“You’re early, Mr. Albertson,” she said finally. Her voice was soft and she discreetly swallowed, hoping it would bring her back to some semblance of normalcy.
“I didn’t think it polite to have you waiting, My Lady,” he said to her. His gruff voice washed over her, rushing the cold from her limbs. He was dressed warmly she realized now, and Hannah wondered how warm she would feel if his arms were wrapped around her.
She could imagine his hand on her cheek, sliding down to her chin, cupping it and bringing her close. His lips just inches away from hers.
Ah, yes. Keep that up and this cold will be no bother at all.
Hannah shoved those thoughts to the back of her mind. At least, if he saw her blushing, he might think it was because of the fog. “Let me get my horse saddled and then we can set out,” she said.
“That’s all right, My Lady,” Mr. Albertson said. “I took the liberty of preparing your horse for you.” He held a hand out behind him and a young stable hand seemed to materialize out of nowhere, walking forward with her favorite mare behind him. He handed the reins over to Hannah and hurried away.
“And how did you know what horse I preferred to ride?”
“I simply had to ask around.”
Is he angry with me or does he always talk with such aloofness?
“Are you ready to set out then?”
“Nearly so,” she responded. “And what of my maid?”
Lily stepped forward, as if on cue. In truth, Hannah had been so excited to go riding with Mr. Albertson that she’d forgotten all about the fact that Lily was here to serve as chaperone. She knew her father wouldn’t like it if she were to go riding into the thick fog with a gentleman she’d only just met, despite the fact that he was her father’s cousin. Hannah, however, would have relished the idea. How lovely would it have been to have unwatched time with a gentleman like him?
As soon as she thought it, she was no longer so sure. It was clear to her that she was attracted to Mr. Albertson. Any lady would have been, wouldn’t they? He was not only handsome, but mysterious—two things that made her heart quiver in her chest. Perhaps being alone with him wasn’t the best idea. Even now, her fingers itched to hold his, to have some amount of skin-to-skin contact with him. Who knew what she might do if there was no one around to watch them?
“Ah.” Mr. Albertson’s eyes flickered to Lily, who shrank back from his look. “I wasn’t aware we would be joined.”
“This is England, Mr. Albertson,” Hannah told him simply. “I cannot be without a chaperone.” Then she turned to the closest stable hand and said, “Have a horse prepared for Lily. A friendly one. One that isn’t easily frightened or belligerent. Thank you.”
She returned her attention to Mr. Albertson as the stable hand ran off. “I hope you don’t mind waiting a few moments for the horse to be prepared?”
“Not at all, My Lady. It might give the fog some time to lift.”
“Ah, yes. I hadn’t anticipated such a thick fog when I asked you to go riding with me. I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
“It doesn’t,” he said gruffly. “I’m a confident rider.”
Hannah nearly smiled. She didn’t doubt that for a second. With legs like those, she would have been surprised if he wasn’t. She resisted the urge to look down at his legs, knowing how bold that would make her seem.
In no time, Lily’s horse was prepared, and she silently mounted it. Lily wasn’t the best rider, nor did she particularly like horses, but she had been eager to accompany Hannah today. Hannah had told her that she could find someone else as chaperone if Lily didn’t feel up to the task, but she had insisted. Hannah hadn’t bothered to question why. She’d been too excited to see Mr. Albertson.
She couldn’t say the same for him, though. As they set out, trudging slowly through the fog, she watched him. It was easy to, since his horse was slightly ahead of hers and he kept his head straight. She hated that she couldn’t read him. Hannah prided herself on being able to tell someone’s character after being in their presence for a while, but she knew nothing of this gentleman.
Even during dinner the previous night, he seemed detached from it all. Granted, he responded well and was decent enough company throughout the evening, but Hannah could tell that he wasn’t entirely there. His mind had been somewhere else.
She longed to ask him to explain himself. Pestering questions bombarded her thoughts every time she saw him, but Hannah knew better. That wasn’t the way to go about it. That would only chase him away and she didn’t want to isolate her father’s guest so quickly.
Desperate to kill the silence between them, she asked, “You look well today, Mr. Albertson. I trust you are enjoying the morning?”
More than I should.
His lips thinned, not allowing himself to look at her when she asked the question. It bothered him how much he had been looking forward to seeing her again, and the sight of her atop her horse with her back straight and that constant slight smile on her lips made his body grow hot.
They had already gone quite a distance from the manor. When she looked behind her, she couldn’t see anything but white. Hopefully the fog would lift soon because, despite wanting to talk to Mr. Albertson some more, she also wanted to really go riding. Trotting at such a pace wasn’t how she was going to enjoy herself.
“I am,” he answered, not wanting to admit any more than that.
“I know how difficult it can be to sleep under a roof that isn’t your own. During my time in London, I didn’t sleep very well. I would always find myself awaking in the middle of the night and it would take me a while to go back to sleep.”
