by Dawn Brower
“In that you’d be correct,” he said as he reached inside his jacket. Lord Warwick pulled out a tin flask and removed the lid. He lifted it toward her in salute and took a swig of its contents. The strong odor of liquor greeted her and she barely repressed the urge to lift her hand to her nose to block it. “Would you like a drink?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “Thank you but I don’t imbibe strong spirits.”
Was he drunk? A gentleman didn’t offer a lady anything stronger than sherry. There was a part of her that was rather curious about the contents. The opportunity to taste a man’s liquor had never arisen before. Her inquisitive nature would be her undoing one day.
“Your loss,” he said and took another drink. “It’s the good stuff too. Some of the finest brandy France as to offer.”
Hannah frowned. “Isn’t it illegal to have that?”
“Not at all,” he said dismissively. “It’s smuggling that is illegal.”
She wasn’t sure either way. Perhaps he was correct in his assessment. Still, she’d look into it further. She hated not knowing something with certainty. Lord Warwick’s fast growing drunken state though was something she must be concerned with. If he kept drinking he might not be able to make it inside the castle on his own. Perhaps it was time to recommend they reconvene indoors.
“We missed you at the evening meal last night,” she said. “Did you have another invitation?”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” he said with a wink. “But in truth I can’t abide Lady Corinne.” Lord Warwick shuddered. “That woman is a veritable shrew.”
Hannah wished she could find an excuse to skip the daily meals. Lady Corinne was making her life miserable and made it no secret that she hoped to marry Garrick. Although, if his reaction at dinner was anything to go by, Lady Corinne didn’t stand a chance in gaining his favorable regard. Perhaps someone should tell the lady she was pushing men away. Hannah refused to be the bearer of that particular bit of news. The lady in question wouldn’t take it well and would definitely take it out on the messenger. There were far better things she could do with her time than deal with the likes of Lady Corinne.
“No need to explain,” she said in a conspiratorial tone. “I understand completely. The heat is becoming rather bothersome. Perhaps we should reconvene inside.”
She hoped he took her suggestion to heart. He took another drink of the brandy in his flask and stored it inside his pocket. If it was at all possible his eyes seemed to become even more glazed.
“You may be correct,” he agreed and swayed a little bit. “It is rather sweltering right now.”
Thank heaven for small favors. “Would you care to escort me?”
He nodded and stepped toward her, but swayed a bit. Lord Warwick flailed his arms out as he tried to regain his balance and ultimately lost. He fell face forward into the nearest rose bush. Shouts echoed through the air as he struggled to regain his equilibrium and fumble out of the bush.
“Bloody thorns,” he cursed.
He rolled away from a bush bursting with dark pink blooms and into one dotted with red tipped white buds. Lord Warwick landed on his knees on the path in front of them. Scratches covered his left cheek and the corner of his jacket was torn from his efforts to free himself from the bush. Hannah repressed the urge to laugh at his struggle.
“I’m sorry,” she said covering her mouth or else she’d burst out laughing. “Perhaps if we’d gone in sooner...”
He glared up at her from his position on the ground. The poor man looked every inch the disreputable rake kneeling before her. She really should help him to his feet, but where would the fun be in that. This should be a lesson to him about the evils of too much drink.
“Have a heart, my dear,” he said earnestly. “and please give me your hand.”
A giggle escaped from between her lips. “My lord...”
“What the blazes is going on here,” Garrick bellowed.
She hadn’t heard him approaching she’d been so engrossed in Lord Warwick’s predicament. Where the deuce had he come from? Hannah glanced up at met his thunderous gaze. Why was he so angry? What reason could he possibly have to be irate at either her or Lord Warwick.
“Manchester,” Lord Warwick said. “Be a saint and help a friend up. Miss Knight has refused.”
“As well she should,” he nearly growled. “What are you thinking?”
Lord Warwick patted his coat and pulled out his flask draining the contents. He patted it several times but no more poured out. “Blast its empty.”
“Are you drunk?” Garrick stormed forward. “I suppose this little scene makes a bit more sense.”
Lord Warwick groaned and hobbled to his feet. Hannah stared back and forth between the two men. She didn’t understand any of their exchange. What did Garrick think was happening between herself and Lord Warwick? They had been innocently conversing nothing more.
“My lord,” she said approaching Garrick. “Perhaps you would be kind enough to see your friend inside. I’m afraid he might lose his balance again and demolish another set of rose bushes on his way inside.”
Lord Warwick glared at her. “You’re only concern is for the blasted bushes? What about my poor face and the tattered sleeve on my jacket.”
Her lips tilted upward at his remark. “You’re fine, my lord. In time your face will heal and the jacket can be mended if you wish. I can do so myself if need be.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Garrick bellowed. “That’s what we have servants for.”
He was acting most strangely. Garrick didn’t seem to like that she was anywhere near his friend. Did it have something to do with their fencing several days ago? Was he still mad about it? She’d thought that they’d resolved it and he agreed to fence with her himself when the urge arose. Perhaps she should just walk away and let them be. If she stayed much longer she might lose her temper and say something she might regret.
