by Fiona Miers
Hannah turned back to her cousin. “We were having a private conversation.”
“No, I think John would be helpful here, Hannah. Include him if you will.” Archie turned to John, who was now leaning against a bookcase like the handsome devil he was. “John. Hannah was just about to give me a list of the attributes she needs in a husband. You know the ton better than me now, perhaps you can suggest someone for my fair cousin?”
****
John wanted to scream at them both, Me! I’m the best choice for her, but he continued to play his role. Nonchalant.
“Of course, Archie, however, I do remember a conversation very similar to this that was the start of your undoing.” He pointedly looked at his friend and Archie smiled back, his memory as perfect as John’s. Charlotte had acquired Archie’s interest not long after declaring she would only marry a virgin. It had shocked everyone when she got what she wanted.
He turned his attention back to the woman who’d refused his proposal only last night. “Tell me, Hannah. What do you desire in a husband?”
It was a struggle to look at her and ask her such a question, and when she finally turned to him, anger clear in her gaze, he smiled brightly. He loved that he affected her so much. The battle was not yet lost.
“I need a gentleman who wants to be married.”
“Of course. No man will marry where he does not want.”
She glared at him and twisted in her seat to face Archie, who threw John a strange look.
John didn’t respond, quite enjoying the fact that Hannah could not hide her strong reaction to him.
“I want someone who doesn’t need my money, but of course, I’m not afraid of hard work, so if he owns a property that needs me, I’m up for working. Anyone who is decent, honest and kind will be wonderful for me.”
John went to ask a question and she jumped in again. “Oh, and he has to like horses, and not be too old and overly rotund, if possible.”
Her gaze slid unerringly to him and he puffed out his chest at her obvious need to find someone fit and healthy. If he set the bar last night, she was going to have trouble finding another gentleman who competed with his physique.
“Well…” Archie began. “I will have to think on it, if you are happy to marry a man well beneath us in rank, it will open up the pool considerably. Don’t you think John?”
He nodded, wondering how Hannah would fend married to a farmer.
He thought back to the first day he met her and unfortunately he could see her doing very well.
“I’m sure her family didn’t send her all this way to marry a pauper, Archie.”
“True. We will still find someone suitable for you, Hannah.”
She stood up. “Thank you cousin, but please know that the most important attribute to me is a good heart. Everything else I can compromise on.”
****
She turned and left the room in a cloud of skirts and John fell into the chair she had just left, her final arrow slung right between his ribs, hitting their target.
Archie stared at him, his level gaze one of knowing accusation.
“Yes, Archie?”
“What have you done, John?”
He lifted his nose and called on his best polite face. Archie was the king of polite regard, but John had been taught from the cradle also. “I don’t know what you mean Archie.”
Archie stood up and walked over to his bookshelf, pushing aside a tomb or two, and coming back with a decanter and some glasses.
He poured them in silence, the pious saint offering him alcohol without his suggesting it? Archie certainly had changed.
He chose to alter the subject for a moment, a memory from his valet floating into his mind. “Is my sister well? I heard she was abed today.”
Which was very unusual for his outgoing sister. Nothing kept Charlotte down.
“She is. The doctor suggested bed rest when she had some stomach pains, and because of the baby, she listened. But she’ll be up again tomorrow I’m sure.”
“Pregnant again. Damn Archie. You don’t waste time, do you?” He lifted his full glass of port and toasted his brother in law.
“I squandered my life for far too long, John. Never again.” Archie sat down into his chair, a satisfied smile on his face.
That was far too heavy a statement for this time of the day. John swallowed some of his port and nursed the glass in his hand.
“I want to learn some more about my current investments Archie. Will you help?”
“Of course.” His brother in law and oldest friend nodded.
“It’s about time that I knew where my money was and what it was doing.”
Archie had always been a dab hand at the Exchange and John had followed all his advice to the letter. Thanks to Archie, he had a very healthy sum of money to live from, but he didn’t understand where any of it came from. Time to change that.
Or was it? Was he really wanting all of these new changes in his life, or was he fooling himself?
He drank a little more, then re-filled his glass.
“Shall we go out tonight Archie? The club or somewhere more colourful perhaps?”
Archie levelled him with an intense gaze. “Like a brothel John? Sure, I’ll come with you. Leave my pregnant wife at home to have sex with some random woman who half the ton has been inside. What a great time that will be.”
Archie’s characteristically dry tones made the horrible suggestion even worse.
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee, a strangely uncomfortable sensation pushing him further than he’d ever gone with Archie.
Was he really ready for a life of respectability?
“Why not Archie? You must be sick of your wife.”
He didn’t know where the words came from, but there was a part of him that was spoiling for a fight.
“Oh, I am. Shall we go then?” Archie’s sarcastic tones as he stood up and walked to the door gave John pause.
Acid hit his gut like a bucket of hot water.
