t at least hold mutual affection for.
What a terrible predicament, he thought, as he dropped into his chair.
13
Dressed in a white gown with a periwinkle sash around the waist, Hannah had just descended the stairs of her townhouse when a knock came at the door. She watched as Cooper walked across the entry hall to answer it. As he opened the door, she heard Martin’s familiar voice, and a thrill of excitement shot through her.
Good heavens, she thought. Would she ever tire of hearing his voice?
Cooper opened the door wide, and Martin stepped into the entry hall, but something was wrong. His eyes held a profound sadness she hadn’t seen before.
Hannah approached and stopped in front of him. “Are you all right?” she asked as Cooper left the hall.
“I am.” He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Whyever do you ask?”
Hannah cocked her head. “Perhaps we can start with an easier question,” she said. “What brings you by this morning?”
“Nothing but the pleasure of your company,” he remarked with a flamboyant bow.
She smiled. “I truly doubt that.”
“You are as wise as you are beautiful.”
“I see you are quoting Shakespeare,” she teased.
“It makes it no less true.”
Hannah gave him a knowing look. “I must assume you are here to see Edward.”
“I am.”
“I regret to inform you that he is still out on his morning ride with Kate.” She could see the disappointment flash across his features, so she suggested, “While you wait, we could take a turn around the gardens.”
“I would like that very much,” Martin said, offering his arm.
Neither of them spoke as they walked towards the rear of the townhouse. It wasn’t until they stepped onto the footpath that Hannah glanced over at him and asked, “Would you care to tell me what is truly bothering you?”
Martin gave her a look of surprise. “Why do you suppose something is bothering me?”
“I have known you most of my life, and I can tell when something is weighing heavily on your mind.”
“It is something that I do not wish to discuss.”
Not deterred by his response, she pressed, “Will you tell me if I can guess?”
“I will.”
She withdrew her hand from his arm and turned to face him. “You were in a pleasant enough mood when you left me yesterday, so I must assume that something transpired at your townhouse.”
“You would be correct.”
“There is only one logical explanation,” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Which is?”
A mischievous smile came to her lips. “You have just discovered that you have a twin brother, and he is the one, true heir. He was sent away as a babe, but he has come to claim his inheritance.”
Martin stared at her for a moment before chuckling. “You have a vivid imagination, my dear.”
“Am I wrong?”
“Yes, in every aspect,” he said in an amused voice. “I am fairly confident that I would know if I had a twin brother.”
“Not if your parents hid it from you.”
“And why would they do that?”
Hannah shrugged. “Because they thought he was evil.”
“How would someone determine a baby was evil?” Martin asked.
“Easily,” she replied. “He would constantly steal all of your toys.”
Martin shook his head. “This story sounds like pure fantasy,” he said, smiling. “I daresay it might make a fascinating book.”
“At least I was able to make you smile.”
“That you did.”
Hannah gave him a knowing look. “Now, do you want to tell me the real reason you are sad?”
Martin shifted his gaze away from her. “It’s about my father.”
“How so?”
“He owes a large gambling debt to Lord and Lady Whittingham, but it will all go away if I marry their daughter, Lady Isabella.”
Hannah reached out and placed a hand on his sleeve. “I assume this is why your father chose Lady Isabella for you to begin with.”
“It is.”
“What are you going to do?”
Martin shook his head. “Our estates are profitable now, but one doesn’t know what each season brings. Frankly, we don’t have the funds to pay my father’s gambling debts.”
“May I ask how much your father owes?”
Martin winced. “Ten thousand pounds.”
She sucked in a breath. “That is a small fortune.”
“It is,” Martin agreed. “If I did marry Lady Isabella, the debt would be wiped clear, and she would bring a much-needed dowry to help update the estates.”
“But I thought you wanted to marry for love.”
“I do…” he hesitated, “I did.”
Hannah took a step closer to him. “I will give you the ten thousand pounds,” she announced.
Martin stared at her in disbelief. “Do you even have those type of funds at your disposal?”
“I do,” she replied. “I inherited a third of my parent’s estate, and I have more than enough to live on comfortably for the rest of my days.”
He shook his head. “I won’t take your money, Hannah.”
“It is the easiest solution to your problems.”
“Regardless, I could not ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask, I offered,” she replied, “and I do so willingly.”
Martin glanced down at her hand on his sleeve. “I have considered offering for Lady Emma and using her dowry to pay my father’s gambling debts.”
“But don’t you require her dowry to fix up your estates?”
“I do.” He sighed. “It is a rather ticklish situation I find myself in.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
Martin frowned. “My problem is my own, not yours.”
