Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

“ H annah, dear! It is so good to see you!” Teresa crooned as Hannah walked into the foyer. Her arms wide, she swept in and pulled Hannah into a tight hug. “It has been too long.”

“Nearly a month now,” Hannah agreed pleasantly. “I was sad that you missed the wedding.”

“Oh, yes, well…” Teresa sighed and shook her head. “It was all so sudden that I was simply unable to clear my schedule. You understand.”

“Completely.”

“But do not take it as a slight,” Teresa insisted. “Truly, I could not be happier for you and… Say, where is your strapping husband?” She looked past Hannah, as if expecting Frederick to step through the front door at any moment. “I was under the impression that he would be joining us.”

“Oh yes, about that…” Hannah frowned regretfully. “He was all set to join me, but some urgent business matter came up as we were about to leave. I begged him to leave it for the morrow, but he insisted it had to be dealt with. The life of a duke,” she sighed. “One never knows when they might be called away.”

“Yes, well…” Her aunt clicked her teeth. “That is most upsetting.”

“Still…” Hannah took her aunt’s hands. “There is no reason that we cannot enjoy one another’s company. We do not need my husband for that.”

“Certainly not.” Teresa tittered. “In fact, now I am thinking, without him here, we might enjoy ourselves more. Men.” She rolled her eyes. “A blight that we spend far too much time thinking of, do you not agree?”

“Better off without them.” Hannah chuckled.

It had taken two days of careful planning to organize this mid-afternoon meeting. On the one hand, Hannah had to communicate with her aunt in a manner that suggested she and her husband wanted to make a simple social call at her earliest convenience. Not for supper, but perhaps tea and cakes, because it had been far too long since they had spoken, and a catch-up was much needed. And all without Frederick finding out.

On the other hand, Hannah also had to lie to Frederick about where she was going today. To see her sisters, she had told him— a lie that he swallowed without question, one that left her feeling infinitely guilty.

But her intentions were good. Frederick would rather die than beg her aunt to stop spreading these rumors, which meant that they weren’t going to stop anytime soon. As such, Hannah felt that she had no choice but to intervene by herself, which—if she was successful—would surely be reason enough for Frederick to forgive her.

And if he did not forgive her… well, she had ways of making him do just that.

“Shall we sit outside?” Teresa suggested. She stepped in beside Hannah, placing a hand on the small of her back as if to lead her. “The weather is lovely, and we must take advantage.”

“Oh, I would like that very much.”

“I have already alerted the staff of your arrival,” Teresa continued pleasantly as they walked. “We will be served refreshments soon enough.”

“Wonderful…”

As they walked, Hannah looked around the large foyer and toward the stairs.

“Say, will Selina be joining us? I assume you told her I was coming?”

Teresa sighed and bowed her head. “I am afraid that she is out today, dear.”

“She… she is?” Hannah’s stomach twisted. “Did you not inform her that I was?—”

“I did, I did,” her aunt cut her off. “Alas—and I am sorry to have to say this—some wounds cut deeper than others, and she is still not quite ready to see you.”

Hannah’s stomach now churned with guilt. “She said that?”

“Not those words exactly,” Teresa said. “But I am her mother, remember. And since the, ah… since His Grace decided not to marry her, she has been little more than a ghost around the house. Oh, she has told me that she is fine, but her actions speak louder than words, dear.”

“I… I would very much like to see her and apologize.”

“For what? It was not your fault, and I am certain Selina knows as much. I can only suggest that you give it time. My daughter will come around, I promise you.”

Hannah bit her lip and looked back toward the stairs, certain that Selina was upstairs right now, avoiding her. She could not prove it, of course, but somehow, she just knew.

“The two of you were like sisters once,” her aunt continued pleasantly. “And I seem to remember Charlotte stealing Beatrice’s husband, and that didn’t come between them now, did it?” She laughed gaily as if she had said something funny, even if the words were cutting… seemingly on purpose.

The truth was that Hannah had not chosen to come here solely to ask her aunt to stop spreading malicious lies about her and Frederick. Yes, that was the main reason, but it occurred to Hannah two days ago that this visit might allow her to kill two birds with one stone.

