your fighting men.’
‘In the meantime,’ Reischor continued, ‘you’ll want topack. I’ve arranged for your passage upon a steam packet, and we sail for Lohenberg at the end of the week.’
A full day passed before Hannah’s parents addressed the subject of Lord Belgrave. She heard not a word of gossip from the servants, only that the baron had returned home with a headache.
An understatement, that.
After dinner, her parents awaited her in the parlour. The silence was so grim, Hannah wondered if they could see the guilt she was feeling right now. Did they know she had kissed the Lieutenant in the shed yesterday? Had any of the servants seen her after she’d gone out the window?
Already, she’d chastised herself for her act of rebellion with the Lieutenant. The kiss had gone too far, but he’d warned her, hadn’t he? She could blame no one but herself.
Just thinking of it made her body go warm, her shame multiplying. All she needed was a scarlet letter to brand upon her gown to make her sins complete.
‘Lord Belgrave has withdrawn his offer of marriage,’ her father began. His tone was flat, his face careworn. ‘I imagine you are not surprised.’
‘No,’ she managed. Few men would appreciate being bashed upon the head. Twice.
‘Your mother has something she wishes to say to you.’ The Marquess sat back in his chair, nodding to Lady Rothburne.
Her mother paled, her gloved hands twisting a handkerchief. ‘Your father…was unaware that I allowed Lord Belgrave to speak with you privately.’
From the dark look on her father’s face, she realized with shock that he was on her side. A frail flame of hope burned within her.
‘I never dreamed Lord Belgrave would lock himself inside with you.’ Her mother’s face appeared sickly, and suddenly,she began to weep. ‘Hannah, I am so sorry. I was naïve to think he would behave like a gentleman. You were right about him.’
‘Then you’re not…angry that I struck Lord Belgrave with the candlestick? Or—’ she thought wildly for an explanation ‘—or the dictionary?’ She directed her query towards her father, who cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.
‘There were other ways to handle the matter, but, no, I do not blame you. Hannah, I must ask you this—how on earth did you get out of the study? It took us nearly half an hour to find the other key. I was so worried, I nearly ordered Phillips to break down the door.’
‘Belgrave was starting to wake up, so I went out the window.’ There. Best to tell as much of the truth as she could.
‘You could have broken your ankle,’ her mother protested. ‘I can’t believe you risked such a fall.’
Hannah shrugged. ‘Better an ankle than my virtue.’
Her mother’s expression was incredulous. ‘Why didn’t you cry out to us for help?’
‘What good would it have done?’ she shot back. ‘You didn’t believe me when I told you what sort of man he was.’
Her mother blanched, staring down at her handkerchief. The Marquess regarded Hannah with a solemn face. ‘We needn’t discuss Belgrave any further. That matter is closed.’
And thank heaven. Hannah let out a sigh of relief. But there was no satisfaction on her parents’ faces, only worry. It led her to wonder what they intended to do next.
Her father stood, answering the unspoken question. ‘I have decided to send you away for a time. No doubt Belgrave will spread whatever rumours he can. Your mother and I will weather his accusations and do what we can to discredit the stories. In the meantime, I will arrange for your passage to Bremerhaven, Germany. You’ll stay with our cousins Dietrich and Ingeborg von Kreimeln.’
Hannah had never heard of the cousins, and uneasinessthreaded through her mind. Being sent away was what she’d hoped for, but she hadn’t expected it to be half a continent away.
‘When must I leave?’
‘In three days’ time.’
Three days? Though her father continued to explain his plans for
‘In the meantime,’ Reischor continued, ‘you’ll want topack. I’ve arranged for your passage upon a steam packet, and we sail for Lohenberg at the end of the week.’
A full day passed before Hannah’s parents addressed the subject of Lord Belgrave. She heard not a word of gossip from the servants, only that the baron had returned home with a headache.
An understatement, that.
After dinner, her parents awaited her in the parlour. The silence was so grim, Hannah wondered if they could see the guilt she was feeling right now. Did they know she had kissed the Lieutenant in the shed yesterday? Had any of the servants seen her after she’d gone out the window?
Already, she’d chastised herself for her act of rebellion with the Lieutenant. The kiss had gone too far, but he’d warned her, hadn’t he? She could blame no one but herself.
Just thinking of it made her body go warm, her shame multiplying. All she needed was a scarlet letter to brand upon her gown to make her sins complete.
‘Lord Belgrave has withdrawn his offer of marriage,’ her father began. His tone was flat, his face careworn. ‘I imagine you are not surprised.’
‘No,’ she managed. Few men would appreciate being bashed upon the head. Twice.
‘Your mother has something she wishes to say to you.’ The Marquess sat back in his chair, nodding to Lady Rothburne.
Her mother paled, her gloved hands twisting a handkerchief. ‘Your father…was unaware that I allowed Lord Belgrave to speak with you privately.’
From the dark look on her father’s face, she realized with shock that he was on her side. A frail flame of hope burned within her.
‘I never dreamed Lord Belgrave would lock himself inside with you.’ Her mother’s face appeared sickly, and suddenly,she began to weep. ‘Hannah, I am so sorry. I was naïve to think he would behave like a gentleman. You were right about him.’
‘Then you’re not…angry that I struck Lord Belgrave with the candlestick? Or—’ she thought wildly for an explanation ‘—or the dictionary?’ She directed her query towards her father, who cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.
‘There were other ways to handle the matter, but, no, I do not blame you. Hannah, I must ask you this—how on earth did you get out of the study? It took us nearly half an hour to find the other key. I was so worried, I nearly ordered Phillips to break down the door.’
‘Belgrave was starting to wake up, so I went out the window.’ There. Best to tell as much of the truth as she could.
‘You could have broken your ankle,’ her mother protested. ‘I can’t believe you risked such a fall.’
Hannah shrugged. ‘Better an ankle than my virtue.’
Her mother’s expression was incredulous. ‘Why didn’t you cry out to us for help?’
‘What good would it have done?’ she shot back. ‘You didn’t believe me when I told you what sort of man he was.’
Her mother blanched, staring down at her handkerchief. The Marquess regarded Hannah with a solemn face. ‘We needn’t discuss Belgrave any further. That matter is closed.’
And thank heaven. Hannah let out a sigh of relief. But there was no satisfaction on her parents’ faces, only worry. It led her to wonder what they intended to do next.
Her father stood, answering the unspoken question. ‘I have decided to send you away for a time. No doubt Belgrave will spread whatever rumours he can. Your mother and I will weather his accusations and do what we can to discredit the stories. In the meantime, I will arrange for your passage to Bremerhaven, Germany. You’ll stay with our cousins Dietrich and Ingeborg von Kreimeln.’
Hannah had never heard of the cousins, and uneasinessthreaded through her mind. Being sent away was what she’d hoped for, but she hadn’t expected it to be half a continent away.
‘When must I leave?’
‘In three days’ time.’
Three days? Though her father continued to explain his plans for
Similar Books