“We are friends, are we not?”
“We are.”
“And friends help each other,” she asserted.
Placing his hand over hers, Martin said, “That is true, but—”
She interrupted him. “I want you to be happy, Martin,” she insisted. “You deserve to be.”
“You are kind to say so, but—”
“There is no ‘but’ about it,” she interjected. “I will not let you jeopardize your happiness over something as trivial as money.”
“It is a lot of money.”
“No amount of money is worth having you enter into a loveless marriage,” Hannah claimed. “I forbid it.”
“You forbid it?” he asked with mirth in his eyes.
She tilted her chin stubbornly. “Yes, I believe I have that right as your friend.”
Martin took a small step closer, closing the distance between them. “You are being quite stubborn on the matter.”
“You will find that is the case when I am trying to help someone whom I care deeply about.”
His brown eyes roamed over her face as if he were looking at her for the first time. “I don’t know what I did to deserve your kindness.”
“You have always taken care of me, and it is time that I returned the favor.”
“There i
s no need.”
“Allow me to be the judge of that.”
Martin’s gaze grew intense, and she could feel her heart pounding on the inside of her chest. Could he hear it? She certainly hoped not, but the noise was deafening to her own ears.
Leaning closer, his lips brushed against hers when he spoke. “You are so beautiful.”
Hannah remained rooted in her spot, fearing that she might break the spell if she dared to move. She had waited so long for this and had fantasized about it constantly.
Martin pressed his lips against hers, and she felt her heart soaring. It was finally happening. He was kissing her, but she was doing nothing about it.
She went on her tiptoes and kissed him back. To her horror, Martin leaned back and stared at her with a stunned look on his face.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he rushed to say. “I’m sorry.”
“I took no issue with it,” she boldly stated.
Martin took a step back and ran a hand through his hair. “It was wrong of me to take advantage of you.”
Hannah pressed her lips together, then admitted, “You did no such thing.”
“I don’t want to lose your friendship over my thoughtless act.”
“It was thoughtless?” she breathed.
“Clearly,” he replied.
Her cheeks warmed with more than embarrassment. “If you will excuse me, I need to be alone for a moment,” she murmured as she turned away.
“Hannah,” he said, reaching for her arm, “you must know that nothing can happen between us.”
She furrowed her brows. “And why is that?”
Surprise flickered in his eyes at her question. “Because we are friends, and I can’t risk losing you.”
“I understand,” she said, jerking her arm out of his grip.
“Hannah…”
Not waiting for him to finish, she spun on her heel and walked away. As she neared the back door, she heard Martin shout, “I’m sorry!”
Hannah didn’t acknowledge his apology as she opened the door and stepped inside. Once the door was closed behind her, she rushed to her bedchamber, hoping no one would witness the tears streaming down her cheeks.
She was mortified. Martin thought kissing her had been a mistake, but it had been the greatest moment of her life. Her traitorous heart would never learn.
When she arrived at her bedchamber, she quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She leaned her back against it and sobbed.
What a fool she was. A complete and utter fool.
Martin watched as Hannah fled from him, and he debated running after her to beg her forgiveness, but he knew it would be in vain. He had made a horrible mistake. He’d gone and kissed his dear friend. What had he been thinking?
That was the problem. He hadn’t been thinking. He was touched by her kindness and found himself drawn to her. She had looked so blasted beautiful, and her perfectly-formed lips practically begged to be kissed. Why had he succumbed to his desire and kissed the one person whom he had always vowed to protect?
He was despicable, taking advantage of Hannah in that way. Although, she didn’t seem to mind, he mused. She had kissed him back with an equal fervor, and had even grown upset when he had called the kiss a mistake.
But it had been, no matter how much Hannah protested.
Martin had started towards the townhouse when he saw Edward and Kate walking up the path to the stables.
Edward put his hand up in greeting when he saw him. “Not that I am complaining, but may I ask why you are loitering in my gardens?”
Martin tipped his head politely at Kate before replying, “Hannah and I took a tour of them.”
“I can’t help but notice that you have misplaced Hannah,” Edward teased.
Martin gave him a sheepish look. “Unfortunately, Hannah had enough of my company for one day.”
The smile was wiped from Edward’s face and his tone turned accusatory. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” Martin lied.
Edward exchanged a look with his wife, then said, “Perhaps we should discuss this in my study.”
“I would prefer that,” he replied.
Kate spoke up. “I do hope you will stay and join us for breakfast,” she offered graciously. “Our cook has prepared a delicious spread this morning.”
“I will have to decline. I’m afraid I can’t tarry for too long,” Martin said.
