by Wendy Vella
“Alex, you must promise me something.”
“Must I?”
“Yes. You must promise me if you meet a woman who could be important to you while we are carrying out this charade, you tell me at once. I will call it off immediately.”
“How magnanimous of you, not wanting to stand in the way of true love.”
“Don’t mock me,” her temper flashed at him.
“Ah, now there is my Hannah.”
“I am not your anything.”
“But, my love, how can you be so cruel?” The smile he gave her was full of devotion and made her teeth grind. Their momentary connection was severed, it seemed. “Remember, this is what you wanted; I am just playing the part you set me up for.”
She harrumphed.
“You do know that sounded just like the Dowager Duchess of Stratton, don’t you?”
“She is everything I aspire to one day be.” Hannah stuck her nose in the air exactly as the old lady did.
“God save us all,” Alex muttered.
CHAPTER FIVE
They walked, they talked, and the people they met were left in no doubt their relationship had moved from friendship into something more serious. What that was, Alex and Hannah were careful to avoid discussing. He led her back to the carriage when her smile threatened to crack.
“I fear I should apologize once more, Alex, as it is my belief people will soon foresee an engagement in our future.”
“Much as I like hearing you say sorry to me, I think you have said it enough.”
Alex felt the fingers she had on his arm tighten, gripping his sleeve hard. Her eyes were on a man approaching. Lord McDonald was walking toward them with a determined look in his eyes.
“It seems I will have to be more direct with him.”
“Alex, no. Please do not make a scene. Let us just be polite and he will be on his way soon.”
“Miss Wooller.” McDonald bowed before her. “Mr. Hetherington.”
“McDonald.” Alex kept his eyes on the man as he placed his other hand over the one Hannah had clenched on his sleeve. It was a possessive gesture and by the narrowing of McDonald’s eyes he had taken note. Excellent, now he was getting the idea.
“I would like to take you driving tomorrow, Miss Wooller.”
“I fear I am busy, Lord McDonald.”
“Driving with me, again,” Alex added. “Because we are very good friends, Lord McDonald, and she will not be driving with anyone but me in the future.”
“Has he offered for you?” Lord McDonald turned his eyes on Hannah.
“No!” she said quickly. “We are friends, nothing more.”
“Come now, sweetheart.” Alex kept his eyes on McDonald. “We are much more than that, as I explained to Lord McRonald in the park earlier.”
“McDonald,” the man gritted out.
“Begging your pardon,” Alex said with no sincerity at all.
“Good day to you, Lord McDonald.” Hannah tugged Alex’s arm and soon they were striding off down the path away from the carriage once more. He looked over his shoulder and saw McDonald’s angry gaze following them. The man was not happy, and would need to be watched. Alex would mention him to Woolly.
“That man is a danger to you, Hannah. Never be alone with him.”
“For pity’s sake, Alex, he is just persistent. After that last interlude, I doubt he will bother me again. Your behavior was too possessive. If we are to walk away from this unscathed you cannot react that way when men approach me.”
“I thought it was perfect.”
“Well it wasn’t, and I will not have you behaving in such a… a boorish way again. There really is no need.”
“If we are to show people like McDonald we are more than friends, Hannah, and happy to be seen in each other’s company, I suggest you not outpace everyone.”
Her feet slowed but her expression remained grim.
“For the love of God, woman,” Alex whispered from the side of his mouth. “Smile sweetly.”
“If I am honest, Alex—”
“By all means be honest now.”
She glared at him. “I have to admit that I do not like Lord McDonald.”
“Neither do I, so we are together in that at least, but as you are supposed to like me then at least show it.”
She huffed out a breath. “I was never terribly good at hiding my thoughts.”
“Really.”
“You always fall back on sarcasm.”
“It’s what I do best,” Alex said, leading her down toward the river.
“Apparently not,” Hannah said. “Apparently you read Roman literature to crotchety old women, and recite Keats. Is there anything else you would like to share?”
“No, I think that is enough for now.”
“This is for you, Miss.” Alex looked at the young boy who suddenly appeared before them. He held a note in his hand, which he handed to Hannah.
“Thank you.” She passed him a coin from her reticule before Alex could take one from his pocket. She then opened the note and read the contents. Alex watched her refold it and place it in her reticule. Her expression had not changed, yet he could feel the sudden tension in her.
“Problems?” She had started walking and Alex noted her cheeks were flushed.
“Nothing important.”
She was striding again, so he took her arm and reined her in.
“Someone went to a great deal of trouble to deliver you a note here, when they could have done so at your house, and you say it is nothing important.”
“I have no wish to discuss this, Alex. What was in that note is my business, not yours.”
No one could dismiss him quite like Hannah Wooller. She raised his hackles without even trying.
“Ah, but I am the man you love, Hannah; surely that gives me some rights.”
She spun to face him. Whatever was in that note had scared her, because he saw the fear now, lurking deep in the depths of her eyes.
“We are not in love; we are deciding whether we are in love. Please understand the difference, Alex.”
“Mr. Hetherington!”
