The Lady Seals Her Fate (The Langley Sisters #5) (12 page)

“I am aware what plural means, my sweet.”

“And now you’re trying to throw me off the subject with your endearments.”

His smile reached his eyes and showed off his white teeth, and she refused to acknowledge how handsome it made him look.

“You show the world this facade.”

“Surely not the entire world?”

“Offering kindness and empathy,” Hannah continued ignoring him, “as if nothing taxes you because you do not give much thought to anything but your social life and clothing.”

“All true, to be fair, and I am all that is kind and empathetic, ask anyone,” he added. However, his voice was not quite so relaxed anymore.

“You are a businessman, aren’t you? You have interests, and a temper, and in fact are nothing like the man you portray to the world. You’re more like Finn than any of us realize.”

“Unlike you, who is exactly as she portrays herself to be,” Alex said. “Belligerent, antagonistic, short-tempered—”

“Yes, yes, I get the picture, thank you, Alex, but we are not talking of me.” Hannah withstood his piercing stare, trying to keep her expression calm.

“I admit I do have a temper upon occasion, and sometimes it takes all my efforts to keep it harnessed,” he conceded. “Especially in the face of some of the idiocy that I am forced to witness upon occasion.”

“I hope you are not lumping me in with that idiocy?” Hannah found her first real smile in days. Alex was frowning. Instead of looking calm and composed as he usually did, he now looked grumpy.

“Why is it that you are smiling in the face of that admission? Do my many faults and sullen mood make you happy?”

“It makes you human,” Hannah said, still smiling.

“Whereas before I was…?”

“Complacent, immaculate. You always say the right thing to the right person.”

His eyes narrowed. “You make that sound like it’s a fault.”

“Don’t you get sick of it?”

“What?” He frowned, but Hannah knew he was aware of her meaning.

“Being nice to everyone but me. Being Mr. Hetherington—”

“I can hardly change that,” he interrupted her, “and I am nice to you when you do not make being nice extremely difficult.”

“Being the perfect Mr. Hetherington who always looks exactly so,” Hannah added, ignoring his words. “The man who compliments women as easily as others draw breath. I once told Phoebe you should be renamed Mr. Charming.”

“Is there a reason I’m under attack? Correct me if I have this wrong, but I’m doing you a bloody huge favor!” He was growling now, as a large dog would. “You’re an ungrateful wench, is what you are. I should simply walk into the ballroom this evening and announce to the world what a fraud you are!”

Hannah knew it was wrong of her to enjoy seeing him this way, but she did, because it was the real Alexander Hetherington.

“I will state that you manipulated me and I, a complacent and immaculate man with obviously little else to recommend me, could do little but submit to your cunning plan.”

“A touch dramatic, but worth it just to see you lose your temper again.” Hannah smiled. “In fairness, Alex, you probably should do as you say; it is no more than I deserve.”

“You provoked me just to see me lose control, didn’t you?”

He moved so quickly she couldn’t defend herself and seconds later she was in his lap.

“Alex, let me go!”

“You poked the beast, Miss Wooller, now pay the price.”

She struggled against him, but he simply wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Seconds later he was kissing her. It was hard and their teeth clashed and Hannah, who had come to realize just how much she loved his kisses, fisted one hand in his hair and held him closer.

“God, Hannah, your mouth is wonderful,” he rasped against her lips before kissing her again. There was no room between them, her chest now pressed to his while they kissed each other furiously. They dragged in air whatever way they could. Seconds, minutes, Hannah lost all thought but this man. His scent, the feel of his strong body beneath hers. Her head swam as he touched her neck, his finger toying with the edge of her bodice, tracing the swells that rose above, and heat filled Hannah’s body. He slipped a finger inside and touched her breast, just inches from the tight bud of her nipple.

“Alex.” Hannah sighed. She could almost feel the delicious heat of his palm cupping her flesh, and wanted it desperately.

“We have to stop, Hannah.” His words were spoken into her neck, and she felt him inhale deeply. “Your lush body and delicious mouth incite me.” She shuddered as his tongue licked the lobe of her ear. “So we have to stop before I cannot.”

“Must w-we?” She tried to think, but dragging in a breath only pressed her closer to him.

