by Laura Beers
“I don’t believe that to be true.”
“No, it is true,” she replied. “I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t fond of you.”
Martin leaned forward in his chair. “How can you be sure of that?”
“She has said as much to me, and I betray her confidence by sharing this.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Because I fear that you are making a huge mistake by not pursuing her.”
Martin shook his head. “If Hannah had feelings for me, then why is she encouraging Lord Charles?”
“Why do you suppose that is?” Marianne asked dryly. “Could it be that you asked for her help to find you a match?”
“She could have said no.”
“Hannah would never have turned you down,” Marianne said. “She cares for you far too much to be selfish.”
“I don’t hope to assume that Hannah cares for me.”
Marianne gave him an exasperated look. “Did Hannah give you any indication that she believed the kiss was a mistake?”
“No.”
“And why do you suppose that was?” Marianne asked knowingly.
Martin stared blankly at his sister, wondering if what she was saying was true. “What if you’re wrong?” he asked.
“I’m not.”
Martin dropped his head. “I had no idea she had any affection towards me.”
“That has always baffled me,” Marianne said. “How could you have not noticed?”
“I was never looking,” he admitted. “Until recently, I had always considered Hannah like a sister.”
“Do you feel that way now?”
“Heavens, no,” he declared. “I don’t know exactly when it was, but she seemed to transform before my very eyes. I’m afraid I can’t stop thinking about her.”
Marianne gave him an encouraging smile. “What are you going to do about it, then?”
“I sent her flowers this morning,” he revealed.
“That’s a good first step, but you need to make a grander gesture than that.”
Martin threaded his fingers together and placed them on his desk. “Edward asked that I not come around their townhouse for a while.”
“Will that stop you?”
“No,” he replied, “but it could pose a slight problem.”
“I have discovered it is far easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission,” Marianne said.
“I am not surprised by that statement,” Martin chuckled.
Marianne rose. “I strongly encourage you not to mess this up, dear brother.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” he said, “but I still have a lot of work to do to make this up to Hannah. She might not even agree to see me after all of this.”
“Just speak from your heart, and you can’t go wrong.”
“I have never been good at giving speeches,” he admitted.
Marianne walked over to the door and paused with her hand on the handle. “Just don’t break her heart,” she urged. “She has already been through enough heartache for one lifetime.”
“I won’t.”
Marianne gave him a brief smile before she departed from the room.
Alone again, Martin attempted to formulate a plan that he hoped would help him win over Hannah, but he knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
16
Martin sat in the coach as it jostled back and forth towards Lady Emma’s townhouse. He knew that the honorable thing would be to end things with her before he spoke to Hannah.
The coach jerked to a stop outside of the three-level townhouse. He felt the coach dip as the footman exited from his perch and came around to open the door.
As he approached the main door, it opened, and the butler greeted him with a cordial smile. “How may I help you, milord?”
He removed a calling card from his waistcoat pocket and extended it towards the butler. “Is Lady Emma available for callers?”
The butler accepted the card and briefly glanced at it. “I shall see,” he said, opening the door wide to allow him entry.
Martin watched as the butler disappeared into the drawing room off the entry hall. It was only a moment before he stepped back into the hall. “Lady Emma will see you now.”
He tipped his head in acknowledgement and entered the drawing room. Lady Emma was on a settee with needlework in hand. An older maid sat in the corner.
Lady Emma smiled at him. “Good afternoon, Lord Egleton.”
“Good afternoon,” he replied, forcing a smile to his lips. “How are you faring today?”
“I am well.”
Martin chided himself for feeling nervous. He knew that Lady Emma was a perfectly agreeable young woman and wouldn’t turn into a simpering miss over what he was about to say.
Lady Emma tilted her head. “Is everything all right?”
“It is.”
“You seem hesitant.”
Martin felt himself relaxing at her words. “You are an astute young woman,” he said. “That is an admirable quality.”
Lady Emma placed her embroidery on the table in front of her. “You are resorting to flattery now,” she observed. “What you intend to say must be rather serious.”
“Why do you say that?”
“My father used to do the same thing,” she explained. “He would always praise me before he instructed me about something I’d done wrong.”
“He sounds like a good man.”
A wistful look came to her face. “He was,” she replied softly. “The best of men.”
“I am pleased to hear that.”
Gesturing towards the settee across from her, Lady Emma asked, “Would you care to sit, my lord?”
“Frankly, I would prefer to stand for this conversation.”
“It might be best if you just speak your mind.”
Martin took a moment to collect his thoughts, then said, “I have enjoyed our time together immensely.”
“As have I.”
“I want you to know that when I started pursuing you, I had every intention of offering for you,” he shared. “You are beautiful, clever, and have a quick wit.”
“But now?”
Martin winced as he shifted uncomfortably in his stance. “I have come to realize that I care for another.”
