Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

H annah was just leaving her room when one of the estate’s many butlers, Mr. Farrow, rushed to meet her. Having just bathed but still feeling a slight chill, she walked with a blanket draped over her shoulders, her hair drying and her skin glowing. Her hope was to see Frederick and pick up where they had left off earlier, but one look at Mr. Farrow told her this was not happening.

“Your Grace!” he called to her.

“Ah, Farrow.” She smiled pleasantly. “What has you in such a rush?”

“There is a visitor, Your Grace,” he said. “They have arrived just now.”

“Oh…”

Hannah bit her lip as she glanced down the hallway in the direction of Amelia’s room. She knew Frederick was in there now with his daughter, reading to her before putting her to bed, as it had been a very big day for the little girl. So big that the sun was only just now setting, yet Frederick had been forced to carry her home, as she could hardly keep her eyes open.

“Well, I believe that His Grace is with Amelia at the moment, but I am sure he will be available soon.”

“The visitor is not for His Grace,” Mr. Farrow clarified. “But for you, Your Grace.”

Hannah blinked in surprise. “For me? Are you sure?”

“Very sure,” he said emphatically. “They asked that I bring you to them at once.”

“That is…” Odd, to say the least.

Although this was indeed Hannah’s new address, she had only lived here for a day, and she did not yet see it as her home.

“Who did you say is calling?”

“Her Grace, the Duchess of Hayward,” he replied. “Your sister.”

“Charlotte?” That was surprising and somewhat concerning. “Who is she with?”

“She is alone, Your Grace. What is more, she insisted that she meet you in the foyer, for she said that she did not have time to stay. I offered her a drink, of course,” Mr. Farrow made sure to add. “But she was quite adamant about the urgency of this meeting.”

Hannah frowned as she considered what the butler was telling her. She knew there was nothing malicious about this sudden visit, as she and Charlotte were close. But the urgency of it suggested a deeper meaning than a mere social call. Charlotte was here for a good reason, a purpose that could not wait.

What was more, that she wished to see Hannah alone spoke volumes, and it made Hannah suddenly feel nervous in a way she could not quite explain.

“Thank you, Farrow,” she said. “I shall go to her at once. And if His Grace comes out of Amelia’s room in the meantime…” She hesitated. “Tell him where I am. I am sure he would love to see the Duchess of Hayward.”

“Of course.” Mr. Farrow bowed to her before he left.

Hannah made for the stairwell that led down to the foyer. As she walked, her mind raced as she tried to puzzle out what this sudden appearance might mean. Hopefully, it was all in her head, for everything was going so well here—far better than expected—and the last thing she needed was for it to come crashing down on her like a crumbling house.

As promised, her sister stood in the foyer, waiting.

As soon as Charlotte saw Hannah on the landing, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hannah!” she said. “Thank God!”

“Charlotte…” Hannah hurried down the stairs, taking note of her sister’s aggrieved state. “What a pleasant surprise. Surprise being the key word.”

Charlotte met her at the bottom of the steps, took her hands, and gave her a kiss on each cheek. “I am so sorry for turning up without prior notice. Ordinarily I would not, but I thought I must.”

“Oh, it is quite all right,” Hannah assured her. “Hopefully, it is nothing too troublesome?”

Charlotte winced in response.

Hannah’s heart sank. She could only conclude that it had something to do with Frederick, and although she could not imagine what, the timing could not be worse. Today had gone wonderfully for so many reasons. Not only had she managed to make great progress with Amelia, but her relationship with her husband had come on leaps and bounds.

He was no longer cagey. He was no longer reserved and standoffish. Dammit, he was finally beginning to act as a husband should, for she saw the way he looked at her when she stripped off her dress and waded into the pond. That self-control he touted was cracking, and Hannah knew that one more night together and it would shatter entirely.

Last night… how many times today had Hannah thought about it? Too many to count. She still had trouble believing it had happened and?—

“Hannah?” Charlotte said. “Is everything all right?”

