Martin’s father interjected, “My son is just being modest. He is an exceptional rider.” He shot him a pointed look, implying that he should behave. “He goes riding nearly every day.”
Lady Isabella’s pout shifted into a smile almost immediately. “I am pleased to hear that,” she said. “My father just purchased a new horse for me, and it would be lovely to have a truly proficient rider to accompany me.” She looked at Martin expectantly, but he kept his eyes on his soup as he put his spoon in his mouth.
“May I ask what instruments you are proficient in?” Marianne asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“I can play the harp, pianoforte, and guitar,” Lady Isabella listed. “You may have had the opportunity to hear me play. I am quite in demand at social events.”
“Is that so?” Marianne asked.
Lord Whittingham bobbed his head. “I’m afraid Isabella has had to turn down invitations due to the sheer volume of requests she gets.”
“Perhaps you can play for us,” his mother suggested.
“I would be honored,” Lady Isabella said.
Martin watched as his bowl of soup was taken away, wishing he could depart just as easily. It was evident that he would never suit with Lady Isabella. She was vain and pretentious, two things that Hannah definitely was not.
Now where had that thought come from? He’d meant Lady Emma wasn’t those things, but it seemed his thoughts would rather dwell on Hannah.
Sitting alone on the settee, Hannah watched the fire crackling in the hearth of her darkened bedchamber. She was mortified by her brazen actions earlier today and couldn’t stand the thought of ever seeing Martin again. She was determined to avoid him for the rest of her life. It was the only logical solution to the horrifying situation she found herself in.
A knock came at the door before it opened, and Kate walked into the room with a concerned expression. “Are you ill?” her sister asked.
“No.”
“Then why did you miss supper?”
“I just wanted to be alone this evening.”
Kate glanced over and saw the tray of uneaten food on the dressing table. “I see that Sarah brought you a tray.”
“She did.”
“But you didn’t eat anything?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m not hungry.”
“Are you sure we shouldn’t fetch the doctor?” Kate asked.
“There is no need.”
Kate didn’t say anything as she walked over and sat down next to Hannah on the settee. “Perhaps you should tell me what is bothering you.”
“I would prefer not to.”
“I can only imagine this has something to do with Martin visiting you earlier today, since you’ve been in your bedchamber since he left.”
Hannah pressed her lips together, then reluctantly admitted, “It does.”
“Did Martin say or do something that upset you?”
She hesitated. “He did.”
Kate gave her a knowing look. “This would go much easier if you cooperated more.”
“I don’t want to tell you, because it’s rather mortifying.”
“Surely it couldn’t have been as bad as you imagine.”
Hannah shifted in her seat to face her sister. “Martin kissed me,” she reluctantly admitted.
“He did?”
“Yes, but when I started kissing him back, he stopped and appeared horrified by his actions,” she explained. “He even apologized for taking advantage of me.”
“I see,” Kate muttered.
“What was worse is that he told me that nothing could ever happen between us,” Hannah shared.
Kate lifted her brow. “Did you want something to happen between you two?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, tossing her hands up in the air. “At least, I did.”
“But not now?”
Hannah bit her bottom lip. “I pressed him as to why we couldn’t have a future between us.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he couldn’t risk losing me as a friend.”
Kate looked at her compassionately. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’m terribly disappointed,” Hannah admitted. “When he kissed me, I briefly envisioned a future together, but it was all for naught. Martin even said so himself, the kiss was a mistake.”
“Do you intend to give up on Martin so easily, then?”
Hannah huffed. “I have been in love with Martin since I was a little girl,” she found herself admitting, “but my hopes were dashed when he asked us to secure him a bride.”
“I know that couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“It wasn’t, but I was determined to salvage our friendship,” Hannah said. “But then he kissed me, and I naïvely thought his feelings had changed.”
Kate reached for her hand. “I’ve known you held Martin in high regard for a long time now.”
Hannah’s eyes grew wide. “Has it been that obvious?”
“Not to everyone else,” Kate replied with a shake of her head, “but I am your sister. I noticed how your eyes would light up when you looked at him, or how you wrung your hands together when he came to stand next to you.”
“I hadn’t realized I was doing those things.”
Kate smirked. “I am a matchmaker; I take notice of those small things.”
“What am I going to do?” Hannah asked.
“For starters, you are going to hold your head up high and realize that you did nothing wrong,” Kate asserted.
“I shouldn’t have been so brazen and pressed him for a response,” Hannah replied, lowering her gaze.
“I disagree,” Kate stated, “you should never fault yourself for speaking from the heart.”
“But Martin wants nothing to do with me.”
“Then so be it,” Kate responded. “You can now start mending your broken heart and work on finding love again.”
Hannah rose abruptly and walked to the window. “It might be best if I continue to encourage Lord Charles,” she said as she gazed at the full moon.
Kate was silent for a long moment. “Do you care for Lord Charles?” she asked.
“I do,” Hannah admitted. “He is precisely the type of man I want to marry.”
“Is that so?”
Hannah leaned her head against the window frame. “He is honorable, dependable, and I know exactly where I stand with him.”
“He is rather smitten with you.”
“That he is,” Hannah replied. “Furthermore, he makes me laugh, and he is most attentive to my needs.”
“I am pleased to hear that, but I’m afraid
