Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

"I t appears that St. Clare isn't the only Beresford in Bath," Charles said, reading the note one of the footmen had just delivered to him in the breakfast room.

Hannah regarded her brother from across the lace covered table in reluctant inquiry.

She had no great wish to discuss the Beresfords with him. Their family had already spent a good deal too much time on the subject for her comfort. Indeed, last evening at dinner, James's unexpected return had been the primary topic of conversation.

On rising this morning, Hannah had hoped they would have exhausted the matter. She'd been relieved to find only Charles at table, believing she might be allowed to eat her meal in peace.

Her brother took pity on her. "Jack is in town."

"Oh?"

Charles tucked the missive back into its envelope, laying it beside his plate. "He invites me to join him for luncheon at York House this afternoon."

"I am surprised he isn't at Beasley Park or in London with his parents and sister."

"I'm not. He's young and restless, and very much surplus to requirements at the moment."

Hannah resumed buttering a triangle of toast. Tippo and Evangeline sat at her feet, half covered by the lace tablecloth, shamelessly begging for scraps. "I shall be happy to see him during his stay. I've not been in his company since he visited us at Heywood House."

"We shall have to make sure he's invited to some of the same entertainments," Charles said. "Young men of his age often find themselves at loose ends during the season. Better he join you at your dances and concerts than lapse into bad company."

"I'm sure James won't permit him to do so."

" James, " Charles repeated quietly.

The silver butter knife stilled in Hannah's hand. She lowered it slowly back to the table. "That is his name."

"His given name." Charles refilled his teacup from the silver pot on the table. "Did he invite you to use it?"

"Naturally, he did. It would be strange if I continued to address him by his title now that you and Kate are to be married. I don't, after all, address Ivo and Jack as Mr. Beresford, do I?"

"Neither Ivo nor Jack have proposed marriage to you," Charles said, refilling Hannah's cup in turn. "Not that I'm aware." He paused. "Unless you've been withholding that fact as well?"

Hannah gave her brother a speaking look. Charles hadn't learned about James's proposal until last evening. He'd been annoyed that she and her parents hadn't confided in him earlier.

"I've not received any other proposals," she said. "As you're well aware."

"I had not thought you'd received the one." He set down the teapot. "More fool I."

Hannah broke off the crusts from her toast. She discreetly passed them to the dogs under the table. "You know why I didn't tell you."

"Because I'd have told Kate, and she'd have told Ivo, Jack, and her parents. Yes, so you've said. An excuse which fails to take into account the fact that I'm not in the habit of breaking family confidences."

Hannah dusted her fingers off on her white linen napkin. "Kate is soon to be your family. You would certainly have told her."

"Not if you didn't want me to."

Hannah smiled at her older brother's naivete. "Kate would have wheedled it out of you. You know she would have."

Charles gave an eloquent wince. He raised his teacup to his lips. "Perhaps you're right."

"I am." Hannah bit into the soft part of her toast. Beneath the tablecloth, the dogs resumed their begging, having already wolfed down their portion of the crust. "In any event, it scarcely mattered until yesterday. I had thought the matter quite over and done with."

"Had you confided in me, I might have warned you that it wasn't," Charles said. "A man like St. Clare doesn't give up easily."

Hannah's mouth dipped in a thoughtful frown. "Papa said something of the sort."

"He was right. And so was I when I warned our parents that St. Clare was developing an attraction for you."

She reached for her teacup. "I still don't know how you could have known that . I didn't even know it until he proposed. Just because he came to Bath?—"

"It isn't only that," Charles said. "It's the way he looks at you. The same way he's looked at you since we visited Beasley Park."

Hannah's senses perked with interest. "What way?"

"As though he's trying to solve a puzzle."

Her spirits sank a trifle. She could guess what puzzle that was. "He doesn't want to like me."

Charles shook his head. "Hannah?—"

"No, it's true. His brothers speak about it freely enough. So does Kate. James envisioned attaching himself to a paragon. He even has one in mind, I'm told."

"If he has," Charles said, "I've not heard of it."

"Kate mentioned her to me. She said she was a marquess's daughter, highly connected in London."

"St. Clare is here, not in London."

"I'm aware."

"It doesn't follow that you must grant him a second hearing," Charles said. "Say the word and I'll deal with him. He will trouble you no more."

"You're very chivalrous," Hannah said. "And very sweet. I'm grateful for it. And for Mama and Papa's advice and protection too. But this time…" She raised her teacup to her lips. "I do believe I shall handle things for myself."