Instead of approaching him, she watched as he fiddled with the saddle strapped to the horse before him, then removed it. The stable hands kept out of his way, but they kept an eye on him through sideway glances. When they spotted her, they greeted her with a smile.
Mr. Albertson didn’t look at her until she was standing right next to him. He looked down at her, then back at his task at hand. “Lady Hannah,” he greeted gruffly.
“Mr. Albertson,” she said. “Are you out for a ride?”
“I’ve just returned from one,” he said.
“Ah, I see. I happen to be heading out for a ride myself. I hoped you would join me.” The invitation was bold and impulsive. She held her breath.
“I’ve already taken the saddle off my horse.”
“It is no feat to saddle it again,” she said without thinking.
Mr. Albertson looked at her. Not the way he had been looking at her all this time, or when they sat together when he first arrived. He really looked at her, taking her in once more. It wasn’t a perusal so much as it was realization that she was there. “Are you really in need of company?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said. “And I have been meaning to speak with you.”
He continued to stare at her, drinking her in with no expression of his thoughts. It bothered her that she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “What about, My Lady?”
“Just about your life away from here. I’m curious to know how you lived in the colony.”
“My life will not interest you.”
“On the contrary, it most certainly will. Any life away from England is bound to interest me.”
“Well then, perhaps another time, My Lady.”
The dismissal was smooth and to the point, but it didn’t quite hit home until he was walking away from her. Hannah twirled, unable to believe what just happened.
Did he really deny me?
She whirled and followed after him. “Are you going to see my father, Mr. Albertson?”
“No, I am not.”
“Then where are you headed? Walking with such purpose, you must be heading somewhere.”
She saw his cheek twitch. “I do not intend on telling you, My Lady.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because I fear it may hurt your feelings.” His voice was dry, lacking emotion. She doubted this man really cared about her feelings.
“I’m a stronger lady than most, Mr. Albertson,” she went on, spurred on by her curiosity more than anything else. “I doubt you’ll really be able to hurt my feelings.”
“If you say so, My Lady. I am headed anywhere but here. Away from you.”
That did sting. Hannah stopped walking, folding her hands before her. “Have I done something to offend or upset you, Mr. Albertson?”
“No, you have not.” His tone was so dry, she half wondered if he was saying that to be polite. “I’d simply prefer to be alone right now.”
“Very well.” Hannah swallowed past the lump in her throat. She desperately hoped her cheeks weren’t red with embarrassment. “If you would like for me to show you around the manor, you only need to say the word.”
“I will, My Lady.” Then he stopped and nodded to her, a clear farewell. She decided not to go after him this time, watching his retreating back once more.
A mixture of anger and shame washed over her as she watched him walk away. The air of mystery that had surrounded him, that had drawn her to him in the first place, only made her feel cold in his presence. He clearly didn’t want to be around her.
But why?
She couldn’t begin to understand what she might have done to encourage such an attitude from him. Was it that he didn’t want to be here? Worry for the future the dukedom bled throughout the shame.
What is Father thinking? Can a man like that truly be trusted with the title? What will happen to me, since he clearly isn’t fond of me? What will happen to Mother and my sisters?
She sighed, knowing there was little she could do but to trust her Father. Even if Mr. Albertson was the heir, she was sure her Father would make other provisions if he wasn’t deemed fit enough. It wasn’t for her to be concerned about, even though she couldn’t help herself.
Hannah watched as he disappeared before she turned back to the stables. The stable boys, now that the newcomer was no longer in their midst, greeted her openly and warmly. She returned their greetings, but her mind lingered on Mr. Albertson and she couldn’t shake the thoughts away.
Chapter 6
Gresham Manor was a lot like what he had expected. Imposingly big and impossible to traverse. Rowland wondered if he should have accepted Lady Hannah’s offer to give him a tour because at this rate, he was bound to be lost. But he hadn’t seen her since she extended it the morning before. He had spent the rest of the day with the Duke in his study, going over mind-numbing finances and had retired blissfully to bed without another thought about Miss Peggy Flynn.
They had put him in the west wing, he surmised. His room was much like his own in Australia, except it was nearly twice its size, adorned with lavish furniture and tapestries Rowland deemed worth enough to feed and clothe a small family for a while. The Duke of Gresham was clearly blessed regarding his finances.
It made Rowland curious. Just how did he manage his estate? Gresham was large and its people, from what he gathered on his way to the manor, were content. He would have to see for himself what their feelings were on their Duke, but he had an inkling they were good ones. The hard worker inside him, the one that had expanded his ranches to the size they were now, was dying of curiosity.
