by Laura Beers
As he left, Martin felt like he was leaving a part of himself at the townhouse—with Hannah.
14
The sun was setting as Martin sat at his desk. The ledgers were open in front of him, but they were the furthest thing from his mind. His thoughts kept returning to Hannah. The look of betrayal on her face after he had kissed her was etched on his very soul. He couldn’t seem to escape it. Every time he closed his eyes, he kept reliving that moment, over and over.
What had he done?
He had done precisely the thing that he did not want to do. He had hurt Hannah because of his thoughtlessness. For someone who prided themselves on making sensible choices, he sure did make a muck out of things.
To make matters worse, he had met with his man of business and it was determined that the loss of ten thousand pounds would be detrimental to their finances. Their only solution would be to sell off one of their estates to raise the funds.
Martin didn’t think he could deal with any more bad news. Frankly, he was at his wit’s end right now. He just wanted to go to bed early and pretend that today never happened.
As he rose from his desk, his father walked into the room. “You will be pleased to hear that Lord Whittingham and Lady Isabella will be joining us for dinner,” he announced. “They are set to arrive any moment now.”
“You are just telling me this now?”
Ralph smirked. “I didn’t want to give you the opportunity to back out.”
“That was a rather underhanded thing to do.”
“I just felt that if you got to know Lady Isabella, your apprehensions about marrying her would be long forgotten.”
“I doubt that will happen.”
His father walked closer to the desk with a solemn expression. “We both know what is at stake here, son.”
“Yes, my future.”
“Our futures,” he corrected.
Martin walked over to the drink cart and picked up the decanter. “You should know that I met with Mr. Scott. He confirmed that we don’t have the funds to pay for your gambling debts.”
“I am well aware of that fact.”
After he poured himself a drink, Martin put the decanter down and picked up his glass. “You were foolish to fall prey to the traps of gambling.”
His father’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I do not need a lecture from you.”
“Apparently, you do.”
A knock came at the door before Moreland stepped into the room. “Lord Whittingham and Lady Isabella have arrived.”
“Thank you, Moreland,” his father said.
Moreland tipped his head in acknowledgement before he departed from the room.
Martin’s father gestured towards the door. “Are you ready to meet your betrothed?”
“She is not my betrothed,” he grumbled. “You seem to forget that I have not agreed to this madness.”
“But you will.”
“How can you be so confident?”
“Because I know you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Marianne and your mother’s future.”
Martin frowned. “I can’t help but point out that you don’t seem to have any qualms about that, or else we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
His father dismissed his comment with a wave of his hand. “One day, you will recognize all the sacrifices I have made for this family.” He walked over to the door. “I will see you in the drawing room.”
Martin gulped down his drink and put the empty glass back on the tray. He walked towards the drawing room with dread in each step. He was not overly familiar with Lady Isabella, but he had seen her on a few occasions at social gatherings. Though he wasn’t one to listen to the gossips, he’d heard rumors of her haughty behavior.
He stepped into the drawing room and saw Lady Isabella standing next to her tall, burly father. Her blonde hair was piled high on top of her head, drawing attention to her long neck, and she was wearing a revealing pink gown with a square neckline. She was not overly beautiful with her wide face, but he could see how some men might find her attractive.
Before Martin could greet Lady Isabella and her father, Marianne came to stand next to him. “Why did Father invite her?” she whispered.
“He’s trying to force my hand.”
Marianne looked at him curiously. “Will it work?”
“No, it will not.”
“That’s a relief, because I’m afraid I can’t stand Lady Isabella.”
“Why is that?”
A playful smile came to Marianne’s lips. “Where is the fun in telling you?” she asked. “I have no doubt that you will discover that on your own.”
“Surely she can’t be that bad?”
“Do fish swim?” she joked.
Before he could reply, his father came up from behind him. “Allow me to introduce you to Lady Isabella.”
“If you must.”
His father nodded. “It is best to get this out of the way.”
They walked the short distance to where Lady Isabella and Lord Whittingham were standing. As Martin came to a stop in front of her, his father provided the introductions. “Lady Isabella,” he began, “please allow me to introduce you to my son, Lord Egleton.”
Martin bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Lady Isabella dropped into a low curtsy, giving him an ample view of her bosom. “The pleasure is all mine, my lord,” she said in a sultry voice.
As he averted his gaze, his mother stepped into the room and announced dinner was ready.
Knowing what was expected of him, he turned his attention back to Lady Isabella. “Would you allow me to escort you into dinner?”
“I would greatly appreciate that.”
Martin offered his arm, and she stepped forward, placing her hand on his. They walked into the dining room in silence, and he assisted Lady Isabella into her seat. He reluctantly claimed the chair next to her. Marianne was smiling at him from across the table. Evidently, she was quite amused by all of this.
Lady Isabella leaned towards him. “Your townhouse is so quaint.”
“Quaint?” he repeated. His townhouse had been called many things over the years, but no one had ever called it ‘quaint’ before.
