even one similar to Gillingdon Park, but it would never be the same. She would never feel the same kind of attachment to a house as she did to this one.
It was a few moments before Hannah realised that Robert was no longer walking beside her. She stopped and looked back, aware that he was standing about ten feet behind her. She’d been so intent on her thoughts that everything else had momentarily faded away.
‘Forgive me,’ she said in embarrassment as she walked back to join him. ‘I fear I was wool-gathering.’
‘That’s all right.’ His eyes were shuttered, but at leasthis mouth wasn’t pulled into the hard line she’d seen so often since his arrival. ‘Hannah, there are things we must talk about. Important matters that need to be discussed before you set out on any course of action. For that reason, I would like to assure you that there is no need for you to make plans to leave Gillingdon Park in haste. I am not involved with anyone at present, so the likelihood of my marrying in the near future is remote. But there are issues that must be dealt with. Issues that will have a considerable bearing on your life—’ He broke off, frowning. ‘Why do you smile?’
‘Because Mama said much the same thing to me the night before she died. We were sitting in the music room, and she told me…it was time we talked about matters of considerable importance.’
‘She said that?’
‘Mmm.’ Hannah looked down at the flowers so she wouldn’t have to look at him. ‘I thought she was referring to my going up to London, but when I told her that, she said that what she wanted to talk to me about was far more important than whether or not I spent a Season in London. She said it was something she should have told me, and you, years ago, but that she’d never found the right time to do so. I have to admit, I’ve been wondering about it ever since.’ Hannah finally did look up, expecting to see Robert regarding her with an expression of either amusement or disdain. She saw neither.
‘I have to go out this afternoon,’ he told her quietly, ‘but I shall be back in time for dinner. Perhaps we can talk about it then. Unless you have other plans?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘I have no plans. And if you are of a mind to talk, I shall be happy enough to listen.’ She sighed. ‘Perhaps you would like to discuss the other condition in Mama’s will too.’
‘The other condition?’
‘Yes. The one that sets forth your responsibility to look after me and to approve whomever I wish to marry. I can’t imagine your being pleased at the prospect of having to look after your little sister in such a way.’
A nerve jumped in his cheek, but a grudging smile accompanied it. ‘I admit I was somewhat taken aback by that particular provision. Especially since you appear to be a young woman who has both the intelligence and the maturity to deal quite capably with her own life.’
The compliment surprised her, but at the same time, Hannah was glad of her brother’s approval. ‘Thank you. Aunt Prudence seems to think Mama only made the stipulation so that you and I would be forced to remain in contact with one another.’
His look of astonishment was genuine. ‘Really?’
‘She seems to think you wouldn’t choose to see me unless you were forced to. Unfortunately, I tend to believe she’s right.’
His gaze held hers momentarily. ‘Unfortunately?’
‘Well, you are my brother, Robert. And while I know that might not mean much to you, it means a great deal to me. I’d like to get to know you better, I always have. I don’t understand why you turned away from us, or why you chose not to keep in touch with Mama.’ When he said nothing, Hannah took a deep breath. ‘Well, I suppose I had best return to the house. Are you coming?’
He seemed about to say yes, and then shook his head. ‘I think I’ll take a walk.’
‘Of course. You will no doubt wish to become reacquainted with Gillingdon Park. It has
It was a few moments before Hannah realised that Robert was no longer walking beside her. She stopped and looked back, aware that he was standing about ten feet behind her. She’d been so intent on her thoughts that everything else had momentarily faded away.
‘Forgive me,’ she said in embarrassment as she walked back to join him. ‘I fear I was wool-gathering.’
‘That’s all right.’ His eyes were shuttered, but at leasthis mouth wasn’t pulled into the hard line she’d seen so often since his arrival. ‘Hannah, there are things we must talk about. Important matters that need to be discussed before you set out on any course of action. For that reason, I would like to assure you that there is no need for you to make plans to leave Gillingdon Park in haste. I am not involved with anyone at present, so the likelihood of my marrying in the near future is remote. But there are issues that must be dealt with. Issues that will have a considerable bearing on your life—’ He broke off, frowning. ‘Why do you smile?’
‘Because Mama said much the same thing to me the night before she died. We were sitting in the music room, and she told me…it was time we talked about matters of considerable importance.’
‘She said that?’
‘Mmm.’ Hannah looked down at the flowers so she wouldn’t have to look at him. ‘I thought she was referring to my going up to London, but when I told her that, she said that what she wanted to talk to me about was far more important than whether or not I spent a Season in London. She said it was something she should have told me, and you, years ago, but that she’d never found the right time to do so. I have to admit, I’ve been wondering about it ever since.’ Hannah finally did look up, expecting to see Robert regarding her with an expression of either amusement or disdain. She saw neither.
‘I have to go out this afternoon,’ he told her quietly, ‘but I shall be back in time for dinner. Perhaps we can talk about it then. Unless you have other plans?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘I have no plans. And if you are of a mind to talk, I shall be happy enough to listen.’ She sighed. ‘Perhaps you would like to discuss the other condition in Mama’s will too.’
‘The other condition?’
‘Yes. The one that sets forth your responsibility to look after me and to approve whomever I wish to marry. I can’t imagine your being pleased at the prospect of having to look after your little sister in such a way.’
A nerve jumped in his cheek, but a grudging smile accompanied it. ‘I admit I was somewhat taken aback by that particular provision. Especially since you appear to be a young woman who has both the intelligence and the maturity to deal quite capably with her own life.’
The compliment surprised her, but at the same time, Hannah was glad of her brother’s approval. ‘Thank you. Aunt Prudence seems to think Mama only made the stipulation so that you and I would be forced to remain in contact with one another.’
His look of astonishment was genuine. ‘Really?’
‘She seems to think you wouldn’t choose to see me unless you were forced to. Unfortunately, I tend to believe she’s right.’
His gaze held hers momentarily. ‘Unfortunately?’
‘Well, you are my brother, Robert. And while I know that might not mean much to you, it means a great deal to me. I’d like to get to know you better, I always have. I don’t understand why you turned away from us, or why you chose not to keep in touch with Mama.’ When he said nothing, Hannah took a deep breath. ‘Well, I suppose I had best return to the house. Are you coming?’
He seemed about to say yes, and then shook his head. ‘I think I’ll take a walk.’
‘Of course. You will no doubt wish to become reacquainted with Gillingdon Park. It has
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