“Hmm?” Hannah blinked, realizing that for a moment there she had zoned out. “Oh, yes. Sorry.” A shake of the head next. “You were saying?”

Charlotte frowned at her, her eyes narrowed in concern. “I was saying that I simply had to come and see you. To tell you firsthand before you found out for yourself.”

“Tell me what? Shall we have some tea…” Hannah half-turned to gestured back inside the house.

“No, no, there is no time. I was passing by and thought I should stop in. This is purely me playing the older sister, because someone has to.”

“Has to what?”

“Look out for you, Hannah,” Charlotte said rightly. “What with this marriage and how—” She clicked her tongue. “How little you wished for it, the last thing I want to see is things made even worse. Which they will be, I am afraid.”

“Will you speak plainly, Sister?” Hannah demanded. “You are starting to make me nervous.”

“It is Aunt Teresa,” Charlotte began, her face stricken with worry. “Even since the Duke opted to marry you instead of Selina?—”

“Oh!” Hannah took her sister’s hands again. “How is Selina? I have been meaning to write to her ever since…” A wince. “Well, you know what happened. I know she is upset with me, and I cannot blame her. But if I just have a chance to explain myself. Have you seen her? Do you know how she is feeling?”

“That is just it,” Charlotte said, her worry growing. “Although I cannot speak for Selina specifically, Aunt Teresa seems to be making it her life’s mission to ruin your husband’s reputation, and yours also, by the way. She is telling all and sundry that it was Selina who rejected the Duke—the reasons for this rejection vary, but none of them are good. And what is more, she is doubling down by insisting that you were some sort of last-minute resort.”

Hannah felt her stomach twist. “She… she is?”

“As if you had no other option, and the Duke simply chose to marry you out of desperation. Oh, Father is furious of course, but anything he says only gives credence to the rumors.” Charlotte looked her right in the eyes. “She is trying to ruin you both to save her skin, Hannah. And you know Aunt Teresa as well as I do. The woman will go to any lengths to get what she wants.”

“Huh.”

“Huh? That is all you have to say?!”

Hannah didn’t know what to say. Or what to think. At first glance, the news was undoubtedly bad. She did not much like the idea of her name being dragged through the mud for something that was not her fault, and knew that Frederick certainly wouldn’t. But on the other hand…

With how well everything was going right now, she wondered if it really mattered. Right now, her biggest concern was this marriage and what it might become. Did some silly rumors started by her aunt really matter?

“I am not sure what you want me to say.”

“That you are upset?” Charlotte suggested. “Furious, even. Aunt Teresa is talking about you behind your back in a most unbecoming manner.”

“Yes, but there is no truth to it.”

“As if that matters! And while you might not care, how do you think your husband will feel?” Charlotte raised a knowing eyebrow. “Something tells me he will not take this news as lightly as you have.”

“Ah…” Hannah’s stomach sank. “That is… a fair point.”

“You need to tell him,” Charlotte urged. “He should hear it from you, not somebody else. Now, before these rumors have a chance to spiral.”

“You’re right,” Hannah sighed, seeing the sense in it. “But then you usually are.”

This was the last thing she wanted. After today, Hannah very much looked forward to a lazy evening, one in which she and Frederick would take advantage and hopefully pick up where they left off last night. But if she was to tell him about this, what was happening, there was no telling how he might react.

Somehow, she got the sense that when he learned about it, pushing their boundaries as husband and wife might be the last thing on his mind. A wonderful day, now promising to be an awkward night. A night that would likely see her sleep alone once more… only without any sweet memories to keep her warm.

“Thank you, Charlotte,” she said sincerely. “You did not have to do this.”

“I needed to,” Charlotte insisted. “What with how this marriage started—speaking of.” She took Hannah’s hands and squeezed them. “How is everything going between you and your husband?” She clicked her tongue. “Any progress?”

There had been, Hannah thought to herself bitterly. But that mattered little now.