He didn’t want to do that. And he certainly didn’t want to see his sister’s marriage go the same way as his brothers.
He didn’t move and Archie opened the door for them both. “Come on John. Get up. Come show me how wonderful your world is. You want to be like your father now, I assume? And shall I aim for the same end as my brother?”
If there was any chance of him standing up to see how far Archie would take this bluff, those words silenced that devil. Archie’s brother had died of syphilis and it had almost ruined his family’s lives.
“Sit down Archie.”
Archie glowered at him, then finally shut the door and sat down in his chair, throwing back his glass until the port was all gone.
Then he poured himself another glass.
“What are you doing Archie?”
“I don’t know John. I’m trying to shock you into a decent mindset. What are you doing huh? Do I really need to go out and find my cousin a decent husband when you’re obviously in love with her? Should I parade in front of you all of her suitors and hope you come to your senses before she marries another?”
“Pardon me?”
What else could he say to that? How did his friend read him so well?
“You heard me, John. My cousin is a good woman and you’ve obviously seduced her.”
“I…” He couldn’t lie quick enough and Archie obviously saw through him.
“I knew it!” Archie slammed down his glass, sloshing port all over his desk. “How could you John? I never thought you would take a virgin. Have you really changed that much?”
Archie’s fury was painful and hurt the edges of John’s already frayed soul.
“I asked her to marry me.”
He lifted his gaze to his friend so he didn’t miss the shock that passed over Archie’s usually impassive face. The redness drained away and Archie’s mouth thinned. “And what did she say?”
John didn’t answer, just dropped his gaze and took another gulp
of his port.
“She said no?”
“Yes.” And he still wasn’t over the shock of that.
“Good god.”
“That’s about right.”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” Archie asked him.
John shrugged. What could he do?
“John, you can’t be giving up.”
He lifted his gaze once again to his friend. A man he trusted and loved. “What can I do Archie? She said no after we shared a bed. She thinks I’m an unconscionable rake.”
“And Charlotte thought I was a pious saint who didn’t even like her and look where we are today. You cannot give up if you finally found the one woman who made you think that marriage was possible. Or is this because of your brother’s proposal? Because if I was wrong about you being in love with her…”
He held up a hand to stop his friend’s rant.
“No. You weren’t wrong.”
He wouldn’t call it loved necessarily, not yet. But the caring he felt for her and the changes he was willing to make to his life made him think he could love her, easily.
“Then you need to make her see you in the right light.”
“What right light, Archie? I am a rake. I have a mistress. I’ve slept with half of the ton. She isn’t wrong about what sort of person I am.”
Archie huffed and tapped his fingers against the desk. “John, you are my best friend and my brother in law, but that does not make me blind to your faults. You are a drunk, a reprobate, and a scoundrel.”
“Thanks very much.” Talk about kicking a man when he was down.
“But you are fiercely protective of those you love. Your sister, us, the Spares. You are a good man, you are, and I believe you will be a great husband.”
John stared at Archie, unable to believe he’d just heard what he thought he did.
“How do you know?”
He didn’t even believe it, how could Archie?
“Because look at Rupert! If a good woman can change him, you’ll be an easy conversion.”
That made him smile. They’d all never thought Rupert would be happy with one woman, but he was the very picture of domestic happiness.
“That was a bit of a shock,” he agreed, smiling now as he remembered Rupert’s wedding day. The big oaf was twice the size of his wife and had cried double what she had.
“And you are more loving than Rupert, look how protective you were of Charlotte when we married. Your father and brother didn’t care one whit about her.”
A flash of heat flowed over John’s neck as he narrowed his eyes at Archie. Was his best friend trying to insult him?
“I’m nothing like my brother or my father.”
A long moment ticked by as the fire crackled in the grate.
Archie stared at him and said a word that would change John’s life forever.
“Exactly.”
Chapter 12.
“Stop fidgeting, Hannah.”
Hannah pulled her gaze back to Charlotte, who was glowering at her for the second time that evening.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to.”
“Are you looking for someone in particular? Has someone caught your eye?”
Hannah sighed. They were at yet another ball, and the same men were circling as they had every other night.
“No, I haven’t. Not yet.”
“Archie said he’d introduce you to a few appropriate gentlemen tonight, so we sit back and relax. We will find you a good husband Hannah, I am sure of it.”
Hannah took her cousin’s hand and squeezed it, hoping the affectionate gesture would relay to Charlotte how grateful she was. “Thank you, Charlotte. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help me.”
Archie stepped up, greeting his wife with his customary kiss on her gloved hand and a soft look that only they shared.
Next to him was a handsome man and Hannah’s heart quickened as she saw his smile.
“Hannah, can I introduce, Lord Hanly. We went to Eton together.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Lord Hanly.”
The man’s eyebrows shot up in that way that she was getting used to. Her accent definitely raised some eyebrows, it was whether his curiosity was piqued also. Or not.