“Leave the girl be,” Lord Warwick said. “She’s being kind.” He turned toward her and said softly, “It’s unnecessary, my dear. I have other jackets. My pride is hurt more than anything. Don’t fret over my poor decisions.” He bowed. “If you’ll both excuse me I’m going to find my way to my chambers and sleep off my over indulgence. If I don’t see you again please accept my apologies.”
With those words he stumbled away from them and headed inside the castle. There was something bothering the viscount but Hannah couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. He’d been charming for sure, but a darkness shadowed his eyes and kept happiness at bay. Why else drink so heavily during the day? She wished she could help him to erase his demons.
“What is going on between you two,” Garrick asked harshly. “He won’t marry you. He doesn’t have the follow through.”
She spun on her heels and faced him. “I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t wish to wed him or any other man then.”
“Why was he on his knees before you?”
Had he believed Lord Warwick had proposed marriage between the two of them? The urge to laugh filled her once more and this time she couldn’t hold it back. Her chuckles filled the air as she held her hand over her stomach. It hurt so much from her laugher she couldn’t stop herself from bending over. The idea of her and Lord Warwick—why would he have thought something so ridiculous.
“He fell...” She wiped tears from her eyes. Her cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. “...into the rose bushes.”
Garrick frowned. “I realize that. He mentioned his jacket was torn.”
“Then why are you wasting my time?” She lifted a brow. “You must realize that he had to crawl out of them.”
“But he asked you...”
“For help to his feet,” she interrupted him. “Nothing more.”
Garrick stared at the path Lord Warwick had taken toward the castle and scrunched his eyebrows together. “I misread everything.”
It was an easy enough thing to do. Lord Warwick’s actions and words did lead to misinterpretation.
She might have done the same thing in Garrick’s place.
“Yes,” she agreed. “I think you owe your friend an apology. Although for the life of me I don’t understand why you were so angry.”
He turned and faced her. “Don’t you?” Garrick quirked a brow.
Hannah bit her lip. Perhaps she did understand a little. There was something unspoken between the two of them. If he’d been on his knees before another woman she might have jumped to the wrong conclusion too. Whatever were they going to do with each other? They either had to take a leap and admit their feelings or let each other go and never look back. Both options terrified her.
“I don’t have a clue what you mean.” Bravery wouldn’t fill her this day. She wasn’t ready yet to face her feelings for him. Not aloud anyway. “If you’ll excuse me I’m going inside to rest.”
“Running won’t change what’s inside of you,” he said confidently.
“But it will give me time to figure it out.”
She left him standing in the garden path. It took every inch of her will to not look back at him. If she had she wouldn’t have been able to continue. One day she’d open up and spill out everything inside of her. One day all of her dreams would come true. One day...
***
Hannah rushed into the castle a little out of breath. She leaned against a wall and closed her eyes. That little interaction with Garrick had opened her eyes. He’d come to some sort of decision about her. About them. What it was she didn’t quite know and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to. There was something a little different in his gaze. Seeing her and Lord Warwick together must have caused him to make a snap decision. It didn’t matter that he had jumped to an erroneous conclusion.
“I saw what you were doing.”
Hannah opened her eyes and sighed. What had she done to be subjected to the mercy of Lady Corinne? Had she not given enough in the collection plate at church? Perhaps she’d inadvertently snubbed the wrong person or even accidentally kicked a puppy. Either way she had paid for it in spades over the past couple of years. First with her parents, then her awful cousin, and now Lady Corinne.
“Running?” She quirked a brow. “It’s unlady like I realize, but it is exhilarating. You should try it sometime. It might bring some much needed color to your porcelain cheeks.”
Lady Corinne was lovely and her skin was a nice shade of alabaster. She didn’t believe in spending any time outside and it showed. There wasn’t any color on her pale face. Hannah hadn’t been lying when she suggested she partake in a bit of exercise. It might give those around her the false impression of warmth when the lady had none to speak of.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lady Corinne said. “I’d never do anything so crude.”
“That’s your choice of course,” Hannah replied. “I rather enjoy it myself.”
Hannah turned to walk away from Lady Corinne. She didn’t particularly want to become involved in a discussion of any kind with her. She would undoubtedly chastise her in depth. There were far more important things she could do instead.”
“It won’t work,” she said abruptly.
Hannah stopped in her tracks and met Lady Corinne’s gaze. She was probably going to regret this but she had to know. “Please explain exactly what it is you think won’t work.”
“Neither one of them will offer for you.”
Was she referring to Garrick and Lord Warwick? What exactly had she witnessed to make her come to any conclusion regarding either man? “I’m not sure I’m following you.”
“Lord Manchester won’t marry you,” she scoffed. “He’s meant for me.”
Hannah laughed. She couldn’t help herself. “Does he know this?”
“Laugh all you want,” she said haughtily. “You’ll see soon enough. Our betrothal is in the works.”
Hannah doubted it but it wasn’t her place to say. Lady Corinne would find out in time that she wasn’t going to marry Garrick. The little she was able to ascertain he had no intention of becoming attached to her. She wondered at times if he even liked the lady.
