“I wonder why that is,” Mr. Albertson said. He left it at that for the Prince to interpret.
Prince Viktor paled. He swallowed, looked away, scratched the back of his head. He did everything he could to avoid Mr. Albertson’s eyes. Hannah could not be certain if his reaction was because he had been caught by another man doing such a shameful thing, or because he was simply afraid of Mr. Albertson. She believed it might be both.
“Well…” Prince Viktor looked back at Hannah. She didn’t bother to hide her own animosity. “This was a lovely walk, Lady Hannah. I hope we can do it again?”
She only stared at him.
Did he really just say those words?
He cleared his throat again, and after a moment, scurried off. Lily’s cowering transformed into a full-fledged glare that she aimed at Prince Viktor as he hurried past.
Hannah looked at Mr. Albertson. “Thank you for that.”
“Did he hurt you?”
He hadn’t moved, still trembling in his anger.
Hannah shook her head. “No, he didn’t.” She didn’t think it would help much if he knew that her wrists were painfully throbbing. She clasped her hands behind her back, away from his eyes. “How did you know I was here?” she asked.
“I didn’t. I happened upon you two by chance.” He looked as if he was about to take a step forward, but decided against it.
Silence dragged on between them, which unnerved her. There was something off about him now, something she couldn’t describe. It wasn’t so much anger in his eyes anymore but...pain? Hannah couldn’t understand what she was seeing, but it served to warm her heart. Seeing him be so protective of her was something she didn’t realize she wanted to witness until now.
Before she had the chance to say anything, he nodded briskly. Hannah noted the telltale signs of retreat. “Wait, Mr. Albertson,” she said before he could leave. “Could you escort me back through the gardens?”
He thought about it for a moment before he nodded. Hannah’s heart leapt with excitement, all previous anger and terror fleeing. She wasn’t alone with him, was unable to kiss him and touch him the way she wanted to, but this was a start.
They started off in silence but Hannah wasn’t going to make that last long. “I’m happy you came when you did. Who knew what might have happened if you didn’t?”
“I might have had to kill him,” Mr. Albertson said.
Hannah looked at him in shock. “What?”
He looked back at her and it took her a moment to catch the twinkle in his eye. “I’m merely jesting, My Lady. Is that not what you do when you’re uncomfortable?”
She couldn’t laugh. “I don’t do that when I’m uncomfortable. I do that when you’re uncomfortable.”
“I’m never uncomfortable around you, My Lady.”
The words warmed her chest. It was incredible how quickly her mood changed when she was around the right person. “Is that so? You never really made that clear when you first came here. I thought you didn’t like being in my company. Now, I know that isn’t altogether true.”
Mr. Albertson didn’t acknowledge the hidden words with anything but a smile. “If you continue like that, My Lady, your maid might attempt to take my life.”
Hannah laughed. “She’s merely wary of you. But I think today’s rescue might have given you a few extra points.”
“I truly hope it did.”
Hannah laughed. He was back to his usual self again. Hannah liked him like this. Laughing, joking, and as fond of her as she was of him.
Chapter 21
Hannah sat between Prince Viktor and Mr. Albertson and she thought the tension would stifle her. It was emanating more from one side than the other. Mr. Albertson was hot with anger in the Prince’s presence and Prince Viktor could feel it just as much as Hannah could. He was almost trembling in his seat.
Hannah tried to pretend everything was fine. The Prince wouldn’t be here for long. In a few days, he was off to visit the Duke of Jonesburg as he had stated, and so she thought it was in everyone’s best interest that they end on a positive note. She swallowed her own hatred for the Prince, hoping that the Duke and Duchess wouldn’t notice that something was amiss.
It was easier said than done. Prince Viktor had the gall to speak to her as if nothing had happened, despite the imposing man on the other side of Hannah waiting for any excuse to throttle him. Her own rage intensified at the Prince’s audacity but she answered him with a sickly sweet smile and a happy tone. She played her usual role, ensuring that conversation flowed easily around the table, and the Prince lapped it up eagerly.
Hannah didn’t think her father noticed the tension between the three of them. The Duchess certainly did. Hannah caught her staring at her a few times, one brow crooked in question. Hannah made a mental note to tell her everything that happened when she could. For now, they only had to survive dinner.
Prince Viktor jabbered on. She wondered if he realized he was sweating, if his fear of Mr. Albertson was that potent. The sight satisfied her more than it should have. And Mr. Albertson’s rage made her belly tense with heat. As much as she tried not to sneer at the Prince, she also tried her best not to fawn over the man on her other side.
Dinner went by smoother than Hannah expected it to. When it was over, she got to her feet as quickly as she could, wanting to be away from Prince Viktor. He seemed to have the same thought because he shot to his feet and approached the Duke, eagerly asking him to go have a drink in the parlor.
Or perhaps he was running from Mr. Albertson. That would be just as likely, if not more.
