Gail Whitiker (17 page)

‘A few,’ Robert agreed, ‘but most are aware that Hannah is still in mourning, and that it is not an appropriate time to approach her.’

‘Yes, of course. And I myself know that you are not socialising much, but I would be honoured if you and your family would dine with us on Wednesday next. It will be a very quiet affair, but I suspect it will make a pleasant change from staying at home.’

Hannah looked to Robert, who once again handled the situation with aplomb. ‘I shall check with my aunt and uncle to make sure they are not engaged, Lady Thorpe. If they are not we should be pleased to accept your invitation.’

‘Splendid. Send word of your intentions at your convenience, Lord Winthrop. Well, I suppose I should be heading back. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Winthrop, and I look forward to seeing you again in the near future.’

Hannah dipped a gracious curtsey. ‘Thank you, Lady Thorpe.’

‘My lord, a word before you go,’ Lady Thorpe said.

Robert glanced at Hannah, who only smiled and said, ‘Take your time, Robert. Alice and I will wait for you in the box.’

He watched her go, affection softening his gaze. He was careful to adjust his expression before turning back to Lady Thorpe. ‘You wished to speak to me, Lady Thorpe?’

‘Yes, but only to say that if your aunt and uncle are engaged, and your sister is reluctant to venture out without them, the invitation for you to join us still stands. I know my husband would enjoy the opportunity of a conversation, and of course, Caroline is always pleased to receive you.’

Robert might have taken Lady Thorpe’s last remark as a blatant bit of matchmaking, had he not known that she would never resort to such tactics. And knew him well enough to know that if he did have an interest in Caroline, he would be the one to further it. ‘Thank you, Lady Thorpe, I shall bear that in mind, and send you a reply at my earliest convenience.’

‘Your sister is a lovely young woman, Robert,’ Lady Thorpe said thoughtfully. ‘So elegant and refined. Indeed, it is easy to see your mother’s influence in her. But I must admit to some surprise upon first seeing her.’

‘Oh?’

‘Well, had you not introduced her as such, I would never have taken her for your sister. There is not so much as a hint of resemblance between the two of you.’

The remark gave him a moment’s pause, but again, Robert schooled his expression to one of resigned amusement. ‘You are not the first to comment upon it, Lady Thorpe. Hannah and I have oft remarked upon how unlike we are.’

‘No doubt. And yet, do you know, when I first saw her, she reminded me most forcefully of someone else.’

‘Oh?’ This time, Robert found it harder to maintain his air of indifference. ‘And who might that be?’

‘Dashed if I can remember. I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of it ever since I saw her, but it just won’t come.’ Lady Thorpe admitted with a laugh. ‘I can’t even remember if it was a man or a woman. But then, there are many people who resemble others more closely than they do their own families. Is that not so, my dear?’

Robert made some manner of suitable reply before bidding Lady Thorpe a good evening and then leisurely heading back to his box. But he wasn’t so easily able to forget what she had said.
Hannah reminded her of someone?
Who? Obviously someone to whom the resemblance was so strong that the lady had felt inclined to remark upon it.

But how did he go about finding out who it was without arousing the lady’s suspicions? Lady Thorpe was no fool, and she would surely begin to wonder if he pressed her into remembering the name of someone simply because they chanced to resemble his sister.

After all, what possible concern could it be to him if his sister looked like someone else?

T
HE
following afternoon, Mr Stanford arrived at Cavendish Square at the agreed upon time for the drive that Robert had promised them the previous day. Unfortunately, the event did not get off to an auspicious start. Hannah, having met Alice coming out of her room, could see at once that the girl was nervous, and she soon discovered that Alice had, in fact, been at sixes and sevens all morning. The girl had changed her outfit three times, and had spent more than an hour in front of the glass, fussing over an appearance that Hannah was inclined to think a little overdone for a simple drive in the park. She, on the other hand, had dressed simply and worn little in the way of adornment, expecting little in the way of compliments on her appearance. As a result, when they went downstairs to hear Mr Stanford pay his most gallant compliments to
her
rather than to Alice, it was easy to see why a look of disappointment appeared on the younger girl’s face. Unfortunately, Hannah could do naught but accept his compliments, and then try to direct his attention towards Alice whenever possible.

