Her Impetuous Rakehell by Aileen Fish

family as long as Laurence could remember.
    “Yes, the weather remained clear the entire trip.”
    “Very good, your lordship. Lady Bridgethorpe is awaiting you in the drawing room.” He turned and led the way.
    Lady B set aside her needlework and smiled warmly. “How delightful of you to come. And to bring Louisa. I’ve missed her so.”
    He chuckled. “With the number of your children still at home you could hardly have a moment to think of any others.”
    “You understand so completely, especially for a man who was an only child. Have your nursemaid take your ward to the nursery and I’ll ring for a footman to take up some biscuits and milk for her.”
    “Thank you.”
    Before he could turn away, she spoke again. “I’m aware of the reason for your visit, even though you didn’t say anything specific in your letter.”
    “I see. And do you approve?”
    “It’s not my place to approve or disapprove. You may speak to Lord Bridgethorpe about the matter, and if he approves, only then may you speak to Hannah. Is that understood?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He felt as if he were ten years old again, standing before her with Adam and David on his first visit. She’d been so threatening, so stern, and the attention made him love her all the more.
    Lord Bridgethorpe was napping, so Laurence went to his bedchamber to splash some water on his face. While riding in the carriage didn’t allow dust to reach him, he always felt dirty after a long trip.
    He was no longer given one of the smaller rooms on the same floor as the nursery, being treated as an adult in recent years. The bed in his chamber was large with curtains hanging from the four posts. It could easily have been in the house since it’s creation, how ever many years ago that had been.
    The sight of the bed pulled at him, causing visions of the family he one day hoped to have. It would only happen if Hannah agreed to it, though. In the months since he’d seen her last, he’d come to that realization.
    Hannah was the only woman he could ever love.
    Shortly before supper, Laurence was taken to Lord Bridgethorpe’s study to see the man. “Your lordship, you are looking well.”
    “Thank you, Oakhurst. You are as well. To what do we owe this visit?”
    “I’m here about Lady Hannah. I wish to ask her to marry me.”
    Lord Bridgethorpe frowned. “I was given the impression you’d done so and been turned down. Do you truly wish to risk asking her again? I’d hate to have you so uncomfortable you no longer wish to visit us.”
    “I told her I would speak to her when she’d had time to recover from her unfortunate incident.” He wouldn’t go into the details he was certain Lord B. already knew.
    “I imagine it can’t hurt to let you see her, then. I shall have her meet you in the library.”
    “Thank you, sir.” Laurence bowed his head and went to the library.
    He would swear hours passed before Hannah appeared. She seemed years older, more mature than when he’d last seen her in Town. He wanted to throttle Downham for stealing the joy from her eyes. “Lady Hannah, I’m pleased you will speak with me.”
    “Did you fear I no longer wished to see you? I told you, you will always be special to me. As a brother, of course.”
    He swallowed the lump of dread in his throat that threatened to cut off his air. “I remember your words. And if you’ll recall, I said I’d speak to you once more on a certain subject, and if it was still too unpleasant for you to consider, I’d never bring up the matter again.”
    He didn’t wait for her to respond. “I told you in June how much I loved you, and since then I’ve only grown to love you more. I’m not saying this because I feel guilty over what happened. I wish I’d spoken before we ever visited Vauxhall Gardens. Would you have trusted me to speak from the heart then?”
    Hannah’s lips turned down. “At that point I still considered myself in love with another man. I wouldn’t have considered your