For now, he was simply trying to find his way out of this maze. He hadn’t seen any servants since two hallways ago and there were none currently in sight. He was surrounded by countless doors and walls that seemed to stretch on endlessly. He knew it was about time for dinner, and as a visitor, he was expected to dine with the family. Rowland was oddly looking forward to it. It had only been a few days since he arrived at the manor and he still didn’t know much about the Duke and his family, other than the fact that they were obviously a closely-knit group.
The eldest daughter stood out the most to him. The other two were young, interested in him the way children were expected to be interested in something new in their midst. But the eldest daughter had other interests, ones he wasn’t sure about. And she was definitely no child.
When he’d first seen her greeting him in the foyer, it was a struggle not to stare. He had made sure to let his eyes glimpse her for only a second, not wanting to seem rude, but that second had given him enough. She was a vision, a mystifying beauty that would stand stark against a sea of English ladies. She didn’t move from where she stood, merely curtsying slightly when she was introduced. But her eyes had watched his every move, appraising, studying. He hadn’t allowed himself to stare back.
He had desperately wanted to. It was hard to fight the urge, hard to keep himself from drinking in her slender figure, taller than most ladies he knew. She was definitely taller than Miss Flynn, but when she stood next to him, she seemed just as small, just as fragile. The way her hair had curled around her face had made her seem tender and soft. She had seemed gentle.
Rowland would have believed she was if he hadn’t looked into her eyes. It was impossible not to. They were captivating, one eye glowing golden while the other shimmered a vibrant green. He’d never seen anything like it and the depth to them, the plain curiosity deep within, had nearly froze him to the floor. He could recall easily just how difficult it had been to look away.
There was something about her that unnerved him. He didn’t know what it was.
Her beauty? Her odd eyes? The way she stares at me unabashedly? The way she followed me from the stables earlier?
A lot of factors to consider. Too little knowledge of her to know for sure.
As if she could sense his thoughts, she appeared, rounding the corner with her lady’s maid on her heels. She didn’t see him at first. She was talking to her mai
d, smiling. Her maid was smiling as well. Her maid spotted him first and her smile slipped off, her mouth falling open in an ‘O’. Lady Hannah looked up.
Rowland paused in his tracks as a sudden lance of guilt rushed through him. The last time they spoke, he had been rude, refusing her company. At the time, he had been in a foul mood, the memory of Miss Flynn shadowing him constantly. At the very sight of Hannah, he had forgotten all about Miss Flynn and he couldn’t help the way his chest went tight at the sight of her.
She was a beauty, he reminded himself. That was why his body reacted the way it did to her. Any normal man would have reacted the same way, he was sure.
Even now, his heart thumped dangerously, his breathing growing shallow.
Is she aware of how mesmerizing she looks in that gown? Does she know how wonderful her figure is despite the layers?
The unsettling feeling mingled with his guilt as she approached him. Each colored eye shone brightly in her face. “Mr. Albertson,” she said. Her voice was strong, a lot like the Duchess of Gresham. “You seem lost.”
He nearly frowned.
Could she read minds? Are those eyes of hers a sign of magic?
Rowland didn’t believe in such things but with such a lady before him, he couldn’t help but ponder on the possibility for a moment. He decided honesty was the best response. “I am lost. This manor is like a maze.”
“It is,” she said with a nod. She continued walking right by him and without a second thought, he fell in step next to her. She didn’t look up at him, almost as if she had expected him to do so. “Which is why I offered to show you around. So you could get your bearings. I fear, without proper knowledge of the layout of this manor, you may find yourself lost more often.”
The guilt shot to the air. She didn’t seem to be upset by his words the day before. “I should have taken you up on your offer then, My Lady.”
“It is not too late for that,” she said, her tone light. “Perhaps after dinner we can begin.”
“I plan to speak with the Duke after dinner.”
“Ah, then some other time.”
They lapsed into silence. The lady’s maid was still on her heels, staying closer to the other side of Lady Hannah. “I must apologize for the previous morning, Lady Hannah,” he said. “I was rude and dismissive when you were only trying to be kind. I should not have treated you so.”
He opened his mouth, nearly explaining his actions, but he stopped himself just in time. Lady Hannah didn’t need to know that he had been in low spirits remembering the woman who had broken his heart. So he settled on saying, “I reckon I must have woken up in a foul mood.”
Lady Hannah glanced at him, as if she noted his obvious lie. “It is already forgotten, Mr. Albertson. But if you are sorry, I know how you can make it up to me.”
He looked at her in slight surprise. “How?”
“You can go riding with me tomorrow morning. At dawn.”
Rowland stared at her. Following her lead, they had gone back down several hallways he’d already been through, but they took a turn he hadn’t taken before. Soon, they were approaching the grand staircase leading to the lower level. He wanted to ask her why she was so keen on going riding with him, but he swallowed the words. He doubted that would be very appropriate. English ladies were always trying to be proper, weren’t they?