Thankfully, Robert was his usual, unruffled self. He had the carriage brought around, and as if sensing the potential for disaster, calmly suggested that he and Mr Stanford sit across from the ladies so that they might have the advantage of gazing at both of the ladies at once. Hannah silently blessed him for his foresight. She could only imagine how dreadful Alice would have felt, had she been forced to sit beside her own cousin while
Hannah ended up sitting beside her precious Mr Stanford!

Fortunately, emotional dramas notwithstanding, it was a perfect day for a drive. The park was crowded but that did not detract from their enjoyment of the outing. Robert simply directed the coachman to avoid the most congested areas and to take them where the horses might be able to trot briskly and thereby generate a pleasant breeze.

Whether it was the fineness of the day, or the pleasure of being in the midst of company, Alice’s spirits rose, and she was soon chatting away in her usual animated fashion. For her own part, Hannah was happy to let her, for it was at times like these that she felt most sharply the deception she was perpetrating. Here, in the company of a viscount, a gentleman who would one day be a viscount, and a young lady who might very well end up marrying a viscount, Hannah felt most keenly her own lack of identity. As she did the fear that she had no right to be here at all.

After all, had Lady Winthrop not brought her home, what might she be doing? Scrubbing floors in a great house? Waiting on a fine lady? Serving behind a counter as a barmaid or shop clerk? Whatever it was, Hannah was hard pressed to believe it would have been anything remotely resembling what she was doing now.

‘You’re very quiet, Miss Winthrop,’ Mr Stanford remarked of a sudden. ‘Are you deep in thought or simply enjoying the pleasures of this lovely afternoon?’

Hannah looked up to find all eyes focused on her, and blushed deeply. ‘Forgive me, sir, I did not mean to appear rude, though I admit my thoughts were elsewhere.’

‘I hope it is not lack of interest in the company which forces your mind to wander,’ Mr Stanford said.

‘On the contrary, it is matters of family which weigh upon my mind, sir.’

It was a truthful answer, Hannah reflected, but one so innocuous as to risk little chance of exposure. No doubt they all assumed it was Lady Winthrop who occupied her thoughts. ‘However, it was rude of me to appear so inattentive, and I apologise for my behaviour. From this moment on I shall endeavour to be the very best of guests.’

‘But you are not a guest,’ Alice said in confusion. ‘You are a member of the family.’

‘Indeed, it is
I
who am the guest,’ Mr Stanford pointed out.

‘I think what my sister means is that
all
of you are my guests,’ Robert said, once again coming to her rescue. ‘Isn’t that right, Hannah?’

Hannah looked up to find Robert’s eyes on her, and was immediately warmed by the expression of concern she saw in them. But she saw something else too. Something that tugged at her heart, and made her throat constrict in a most painful way.

‘That is…precisely what I meant,’ she stammered, looking away.
What had she seen in Robert’s eyes just now? Surely it was not…?

No, it couldn’t have been, Hannah told herself. Robert had no special feelings for her. He was merely concerned that everyone have a good time. And by the time the carriage arrived home, Hannah was reasonably sure that everyone had. There had been no more awkward moments, though whether that was as a result of Robert more or less controlling the direction of the conversation, Hannah wasn’t sure. All she knew was that no one person had seemed to receive any more attention than anyone else. And while such an arrangement was obvi
ously of disappointment to Alice, it had certainly made matters a great deal easier for her.

It wasn’t until later that afternoon, when she and Hannah were alone, that Alice reaffirmed her opinion that Mr Stanford was definitely more interested in Hannah than he was in her.

‘Nonsense,’ Hannah felt obliged to say. ‘Mr Stanford is a very nice man but he is not enamoured of me.’