Alex saw the bevvy of women bearing down on him, quickly took Hannah’s hand, and slipped it into the crook of his arm, thus pulling her in to his side. “Don’t think I will forget about that note.”
“Dear Lord, there are five of them, Alex, all smiling at you.”
“Welcome to my life.”
“Suddenly my lack of popularity no longer seems so heinous.”
Hannah’s head was reeling as she watched the women hurry toward Alex in a froth of pastel. She tried to slip her arm free, but she was manacled to his side. What was the blackmailer thinking, to have a note delivered to her here in the park?
“Alex, I really think—”
“We discussed you thinking, it ends in disaster for both of us, so shut up and smile sweetly.”
She did, because she owed him that much. At least he could not read the note, as it was tucked in her reticule, and hopefully by the time the women left he would have forgotten its existence.
The carriage ride had been full of surprises. First there was the episode with the Dowager Duchess, and then Alex reciting Keats in his lovely deep voice. Imagine him liking Roman literature. She was guilty along with the rest of society of judging him. Yes, she knew he had a head for business, but she had thought he spent his nights with his brother and friends doing what young men did. It seemed she had to revise those thoughts and imagine him reading by his hearth.
“Mr. Hetherington, you simply must come and see the flowers. They are in full bloom, and I wish to show you my favorite.”
Hannah knew these women, having seen them regularly in the evenings. Of course, none of them spoke to her, and they were a year or two younger. Popular, beautiful, with families who could trace their lineage back to their wealthy and titled forefathers, they were never seen with the likes of her and were at present acting as if she was not hanging off Alex’s arm.
It didn’t hurt; she’d told herself that many times. They were not all shallow, just children of parents who were also children of parents who believed themselves better than people of lowly birth like the Woollers.
“I think you’ll agree the bluebells are particularly beautiful at this time of the year.”
She had no right to feel jealous or indeed possessive of Alex, but she did, and that annoyed her because this was make-believe. He did not care for her as she did not care for him, Hannah reminded herself.
“Ladies, I know you have met my dear friend, Miss Wooller, therefore I shall find it a direct insult to me if you do not acknowledge her.”
He should not have said that, Hannah thought, horrified yet secretly flattered that Alex had defended her. By nightfall everyone would know what he had done. Did the man have no sense?
“Oh of course, how do you do, Miss Wooller.”
Each of the girls acknowledged her reluctantly, and then tried to maneuver him from her side to follow them once more. Alex, however, hung on to her.
“Forgive me, ladies, but I am walking with Miss Wooller today. You shall have to find another to look at the flowers.”
The surprise on their faces had Hannah biting her lip to stop from laughing. They were totally cast down, throwing her accusatory looks as they turned to walk away. Her popularity with women was not about to increase, it seemed, as it had with men.
“Do you suffer that kind of thing often?”
“Yes, but your little scheme may give me some breathing room for a few weeks, and I tell you, Hannah, I shall enjoy the reprieve.”
They started walking again, and found a seat before the river.
“I knew you were highly regarded as a wonderful catch, but not what that entailed,” Hannah said, settling her reticule between them on the seat. “I am beginning to wonder which of us has the direst plight. My inability to attract suitors or your overabundance of them.”
“It is a conundrum.” He closed his eyes, raising his face to the sun, and she studied his side profile; high cheekbones, perfect nose, and strong jaw. The man should be immortalized on canvas, if he hadn’t been already.
“Alex, you really should not have stood up for me with those women.”
“You have said ‘Alex you really should not,’ a great deal today, Hannah. And yes I should have; they were rude to not acknowledge you and I’m sorry you were subjected to that, and even more sorry that I had not understood the way society has been treating you.”
“Not all of society,” Hannah said as warmth filled her chest at his words. “Some are nice, but unfortunately most of them are the chaperones or elderly.”
“Can I read that note now, Hannah?” Before she could react, he had picked up her reticule and stood. “Give that back to me!” She jumped to her feet also.
“Tell me what the note says, because it must be serious, and I would rather you told me than read it myself.”
“I will not!” She followed him as he walked backward. “That is private, and I wish you to return it at once.”
He kept walking until they were behind some bushes and out of sight. Hannah was glad her maid Mary trailed behind them. If anyone should see them, her reputation was safe.
“Tell me what it says.” He held it high so she could not reach it. Hannah was not short, but he was taller by a goodly amount.
“No.” Hannah folded her arms, refusing to make a fool of herself by lunging at him. Alex was just teasing her; he was a gentleman and would never invade her privacy by reading her private correspondence.
“Hannah, I will read this if you do not tell me what it says.”
She watched in horror as he pulled the note out and began to unfold it.
“Alex!” She couldn’t think of a lie; her usually agile mind was suddenly blank. “Please don’t do this.”
“I don’t want to, Hannah, but—”
She launched herself at him, her hands reaching for the note. She grasped the paper and then felt them both falling. Alex twisted; she did not. Seconds later, she was in the water, her hand still clenched around the note.
“Hannah!”
“Miss Wooller!”