“Why don’t we have Mr. Albertson join us?”
Hannah’s eyes snapped to her father at the question. Silence descended in the room at the question sunk in. The Duchess’ eyes darted back and forth between her husband and Mr. Albertson.
“Mr. Albertson?” said the Duke, oblivious to what was going on.
“Yes, yes, that would be lovely!” the Prince barked, laughing loudly. “Come, Mr. Albertson, join us in the parlor for a glass.”
Hannah looked at Mr. Albertson. He was stiff, his eyes boring into the Prince. Hannah looked back at Prince Viktor in time to see him swallow.
Finally, he responded, “Lead the way.”
Prince Viktor clapped his hand more enthusiastically than was necessary and began to lead the way out the room. Miss Jolley came to collect Lady Rosamund and Lady Violet, which left only Hannah and the Duchess.
Her Grace approached her. “What is the matter, Hannah?”
“Mother,” Hannah said with a sigh. “There is much you need to know about.”
The Duchess nodded. “My bedchamber, then.”
Hannah began to follow her mother. They rarely ever met in her bedchamber so Hannah knew her mother was aware of the seriousness of the conversation they were about to have. They said nothing as they made their way there and once the doors were closed, the Duchess sat at her vanity table, crossed her ankles underneath the chair and said, “Now, what happened?”
“The Prince nearly took advantage of me earlier today when we were going through the gardens.”
“What?” The Duchess of Gresham lurched to her feet with all the anger of a woman ready to kill. “How dare he!”
“Mother, you don’t have to worry,” Hannah said. She had expected this much of a reaction. She had gotten her temper from her mother, though Hannah’s was less fiery. “It’s already been taken care of.”
“Taken care of?” Confusion dimmed her rage and she sank back into the seat. “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you see at dinner? Mr. Albertson looked about ready to pummel the Prince every time he opened his mouth. He was the one who caught him attempting to...well…”
The Duchess’ eyes went wide. “Did he…”
“No, he didn’t hurt him in any way. He didn’t have to. Prince Viktor was so afraid of him that he just ran away on his own. He could hardly look at him during dinner.” Hannah looked at the door in thought. “It makes me wonder how the
y’re faring right now.”
“Well, I’m sure you’re father is getting to the bottom of it right now.”
Hannah looked at her mother. “Why do you think that? It didn’t look like Father noticed what was happening.”
“Your father is more observant than that, dear,” the Duchess said with a chuckle. “Give him a little more credit. I have no doubt he saw what was happening at the table and thought that having those two in the same room was the best way of getting to the bottom of things.”
“Mr. Albertson might do something rash,” Hannah murmured.
“Do you think so? I wonder why he’s so protective of you.”
Hannah pulled her shoulders back, refusing to let her mother see how much her words surprised her. “Any gentleman would be upset to see a lady’s honor being tarnished, don’t you think, Mother?”
The Duchess shrugged delicately. “I suppose that’s an easy enough excuse as to what is really at play here.”
“If you want to hear me say that I am growing fond of Mr. Albertson, then there, I’ve said it.”
Hannah’s cheeks warmed at the confession. It was only her mother, she knew, and they were close. But it was the first time she’d admitted that to anyone but herself. She wondered when she would have the courage to say those words to Mr. Albertson himself.
The Duchess didn’t look surprised at all. “Hannah, darling, you know you are horrible at keeping your emotions to yourself. Your father and I already suspected that you did. And we suspect that Mr. Albertson has feelings for you, too, though he does make it a little more difficult to identify.”
“You do?” Hannah sat up, perkily. She didn’t care that she was overly eager. Her mother didn’t know the true nature of her thoughts, the fact that she couldn’t think of Mr. Albertson without imagining him naked, his hot body pressed against hers, his lips on her neck, his hands touching her most intimate parts.
No, her mother would only think that she was blushing out of innocence, not out of lust.
“I do believe so, my dear,” Her Grace continued. “And I’m not saying that so you can do something unimaginably daring.”
“Unimaginably daring?” Hannah scoffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course, you don’t.” The Duchess decided to leave it at that and Hannah was grateful. She was fast growing too comfortable, and any longer, she just might express to her mother how much she wanted Mr. Albertson on a physical level as she did an emotional one.
No, those thoughts should only be said to Mr. Albertson himself. She liked to imagine what he would do if she told him her deepest thoughts, what he would say. She believed he would be taken aback by her candidness, but his eyes might flare with heat, his breath hitching.
Her own heart thumped remembering the way he had showed up before Prince Viktor could do something to her. Hannah thought about that moment over and over again, enjoying the way it made her feel to see his anger, to know how upset he had been when he had seen what was happening. He cared for her, she was sure of it.
Hannah liked to think that she would take advantage of his surprise and kiss him the way she wanted to. Not like the last kiss they had but with as much fire as was raging inside her.
