Historical Hearts Romance Collection

by Sophia Wilson

  Lady Hannah’s haughtiness and pride had not been birthed in her; it had been planted and allowed to grow. All her childhood growing up, her Mother had made sure she and all her other siblings knew they were beautiful, special and that there was no one else like them. None of them had allowed themselves to dwell in the ideas their Mother tried to convince them of, Lady Beatrice and Lord Thomas had grown up humble and polite seeing the struggles and sacrifice their parents had to make in order to be blessed with what they had now. Lady Hannah had not seen the bitter reality of this world and how cruel it could be, she was spoilt, from both her parents and even her Aunt. Back home, she did not have any close friends for this reason. They did not like her stuck-up behavior, walking around with her pointy noise in the air and evidently, no man had shown any interest in a woman who thought she was too good for anybody. In reality, when she would be in her bedroom all alone, wondering why no one ever wished her well sincerely, or why no man had wanted to dance with her, she never realized that it may have been her pride.

  It must have been a revelation, a miracle that for the first time in her life, she doubted herself; she thought she may not be as perfect as she thought or as everyone else made her to believe.

  Both women gathered their cashmere shawls and draped them around their shoulders and left the mansion to get into the chariot and make their way to the ball. The ball wasn’t being held too far, but in the time that they got there, Lady Hannah had thought of a million things that could have gone wrong. Her imaginative mind had made all sorts of scenarios in her head, none of them turning out well. She felt sick, and a part of her wanted to tell her Aunt to turn the chariot around. She knew it couldn’t be done and that her Aunt was looking forward to attending this ball alongside her and so she forced herself to think about what good could come of this; nothing came to her mind.

  Chapter 4

  When they reached the ball, Lady Hannah could see the building from a distance without even approaching it because of how well it was decoratively lit. The building was grand and stood meters tall on what looked like old and ancient stone columns. She knew it would be impressive wherever she was going, but she never thought it would look as royal as it did. A footman dressed up in proper traditional attire opened each carriage’s door and helped the ladies step out of the carriages.

  Their chariot halted right outside the entrance and a footman opened the door offering his hand, Lady Hannah let Aunt Isabelle get off first, since she would need more time and her mother had taught her to give the elderly their respect. The man helped her patiently and then helped Lady Hannah step off the chariot giving her a friendly smile, one that she gave back seeing how good looking even the footman was.

  As they walked through the front door and entered the main ballroom, Lady Hannah saw that the place was full of men and women dressed in the most expensive attire. Diamonds hung on the earlobes of women and rested above their cleavages on shiny chains. The dresses were long with fine fabric and stitching, the women themselves were breathtakingly beautiful. Her ivory dress that she had once thought was incomparable didn’t seem as gorgeous as it did back home in the mirror. The men wore perfectly tailored suits, each one more dashing than the other. No one noticed her come in.

  She was already sensing deep regret for coming. Her Aunt took her around to meet people that she knew. They all greeted her nicely and were pleased to see a family member with Aunt Isabelle, who usually attended such events alone. Although she felt insecure, she kept her head high, acting as though she weren’t. The façade she wore would make her situation a little less embarrassing. During the ball, she waited for someone to notice her, someone to smile her way and ask her to dance; but nobody did. She stood watching the couples dancing in the corner, wishing with all her might that she could hide behind something big enough; she wanted to be invisible because that’s exactly how she felt inside. Aunt Isabelle saw Lady Hannah looking uncomfortable even after the hour they had been there and noticed that no one had asked her to dance. She went over to her niece to speak with her, knowing that she would be very upset.

  “Hannah, are you alright?” Aunt Isabelle asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes. Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me,” Lady Hannah replied impulsively, hoping her Aunt wouldn’t notice that she wasn’t.

  “Hannah, you can tell me if you aren’t,” her Aunt said in a softer tone, sincerely.

  Lady Hannah did not say anything; she stared elsewhere, avoiding her Aunt’s eyes, unable to lie to her.