Mary’s shriek was the last sound Hannah heard as she went under. The cold robbed her breath. Arms flailing, she surged upward until her head cleared the water. “Stop!” she shrieked as Alex prepared to dive in. “I can swim!”
He stopped, arms flapping as he fought to keep his balance, looking like a large ungainly bird. Hannah screwed the note into a ball then released it into the water before she maneuvered herself toward the bank, which was only a few feet away.
“Give me your hand!”
She did, and Alex pulled her out seconds later, lowering her to the grass.
“What the hell is the matter with you!” he roared as she lay like a landed trout, gasping for air. Her skirts were stuck to her legs, her bonnet covering her eyes and her bodice molded to her body. “Of all the bloody, idiotic, stupid things to do!” He continued to rant at her, calling her a great many words; some she knew, others surprisingly she didn’t. “You could have drowned, woman!”
As he roared at her, Hannah attempted to remove her sodden gloves, then worked on the silk ribbons at her throat. She was cold, but the sun was high and she was in little danger of a chill. She feared if she were seen it would be the absolute last straw for her reputation, and she would never be able to walk in society again. The thought of those women who had wanted Alex to view the flowers seeing her made Hannah feel ill.
“Oh, Miss Wooller, what have you done?” Mary said from beside Alex. Her head was nodding as she agreed with his words. Hannah shut her up with a sharp glance, Alex needed no encouragement in his condemnation of her.
“Your father should simply lock you in your room and throw the bloody key away!” He slapped her hands aside and wrestled with the ribbons at her throat, removing her sodden bonnet and hurling it to the ground. Hannah retrieved it before he could stomp on it.
“Alex, I’m cold and humiliated; I have no wish to listen to you blistering my ears in my current state. Therefore, if you could refrain until I am once again dry, I should be grateful.”
She had never seen him this angry before. A muscle ticked in his jaw and his mouth opened and closed several times. He looked mean and capable of throttling her with his bare hands, however what he did was take off his jacket and place it around her shoulders.
“There is a gate there,” he snarled, pointing to a fence behind which deer grazed. “I will bring my carriage to there. If you can endeavor to stay out of harm’s way, I shall return shortly.”
“I thought to do a few more laps.” Hannah could not resist, but wished she had as he lowered his head and glared at her.
“Be warned, Hannah, you will push me only so far before you regret it.” The words were spoken softly before he was gone, and only then was Hannah able to breathe deeply.
“You will surely catch your death, Miss Wooller,” Mary said kneeling beside her.
“There is no need to be dramatic, Mary. The weather is warm, I am in no danger.”
Alex was extremely angry, and Hannah decided to apologize to him when he returned. It was only fair; after all, he was coming to her aid, and she was being ungrateful.
Her thoughts returned to the note. It had been from her blackmailer. Usually he wanted money, and not enough to tax Hannah as long as she was careful with the money she earned and whatever her father gave her, but this time he was asking to meet her, and would send word when and where. She wondered what he was about as she had never met with him before. She knew his identity, of course; he had made that clear from the outset when he approached her. She had no doubt as to his authenticity and that he could do exactly as he stated he could in regards to Bridgette and her father. So Hannah had paid the money to the boy he sent to the park across the road from her house, and the transactions, until now, had been effortless, if irksome. She loathed giving her hard-earned money to that man, yet she had done
so to keep her sister safe.
“Help me up, Mary.”
Her maid quickly regained her feet, and then helped Hannah to hers.
When Alex returned his face was now set in a blank mask, wearing only his shirt and waistcoat, he looked large, dangerous, and incredibly disturbing. She was so used to seeing him immaculately groomed; it was a shock to see his hair standing on end and his necktie coming unfolded. He should look ill-kept, but he didn’t; in fact he looked handsome and more like a rogue than an affable nobleman. Hannah hurried to meet him, eager to get out of the park and her wet clothes. He didn’t speak when she reached him. Grabbing her arm, he simply turned and marched back to the gate. Hannah was not short, but she still had to trot to keep up with him.
“Could we not walk, Alex? I am struggling to keep up with these wet skirts tangled around my legs.”
“Thus far, by some miracle, we have not been seen; therefore you will have to continue to struggle. And as to your discomfort, as it is entirely your fault, you’ll understand if you do not have my sympathies.”
Bastard. Of course, she did not say the word out loud, realizing that now was not the time to annoy him further. “I understand,” Hannah lied, attempting to pull her arm free, but his grip was firm. “However, I am hampered somewhat as I have explained.”
“Through no one’s fault but your own,” he reiterated.
Hannah bit her lip. Could she fault him if he turned his back on her? If he did, she had no one but herself to blame.
When they reached the carriage he hoisted her up on the seat before helping Mary, and then stomped around to climb up beside her. He shot a look behind them.
“We have not been seen.”
“Thank you, and I’m sorry, Alex. Please do not change your mind.”
“Tell me what was in the note.”
“It was nothing—”
“If it was nothing you would not now be seated beside me looking like a species of drowned rodent.”
She inhaled at that insult and sunk her teeth hard into her bottom lip. She would put a hole through it if this continued.
