Page 53 of The Earl’s Hoyden

Hannah shook her head.

Elizabeth cast her a concerned glance. “We’ve already seen Madame Saqui perform. There is no reason for us to stay.”

“Aside from the fireworks, you mean.” Hannah waved off the implied suggestion that they should depart. Everyone knew the best part of Vauxhall was the fireworks. “It’s been a delightful time, and I’m not at all inclined to depart early.”

Elizabeth acquiesced with hesitation and strode out into the night once more toward the narrow hall that would lead them to her father’s supper box. As she rounded a corner, she gave a slight gasp and deftly slid out of the way, inadvertently allowing Hannah to careen into the person Elizabeth had narrowly avoided.

“Forgive me,” a familiar voice said as Hannah staggered back. “Are you hurt, Miss Bexley?”

She gazed up at Lord Brightstone. His face was so shadowed, she couldn’t see the shade of his eyes, though she knew them to be the most beautiful blue she’d ever become lost in. Of all the awful luck.

“I’m fine.” Her voice was soft, breathy. All the more embarrassing, and she wished she could have a second chance to redo the moment.

“I wondered if you were free for a few minutes to speak?” he asked abruptly.

Hannah glanced to the retiring room behind her. “Were you following me?”

His eyes went wide. “No. No, this was a mere coincidence. A happy one.”

“It looks like a nice evening for a walk,” Elizabeth said cheerfully.

The evening was about as nice for taking a stroll as the tundra was for a ballroom.

Elizabeth shrugged as if realizing her suggestion was preposterous.

“Please,” Lucien said. “I wish to explain myself, as I failed to do in our previous discussion.”

Hannah bit her lip. Wasn’t it better to cast him from her thoughts, from her heart?

Or was meeting with him giving her a chance for a different life? One where she didn’t have to hang onto the hope that her friends would end up spinsters, especially when the likelihood was so slim.

Would she deprive Elizabeth of a chance at living her own romance? Or keep Amy from having the children she craved? Or Lucy the chance for a partner who might settle her wild manner? And poor Jillian didn’t seem to have a choice in the matter, especially if her father had his way.

Perhaps it was for all those reasons that Hannah nodded. “Yes, I would like that.”

“I’ll fetch your wrap,” Elizabeth said quickly, dashing off before Hannah could stop her.

In the second that it took her to retrieve the heavy wrap, Hannah and Lucien were entirely alone. Lucien. Because with him standing before her, tall and handsome and so achingly familiar, it was impossible to think of him so formally as Lord Brightstone.

“Thank you for agreeing to walk with me,” he said in that thoughtful, quiet voice of his. It soothed a part of her she hadn’t realized needed quieting until it was done.

There were many attributes about Lucien that appealed to her, and in these last few days of their distance, she had missed every one.

Elizabeth practically ran toward them, no doubt worried Hannah would change her mind if too much time passed, and almost threw the wrap around Hannah’s shoulders.

“Take your time.” Elizabeth grinned at them and waved.

Hannah tossed her an incredulous look, to which Elizabeth merely giggled in reply before leaving them alone once more. Lucien offered her his arm, which she accepted. The superfine wool was smooth beneath her gloved hand, his warmth evident and comforting.

The wind hit them like ice outside, but they both ignored its wrath and strolled as though the sun were dappling a spring garden before them. Even still, the frigid air was not enough to dampen the distinct scent of whale oil used to light the various colored lamps.

“I care for you, Hannah,” Lucien said. “Incredibly so. I’ve missed your presence these last few days.”

Well. She hadn’t expected that. Doubt crept over her like armor.

Was the compliment simply part of his need to make up for what he told her about her father? Or—worse still—the humiliating confession she’d thrown spitefully at him?

“You needn’t flatter me,” she said rigidly.