When would she get the chance? Her mother’s words bolstered her confidence, so much so that Hannah was tempted to go looking for him. If she wasn’t sure that he was with her father and the prince, she might have done it. He had almost kissed her again today in the library before the Prince asked for her company. Hannah wanted to finish what they started.
When I get him alone again, I’m not going to let the opportunity go by.
Chapter 22
Hannah didn’t see Mr. Albertson again. She found herself lingering in the hallways near the parlor they had disappeared into until she realized how foolish she was being and left. Lily followed her constantly, her silence a stark reminder of her disapproval. But she knew she would say nothing about it and she was grateful.
In fact, she had to force herself to head to her bedchamber once night fell. She refused to be irrational with her feelings, knowing that if she was too eager with him, he would only want to run.
Or would he be more drawn to her? Oh goodness, she didn’t know what to do.
Her mind told her to be careful with her feelings. She knew it wouldn’t be wise to push too hard only to be hurt in the end.
But her body wanted to push as much as she could. Her body wanted things she’d never had before and having Mr. Albertson constantly on her mind didn’t make things any easier for her. If anything, the urge to chase him grew more tempting.
Sleep. Sleep should clear my mind.
Hannah nodded to herself, making up her mind even though she was already on her way to her bedchamber. She said nothing to Lily and Lily said nothing to her. The silent trip was instead filled with tempting thoughts that she forced herself to turn away from.
Would she see him in her dreams? Hannah hoped so. At least, in her dreams there might be a chance of finishing that kiss earlier.
Hannah’s mind weighed so heavily on Mr. Albertson that the process of preparing for bed went by unnoticed. She nodded absentmindedly when Lily bid her goodnight and she padded her to her bed, bending to put out the candle.
The room was plunged into darkness. Hannah sat atop the sheets, staring out the window. She wasn’t going to go to bed. When she glanced outside, she remembered the late night trips Mr. Albertson made to the woods and her determination to catch him grew.
It was a welcome reprieve, thinking of what he could possibly be doing in those woods. It shielded the true thoughts that bothered her, her yearning for a man who was unsure of her. Instead of focusing on her ever-growing feelings for him, Hannah decided to focus on something she didn’t know, the mystery of his nightly trips.
She didn’t know how much time passed. After a while, her mind wandered to other things. She allowed herself to picture how it would be to be courted by Mr. Albertson, for him to ask for her hand in marriage.
Imagine the things we could do once we are married. Imagine how amazing it will feel to have him on top of me…
The thought had her face growing warm. Hannah threw her hands over her cheeks, unable to keep the smile from her face. All these naughty thoughts were only making her all the more determined to have him.
Hannah was so caught up with her daydreams that she almost missed him. She jumped to her feet, hurrying over to the window. Sure enough, she recognized Mr. Albertson’s broad shoulders as he made his way to the cover of the woods.
Hannah didn’t hesitate. Within seconds, she had her shoes on and she was hurrying out the door. She didn’t know if any servants were milling around still and she didn’t stop or care. If she was just a second too late, she might miss him like last time and she didn’t want that to happen.
Thankfully, the entire manor seemed to be asleep as she made it outside. Hannah was panting by that time, but she supposed she had moved fast enough because when she finally exited the manor, she just barely caught sight of him disappearing into the darkness of the woods.
Hannah followed. She wasn’t running fully, but she did hurry as best she could, taking care not to pant too loudly lest he hear it. Though the moonlight couldn’t seep past the cover of the trees, she kept her eyes on him as best as she could. If she lost him, she didn’t know if she’d be able to find him again.
Soon enough, she made it to the entrance of the woods and she caught sight of him walking beneath a swath of moonlight. She hurried forward, taking care not to step on any loose branches. She caught up with him but kept a safe distance behind.
What is he doing here?
Mr. Albertson was walking with purpose, as if he was trying to get somewhere within a reasonable time. Hannah managed not to lose him but soon enough, she was lost herself. She knew that if she stopped following him right now, she wouldn’t know how to make it back. The thought pushed her forward, since she didn’t have much of a choice.
Mr. Albertson’s steps began to slow. Hannah’s heart thudded.
Are we arriving at the destination?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Hannah saw him come to a stop. He put his hands on his hips and took a deep breath. He was standing in a small clearing where there was enough moonlight for her to see clearly enough. She paused behind a tree, watching him as he just stood there.
After a short while, he sat on a large stone by a tree. He didn’t do anything else but rest his back on the rough bark and let out another sigh.
Hannah frowned. Did he come here to…think?
In truth, she didn’t know what she expected to see. Half of her wondered if he was meeting with someone, but Mr. Albertson didn’t go out to the town very often and she’d never seen him talk to any of the servants. As far as she knew, the only people he really knew were her and her family.
Courteously Seduced By An Enigmatic Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 14