“Yes, loath as I am to stop, we cannot continue.” He lifted her and placed her on the seat opposite, and Hannah could not drag her eyes from the passion she saw blazing in his eyes. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. It was a heady thought.

“I won’t apologize.”

She listened to the steady clip-clop of hooves for several tense seconds before she answered him. “I would not ask you to, when I-I enjoyed the kiss as much as you. But I am sorry for provoking you. I fear that of late I am not myself and have turned even more shrewish. Forgive me, Alex, I seem to be either antagonizing you or in a sullen mood, and it is not like me. In fact, I wish I could take back those words I said to my father about our relationship, and we were once again the people we were.”
Because I fear we never will be again
, she added silently.

His breathing was ragged, his hair mussed, and those small imperfections in a man who rarely had them told her how much he, like she, was affected by what they had shared.

“Forgive me for my actions also, Hannah. It seems you are correct, I do have a temper and you tweaked it. It will not happen again.”

“The fault is mine, not yours, Alex, and I shall endeavor in future to be better behaved.”

His lips tilted upward. “The perfect lady? Somehow I doubt you are capable of that, Miss Wooller.”

“Alex, I said earlier that we should stop this, and now more than ever I believe that. I am making you unhappy, and I never wanted that. And now this.” Hannah waved her hand around. “After tonight I will put a stop to this, because I fear it will soon be too late to minimize the damage that has already been done between us and in the eyes of society. People are already talking of us in marital terms and that will not do.”

“You will not. We will see this out until the end of the season, and I want to hear nothing more on the matter, Hannah.” His jaw was clenched. “We have an agreement, and I expect you to honor it as will I.”

“But—”

“It is done, and I do not wish to speak of it again.”

Hannah said nothing further, but in her heart she knew that she had to stop this soon, before it was impossible to do so without a scandal. She was not concerned for herself, but Alex deserved more. He was one of society’s favorite sons and she had no wish to be responsible for changing that.

When the carriage drew to a halt, she prepared to leave, but Alex’s hands stopped her.

“You would create quite the sensation arriving like that, my sweet.” His hands adjusted her bodice, tugging it higher.

“You did not think to tell me that before now?” She looked down to where his hands were adjusting a band of lace.

His eyes were wicked, but he remained silent, simply releasing her to step from the carriage before holding out a hand for her to follow. She attempted to sail past him, but he simply took her hand and rested it on his arm, and together they entered the house.

“I hate wearing masks.” Alex moaned as he bent so she could tie a black one to his head minutes later.

“I quite like the anonymity,” Hannah said, selecting white and handing it to Alex for him to do the same.

“Gemmell must always outdo everyone,” Alex whispered to her as they entered the ballroom and skirted the room. There was a tower of champagne glasses before them, and beneath were servants dressed in gold-and-black livery.

“Do you remember last year they attempted to make everyone remove their footwear and sit on the floor on large silk pillows?”

“Yes.” Hannah nodded. “I remember because Phoebe refused, stating her slippers were made to match her gown and the entire ensemble would not work. She told Lord Gemmell that were she to remove her shoes, she may as well remove her dress also.”

“To which Lord Gemmell, I’m sure, insisted she remove her shoes,” Alex drawled.

“Her sisters and I believe she could commit murder and walk away a free woman if the judge were a man.”

“I have no doubt. Hannah, do you see that man there?”

“The one to the left of the Duchess of Braithe?” Hannah said, following his gaze. “Who, by the way, should not wear that particular shade of puce.” Hannah searched the man’s features. As if sensing her, he turned and looked at her and Alex. A shiver of awareness went through her as she studied the long narrow face and small black eyes through the holes of his black mask.

“Yes. Do you recognize him at all?”

“No, but he is wearing a mask. Should I?” She looked at Alex and noted his expression was serious. “Alex, is there a problem?”

“No.” He smiled. “I just thought I recognized him. Now remember, Hannah, if McDonald approaches you, be polite and move away. No dancing with him.”

“He is not a threat to me, Alex, and dancing with him here is surely no danger?”

“I mean it, Hannah. He is not to be trusted.”

“What do you know of him to have formed this opinion?”

