Her Impetuous Rakehell (7 page)

“We’re planning a celebration dinner when Trey finishes his studies. We haven’t set a date yet, but it will be before Mama and I return to the country. You must plan on attending, as you are practically one of the family.” Hannah paused a moment before adding, “Isn’t that right, Mama?”

Lady B’s smile appeared genuine enough. “Of course, Laurence. You will come, won’t you? My younger three daughters will attend, and Lord Bridgethorpe, if he’s strong enough.”

“It sounds delightful. I will be sure to come.” He returned to watching the passing traffic, his thoughts going back to his surprise at Lady B’s acceptance of his invitation. Against his better judgment, he mentioned it. “I wasn’t certain you’d both be able to join Louisa and I this afternoon.”

Hannah glanced at her mother, but kept quiet.

Lady B narrowed her gaze. “It’s important that Louisa have some female company in addition to her nurse. I don’t think it wise we make a habit of being seen together in Society too often, you understand. After you are settled in your new home, it would be better for you to have Louisa’s nursemaid bring her to our house.”

He nodded. “I see. And I understand your meaning. I only considered making the child more relaxed in my presence, and having you two, with whom she’s grown familiar, join us improves her enjoyment.”

“Are you enjoying your outing, Louisa?” Lady B’s expression softened as she looked at the young girl.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Have you seen marionettes before?” Hannah asked.

“What’s a mary-nette?”

Laurence sat back and let the ladies talk to Louisa for the rest of the ride. She grew more animated the more she spoke, and by the time they reached the park she jumped from the carriage step onto the street. He offered a hand to Lady B and Hannah as they stepped down, then gave his arm to Lady B to lead them into the park.

Louisa ran ahead of her nursemaid, looking more like a four-year-old than he recalled since her arrival in London. Hannah hurried to catch up with them, leaving Laurence to walk with the countess.

“How is she faring?” he asked.

“As well as can be expected, I imagine,” Lady B answered.
 

“I’m unfamiliar with the behavior of children, especially not one who’s lost as much as she has.”

“Tell me, dear boy, do you plan to bring a mother into her life?”

He gnawed the inside of his lip. Lady B was the one person who could see beyond his fibs, so there was no hope of lying to her. “I won’t marry for the sake of Louisa alone. That isn’t the life I want to give her.”

“Perhaps you should be using your evenings wisely and getting to know the young ladies who are still free to choose among.”

He grew tired of these veiled inferences to avoiding Hannah in public. “I’m not comfortable with the small talk expected of me. I don’t like the idea of raising the hopes of every young woman I asked to dance.”

“I could put in a good word with a few matrons who plan an afternoon of cards or a poetry reading, or a musicale. I know how you love your cards.”

He chuckled. “Can you see me sitting through recitations of poetry? I never cared much for reading, and listening to someone do so poorly is the worst torture I can imagine.”

“Oh, I could introduce you to forms of torture you’ve never considered.” She patted his arm. “It’s lucky I love you, Lord Oakhurst. As long as you behave, I won’t subject you to my humor.”

“I consider myself forewarned.”

They reached the gathering of children, most with a governess or nursemaid watching over them. The puppeteers kept the children laughing with a nonsensical skit. Hearing Louisa’s laughter warmed him, wiping away all the ill feelings Lady B’s warnings stirred in him.

When the show finished, Hannah took Louisa’s hand and they walked together down the path, the nursemaid a few paces behind. Laurence and the countess followed. Suddenly, a brown-spotted spaniel puppy darted across the path.

“Puppy!” Louisa squealed.

Hannah held her back. “It’s not our puppy, honey. It’s dirty. Let’s leave it alone.”

“I want a puppy!”

“Maybe one day Lord Oakhurst will let you have one.”

Laurence cringed. The words made him sound callous. He wasn’t a heartless man simply because he didn’t want the dirt and hair, not to mention the noise, of a dog in his home.

Kneeling, Louisa broke into fits of giggles when the pup stretched on its hind legs to lick her face. The child squeezed it, sheer joy all over her face.

Lady B said nothing, but looked up at him expectantly.

He shook his head. “It’s filthy. Most likely flea-ridden. It must belong to someone.”

“It doesn’t appear to be well-cared for. It’s awfully thin,” Hannah said.

“A dog should be able to hunt, or herd, or guard, or something. This scrawny thing doesn’t look capable of any of that.”

“No,” Lady B said, “but it seems terribly good at loving Louisa. That
is
a job you need filled at this time.”

She didn’t say the next few words he expected, but he knew she felt the same thing he did. He would be taking home the dog. “Very well. I’ll have one of the servants bathe it and make it a bed belowstairs.”

Louisa clapped her hands. “Thank you!”

Hannah picked up the squirming bundle of fleas and cockleburs and pressed a hand against its muzzle to keep it from licking her chin. “Well then, what shall we call it?”

“Lulu,” Louisa shouted.

“Is it a male or female?” Lady B asked.

Hannah held the dog at arm’s length. “It’s a male. Louisa, we need a boy’s name.”

“I want to call it Lulu.”

“I can’t have a dog named Lulu, no matter what sex,” Laurence muttered.

“What about Spot? Harry? Laury?” Hannah smirked at Laurence as she said the last one.

“Lulu,” Louisa insisted.

Hannah raised an eyebrow at him.

He sighed. This had better not be a sign of things to come. “He’ll be called Lulu, then.”

Chapter Seven

Hannah glided around the floor in Mrs. Helmsley’s ballroom, in the arms of Lord Downham. She loved waltzing more than anything she could think of, at the moment. The graceful movements, the gentle music, and the scent of Downham’s cologne filled her senses.

“What has you so deep in thought?” Lord Downham asked.

“No thoughts, actually. I’m simply enjoying the moment.”