But then, would a proper English lady ask me to go riding like she did? Is that normal?
Truthfully, he hadn’t a clue. It was all so confusing to him.
So he opted for his next question. “Why at dawn?”
“Riding through the brisk morning air is incredibly refreshing. To have the wind blowing through your hair while you inhale the country breeze...nothing will ever be as perfect.” She finished off with a sigh.
Rowland nodded. He hadn’t ridden at dawn before but he could already see the allure of it. “Then ride we shall.”
He caught her smile. She said nothing.
The silence lasted until they arrived at the dining room. She gave him a small curtsy when they parted, and took her place at her father’s side, across from her mother. The younger sisters were seated on their mother’s side, which left Rowland no choice but to sit next to Lady Hannah.
She didn’t look at him when he claimed his seat. He expected her to, but she only smiled warmly at her parents and sisters.
“Our guest was lost, Father,” she said by way of opening the conversation. “I found him wandering the hallways.”
“Oh, heavens,” said the Duchess. “How rude of us not to have given you a tour of the manor before you settled in. You must forgive us, Mr. Albertson.”
“It is quite all right,” Rowland said with a shake of his head. It also unnerved him how aware he was of the lady at his side, peacefully drinking her soup. “Lady Hannah has promised to show me around.”
“I fear he might come upon your torture chamber, Father,” Lady Hannah said in an utterly dry tone of voice.
The Duke of Gresham sighed. The Duchess of Gresham hid her smile behind her soup. Lady Rosamund and Lady Violet snickered to each other. Rowland didn’t know what to do.
“A torture chamber would be an interesting thing to see,” he said after a few moments had gone by in silence.
“My daughter likes to jest, Mr. Albertson,” the Duke said with apology in his voice. “I apologize on her behalf in advance.”
“There is nothing to apologize for, Your Grace,” Rowland said.
“I agree,” Lady Hannah chimed in. Her voice remained light. “I’m sure the future Duke of Gresham understands a joke when he hears one.”
Is that resentment in her voice at the mention of my status as heir?
He couldn’t tell.
“As you can see, Mr. Albertson,” said the Duchess. “We are a very close family. We value good relations over all, whether it be between ourselves or amongst our servants.”
Rowland did notice that the servants responded well in their company. “I see.”
“My daughter is an…interesting soul. I hope you two will get along well. You will be here for a long while, after all.”
Rowland desperately hoped there wasn’t a double meaning to her words, that she really meant what she said. He didn’t want to have to deal with the Duke and Duchess trying to pair him with their daughter. He had someone else he was in love with, someone who weighed heavily on his mind since the day he left New South Wales.
Perhaps that was why Lady Hannah made him so uncomfortable. She was a beautiful woman. There was no doubt about that. Perhaps his heart was feeling guilty for admiring another woman when he hadn’t properly gotten over his current love.
The conversation was light and easy. It swirled around him, drew him in a few times. He believed he was a decent guest during dinner, and it didn’t appear that he didn’t want to be there. In truth, his mind lingered on Miss Flynn. He thought of the last time he saw her, what a vision she had been. It pained him to know that when next he saw her, she would have moved on to someone else.
But then he looked at Lady Hannah, fleeting glances so as not to seem inappropriate, and when he glimpsed her flushed cheeks and bright eyes, he could almost forget about his sorrow.
Chapter 7
The next morning was colder than usual. Hannah was half-tempted to send word of her cancellation to Mr. Albertson, but she decided against it since she was almost halfway to the stables already. In truth, it was excitement that spurred her on, eagerness pushing her slowly chilling feet through the thickening fog.
Soon enough, the stables came into view. She could see the outlines of the stable hands running about, getting their jobs done despite the early morning countryside chill. Hannah slowed down, eyes darting to and fro until she spotted the person she was looking for.
He stood in the middle of the stables’ entrance, his hand on the reins of an already saddled horse. He was waiting for her and even though she had rushed from the manor to meet him, she came to a stop.
The weathe
r wrapped around him like a cape. If Hannah didn’t know better, she would have thought that he was the reason for the cold fog settled around them. He stood in the middle of it as if it didn’t bother him, as if he was in his element. His face was set as if in stone, his eyes hard and unyielding as they swept across the area before him, waiting for her arrival. When they landed on her, she still didn’t move. She only held his gaze, taken aback by the rush of warmth that went through her despite the chill in his gaze.
Blinking, Hannah pulled herself back to reality. She bridged the gap between them, plastering a smile on her face even though her heart was thumping madly in her chest. He only looked down at her, waiting for her to speak and for the first time ever, Hannah didn’t know what to say.
Courteously Seduced by an Enigmatic Duke: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 4