Lady Emma considered him for a moment. “Is it Miss Blackmore?” she asked.
He nodded, seeing no reason to deny it. “It is.”
“I assumed as much,” Lady Emma said. “I have never had a gentleman look at me as you do at Miss Blackmore.”
“I do hope there will be no hard feelings between us.”
Lady Emma’s face softened. “My opinion of you has not changed,” she stated, “and I am happy for you and Miss Blackmore.”
“I wouldn’t be happy for us yet, because I haven’t spoken to her of my feelings.”
“Then you must speak to her straightaway.”
“I will, but I wanted to meet with you first. I thought it was the honorable thing to do.”
Lady Emma nodded in approval. “You are a good man, and I have no doubt that Miss Blackmore recognizes that fact.”
“Perhaps, but I worry that her affection might have waned.”
Lord Charles’s voice came from the doorway. “I assure you that it hasn’t,” he declared.
“How can you be so sure?” Martin asked, turning towards his friend.
“Because I visited with Miss Blackmore this morning,” Lord Charles explained. “I offered for her, but she declined.”
Lady Emma interjected, “Did she give a reason?”
“She did,” Lord Charles replied. “She said that her heart belonged to another.”
“Hannah said that?” Martin asked as hope blossomed in his heart.
Lord Charles bobbed his head. “It was evident she was talking about you.”
“Hannah loves me,” he breathed.
“That she does.”
A broad smile came to his lips. “This is wonderful n
ews!” he exclaimed as he clasped his hands together.
Lady Emma spoke up. “Do you love her?”
His smile slipped as he asked himself if he loved her. The realization that he did hit him like a mallet to the temple. At some point, she had crept into his heart and had claimed it as her own.
“I do,” he replied honestly.
“Then you must go to her,” Lady Emma encouraged.
Martin smiled, hoping his smile conveyed his gratitude. “I will, right now.”
As he headed towards the door, Lord Charles stepped aside. “I wish you luck.”
“I do appreciate that, because I fear I will need it.”
Martin found he was rather anxious to see Hannah and began to work on what he wanted to say to her. With any luck, she would forgive him once he expressed his feelings for her.
It wasn’t long before the coach stopped in front of Hannah’s townhouse. He put his hand out the open window and opened the door, not bothering to wait for the footman. He exited the coach and hurried up the steps.
He pounded on the door and was pleased when it was promptly opened by the butler.
“How may I help you, Lord Egleton?” Cooper asked as he stepped aside to allow him entry.
“I need to speak to Miss Blackmore,” he replied firmly.
“I’m afraid she is not here at the moment,” Cooper revealed.
“When will she be back?” he pressed.
Edward spoke up from across the entry hall. “What are you doing here?”
Martin turned towards his friend. “I need to speak to Hannah.”
“I thought we decided that you weren’t going to come around for a while.”
“No, you decided that,” Martin stated.
“Regardless, I think it would be best—”
Martin cut him off. “I love her!” he exclaimed. “I know my realization may have come too late, but I have to tell her how I feel about her.”
A gasp came from the stairs. “I was right,” Kate said. “I knew you loved her.”
“I do,” Martin said, watching as Kate descended the stairs. “She has bewitched me, and I can’t deny it any longer. Frankly, I don’t want to.”
Kate came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. “This is the precise outcome Edward and I were striving for.”
“It was?”
She nodded. “It has always been evident that you two have a special relationship, and I knew with the right push you could end up together.”
He stared at her in amazement. “Does this mean you will allow me to speak to Hannah?”
“Unfortunately, she isn’t here,” Kate shared.
“Where is she?” he demanded.
Kate exchanged a glance with Edward. “She departed for Harrowden Hall earlier this morning.”
“How long does she intend to reside there?”
“Until the end of the Season,” Kate replied.
Martin felt panic swell up in his chest, and he immediately knew what he was going to do. He wasn’t going to let her go so easily. “I am going to Harrowden Hall, and I will bring her back home.”
“I would wait until tomorrow to depart,” Edward interjected. “It isn’t safe to travel at night on those roads.”
“I think that would be wise,” he agreed, “but I will leave at first light.”
Kate looked solemn. “I would be remiss if I didn’t say that you have hurt Hannah deeply,” she remarked. “You must proceed cautiously if you want to claim her as your own.”
“I intend to offer for her,” he revealed.
“I am pleased to hear that, but it will take much more wooing on your part,” Kate said.
Edward moved to stand next to his wife. “You may have to grovel.”
“I am willing to do whatever it takes,” Martin declared.
“Good,” Edward replied, “because it has been my experience that the Blackmore sisters can be rather stubborn at times.”
Kate laughed, unabashed. “It’s true.”
“I’m counting on it,” Martin stated as he walked over to the door. “I will find a way to win her over.”
The sun was setting as the coach turned down the gravel road to Harrowden Hall. The enormous country home was four levels, square in shape, with towers rising from each corner, and covered in stone.