She still had not seen or spoken with Selina since the night of the incident. Selina had been upset then, mortified and embarrassed, as she had every right to be. Worse, Hannah suspected that her cousin laid the blame squarely at her feet. Hating the idea of her cousin being upset with her, she wished to seek her out and explain that what had occurred was not her fault, that there was no ill intent behind it, and that she would do anything for her cousin to forgive her.

More than that, Hannah wanted to make sure that Selina was healing. With how happy she had been feeling of late, her guilt for what happened was getting worse and worse, and she had to do something about it. Alas, it seemed that her cousin did not wish to see her, did not wish to speak with her, and, worst of all, did not wish to forgive her.

“Ah, there we are…” They stepped outside, and her aunt gestured toward a table and two chairs beneath a small awning to protect them from the sun. “Our platter awaits.”

The saucers and teapot sat ready and waiting, as did plates filled with cakes and scones. Hannah wasn’t particularly hungry or thirsty, but as she sat down, she made sure to take a cake and have one of the footmen pour her a cup of tea. This needed to appear friendly… at least until it no longer was.

“So, tell me,” her aunt began once they settled. “How goes your marriage? I remember you were not too happy with the arrangement your father made on your behalf.”

“The truth?” Hannah made sure to smile as she sipped her tea. “It is going wonderfully.”

“Is that right?” Her aunt did not sound very happy to hear that.

“His Grace is a treasure beyond compare. Oh sure, I was a little hesitant initially—as you rightfully pointed out. But it has been nearly two weeks now, and I could not be happier.”

“I am so glad to hear it.” Again, Teresa sounded nothing of the sort.

“It was not easy, mind you,” Hannah continued simply. “But what marriage is? We have been lucky enough to understand this, and now that the growing pains are dealt with…” A shrug and a smile that boarded on smug. “I foresee a pleasant marriage from here on out.”

“I could not be happier to hear that. Surprised, but happy.” Teresa’s tone was bitter, as was the look she gave Hannah as she took a sip of her tea. “Truthfully, I worried about you, dear. I did. Although I was the one to arrange the initial marriage between His Grace and Selina, it was no secret that His Grace was a little… Oh, how should I put this? Cold. Many men of his station are, of course, but the Duke was said to be a special case.”

“Is that right?”

“And I did worry about what might become of his and Selina’s marriage,” she continued in a not-so-pleasant tone. “My daughter’s happiness is my first concern, after all, and the thought of trapping her with a man such as that…” She sighed and then tittered. “But I suppose I do not have to worry about that anymore.”

“You certainly do not.”

“And the fact that the two of you have found happiness…” A forced smile. “It is nice when everything works out for the best, is it not?”

“It seems that way.”

“Selina will find someone soon, I am making sure of it. A good man, I hope. Someone better than His Grace—no offense, dear. I did not mean anything by it.”

“None taken.” Hannah chuckled pleasantly. “I am simply glad that there are no ill feelings held.”

“By me?” Teresa touched her chest as if offended. “Of course not. These things happen, dear, and nobody is to blame. Even your father cannot possibly bear the weight of such a happenstance.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

“As I said,” she continued, as if to drive the point home. “I am happy about what has happened. My daughter has avoided a cold, ugly marriage, and you…” She smiled and fluttered her eyelashes. “Have somehow managed to find what I can only assume to be a love match, for how you talk.”

“It is certainly looking that way.”

“Quite.”

If Hannah had any doubts about her aunt’s involvement in spreading the rumors, they were now confirmed. Oh, her aunt might have feigned happiness and forgiveness, but she was clearly still bitter. In her mind, something was stolen from her, something that she had every right to claim. This wasn’t even about Selina, but her own name, which she thought to have been slandered.

Hannah had wondered to herself how she might broach the subject, if she should be gentle around the edges or delve into it like a bull. If her aunt had been a little more congenial, Hannah would have opted for kindness and forgiveness. But after this little conversation, blunt force was clearly the only way her aunt might respond.

“I must say…” Hannah took a sip of her tea and then put down her cup and saucer. “I am surprised to hear how happy you are for me and His Grace.”

“Oh?”

“Well, forgive me, Aunt Teresa, but I had come here expecting you to be a little more upset with me. After all, I did steal Selina’s intended from her. And from you, by extension.”

