“I am,” she replied as she smoothed out her pale pink gown.
Kate glanced over at her. “Are you nervous?”
“I am not.”
“Why do you suppose that is?”
Hannah gave her a baffled look. “Pardon?”
“It has been my experience that meeting with a potential suitor can be rather nerve-racking,” Kate said.
“It is different with Lord Charles.”
Kate opened her mouth to say something but closed it when the man in question walked into the room. He bowed stiffly before greeting them. “It is a pleasure to see you lovely ladies again.”
Hannah gestured towards an upholstered armchair. “Would you care to take a seat, Lord Charles?”
“I would,” he replied as he stepped over to the chair. “Thank you for receiving me.”
“It is our pleasure,” Hannah acknowledged.
Lord Charles’s eyes roamed the drawing room. “It is lovely in here,” he shared. “My mother has overdecorated the drawing room at our townhouse.”
“Is that so?” Hannah asked.
He nodded. “She loves to collect trinkets from all over the world.”
“She must have a remarkable collection,” Kate said.
“I suppose so,” Lord Charles replied. “I’m afraid I don’t see the allure of the trinkets, but she started collecting them when my father was still alive. He would bring one home to her whenever he traveled.”
“That was rather sweet of him,” Hannah remarked.
“It was,” Lord Charles agreed. “I was most fortunate to grow up in a home filled with love and laughter.”
“We grew up in a similar fashion,” Kate admitted.
Lord Charles’s eyes grew reflective. “My father defied my grandfather by running off to Gretna Green with my mother.”
“What were their reservations?” Hannah inquired.
“My mother came from landed gentry,” he explained, “and my grandfather didn’t believe she was worthy of his son.”
“That is most unfortunate,” Kate murmured.
“Sadly, it took years before my grandfather accepted my mother,” Lord Charles explained. “He always seemed to blame her for the rift in the family.”
“How did your mother handle it?” Hannah asked.
Lord Charles smiled. “Brilliantly,” he replied. “She turned the other cheek and focused on her own family’s wellbeing.”
Kate bobbed her head. “I have always admired Lady Bideford,” she said. “I’ve found her to be a remarkable woman.”
“She can be rather assertive when it comes to Emma, but she only wants what is best for her,” Lord Charles shared.
Hannah gestured towards the teapot. “Would you care for some tea, my lord?”
Lord Charles shook his head. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I’m afraid I must decline.”
“How long has it been since your father passed away?” Kate asked.
“It has been about two years,” Lord Charles revealed.
Kate offered him a sad smile. “My condolences for your loss.”
“It has been a difficult journey, but it is one that we must all travel at some point,” Lord Charles remarked.
“The loss of a parent is never easy to deal with,” Kate said.
Lord Charles nodded. “All that I am, I owe to my father.” He grew silent for a long moment. “I apologize for the serious turn of this conversation.”
“You have no need to apologize,” Hannah assured him.
“Perhaps it might be best if I departed,” Lord Charles said.
“Must you?” Hannah asked.
Lord Charles rose from his chair. “I fear that I have taken too much of your time already. I would never want to outstay my welcome.”
“You have done no such thing,” Hannah asserted, rising.
“I hope this is not too presumptuous,” Lord Charles started, “but I hope to be able to call upon you tomorrow.”
Hannah gave him an encouraging smile. “I shall be looking forward to it.”
Lord Charles let out a sigh of relief. “You have no idea how happy you have made me by saying that.” He walked over to the open door and stopped. “Until tomorrow, Miss Blackmore.”
After Lord Charles departed from the room, Hannah sat back down and reached for her needlework. She started to pull the needle through the fabric when she noticed her sister eyeing her with concern.
“Whatever is the matter?” she asked.
Kate leaned back in her seat and said, “That was a rather interesting exchange between you and Lord Charles.”
“In what way?” Hannah asked.
“I have no doubt that Lord Charles is smitten with you, but I am unsure of your feelings towards him.”
“I already told you—”
“—that he is charming,” Kate said, finishing her sentence. “But that doesn’t answer my question.”
“I am not sure what you are asking of me.”
“Do you believe you could fall in love with Lord Charles?”
Hannah lowered her needlework to her lap, delaying her response. “In due time, I think there is a real possibility of that.”
“You don’t sound very convincing,” Kate pressed.
“I do not have to justify myself to you,” Hannah declared, rising.
“You are correct, but I just want to ensure you marry for love.”
“Why else would I marry?”
Kate rose and stood in front of her. “You must promise me that you will listen to your heart when the time comes for you to make a decision.”
“My heart has been wrong before,” Hannah admitted. “I am not sure I can trust it to make the right choice.”
Kate reached out and embraced her. “Don’t give up yet,” she murmured against Hannah’s hair. “Everything will work out the way it’s intended to.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
Leaning back, Kate met her gaze and remarked, “You must fight for what you truly want out of life.”
“If only it was that easy,” Hannah replied.
“Anything worth having in life takes hard work.”
Hannah stepped out of her sister’s arms. “You have always been the exceptionally wise sister,” she teased.
Kate laughed. “I won’t tell Amelia that you said that.”
Dressed in his black jacket and matching trousers, Martin descended the stairs and stepped into the entry hall.
Marianne stepped out of the drawing room and perused the length of him. “Did I miss the dinner bell?” she asked.
“No, I am having supper at Lord and Lady Berkshire’s,” he replied.
A small pout came to Marianne’s lips. “You are leaving me all alone to face our parents over dinner?”
“I do apologize, but it would have been rude to refuse Lord and Lady Berkshire’s invitation to dine with them.”
“That may