As the coach came to a stop, Hannah admired the stone portico that protruded over the main door. The footman opened the door and assisted her as she stepped out.
The main door opened, and the butler met her with a smile. “Good evening, Miss Blackmore,” Morton greeted, opening the door wide. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”
“Likewise.” She stepped into the grand double-height entry hall, admiring the ornate columns that ran the length of the room. A black fireplace sat along a wall and a wooden staircase dominated one side of the hall. “Is my sister home?”
“She is,” he replied, closing the door. “Please follow me.”
Hannah followed Morton down a narrow hall and stopped in front of the morning room. He knocked on the door and stood back.
She gave him a questioning look.
“We are required to knock and receive permission before we open any door,” he explained.
“Why is that?”
Morton’s lips twitched. “You’ll see.”
“Enter,” the duke ordered from inside of the room.
Reaching for the handle, Morton opened it and gestured that she should go first. Hannah stepped into the room and saw Amelia was smoothing out her pink gown. The duke was standing next to her with his usual stoic expression, but his dark hair was slightly disheveled.
“Hannah!” Amelia exclaimed.
The next moment, she was wrapped up in her sister’s arms. “What are you doing here?” Amelia asked as she stepped back.
She opened her mouth to respond when Amelia continued. “Did something happen to Kate?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please tell me that nothing happened to Kate.”
“Kate is perfectly fine.”
“Did something happen to Edward?”
Hannah shook her head. “Everyone is well,” she assured her.
“Then why are you here?” Amelia asked as the duke came to stand next to her.
“I was hoping to reside with you until the end of the Season,” Hannah said with a nervous look at the duke.
Amelia glanced at her husband, who nodded in response. “We would love for you to stay for as long as you are able,” she replied.
“Do you mean that?”
His Grace spoke up. “You are always welcome in our home, Hannah.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Edmund, if you don’t mind,” he responded lightly. “Family doesn’t make use of titles.”
Hannah gave him a grateful smile. “I do appreciate your hospitality.”
“I am sure you are tired from your journey and would like a bath before supper,” Amelia said as she looped arms with her. “Why don’t I show you to your bedchamber?”
“That would be wonderful,” Hannah acknowledged.
The duke kissed Amelia on her cheek. “I will let you two ladies catch up. I’ll be in my study.”
Amelia exchanged a love-filled look with her husband. “I’ll come down after I have ensured Hannah is properly tended to.”
“I shall be looking forward to that,” Edmund said.
Amelia led Hannah out of the room and into the hall. “Morton!” she shouted. “Where are you?”
Morton stepped out from one of the rooms. “Yes, Your Grace?”
“Will you ensure that the lavender room is prepared for my sister?” Amelia asked. “She will be staying with us for the foreseeable future.”
Morton tipped his head. “As you wish.”
“And can you make arrangements for a bath to be sent up to her bedchamber?”
“It shall be done.”
Amelia turned back towards Hannah. “Did you bring Sarah along with you?”
“I did.”
>
“Splendid,” Amelia declared as they stepped back into the entry hall. “We just need to discuss one more thing, and it is of the upmost importance.”
“Which is?”
Leaning closer, Amelia spoke quietly. “I want you to explain to me why you really came to visit.”
“Pardon?”
Amelia gave her a knowing look as they started up the stairs. “You hate long carriage rides and avoid them at all costs,” she stated. “So, it makes me wonder why you would willingly go on one.”
“I have discovered that carriage rides aren’t as terrible as I once thought,” Hannah lied.
Her sister narrowed her eyes. “Interesting,” she said. “You haven’t lied to me since we were little girls. It makes me wonder what you’re hiding.”
“Perhaps I just wanted to visit my favorite sister.”
Amelia shook her head. “That’s not it.”
“You are entirely too suspicious.”
“It has served me well over the years.”
They continued down the hall and Hannah’s eyes ran along the portraits hanging on the wall. It wasn’t long before they stopped at a door, and Amelia opened it. Hannah stepped inside the room, admiring the lavender-papered walls, four-poster bed, and chaise lounge chair that sat in front of the fireplace.
“This is lovely,” Hannah acknowledged.
Amelia walked over to the bed and sat on it. “The last letter I received from you informed me that you had a suitor, a Lord Charles Brooksbank.”
“That is correct,” she replied.
“Did something happen with him?”
Hannah walked over to the bed and sat down next to her sister. “He offered for me.”
“He did?” Amelia asked, perking up.
She nodded. “But I turned him down.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because I don’t love him.”
Amelia bobbed her head in approval. “That is a sensible reason to turn down an offer of marriage,” she said. “Is that why you wanted to leave Town for a while?”
Hannah pressed her lips together. “That isn’t it.”
“Then what is?”
She shifted her gaze away from her sister’s. “Do you remember when I informed you that Martin asked us to find him a love match?”
“I do.”