“Nonsense, dear. What is done is done, and I do not hold a grudge.”

“I am glad to hear it.” Hannah sighed as if relieved. “And seeing as that is the case, you might be able to help.”

Her aunt tilted her head. “Help? With what, dear?”

Hannah shook her head as if embarrassed. “I am sure that you have heard by now…” She looked at her aunt expectantly. “The rumors that have been spreading about my marriage. And my husband, for that matter.”

“Rumors?”

“Oh, they are as false as they are defamatory, of course. Why, just yesterday, I heard one that claimed I was pregnant!” Hannah laughed bitterly. “Lady Tattershell...” She shook her head. “That woman and gossip go together like cake and tea, no doubt promulgated by our dear aunt. The way she said it, this sudden pregnancy was the reason His Grace was forced to marry me.”

“Oh no,” her aunt gasped as if from shock.

“And that is only the beginning,” Hannah continued. “Each one is worse than the next—Frederick even refuses to leave the house! Everywhere he goes, he insists that people are talking about him. You can only imagine how upset he is?”

“I can, I can.”

“His name is his legacy, and these malicious lies are slinging mud that may never be scrubbed clean.”

“Some people…” Teresa clicked her tongue. “Gossip is poison, dear, one that is passed about like wine. Dreadful business.”

“The only way that I can see us putting an end to them is to find the source of said lies,” Hannah continued, looking right at her aunt now, studying her and gauging her reaction. “If we do that and tell this… this beast to cease their slander, that will go a long way in helping.”

“Certainly, it would.”

“More than that, we would need them to tell everyone they know how happy our marriage is and how it actually came about. Replace the lies with the truth, as it is, for that is the only way.”

“And you wish for me to help you find this person?” Teresa did not sound at all worried, still sipping her tea as if the conversation was a most pleasant one.

“Would you?” Hannah affected a pleading look. “I have tried my best but have come up empty. But you, Aunt Teresa… Well, nobody is more respected and well-known among the ton than you. Surely, you of all people will be able to track down this… this monster and ask them to put a stop to it.”

“I would love for nothing more,” Teresa said with a little too much sincerity. “And I am glad that you came to me—that you trusted me with this. I assure you that within a week… maybe two, I will find the source and strike it down.” She clicked her tongue and sighed. “Anything to help my favorite niece.”

Hannah breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew I could count on you, Aunt Teresa. You have always been someone I trust and love.”

“And it means the world to me to hear it.”

“Ever since I was a little girl, in fact, when Father and Mother were too much to bear, it helped to know that you’d always look out for me.”

“Of course, I would…”

It was subtle, but Hannah caught a slight twitch at the corner of her lips.

“And when this marriage did occur, when I was at my worst, it pained me to know what I did to you and Selina. But I also knew that if anyone was to forgive me, it would be you.”

“I…” A slight grimace, which Teresa masked immediately. “For you, dear, I’d do anything.”

“I cannot tell you the pain this has caused,” Hannah continued, her eyes hardening. “That someone would do such a thing. And for what? Spite is my guess.”

“People do strange things for strange reasons.”

“It is personal, too,” Hannah said, her upper lip curling. “It must be. Which leads me to suspect that it is someone I know well and likely trust. My first thought, and I am embarrassed to say it”—she feigned a grimace—“was that Selina might be behind it.”

Her aunt gasped. “Certainly not! And I can promise you, hand over heart, that she is not involved. That she would never be.”

“Oh, I know that now.” Hannah waved her hand dismissively. “Selina is too kind for such a thing. And she loves me too much. Which is why it hurt so deeply that someone so close could do such a thing…” She made sure to look her aunt right in the eyes, so her words could not be misinterpreted.

Teresa shifted nervously, sipped her tea, and then looked away. “Assuming it was someone close to you. For all you know, it could be a disgruntled tenant.”

“No…” Hannah’s face clouded, and her tone sharpened. “This was too personal for that. This was someone I know. Someone I trust. Someone I love. Someone who…” A beat. “Someone who wants my marriage to fail.”

It took her a moment. Not looking at Hannah, Teresa heard the words, digested them, nodded her head, and then her eyes went wide.

“Hannah! I do not know what you are—why you would—what are you saying?”