“American?” He turned to Archie. “I’m sorry, good man.”
And he walked away.
Charlotte’s heart clenched tightly in her chest and she twisted her fingers together until they hurt, hoping to distract herself from the ridiculous tears in her eyes.
This was hopeless.
“What was that, Archie?” Charlotte hissed at her husband.
“I am so sorry, Hannah. I did not realise that Harrison needed to marry an English woman. Such an odd response.”
Hannah’s shoulders sagged as she fought off the intense feelings of defeat. Perhaps she needed to go home? England was not for her. If she went back to America she could marry a farmer perhaps, look after horses every day.
Charlotte grabbed her hands and squeezed tight. “Do not give up my friend. Everything will be fine.”
“I am going for a walk. I’ll be back soon.”
She broke away from her cousin’s wife, Charlotte’s breasts spilling over the top of her dress.
She wandered around the room, watching the dancing and feeling so very alone.
“Good evening, Hannah.”
She jumped as John stopped in front of her, bowing politely. “May I have this dance?”
Her tummy clenched at the sight of his handsome face and suit, cut to shape his lithe physique.
Memories from the other night surfaced, filling her body with heated wanton-ness.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
He took her hand and together they moved onto the dance floor.
He took her waist in an appropriate way and pulled her around the dance floor. She stumbled on one of the steps and he smiled encouragingly.
They moved gracefully around the floor, mostly due to John’s balance and experience.
“Thank you for helping me, once again John.”
She flushed with heat as she realized that she’d inferred their lovemaking was something else that he’d helped her with.
“My pleasure. As always, Hannah.” He gave her another one of those smiled that made her belly jump and she chuckled at the playful side of John that she saw emerging again.
She’d missed their banter.
A thought occurred to her and she decided to test a theory. She’d already decided that John was wrong for her, but she’d never really looked at any part of him other that his rakish ways.
“Tell me more about yourself Lord John.”
He grinned. “I am… me, what would you like to know?”
Not a bad answer.
“Do you love horses as much as you purport to?”
He laughed. “Yes. If I could ride my horse every day. I would. These ton events bore me, but since all my best friends married, I seem to spend more and more time here.”
“Why don’t you spend more time in the country then? I mean, don’t most Ducal households have country estates?”
He swallowed obviously, his throat working as he seemed to think about what he was about to say.
“Because…” he cleared his throat. “I don’t talk about this. No one knows except our family.”
The music stopped and Hannah allowed him to escort her off the dance floor and out onto the patio where only a few other couples stood, enjoying the fresh air.
“Thank you. I was getting stifled in there.”
John nodded and then continued. “I… my father has a mistress who lives permanently in our main country estate. In the dowager house, but her presence is felt everywhere. I believe she has children that live with her too.”
“Oh goodness, that’s unusual isn’t it?”
She knew that most men of rank, even those that didn’t have the money to do so, kept a mistress. Why would a Duke disrespect his wife in such a wife?
“Yes. We stopped going there long ago. My mother could not cope and even now she will only travel there for dire circumstances.”
The pain in his voice was obvious and Hannah reached across and lay her hand on John’s coat, squeezing his arm through the material.
“I’m so sorry. That must have been hard growing up around.”
Her own parents had a good marriage. Her father may have had his dalliances, she wouldn’t have known, but he was always home with her mother. Every day. Always.
“That is the main reason I have kept my affaires, unemotional. Casual. I believe. I didn’t want to end up like my father. Or my brother for that matter, he has followed closely in my father’s footsteps.”
That made sense in a way, and in a small way, she respected him not wanting to hurt his wife as his mother had been. There must be some good in him.
“Thank you for telling me that John.”
“So I suppose that’s who I am, Hannah. A man who has tried hard not to become his father. I don’t want to hurt my wife with my affairs. I want to be honourable. A good man.”
And that’s all anyone needed to be anything, a true belief.
“I believe you can be, John.”
And at that moment, she too believed it. She could check with Charlotte as to the integrity of the story he told her, but she didn’t need to. Despite all of John’s faults, he was insanely honest. And he kept up with her conversation, often challenging her too much.
“Are you financially independent John?”
A question she’d asked Doveton, and one she knew John would answer quite differently.
His eyebrows rose high on his forehead. “I am, mostly thanks to good investments from Archie and his knowledge. Are you also independent Hannah?”
The returned question surprised her and she smiled back. “As my parents only child, yes, I am quite independent. Thank you for asking.”
They both turned towards the gardens, looking out towards the starlit sky.
Perhaps she had been too hasty in her decision with John.
“John… I…”
“John Dunford… I was wondering if you’d be here tonight.” A woman in a red dress that Hannah recognized from several of the balls she’d attended sashayed across the patio, her full breasts pushed together to make a huge indent that Hannah could have fallen into.