“Did you not stay at the Duke’s townhouse in London, My Lady?” he asked.
“I did.” Hannah trotted up a little more until they were side by side. Lily lingered behind. “But I’ve spent all my life in Gresham so I wasn’t used to the townhouse. I suppose there is something about the countryside that soothes me. I highly prefer it over a city like London.”
“I’ve learned that London is the hub of England society. I would have thought that a lady like yourself would have liked it there.”
“London society is much too stuffy for me,” she said openly. She didn’t expect him to judge her unfairly. She didn’t see him as an average Englishman. “But you seem quite at ease here, Mr. Albertson. Is it a lot like where you’re from?”
“Yes,” he said. He still didn’t look at her, keeping his eyes trained forward. His jaw was so tight, she wondered if he was counting the seconds until this was over. “In the colony, I own ranches. The layout is a lot like that of the Gresham Manor although…”
“Bigger?”
He shrugged just a little bit. “Ranches require a lot of space.”
“I don’t doubt it, Mr. Albertson. Then, I presume that you are enjoying your time here?”
“It is adequate.”
Hannah nearly blurted out an unladylike laugh. She hadn’t expected him to say that. “Merely adequate? Oh, you are breaking my heart, Mr. Albertson.”
He looked at her, finally. But his gaze was no different this time. Like the first day they met, after they had settled down in the drawing room, he had a curious glint in his eye, as if she continued to surprise him time and time again. Hannah didn’t quite dislike that idea. “Is that meant to be a joke?” he asked.
“No,” she said, hiding her smile. “I’m sorry to hear that you aren’t having a wonderful time as our guest. Perhaps I can change that in the future.”
He hesitated, as if he wasn’t sure if he should ask, but then he did. “How will you do that, My Lady?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Hannah said airily. “I suppose that’s the challenge, don’t you think?”
“I suppose,” he grunted, looking ahead once again.
The fog was beginning to lift. She could see more clearly, the green grass of the plains by the manor stretched out before her. The sight sparked excitement in her. “Mr. Albertson? Are you ready?”
“For what—?”
But she didn’t stick around for the rest of his reply. Digging her heels into the side of her mare, she took off. The wind helped to stretch her lips into a wide smile, rushing through her hair. The time Lily had taken doing her hair that morning became wasted in a moment, the wind taking it apart and leaving her hair flying behind her like a cape. Hannah couldn’t help the laugh of happiness that slipped out.
She threw a glance behind her. Mr. Albertson hadn’t taken off like she did. He continued to trot slowly toward her, Lily just a little way behind him. She expected that of Lily but not of the man who claimed he liked riding. Hannah steered her horse around and headed back to him, coming to a halt at his side.
He was staring at her, that same curious look in his eye. “The fog hasn’t lifted enough for us to break into a gallop, My Lady. It is unsafe.”
“On the contrary, Mr. Albertson,” she said, a little breathless. Her hair came down around her shoulders and she tossed it behind her before it could get in her face. She noted that Mr. Albertson caught the movement. “I know this area very well and though the fog hasn’t lifted much, I can see well enough to know that it isn’t as unsafe as you might think. Why don’t you come along with me?”
“That’s quite all right,” he said, shaking his head. He looked straight ahead and Hannah instantly wanted to pout. Even if he looked at her like a creature he’d never seen before, she still preferred that to when he didn’t look at her at all. “I am content with just observing you.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “You said your stay here has been merely adequate. This might make it a little better for you, don’t you think?”
“As I said, My Lady, I’m all right. You go on ahead.”
His tone left no room for argument. Hannah frowned at him. Her excitement dulled, her pounding heart slowing to a normal pace. Just like that, it wasn’t fun anymore.
“That’s all right, Mr. Albertson,” she said, trying not to show how disappointed she was that he wouldn’t join her. “We can always try again another day.”
“You’d like me to join you again?” He sounded surprised.
“Why, of course. You are my guest. And I believe riding with a partner is much more interesting than riding alone. Don’t you think so?”
She eyed him, already expecting what he would say. He would turn it down. He only came here out of courtesy, because he felt bad for how rude he’d been to her. Now, there was no reason to continue attempting to be nice and she waited for him to say the words, waited for the inevitable disappointment that would come crashing down on her.
“I do believe you’re right,” he said instead. Hannah couldn’t believe her ears for a moment.
“Then will you meet with me at dawn tomorrow?”
“Let’s hope the fog isn’t so thick as it was today.”
She smiled. They turned around, heading back in silence. Hannah, for once, didn’t mind. Perhaps she was wrong about Mr. Albertson. Maybe he wasn’t as cold as she thought he was.
She tried not to stare but the longer the silence stretched on, the harder it became. He had somehow become even more attractive, as if a layer of the wall he’d put around himself had fallen down, revealing more of his brilliance. And there was something else beyond that wall of his, something akin to kindness.