  “Alright, how about we go outside for a walk? There’s a lovely hedged garden they have outside and I happen to know just how to get there! You can clear your thoughts there if you are feeling uncomfortable here. I could do with a bit of fresh air myself to be very honest,” said Aunt Isabelle trying to convince her.

  “That would be nice,” replied Lady Hannah, in a soft hushed voice.

  Aunt Isabelle took her out the back door into the hallways and navigated them to where the garden was.

  Being out in the open was helping her. Her Aunt held on to her for support as they strolled in the garden, neither of them saying anything just enjoying the breeze and fresh air filling their lungs. At first it had only been the two of them walking outside, but as the ball went on, more and more couples emerged, deciding to walk outside so that they could speak with each other privately. Seeing them, happily talking and being playful made Lady Hannah feel worse. She had always thought that her beauty could have lured any man that she desired. Clearly, she was wrong.

  As she looked around, she noticed a man walking a little behind them. He was, rather oddly, walking alone. There has to be a woman with him, she’s probably coming from the ladies room or something, Hannah thought. Curious to find out whether he was on his own or waiting for somebody, she kept looking over at him secretly, after every few intervals. After a couple of rounds around the garden, she concluded that he was in fact, unaccompanied. He wore a serious look on his face, like he was thinking of something far more important than the ball.

  His stride was sober and it looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. A drop of water fell on her nose. She looked around to see where it could have come from, when all of a sudden thousands or maybe more fell from the sky. The ladies screamed and shrieked as they ran inside to safeguard their costly dresses and gems, acting as if the rain were an enemy targeting them. The water was cold and Lady Hannah was more worried about her sick Aunt. The cold rain was not good for her for it could bring about aches in her joints. Before she could worry any further about how to get her to the door with her slow gait, the man behind her offered his umbrella.

  “Please, take this,” he said with a soft smile, standing and getting wet in the rain himself.

  Lady Hannah saw that he was the man who was walking alone and that she had been watching carefully. She blushed when she saw his face much clearer. He was very handsome. Even though it was dark, she was able to make out his features. He had what appeared as brown hair and a dashingly good-looking angled face. She couldn’t tell the color of his eyes but she knew they would complement his handsome face. She was unable to say anything, staring at him in awe and unsure of whether she should take it from him or not.

  “Please, take it. We wouldn’t want the elder woman with you to catch a cold,” he said insisting, politely. Lady Hannah smiled at him and took the umbrella tentatively.

  “Thank you,” she said in a low nervous tone. He nodded his head and smiled, showing his pearly white teeth straightly aligned.

  “What a fine gentleman you are! Thank you my dear boy!” said Aunt Isabelle in an energetic tone, much more enthusiastically than her younger niece.

  “But of course, my fine lady. A little rain never hurt anybody,” he said as he smiled soaking wet and walked off.

  Aunt Isabelle and Lady Hannah exchanged glances. Lady Hannah was aware of what her Aunt was thinking and the story she had created in her mind already; it was plain to see just by the look
on her face.

  “Wasn’t he just a wonderful man? So handsome, too!” said Aunt Isabelle, pleased that a man had smiled at her niece tonight after all.

  “Yes, he was. I mean, yes he was nice,” said Lady Hannah bashfully, at the words that had slipped off her tongue without thinking.

  “I think he liked you,” said Aunt Isabelle cheerily.

  “I hardly think so. You needed an umbrella and he gave you one. It was just a kind gesture, nothing more. No need to make a big deal out of this,” said Lady Hannah, ignoring the smile he had given her.

  “Excuse me, young lady, I may not have been wed but I can see a man’s heart through his eyes! I wouldn’t be surprised if he asked to dance with you when we get back inside!” said Aunt Isabelle, huffing.

  “I don’t think we’d dance with our clothes drenched. Let’s just get inside please,” said Lady Hannah, beckoning her to hurry.

  When they got inside, Lady Hannah would never admit to her Aunt but she was looking around for him. She wanted to thank him for his kindness; this time loud enough so he could hear it and to know his name. She squinted her eyes searching in the crowd for someone who would fit his dark figure she had seen outside, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.

