He reached the main level and looked around. Where were his grandfather’s servants? By now, he should have seen at least one maid hurrying toward a room, or one groomsman strutting by. Listening, he hoped that voices would lead him toward someone in the house. Suddenly, his grandfather’s deep baritone laugh broke through the silence.
Maverick hitched a breath. He couldn’t remember the last time he heard his grandfather laugh. The man must be going senile in his old age.
Hurrying down the hall toward the sound, he came closer to the sitting room where Gramps took most of his visitors. Before he turned the corner to enter the room, he heard a woman’s light laugh – as if angels were strumming their harps. Maverick’s heart softened, and he smiled. My Hannah.
He slowed his step and entered. Across the room, standing near the pianoforte, stood his beautiful Hannah. Grandfather was showing her some paintings on the wall, but Maverick didn’t give a hoot about the paintings. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the most beautiful gown he’d ever seen.
Once again, he didn’t dare ask the older man where these clothes could have possibly come from, but instead, Maverick admired the way the turquoise and greenish silk scarf-looking fabric draped across her sensual figure. She could have been the Queen of Egypt because she looked as elegant as any royal lady would.
The sparkling turquoise bodice and length of the gown fit her body perfectly, and the light-green scarves were used as sleeves and an outer-skirt. Lighter silk flowed down the back of her, from the small bustle, down to a short train at her feet. She wore elbow-length gloves that tied up her arms, finishing the ensemble of her royalty gown.
Her hair looked so soft and shiny as it cascaded down her back. The sides of her hair were pulled back away from her face and pinned with diamond-studded combs. She wore dangling silver earbobs, but that was the only piece of jewelry on her. It didn’t matter. Her beauty enhanced the elegance surrounding her.
For a moment, he’d forgotten to breathe, so he inhaled deeply and then released an audible sigh. That had been the very thing to alert the other two in the room of his presence.
Hannah was the first to swing around toward him. Her gaze briefly met his eyes before she looked over his attire. Although he felt dapper in his black suit jacket, matching vest and trousers, accompanied by a white shirt and brown string-tie, there was no way he’d look good standing next to her.
“Maverick,” she sighed as she slowly came toward him. “You look so handsome.”
He shook his head and met her halfway, taking her hands loosely in his as he stared deeply into her emerald eyes. “And you’re breathtaking.”
Her cheeks flamed red. “Your grandfather’s housekeeper had this gown, and she let me wear it.”
Maverick doubted that the older woman with the thick waist who held the title of Mr. Winchester’s housekeeper would ever fit into a gown that size. “This dress was made for you.”
Gramps’ chuckles grew closer until the man stood by Maverick. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from Hannah to look at his grandfather.
“I couldn’t agree with you more.” He tapped his hand on Maverick’s shoulder. “This gown was made for this lovely woman.”
Maverick needed to do something to snap out of the trance her beauty had put him under. The only thing he could think about doing was lifting her hands to his mouth and kissing her knuckles – one hand at a time. Their gazes held during this time, and the color in her eyes softened. How could one woman be so gorgeous?
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Wonderful,” she sighed.
His heartbeat skipped happily. “Does your head still hurt?”
She shook her head. “The nap I took helped. I don’t even feel achy.” She paused. “How about you? How are your ribs?”
“They feel better, too.”
“Good, then maybe tonight we can enjoy ourselves so that I can get to know Mr. Winchester better.”
Gramps laughed. “Hannah, dear, you may call me grandfather. After all, we’re almost family.”
Maverick smiled. Her eyes lit up, and she glanced at the older man. “Thank you. I don’t remember my grandfather.”
“Now...” Gramps slapped his palms together and rubbed his hands quickly, “let’s adjourn into the dining room. I believe Master Chester is ready to serve us our meal.”
“Master Chester?” she asked.
Maverick laughed. “That’s what Gramps calls his cook. The man makes food like you’re in Italy, but he was born and raised in Texas.”
As Gramps led the way to the dining room, Maverick slipped an arm around Hannah’s waist and walked beside her. He still had a difficult time taking his eyes off her. Right now, all he could think about was how grateful he was that she was here with him instead of with Bryan. In fact, today was the day that Bryan was going to marry her.
Maverick would never let that happen.
During dinner, the mood lightened quite a bit. He didn’t feel as nervous, and thankfully, he didn’t stare at Hannah like a love-struck adolescent. The conversations flowed freely, and he was pleased that his grandfather was minding his own business and not trying to control the evening. Still... there was time for Gramps to go back to the man Maverick had grown up with.
After the meal of roasted duck, red potatoes, and steamed carrots, they wandered into the music room. Maverick was sure his grandfather had something up his sleeves – since there wasn’t a time that the older man didn’t try something sneaky.
“Hannah, dear,” Gramps said, pointing toward the grand piano. “Do you play?”
“No. I never possessed that talent.”
“I would be happy to give you lessons if you’re interested.”
Maverick hitched a breath and narrowed his eyes on the older man. Who was he, and