He is quite a vision with the fog around his shoulders. And he is much friendlier than I first thought. I quite like him this way.
They said nothing to each other on their way back. Hannah couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking about, but she decided to leave it alone. She’d questioned him enough as it was and though her curiosity when it came to Mr. Albertson seemed endless, she didn’t want to chase him away.
“I had a lovely time, My Lady,” he said, once they were all off their horses, the stable hands taking them away.
“As did I, Mr. Albertson. I believe we’ll enjoy ourselves even more on the morrow.”
“I look forward to it.” And that was it. He nodded in farewell and left, leaving Hannah staring after him like a deer longing for water.
Chapter 8
Rowland had to resist the urge to look back at Lady Hannah. He had no doubt it would be more difficult to leave if he did. When she appeared before him earlier this morning, materializing like a woodland spirit, she had been enticing. Her hair pinned up on the top of her head, wearing riding garments, her eyes shining like stars through the thick of the fog, she had stood there and stared at him and the look she gave him held him captive. He couldn’t decipher it, couldn’t understand it, but he couldn’t look away.
Which was exactly why he knew he couldn’t stay around her for long. Rowland prided himself on his ability to hold his composure but more and more he found it slipping in her presence. She had no qualms with jabbering on, despite his lack of response, and it only made him more intrigued. And when she had taken off like that when the fog had started to lift? He didn’t think he’d ever seen something so beautiful.
Rowland couldn’t decide whether it was the view of the landscape, or the view of the beautiful lady racing her way across it. The mist of the morning creeping across the dewy grass, drifting around the ankles of the horse galloping away from him, was one vision. The lady atop that horse, her hair flying through the wind, laughter trailing in her wake, and happiness shining on her features even from that distance was something else entirely. This was the most beautiful image Rowland had ever seen and it kept him there, enraptured.
That was bound to make his time here more difficult. Lady Hannah clearly had intentions to stick herself to his side and it was hard to resist her. Which only made his inner turmoil claw at him even more. Miss Flynn, Lady Hannah...they battled for his attention.
For now, he shouldn’t be thinking about that. As he re-entered the manor and mentally retraced his steps back to his bedchamber, he tried fervently to banish the thought of Lady Hannah. It didn’t work as well as he hoped it would.
At least he’d be able to focus on something else for a while. After last night’s dinner, the Duke had requested his presence in his study before breakfast. That was another reason why he’d wanted to cut the ride with Lady Hannah short. He had to attend a meeting with her father.
The Duke was in his study waiting when Rowland arrived. He looked up at his entrance and the sides of his eyes crinkled into a smile before his lips did. “Ah, Rowland,” he greeted, raising a welcoming hand to gesture him in further. “My mind just thought of you. Did you sleep well?”
What is it about this family asking if I slept well? Well, I suppose the English are all about minding their manners.
“Yes, Your Grace,” he said. “I have been very comfortable thanks to your hospitality.”
“I’m happy to hear it.” Rowland took a seat in one of the couches in the study. The Duke came to join him. “I must apologize for dragging you out of your bed so early in the morning to meet with me.”
“Oh, you didn’t. I just came from riding with your daughter.”
The Duke’s brows shot into the air, making Rowland frown a little. Did he not know? “My daughter?”
“Yes, Lady Hannah. I thought you were aware.”
“Oh, she never tells me anything unless I ask. I didn’t think you two would have forged such a friendship already.”
Rowland didn’t miss the hopeful tone in his voice. “We haven’t,” he told him, not unkindly. “She is quite the riding partner, however.”
“Oh, don’t I know it. When she was younger, it was all she would ever talk about. Getting her to focus on anything other than horses was nearly impossible.”
The Duke chuckled fondly at the memory. Rowland smiled, though he wasn’t sure why the Duke was sharing this information with him. A part of him had an inkling as to the reason, but Rowland refused to acknowledge it.
“I was the same myself,” Rowland said conversationally. Maybe if it directed the conversation to him, the Duke would stop talking about his daughter.
But
it was useless. “Oh, you two will get along splendidly, then! Which brings me to the reason I asked you come here.”
Rowland tensed. “And what is that, Your Grace?”
“When I die, you will inherit the dukedom, as you well know. It is why you’re here.”
“That is right.” That unnerved feeling deepened. Rowland knew he wasn’t going to like where this conversation was going.
It looked as if the Duke could sense his discomfort because he sighed, his shoulders sagging. It made him look more at ease, but Rowland didn’t relax at all.
“Allow me to be frank with you, Rowland,” the Duke went on. “My daughter is a wonderful lady who has only just come of age. And though she has failed to secure a husband during the last Season, I think it would be lovely if she were to marry someone who will be able to take care of her like you will.”
Courteously Seduced By An Enigmatic Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 5