‘Of course he is. Did you not see the way he looked at you all during the drive?’ Alice stared down at the embroidery hoop in her lap, her face a picture of dejection. ‘It was obvious from his expression that he is taken with you. And why would he not be? You are so elegant and well spoken, while I fall all over myself in an attempt to say the right thing.’ Her eyes were bleak. ‘I’m sure Mr Stanford saw that this afternoon too.’

‘I think what Mr Stanford saw,’ Hannah said, placing a reassuring hand on her cousin’s arm, ‘was a lovely young lady who was perhaps a little
too
obvious in her affections for him.’

Alice looked up, her big brown eyes as soft as a spaniel’s. ‘Really?’

‘Yes. I think he also saw a lady who,
because
she had no interest in him, presented him with something of a challenge. And since it is well known that gentlemen cannot resist a challenge, Mr Stanford rose to meet it.’

‘You mean…because you showed no partiality towards Mr Stanford, his interest in you increased?’

‘More or less.’

‘So you’re suggesting that…a lady has a better chance of attracting a gentleman’s attention, if she pretends she really doesn’t want it?’

Hannah smiled as she cut a length of silk. ‘A little
intrigue goes a long way towards heightening attraction. You tend to lessen that intrigue by being a little obvious in your affections.’

The girl’s shoulders sagged. ‘Yes, I do, don’t I? But I honestly cannot help myself. Mr Stanford is such a handsome gentleman, and he is so eminently likeable.’

‘Yes. But he has a forgiving nature, and I think we can use that to our advantage in having you try again.’

‘Truly?’ Alice sat up, the animation coming back to her face. ‘Do you mean that, if I were to become more…unattainable, Mr Stanford might like me better?’

‘He might. And I only say might, Alice, for the heart is a fickle thing. Sometimes it is impossible to say who it will find pleasing, or in which direction it will take us,’ Hannah cautioned. ‘Sometimes, people have no idea they are being led towards the right person until—’

It happened as simply as that. Hannah stared at Alice, shocked by the realisation she had just come to. Or by the one she suspected she had been coming to for the past four months.

‘Cousin Hannah, are you all right?’ Alice asked in some concern. ‘You’ve gone a trifle pale.’

‘Have I? No, I’m…fine. Really.’

No you’re not!
the voice inside her head shouted.
How can you be fine, when you’ve just admitted to yourself that you’re hopelessly in love with Robert Winthrop!

Hannah sat in her chair for a long time after Alice went up to her room. She put aside her needlework, finding she had neither the desire nor the patience for it, and sat with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes on the floor, thinking about the startling truth she had so recently discovered.

She was in love with Robert Winthrop.

Was she mad?

She must be. How had such a thing happened? He was a peer of the realm. She was a woman with no identity. It had to be madness.

Yes, she’d known that her feelings were changing towards him, but she’d comforted herself with the knowledge that they were feelings of friendship and respect. For surely it was wrong, or at best immoral, to think such a way of a man who until a few months ago had been her brother?

‘Ah, there you are, Hannah.’

She jumped at the sound of his voice, then blushed at seeing him standing in the doorway. ‘Robert!’

‘Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you.’ Seemingly unaware of her heightened colour, he walked into the room and sank wearily into a chair. ‘It has been an interesting day, has it not?’

Interesting indeed
, Hannah thought, but said only, ‘Did you enjoy the drive in the park?’

‘Not particularly. I felt I was standing in the midst of a battlefield and stumbling over hidden perils as I tried to navigate the safest way out.’

Robert’s analogy made her smile. ‘I know the feeling. I’ve just travelled a similar path with Alice.’

‘Oh? What has the little minx said now?’

‘Only that she is firmly convinced Mr Stanford is not as enamoured of her as she would like him to be.’

‘I dare say she’s right,’ Robert agreed. ‘Alice could do with a lesson in the art of subtlety. The changes in her mood in response to anything James said or didn’t say were excruciatingly obvious.’