“That pleases me. I enjoy seeing you so happy.” His eyes smoldered with what she hoped was love. “My wish is that you always feel thus.”

Always
. Was that a hint? There was only one way he could ensure her future happiness, and that was to marry her. Butterflies fluttered inside her. Why did he wait so long to say what she longed to hear? If he preferred to seek permission first, he could speak to Knightwick. He stood in their father’s stead more often than not, now. Knightwick’s approval would be accepted by her family.

Amelia waltzed past simply aglow in her pale blue gown. Mr. Young had a pinched look, as if his shoes were too tight, or he had something worrisome on his mind.

Hannah gasped. Was tonight the night Mr. Young would propose? How lucky her friend was to finally have the mattered settled, and what’s more, to marry the man of her choosing.

Lord Downham’s lips turned down. “I see Lord Oakhurst is here. He’s been attending a surprising numbers of assemblies of late. I wonder what his purpose is.”

“He told my mother he wishes to improve his reputation so as not to disparage that of his ward as she matures.”

“Humph. I can’t see him doing something as honorable as that.”

The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. He might as well speak poorly of one of her brothers. “If you believe that, you do not know him as we do. He’s a very kind and generous man. I’ve known him most of my life.”

Downham looked down his nose at her. “I’m astonished your parents allow you to associate with the man.”

She bit her tongue. She wouldn’t rise to argue with him. This was a side of him that caused concern. He couldn’t object to Laurence’s presence when her family gathered, but his superior attitude was not something she could endure for a lifetime. He’d appeared haughty at times, which she could understand as an earl’s heir, but never so condescending as when he spoke of Laurence.

What had happened between the two men to give him such a disliking for Laurence?

Their waltz ended and Hannah was glad to let him walk away to play cards until time for their next dance. Mr. Young brought Amelia to stand beside Hannah, and took his leave also.

“I’m so excited,” Amelia said, her grin spreading.

“Has he said anything?”

“He asked permission to call on me tomorrow.” She grasped Hannah’s hand. “I think he will propose.”

Hannah hugged her friend. “I’m so happy for you. I knew he would eventually, but to keep you waiting after his marked attention last Season, well, it’s simply callous. But he’s making up for it now.”

“I didn’t know it was possible to be so happy.”

“You deserve it more than most. You two will be so good to each other.” As happy as she was for Amelia, Hannah hoped her own situation would be resolved soon. This waiting was unbearable. What more did he need to know of her character to decide she was a good match? He must know by now if he was capable of loving her. Her income was not meager, and he didn’t appear to be in financial straits, so he wouldn’t be waiting for a lady with a large income. Rarely did she feel insecure about anything, but those doubts arose now. “Do you think Downham cares for me, Amelia?”

“Of course he does,” she answered. “He favors you over any of the other ladies at balls. He never dances with anyone else more than once and always dances twice with you.”

“That’s true. And he compliments me often. Yet he doesn’t look upon me the way your Mr. Young does.” Hannah had been so certain of his growing love for her just a month ago, but as the time grew closer to the highly anticipated proposal, her doubts had begun to take root. If only he’d speak up before those doubts blossomed.

After their next set on the dance floor, Lord Downham stopped before they had returned to where Mama sat. He leaned close and spoke in her ear. “Come find me in ten minutes. I will be in the fourth door beyond the ladies withdrawing room.” As he straightened, his smile sent shivers down Hannah’s spine and a wave of warmth up her neck.

Lord Downham wanted to see her alone. This must be the moment she was waiting for. He was going to propose.

~*~

Laurence no longer heard what the man next to him was saying. Downham had whispered something to Hannah that made her blush brightly. Then the man walked away, weaving his way through the crowded room and out the doors. A voice in Laurence’s head told him something was wrong. “Excuse me, gentlemen. Enjoy your evening.”

Striding as quickly as he could without jostling people aside, Laurence followed the earl into the hallway. In one direction candles lined the walls, but the other direction was dark. A door opened near the end of that hallway, casting light in the darkness, enough to see Downham slip inside and shut the door behind him.

The hairs on the back of Laurence’s neck prickled. He checked to make certain no one paid any attention and he continued down the hall. A door to his left stood open, the room inside dark, so he stepped within to wait. Only a short time later he heard light footfalls drawing closer. He peered around the doorway.

In the light from the opposite hall, he could make out Hannah’s features. He quickly grabbed her arm, slipped a hand over her mouth to cover her gasp of surprise, and pulled her into the room. He shut the door quietly behind him.

Hannah pounded a fist on his chest. “You frightened me! What are you about?”

“I’m more concerned about what you are up to. Please tell me you took a wrong turn. The withdrawing rooms and the card room are in the other direction.”

She turned away as if he could see her expression. The act alone confirmed what he feared.
 
She’d been planning to join Downham. Hannah moved toward the window where the moon shone brightly. Tugging on a pale ringlet, she said, “I was merely escaping the heat and the noise of the ballroom. What on earth are you doing, sitting here in the dark?”

He wasn’t about to admit to it. “The same. I happened to notice an acquaintance of yours had also left the festivities.”

She turned her head to stare out the window. “Really? Who might that be?”

Laurence closed the distance between them, stopping near enough he could feel the heat from her body. Her lilac perfume drifted up to him, the scent calming some of the anger he’d felt when he entered the room. “Your friend, Lord Downham.”

“Oh, I thought he’d gone to play cards.”

“Your mother has warned you about meeting with men alone, hasn’t she?”

“Do you mean as we are now?”

“You know very well what I mean, Hannah. Men like Downham will take advantage of you more quickly than you can say ‘boo’.” Especially when they stood so close to a beautiful young woman with such a graceful neck and subtle scent. The temptation was too great for most men. Thank goodness she was like family to him.