“You know what I am saying.”

“I think I do, and if what you are saying is what I think it is, then…” Teresa attempted to look offended. “Then I might have to ask you to leave.”

“Is that what you wish to do?”

“That you would accuse me o-of such an act?” She laughed awkwardly. “I have never been so insulted in my life.”

“I can only imagine.”

“And that you come to my home under false pretenses. That you… that I am forced to listen to this slander against my name—for that is what this is.” Teresa put down her teacup, her hands visibly shaking. “I have half a mind to write to your father and tell him about this, you know?”

“Why not my husband? I am sure he would like to hear it.”

“I told you, I am happy for the both of you. Why would I do such a thing? No, I do not want to hear it.” She looked away. “You have gone too far today, Niece. I would ask that you either apologize or leave.”

Hannah remained composed, her tone dispassionate, for she would not be guilted into pitying her aunt. “I know it was you, Aunt Teresa. My sister told me.”

“Lies!”

“I know it was you,” she repeated. “You can fake outrage. You can pretend otherwise. But that will not change the truth. You have sought to undermine my marriage to His Grace, and you have done so for no other reason than to take revenge for an incident that was nobody’s fault.”

Still looking away, Hannah could see her aunt’s chin begin to wobble. “I… I did not mean?—”

“I do not want to hear excuses,” she said evenly. “I do not care for them. What I want is for you to do as I have asked and quash the malicious rumors that you started. Is that understood?”

Teresa forced herself to look at her. “I did not mean it.”

“You will quash these rumors,” Hannah insisted. “You will tell everybody you spoke with that you lied.”

“It got out of hand,” Teresa begged. “I was only speaking out of turn, and I… I… I got carried away and?—”

“And now you will do everything you can to right this wrong.”

She bowed her head. “I am sorry.”

“I do not care for your apology. I only care that you do what is right here. Will you do that?”

Teresa did not respond.

“Aunty?”

“All right…” She sniffed. “Please, do not tell your father. If he finds out…” Her chin continued to wobble, and Hannah almost felt sorry for her.

“I will keep it to myself if you do as I have asked. If you don’t, you are not the only one capable of spreading false rumors.”

Teresa winced. “I am so sorry, Hannah. God, I am so—” She sniffed. “Please, forgive me.”

As a little girl, Hannah had both respected and feared her aunt. Not that the Dowager Viscountess was a scary woman per se, but she had inspired the type of fear that little girls often had for powerful figures in their lives. Seeing the way she argued and stood up to Lord Ramsbury, it had instilled in Hannah this belief that her aunt was this all-encompassing figure like a mountain that God himself could not shift.

Marriage to Frederick had changed all of that. It had changed Hannah.

She now knew what true strength looked like. What was more, she not only knew how to stand up to it but also how to embody it herself. The way she had spoken to her aunt just now was similar to how she imagined Frederick might have done it. She was, after all, a duchess, and despite her aunt being older than her—a figure of authority even—she needed to know that actions like this would not be tolerated.

Why, Hannah was so thrilled with how their discussion had turned out that she could not wait to tell Frederick. Surely, he would be proud of her.

“And one more thing,” she added. “In a day or two, you will receive an invitation to dinner with me and Frederick. And you will accept it.”

Her aunt winced. “Of course. I would never… it would be an honor.”

“My husband will know what you did, but he will not mention it, and nor shall you. You will be pleasant and polite, and we will finally put this little incident behind us for good. Understood?”

“Thank you…” Teresa bowed her head, looking utterly ashamed. “I look forward to it.”

“My father and mother, too, shall attend. It will be a reunion, one where I expect the very best behavior.” A raised eyebrow.

Her aunt nodded. “Anything. Anything at all.”

“Wonderful…” Hannah exhaled in relief and smiled gaily, as if their conversation had been a most pleasant one. “By the way, this tea is divine.” She reached for her cup and took a sip. “What leaves are you using?”

Her aunt did not answer, her head still bowed, mortified by the looks of things. And so she should be. She had tried to break Hannah and Frederick’s marriage, thinking it a weak, brittle thing. But she had thoroughly underestimated them—a mistake that she would not make again.

Their marriage was strong. It was near perfect. And with this now behind them, it had the chance to finally blossom.