The coach jerked to a stop and dipped to the side as a footman stepped off his perch. Then, he opened the door and assisted them out.
Hannah admired the storefront of the milliner’s shop as she stepped onto the pavement. “Perhaps we should purchase a new hat first.”
“Didn’t you just buy a new hat?” Kate asked.
“That was nearly a month ago,” Hannah defended.
“I stand corrected.”
“Besides, a woman can never have too many hats.”
Kate laughed. “I daresay you have more hats than you can wear in a lifetime.”
“That’s not true,” she argued. “Besides, most of my hat collection comes from Mother; and I’ve simply altered them over the years to make them more fashionable.”
“Fair enough,” Kate said. “If hats make you happy, then who am I to judge?”
“That is kind of you, sister,” Hannah remarked good-naturedly.
Kate looped her arm through Hannah’s. “Let us begin at the milliner’s, then,” she declared as she led the way into the shop.
As they stepped inside, Hannah’s eyes roamed over the broad assortment of hats on display. Three tables were set up with bonnets, caps, turbans, and straw hats, ranging from simple to extravagant.
“Look at all these new hats for me to admire,” Hannah remarked in a giddy voice.
A portly woman with black hair approached them with a smile on her face. “Good morning, ladies,” she greeted. “It is always a pleasure to see my two favorite customers.”
Hannah returned the shopkeeper’s smile. “You are looking well.”
“Thank you, Miss Hannah,” the shopkeeper replied. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“We are just perusing,” Kate replied.
The shopkeeper walked over to one of the tables and picked up a straw hat embellished with strawberries. “This is one of our newly designed hats,” she shared. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Hannah walked over to the shopkeeper and accepted the hat. “I have seen hats with grapes and cherries, but I have yet to see a hat with strawberries on it.”
“Yes, it is all the rage right now,” the shopkeeper shared.
She handed the hat back and said, “I do enjoy taking risks with fashion, but I daresay I am not ready for a hat with strawberries on it.”
The shopkeeper returned the hat to the display and reached for another straw hat with a cluster of purple flowers on it. “Is this more to your liking?”
“It is,” Hannah replied as she reached for the hat. “I do fancy this one.”
Kate spoke up from behind her. “Then you must get it.”
“I believe I shall,” Hannah said, extending the hat towards the shopkeeper. “Will you box it up for me?”
The woman tipped her head in acknowledgement. “As you wish.”
Hannah turned her attention towards her sister. “Have you found anything you like?”
Kate shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”
“Shall we go look at fabric, then?” Hannah asked.
“I believe that’s a splendid idea.”
They had just started walking down the street when they saw Lord Egleton and his sister, Lady Marianne Pemberton, approaching them from the opposite direction. Lord Egleton was dressed in a black jacket with a black armband around his left sleeve, and Marianne was dressed in a lavender gown.
To say that Martin, Lord Egleton, was a handsome man would be a gross understatement. He was tall, with broad shoulders and neatly trimmed dark hair. His face was finely sculpted with a square jaw, straight nose, and deep-set eyes. Those eyes captivated her heart, his smile weakened her senses, and he had a commanding presence that seemed to capture her soul.
Hannah felt a fluttering in her stomach as he smiled. “Good morning, ladies,” he greeted politely, coming to a stop in front of them.
“Good morning,” they replied in unison.
“What a pleasant surprise to see both of you here,” Martin said, glancing between them.
Hannah reached up and ensured her straw hat was straight on the top of her head. She always found herself fidgeting when Martin was around.
Kate spoke up. “Hannah decided she required a new hat,” she shared.
Martin’s brow lifted. “Another one?” he asked in amusement.
“A woman cannot have too many hats, my lord,” Hannah said in a soft voice.
“I suppose not,” he agreed.
A small silence descended over the group until Kate said, “We were sorry to hear about the death of your grandfather.”
All humor was swept off Martin’s face. “I’m afraid it still doesn’t seem real.”
“I can imagine that to be the case.”
“My father is now the Marquess of Darby, and I inherited one of his lesser titles,” Martin said. “I haven’t gotten used to being an earl yet.”
Marianne laughed. “I daresay it should come quite naturally, especially since you have been lording over me since I was young.”
Martin frowned. “That’s not true.”
“It is entirely true,” Marianne replied with a smile.
Hannah laughed at her friend’s exuberance. “That is terrible of you to say.”
“Thank you, Miss Blackmore,” Martin said, meeting her gaze.
She held his gaze for a moment before she felt her cheeks growing increasingly warm. She couldn’t seem to stop herself from blushing whenever he was around. At times, it felt like a curse.
Martin continued. “You’d think Marianne would be nicer to me, as I am escorting her to pick up a hat from the milliner’s shop.”
“Why didn’t you send a footman to pick up the hat?” Kate inquired.
“Because I am dreadfully bored,” Marianne declared. “If I had to spend one more moment in my townhouse, I feared I would go mad.”
“Surely it can’t be that bad?” Hannah asked.
“I assure you, it is,” Marianne replied. “Besides, Grandfather wrote it in his will that he doesn’t want us to grieve him for six months. He said two months was sufficient.” She waved a hand over her dress. “That is why I am in half-mourning clothes already.”
“That was most generous of him,” Kate acknowledged.
“It was,” Martin said. “Grandfather was always one to balk at tradition.”
“However, my mother is adamant that I withdraw from attending balls and social events until next Season,” Marianne revealed with amusement.
Martin chuckled. “As you