“Yes,” she replied. “Our townhouse used to be similar, until Father allowed me to redecorate. I grew tired of all the outdated finishes.”
Lord Whittingham spoke up. “Isabella did a wonderful job of modernizing our townhouse.”
Isabella smiled proudly at her father’s praise. “Thank you, Father,” she acknowledged. “I discovered I have a knack for that sort of thing.”
“I am not surprised, since Isabella excels at everything she touches,” Lord Whittingham said. “I have never seen such an accomplished young woman.”
Martin’s father spoke up from the head of the table. “Is that so?”
Lord Whittingham nodded. “My daughter can speak five languages and is proficient at three different instruments.”
“That is impressive, isn’t it, son?” the marquess asked.
“It is, Father,” Martin agreed.
Isabella leaned to the side as a footman placed a bowl of soup in front of her. “I cannot take all the credit, especially since I attended such an elite boarding school.”
“Which one?” Marianne asked.
“Mrs. Taylor’s Boarding School in Ponder’s End, Middlesex,” Lady Isabella replied. “May I ask where you went to boarding school?”
Marianne shifted her gaze towards her mother before replying, “My mother preferred I stayed at home, so I was brought up by a governess.”
Lady Isabella bobbed her head. “A governess is perfectly acceptable, but I discovered I required more education than what most of them had to offer.”
“Isabella has always had a thirst for knowledge,” Lord Whittingham shared. “She is a voracious reader, but she knows to avoid topics that are not appropriate for genteel women.”
“It is true,” Lady Isabella replied. “I would never want to do anything
that would embarrass my family or position in Society.”
Martin picked up his spoon and began eating his soup. He couldn’t seem to think of any place that he wouldn’t rather be than here.
“Do you ride, my lord?” Lady Isabella asked him.
He wiped the sides of his mouth with his napkin, delaying his entry into the conversation. “I do.”
“I have been looking for a new riding partner, since my last one was not to my satisfaction,” Lady Isabella said.
“And why is that?” he asked, feigning interest.
“I am a superb rider, and very few people can keep up with me,” Lady Isabella shared. “Frankly, it is a blessing and a curse.”
Martin gave her a weak smile. “If you are such a gifted rider, I would hate to hinder you with my insufficient riding abilities.”
A pout came to Lady Isabella’s lips. “That is quite disappointing.”
Martin’s father interjected, “My son is just being modest. He is an exceptional rider.” He shot him a pointed look, implying that he should behave. “He goes riding nearly every day.”
Lady Isabella’s pout shifted into a smile almost immediately. “I am pleased to hear that,” she said. “My father just purchased a new horse for me, and it would be lovely to have a truly proficient rider to accompany me.” She looked at Martin expectantly, but he kept his eyes on his soup as he put his spoon in his mouth.
“May I ask what instruments you are proficient in?” Marianne asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“I can play the harp, pianoforte, and guitar,” Lady Isabella listed. “You may have had the opportunity to hear me play. I am quite in demand at social events.”
“Is that so?” Marianne asked.
Lord Whittingham bobbed his head. “I’m afraid Isabella has had to turn down invitations due to the sheer volume of requests she gets.”
“Perhaps you can play for us,” his mother suggested.
“I would be honored,” Lady Isabella said.
Martin watched as his bowl of soup was taken away, wishing he could depart just as easily. It was evident that he would never suit with Lady Isabella. She was vain and pretentious, two things that Hannah definitely was not.
Now where had that thought come from? He’d meant Lady Emma wasn’t those things, but it seemed his thoughts would rather dwell on Hannah.
Sitting alone on the settee, Hannah watched the fire crackling in the hearth of her darkened bedchamber. She was mortified by her brazen actions earlier today and couldn’t stand the thought of ever seeing Martin again. She was determined to avoid him for the rest of her life. It was the only logical solution to the horrifying situation she found herself in.
A knock came at the door before it opened, and Kate walked into the room with a concerned expression. “Are you ill?” her sister asked.
“No.”
“Then why did you miss supper?”
“I just wanted to be alone this evening.”
Kate glanced over and saw the tray of uneaten food on the dressing table. “I see that Sarah brought you a tray.”
“She did.”
“But you didn’t eat anything?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m not hungry.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t fetch the doctor?” Kate asked.
“There is no need.”
Kate didn’t say anything as she walked over and sat down next to Hannah on the settee. “Perhaps you should tell me what is bothering you.”
“I would prefer not to.”
“I can only imagine this has something to do with Martin visiting you earlier today, since you’ve been in your bedchamber since he left.”
Hannah pressed her lips together, then reluctantly admitted, “It does.”
“Did Martin say or do something that upset you?”
She hesitated. “He did.”
Kate gave her a knowing look. “This would go much easier if you cooperated more.”
“I don’t want to tell you, because it’s rather mortifying.”
“Surely it couldn’t have been as bad as you imagine.”