“Believe as you wish,” she said. “If it’s what you both want I hope you’re happy.”
Lady Corinne smiled smugly. “It is and I can’t wait for us to marry.” She leaned in closer. “I’ve loved him from afar forever.”
It was like she picked up a hot poker and shoved it through her heart. Those were her words. Her feelings. Did she realize how much they hurt her to say them? Hannah had loved Garrick since the first moment she’d laid her gaze upon him. He’d been so beautiful and so kind to her.
“Good day to you,” Hannah nodded her head and turned to leave.
“Lord Warwick won’t have you either.”
Why was Lady Corinne determined to have a disagreement with her? What did she gain from such an endeavor? She pasted a smile on her face and glanced back at her.
“Then I suppose it’s fortuitous that I don’t wish to marry him.”
Lady Corinne snorted. Talk about unladylike... “I saw him in the garden with you. He was on his knees before you. Nothing you could say would convince me he wasn’t asking for your hand. But you have to know he’d never go through with it. He was and probably still is deeply in love with another woman. She spurned him and left him broken hearted.”
“The poor man,” Hannah said as she lifted her hand to her heart. “He must have been devastated.”
Her heart broke for him. No wonder he was drinking so heavily. It must be his way of numbing his pain. She’d speak with him further when she next saw him. He needed a friend who would listen and she’d try to be that for him.
“Don’t play coy with me,” Lady Corinne said derisively. “I know what you’re up to. You can’t have Lord Manchester so you’re setting your cap for the next best thing—a viscount. Go away and find someone else to dig your claws into.”
Hannah shook her head. This girl was ridiculous. She didn’t want Hannah gone to protect Lord Warwick. She wanted her to leave because she would have Garrick all to herself. Well the joke was on her. Hannah wasn’t going anywhere just yet. She had to wait to hear from the solicitor. Once she had an idea of when she’d next receive funds she’d make plans to leave the castle.
“It’s his decision who he decides to be friends with,” Hannah replied. “Unless he tells me to my face to never speak to him again I’m going to continue to do so. If you’ll pardon me I am going to retire to my chambers until our next meal. Good day,” Hannah curtsied and walked slowly away from Lady Corinne. She would not do anything less and let her know she’d hit a sore spot with her.
CHAPTER NINE
Garrick read over the missive he’d received for the hundredth time that day. The contents changed everything and he wasn’t ready for that. He’d thought he’d made a decision and had even begun to make plans, but he’d believed he had more time. He was foolish for not doing something sooner. Now he might lose the one thing he wanted more than anything. Ultimately it wasn’t his choice to make. Still he’d keep it to himself for the moment until he was able to fully process the ramifications of it.
He had to get out of the castle. He had been hiding in his study long enough. To be fair he hadn’t exactly been hiding. But working for hours on end on the accounts had begun to take its toll. It was time to get some fresh air and break free for a while. Perhaps he would visit some of the tenants and see how they fared. A nice ride would help bring life back to his muddled brain.
He stood and left his study to change into his riding attire. As he exited the room he bumped into Lord Warwick. His friend was starting to look more and more haggard as the days past. After the incident in the garden he’d kept tabs on him. The servants claimed he drank excessively and kept his flask full. He appeared sober at present but his eyes were rimmed red.
“Where are you off to?” he asked.
“I’m going to visit the tenants and appraise myself on the welfare of my lands.”
Should he ask if he’d like to join him? He wasn’t sure War
wick could handle the ride it would entail to travel the entirety of his lands. His friend needed something but he wasn’t sure what. Until he willingly opened up to him he couldn’t even begin to help.
“Good, good,” he said absentmindedly. “You should do that.”
Garrick tilted his head and asked, “What are you about to do?”
“I...” Warwick frowned. “I’m not sure. I might nap.”
Movement caught Garrick’s attention. He glanced up and noticed Lady Corinne heading in their direction. Great. Just what he needed. The lady wasn’t about to let him escape easily.
“Fair warning Lady Corinne is heading in our direction,” Garrick said under his breath.
Neither one of them seemed to care for the lady. Warwick stood up straight and prepared himself to face Lady Corinne. The weary look in his eye changed to something more primal. It was the one that exclaimed to the world nothing would beat him down and not pay a hefty price. If there was one thing Garrick could be thankful to Lady Corinne for it was that. Defying her gave Warwick some sort of bizarre purpose.
“I’m so glad I found you both,” she said excitedly.
“Oh?” Warwick quirked a brow. “Whatever for?”
“Lady Manchester wants to have a ball.”
“Here?” Garrick said. “Has she lost her mind? We can’t afford that kind of expenditure.”
The excitement fell off of Lady Corinne’s face. “But...”
“No,” Garrick said firmly. “It’s not happening. I’m barely keeping the estate afloat as it is. I’ll tell her myself.”
Warwick held his hand up and prevented him from moving past them. “Not now Manchester,” he said. “You have more important things to do. I can relay the message for you if you wish.”
He shook his head. “She won’t listen to you. It has to come from me.”
“Please reconsider, my lord.” Lady Corinne’s bottom lip jutted outward as she attempted to pout. “It would be ever so much fun.”