“Nothing, but I am still investigating him, and his behavior should be enough to deter you from conversing with him anyway.”

“Why are you investigating him? For heaven’s sake, Alex, what harm could he possibly do here in London with the eyes of society upon him?”

“Just do as I say, please, Hannah.” He was deadly serious so she yielded.

“All right, I will do the best I can without seeming rude.”

He wasn’t happy with her answer but said nothing further, instead leading her to the dance floor. They danced a Cotillion and then Alex left her with Olivia and Phoebe and, before long, they were surrounded by people.

“I’m sure no one recognizes us, Hannah,” Livvy said, patting her mask. “But Phoebe, however, is hard to disguise, and everyone wants to be her friend these days. She’s become something of a leader among society, which never fails to amuse Bella and me, considering how they all disliked her during her first season.”

“They disliked her because she was a threat, Livvy; now she’s wed to a powerful man, she’s everything they aspire to be. And the men,”—Hannah sighed—“well, they just want to be near her.”

“Your father must be extremely pleased that you have secured the hand of Mr. Hetherington, Miss Wooller. After all, is this not your fourth season?”

“You are too kind.” Hannah smiled at Lady Tillerby. The woman had set her sights on Alex for her daughter last season, and was not pleased that Hannah appeared to have succeeded where her darling Lavinia had not.

“Of course, I’m sure Mr. Hetherington is most pleased with his prospective increasing fortunes. After all,” her gaze raked Hannah from head to toe, “I’m sure there had to be some incentive.”

Hannah heard Phoebe’s teeth snap together and knew her friend would be wading into this conversation in seconds if she did not put an end to it. She did not want Phoebe defending her when she had done nothing to deserve such loyalty.

Like her, Lady Tillerby had chosen a white mask, and her eyes were shooting Hannah spiteful looks through the small holes.

“Indeed, we are most fortunate, Lady Tillerby. And you, dear Lavinia.” Hannah looked at the girl standing silently at her mother’s side, also shooting poisonous looks her way. “Have you received any offers yet?”

“Well—” Lavinia spluttered.

“Oh, dear,” Hannah said with false sympathy. “You must not give up hope. I’m sure just as I did you will eventually find a man willing to overlook your numerous flaws.”

“My daughter is not flawed!”

“Of course not.” Hannah patted the woman’s hand with fake sympathy. “I’m sure she will secure a match this season and if not, then perhaps next.”

“Bitch!” Phoebe hissed as the women walked away.

“Don’t get excited, Phoebe, it is not good for you.” Hannah squeezed her friend’s fingers, before dipping into a curtsey as Benjamin Hetherington appeared at her side.

“Lady Tillerby and her daughter looked like they swallowed something foul. My guess is they were conversing with you and my dearest sister-in-law.”

“That creature was insulting Hannah, Ben.”

“Was she, by God?” He shot a dark look at the retreating Tillerby woman. “I bet I know what about.”

“Hannah won the heart of Alex and not that dreadful Lavinia,” Phoebe said. “Hateful creature.”

“I have won no one’s heart, as I have already explained, Phoebe,” Hannah said, trying to calm her irate friend. “Alex are I are merely friends who—”

“Yes, yes.” Phoebe waved her hand about. “Some nonsense about exploring your feelings for each other, I believe.”

“It is not nonsense,” Hannah said, hating the entire charade she had concocted more every time she had a conversation like this with people she cared for. Lying was very wearing upon the soul. “And on the subject of Lady Tillerby, I know she is simply voicing the thoughts of many, so I should not have reacted as I did.”

“You had a right to defend yourself,” Phoebe said. “That woman was merely jealous that Alex has fixed his attentions on you and not her daughter.”

“Very possibly,” Hannah said, looking around in the hopes that the uncomfortable conversation would move on to something else. “But I should have risen above the pettiness.”

The room was filled with masked people, and one thing Hannah had noticed about this kind of event was that a mask seemed to make people believe they were unrecognizable. They did and said things that usually were done behind closed doors, or whispered behind hands. It was disconcerting. Young ladies were especially liberated on such a night, and a constant challenge to their chaperones.

“I don’t believe she was voicing the thoughts of all that many people, Hannah,” Ben said.