  It makes sense, he was probably so wet he left. He didn’t seem interested in anyone anyways, why would he have had any interest for me? I was courting my Aunt the entire night! She laughed at the thought of it and felt sad about it somewhat too. What if he was the one?

  “Should we leave? Or do you want to stay longer?” asked her Aunt only barely wet, thanks to the umbrella.

  “I think it’s best we leave. I don’t want to catch a cold myself!” she said jokingly, hiding the sadness that had sneaked its way under her skin.

  Her Aunt went around meeting guests, saying her goodbyes as Lady Hannah waited for her near the chariot. Once she was done meeting almost everyone, they got into the chariot and left to go back home.

  “I know his name,” said Aunt Isabelle, smirking as she sat in the chariot.

  “Whose name?” asked Lady Hannah, as if she had no idea who her Aunt was referring to.

  “The man with the umbrella, who else!?” Aunt Isabelle said displeased.

  “Oh,” Lady Hannah shrugged looking out the window, acting as casual as she could. She didn’t want to give her Aunt any new baseless ideas. The night had been far from all that she had aspired, she wanted to forget about it and reach home as fast as she could; she paid no attention to what her Aunt was going on about.

  “I guess you don’t want to know then. What a shame! He was such a nice Duke!” said Aunt Isabelle, knowing it would grab Lady Hannah’s attention.

  Lady Hannah turned facing her Aunt, surprised.

  “Duke? Did I hear that correctly? That man who lent us his umbrella was a Duke?” Lady Hannah asked with excitement.

  “Yes he was. But you’re not interested,” Aunt Isabelle smiled, teasing her.

  “Well um, we should know his name at least. We’ve got his umbrella, maybe he’ll send someone for it?” she quickly made up an excuse to know his name.

  “I suppose you’re right. I asked one of my friends at the ball and they said his name was Duke Anthony Reece,” Aunt Isabelle finally told her, smiling at how she had changed Lady Hannah’s mind.

  “Does he live here? Why was he at the ball alone?” asked Lady Hannah, all at once.

  “Slow down, dear! I know he lives somewhere close by. As to why he was at the ball alone, frankly no one knows. He’s a very private and reserved man and he likes to keep his matters to himself. Though of course, the poor man has gone through quite a bit. His wife died a few years ago. Tragic!” said Aunt Isabelle in a sympathetic tone, sadly.

  “That is sad. What happened to her?” asked Lady Hannah intriguingly, but secretly also relieved that he was not committed to anyone.

  “Nobody really knows. She was healthy and young. It’s been a mystery to this day. Duke Anthony does not speak about it. That’s probably why he would rather be alone,” said Aunt Isabelle, contemplating.

  “I suppose. Are you sure he didn’t kill his wife?!” asked Lady Hannah lightheartedly and letting out a loud laugh.

  “Hannah! That is absurd! He loved her!” Aunt Isabelle said back defensively, appalled at how she could suggest such a foul thing.

  “Relax Aunt Isabelle, I was only joking. It just reminded me of a novel I’d read. The shady husband kills the wife so he can marry someone else. It was a really good book too, you should read it some time,” Lady Hannah said, clearing her point.

  “No thank you. I don’t want nonsense like that all cooped up in my head!” Aunt Isabelle said, dismissingly. Lady Hannah laughed at her Aunt’s extreme disapproval. Thank God for her Aunt; she actually laughed that night because of her.

  True love, wherever you are, I hope you weren’t at the ball today. I would have hate to thought, I almost knew you.

  Chapter 5

  They reached home late at night, there was no energy within them to stay up any longer and so the both of them had immediately retired to their separate rooms and slept. The next morning, Lady Hannah woke up thinking that last night had all been a dream; a horrible one. She looked around the room with sleep still heavy on her eyelids and saw her dress from the night before lying crumpled on a settee. It wasn’t a dream!

  My first ball and it turned out to be such a disappointment! Not one man asked me to dance! Not one! This is so humiliating for me, how will I ever tell anybody at home about this! I should never have gone; that would have been better. All I got out of the night was a strange man’s polite smile and his umbrella; neither that I need.