Hannah shifted in her seat to face her sister. “Martin kissed me,” she reluctantly admitted.
“He did?”
“Yes, but when I started kissing him back, he stopped and appeared horrified by his actions,” she explained. “He even apologized for taking advantage of me.”
“I see,” Kate muttered.
“What was worse is that he told me that nothing could ever happen between us,” Hannah shared.
Kate lifted her brow. “Did you want something to happen between you two?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, tossing her hands up in the air. “At least, I did.”
“But not now?”
Hannah bit her bottom lip. “I pressed him as to why we couldn’t have a future between us.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he couldn’t risk losing me as a friend.”
Kate looked at her compassionately. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’m terribly disappointed,” Hannah admitted. “When he kissed me, I briefly envisioned a future together, but it was all for naught. Martin even said so himself, the kiss was a mistake.”
“Do you intend to give up on Martin so easily, then?”
Hannah huffed. “I have been in love with Martin since I was a little girl,” she found herself admitting, “but my hopes were dashed when he asked us to secure him a bride.”
“I know that couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“It wasn’t, but I was determined to salvage our friendship,” Hannah said. “But then he kissed me, and I naïvely thought his feelings had changed.”
Kate reached for her hand. “I’ve known you held Martin in high regard for a long time now.”
Hannah’s eyes grew wide. “Has it been that obvious?”
“Not to everyone else,” Kate replied with a shake of her head, “but I am your sister. I noticed how your eyes would light up when you looked at him, or how you wrung your hands together when he came to stand next to you.”
“I hadn’t realized I was doing those things.”
Kate smirked. “I am a matchmaker; I take notice of those small things.”
“What am I going to do?” Hannah asked.
“For starters, you are going to hold your head up high and realize that you did nothing wrong,” Kate asserted.
“I shouldn’t have been so brazen and pressed him for a response,” Hannah replied, lowering her gaze.
“I disagree,” Kate stated, “you should never fault yourself for speaking from the heart.”
“But Martin wants nothing to do with me.”
“Then so be it,” Kate responded. “You can now start mending your broken heart and work on finding love again.”
Hannah rose abruptly and walked to the window. “It might be best if I continue to encourage Lord Charles,” she said as she gazed at the full moon.
Kate was silent for a long moment. “Do you care for Lord Charles?” she asked.
“I do,” Hannah admitted. “He is precisely the type of man I want to marry.”
“Is that so?”
Hannah leaned her head against the window frame. “He is honorable, dependable, and I know exactly where I stand with him.”
“He is rather smitten with you.”
“That he is,” Hannah replied. “Furthermore, he makes me laugh, and he is most attentive to my needs.”
“I am pleased to hear that, but I’m afraid I must pose one question.”
Hannah’s heart filled with dread, knowing what the question was. It was the one she would ask their clients whenever they were about to accept an offer of courtship. It was a simple question, but one that had a profound impact.
Kate lifted her brow. “Do you love Lord Charles?”
Hannah pursed her lips as she delayed her response. She already knew what the answer was, but she didn’t want to say it out loud.
“I
’m afraid your silence speaks volumes, sister,” Kate said.
Hannah felt the tears prick at the back of her eyes. “I do care for Lord Charles, but I am in love with Martin.”
“There is no shame in that.”
The words had barely left her sister’s mouth when Hannah exclaimed, “But Martin doesn’t want me! He would rather marry someone he has just become acquainted with than me.”
“That may be true, but—”
Hannah spoke over her sister. “I have pined over Martin for far too long,” she said. “I thought by selecting a suitor, I would be able to forget about him and move on. But my plan clearly did not work as well as I’d hoped.”
“What are you going to do now?” Kate asked with a lifted brow. “You can’t just sit in your bedchamber and cry about it.”
“You’re right,” Hannah responded. “I need to stop being unfair to Lord Charles and break things off between us. He deserves better treatment than I have given him.”
“That is a good start.”
“Then I am going to start picking up the pieces of my shattered heart and accept the fact that Martin and I are not meant to be.”
Rising, Kate walked over and embraced her. “You will find someone who recognizes how truly wonderful you are.”
“I’m not so sure,” Hannah said, leaning back. “I think it might be best if I stop looking for a suitor for the time being.”
“That is your choice.”
“I know that we preach of love, but I must wonder if everyone is blessed enough to have it in their lives.”
Kate arched an eyebrow. “You are becoming a cynic now, despite what we have accomplished with our clients in the past?”
“I know I sound contradictory, but I don’t believe I will be lucky enough to find love twice in one lifetime.”
Kate gave her a look filled with compassion. “Love comes in the most unexpected places,” she reminded Hannah. “Don’t give up on finding your own love story.”
“I won’t, but I need to take a break for a while.”
“No matter what happens,” Kate said, “you will always have me and Amelia in your life. We are not going anywhere.”
“I know, and I am immensely grateful for that.”