Hannah looked down at her skirt, painfully aware of Robert sitting beside her. Painfully aware of loving him,
and of how exposed it left her feeling. ‘Do you think Mr Stanford has
any
feelings of affection for her?’

Robert glanced at her. ‘You sound as though you’re hopeful he has.’

‘Well, of course I am. In truth, I wish he would declare himself totally smitten by her.’

‘Instead of being smitten by you?’

Hannah blushed furiously. ‘Why would you say that?’

‘Because it’s quite obvious that he is. And why would he not be?’ Robert added softly. ‘Lady Thorpe was right. Any man would be a fool not to wish to know you better. But take heart, my dear. It is not the first time Stanford has professed himself in love with a lady.’

Taken aback by his first remark, Hannah found herself struggling to recover from his second.
‘In love!’
she gasped. ‘Pray do not tell me he has professed such feelings to you in regards to
me
!’

‘Not in so many words, but I know James well enough to recognise the signs. Still, I suppose I should be thankful to you for one thing.’

‘And what is that?’

‘That you have succeeded in making him forget Miss Blazel.’

‘Miss Blazel?’

‘Yes. A rather exquisite little dancer he’s fancied himself in love with these many months.’

For some reason, the knowledge that Mr Stanford could so quickly transfer his affections from one woman to another lessened some of Hannah’s concern. Obviously he was a man who did not commit his heart too deeply. But if that was the case, was Alice not better off without him?

‘You’re frowning,’ Robert said suddenly. ‘Was it something I said?’

Hannah sighed. ‘I was only thinking that if Mr Stanford is capable of bestowing his affections so freely, and of changing them so frequently, there can be no great depth to his feelings.’

‘I dare say you’re right. James tends to attach himself to a pretty face rather than to the qualities in a lady he should attach himself to.’

‘Is Miss Blazel pretty?’

‘Uncommonly so. But it goes without saying that she is entirely unsuitable for him. That was one of the reasons I endeavoured to introduce him to Miss Thorpe the other night. Caroline has been deemed an Incomparable by society, but she also comes from a very good family.’

‘Is that of import to Mr Stanford?’

‘No, but it is of considerable import to his parents. I’ve simply tried to impress upon James the importance of knowing what is right and what isn’t when considering a wife.’

‘Gracious, never say that Mr Stanford truly considered
marrying
Miss Blazel.’

‘Oh, he considered it. Though I do think perhaps I—or you—have discouraged him from acting upon it.’

Hannah’s face grew warm with embarrassment. ‘I am not sure I wish to save a man from his mistakes in such a way.’

‘Don’t worry, Hannah. I honestly believe that James would have come to the conclusion that he and Miss Blazel should not have suited. I told him any number of times that he would have been a fool to leg-shackle himself to a woman he knew nothing about. Marriage is a risky enough business as it is, without increasing the odds in such a way.’

Hannah went very still. ‘So you told him it was…
important that he know who his bride’s people were and what her background was.’

‘Of course. As to his feelings for Alice,’ Robert continued as he got to his feet, ‘I do not hold out hopes of anything developing there. Alice is young and foolish, and for all his own immaturity, James actually looks for wisdom and sensibility in a lady, which is no doubt part of the reason he is so attracted to you.’

Something in his voice made Hannah look up. Something in his eyes made her look away again. ‘Well, he will have no success with me, and you may tell him so if he asks.’

‘I know. That is why I intend to continue in my efforts to further his acquaintance with Miss Thorpe.’

Hannah too got to her feet, but only to pick up her book and start towards the door. ‘I would not put my hopes too much in that direction if I were you, Robert.’

‘Why? Do you not think he finds her attractive?’

‘I think
any
man would find her attractive, but it matters little if her affections are engaged elsewhere.’

‘I wasn’t aware that her feelings
were
engaged.’

‘They are, and I’m afraid that Mr Stanford, as pleasant as he is, offers the gentleman little in the way of competition.’