  Reluctantly, she forced herself out of bed and asked the maid to run a hot bath for her hoping the hot water touching her skin would calm her nerves. She didn’t want to upset Aunt Isabelle with a gloomy mood; her sickness was enough to cope with on its own. After she got dressed, she proceeded to go downstairs for breakfast. Aunt Isabelle as usual, was already seated at the dining table waiting for her.

  “Good morning, Aunt Isabelle!” Lady Hannah greeted her merrily on purpose.

  “Good morning, Hannah!” replied her Aunt as she received a kiss on the cheek from her niece.

  “Did you sleep well?” her Aunt asked.

  “Yes, I slept like a baby! I was exhausted. I never thought the ball could be so tiring,” said Lady Hannah, pushing aside the feelings of remorse from last night.

  “That’s great that you got your much needed rest. Rosy has made us a wonderful breakfast, just what we needed, too!” Aunt Isabelle said joyfully.

  They enjoyed their breakfast with light conversation about the sudden change of weather and other current affairs, when suddenly the doorbell rang.

  “Who could that be?” Aunt Isabelle asked herself, surprised the bell had rung in this hour.

  “I wasn’t expecting anybody,” she went on.

  “It’s probably a package or something,” Lady Hannah suggested.

  “Hmm, maybe. Earl will get it,” Aunt Isabelle said as she continued with her breakfast.

  The footman Earl, walked in moments later.

  “I beg your pardon Lady Isabelle but there is a man at the door,” Earl said, confused himself.

  “A man? Well what’s his name, Earl?” asked Aunt Isabelle, perplexed.

  “He says he won’t tell his name and wishes to meet with a member of the house,” Earl informed her.

  “What an odd man! What does he want with one of us!?” Aunt Isabelle said astounded.

  “It’s alright, Aunt Isabelle; I’ll go see who it is. Thank you Earl, for letting us know,” Lady Hannah said, calming her Aunt down.

  She got up to see who it was at the door; she was hoping it wasn’t a beggar who had interrupted her breakfast. As she opened the door, she saw a familiar face looking straight back at her, except this time she could see his features much clearer; his eyes were blue.

  “Hello! I’m sorry to have come unannounced, is
this a bad time?” he asked in a polite manner.

  “Hello, that’s alright. No, it’s fine,” Lady Hannah replied, unsure of what he was doing here.

  “We’ve met before, actually just last night. I’m not certain you remember me,” he said, softly smiling.

  “Yes, I remember…” Lady Hannah looked at him with her eyebrows raised.

  “I’m afraid I didn’t get to introduce myself before. My name is Anthony Reece and you’re probably wondering what I’m doing here at your doorstep,” he said wittingly.

  Lady Hannah watched him explain quietly with an inquiring expression on her face.

  “I think you’ve got something that belongs to me,” he said softly laughing.

  “Oh yes - your umbrella! Earl, can you get it for me?” Lady Hannah turned around and asked Earl. He nodded and went to fetch it for her.

  “You can’t have possibly come all this way for an umbrella,” Lady Hannah laughed after he asked for it.

  “I can, too! That and well, I wanted to know your name,” he asked her charmingly. Her laugh was cut short as she looked at him timidly.

  “Um, well… my name is Hannah. Hannah Quinn,” she said coyly, looking at the ground.

  “Of course it is!” he said smiling and snapping his fingers.

  “Whatever do you mean?” she asked baffled.

  “I meant, of course a beautiful young lady such as you would have a beautiful name to be called with,” he said smiling at her. Lady Hannah felt her cheeks getting hot. Stop blushing Hannah! Stop it!

  “Thank you,” she replied plainly as Earl brought the umbrella and handed it over to her.

  “Here you go, thank you again for letting us borrow it,” Lady Hannah said with sincere gratitude.

  “The pleasure was all mine,” he replied, still smiling.

  “Who is it Hannah?” Aunt Isabelle asked as she walked to the door from behind.

  Before she could answer her, Aunt Isabelle saw who it was herself and lit up instantly.