“That is a shame,” Kate acknowledged. “If you will excuse me, I would like to go change before we have breakfast.”
After Kate walked away, Edward turned towards Martin expectantly. “Follow me,” he ordered.
Martin did as commanded as Edward headed towards the study. Once inside, he closed the door behind him. He wanted to ensure this conversation stayed private.
“Now, do you want to explain why Hannah left you in the gardens?” Edward asked.
Martin shrugged. “She didn’t find me engaging enough.”
Edward gave him a look of disbelief.
Walking over to the settee, Martin dropped down onto it with a resigned sigh. “I kissed her.”
“Pardon?” Edward asked, his voice rising in indignation. “Did you just say that you kissed Hannah?”
“I did.”
“What in the blazes were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t,” Martin asserted. “That is precisely the problem.”
Edward walked over to an upholstered armchair and sat across from him. “What are your intentions towards Hannah?”
“I don’t have any.”
“Then why did you kiss her?”
Martin brought a hand up to his forehead. “I don’t rightly know,” he replied.
“That isn’t good enough,” Edward grumbled. “I should challenge you to a duel.”
“We both know that is an empty threat.”
Edward shook his head. “I am responsible for Hannah and her reputation now,” he declared. “At the least, I should kick you out of our townhouse until you come to your senses.”
“It would be nothing that I didn’t deserve.”
Edward sighed. “Why don’t you start at the beginning so I can try to make sense of this madness?”
Martin leaned back on the settee. “My father came home yesterday and informed me that he had accrued a hefty gambling debt to Lord and Lady Whittingham.”
“How hefty?”
“Ten thousand pounds.”
Edward let out a low whistle. “That is a substantial sum.”
“I agree,” Martin said. “Apparently, Lord Whittingham is more interested in buying a title for his daughter than the money. So, he has offered to waive the gambling debt if I marry his daughter.”
“I see,” Edward acknowledged. “How was this received by you?”
“Not well, and I informed my father that I refuse to marry Lady Isabella.”
“Are you in a position to do so?”
Martin frowned. “Our estates are profitable, but we do not have an extra ten thousand pounds to just give away.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Which is why I was flabbergasted when I explained my situation to Hannah, and she offered to give me the money.”
Edward’s brow lifted. “She did?”
Martin put his hands up in front of him. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I have no intention of actually taking her money.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
“I was so touched by her thoughtfulness that I let my guard down and I kissed her.”
Edward huffed. “I should note that I don’t go around kissing people who have been thoughtful towards me.”
“It is different with Hannah,” he said. “It always has been.”
“I’m not sure to what you are referring.”
Martin was unsure how to explain what he meant, because he couldn’t seem to put it into words. Hannah had always been special to him. He had always admired her quiet strength and her ability to make him smile when he felt t
he world was crashing down upon him.
Seeing the expectant look on Edward’s face, Martin said, “I’m afraid I can’t explain it, but I am worried that this may affect our friendship.”
“I have no doubt that it will,” Edward stated. “You must be prepared for the consequences of your actions.”
“Please don’t say that.”
Edward leaned back in his chair. “I know you care for Hannah, but it might be best if you didn’t come around our home for a while.”
“Are you in earnest?”
“I am,” Edward replied. “You have never given me a reason to not trust you before, but now I am not entirely sure you will do right by Hannah.”
“That is unfair of you to say,” Martin asserted.
“Is it?” Edward asked, eyeing him critically. “You kissed her in the gardens, but you have no intentions towards her.”
Martin winced at the truthfulness of his friend’s words. “I would never hurt Hannah.”
“But you already did.”
Rising, Martin walked over to the mantel over the fireplace and leaned against it. “Do you think she will ever forgive me for my thoughtlessness?”
“Women can be rather fickle when it comes to forgiveness,” Edward remarked.
“I’m not going to give up on Hannah.”
Edward nodded approvingly. “Good. I know Hannah thinks very highly of you.”
Martin pushed off the mantel. “I should be going,” he said. “I have a meeting with my man of business.”
“Before you go,” Edward started, “what are your intentions towards Lady Emma now that you have kissed Hannah?”
Martin gave him a blank look. “I am not sure.”
“It was my understanding that you and Lady Emma were growing rather close before this debacle,” Edward stated.
“That is true.”
“And now?”
Martin tilted his head back and briefly looked up at the ceiling. “Nothing is certain anymore, but I do care for Lady Emma.”
“Caring for someone is a far cry from offering for them.”
“I am well aware.”
Edward rose from his chair. “I will walk you out, since it’s time I joined Kate for breakfast,” he said as he walked over to the door and opened it.
