Suspicion lit the woman’s eyes.
“Mr. Lowden is solicitor to Sir John Mayfield,” Hannah explained, trying to ignore the disappointment flooding her. “My former employer.”
The woman’s head tilted to the side and her face puckered in thought. “Mayfield ... Isn’t that the name of the woman in the newspapers this morning?”
“I don’t know,” Hannah murmured. She had been too busy trying to soothe Daniel to read the news. She inhaled. “Well, I shall go down and speak to Mr. Lowden in the sitting room if you don’t mind, Mrs. Hurst.”
“Well, you’ll not see him here in your bedchamber, that’s for certain. I run a respectable house, I do.”
“Yes, I know.” Hannah gave her a brittle smile. “For which I am duly grateful.”
She handed Danny to Becky and passed by the woman.Gripping the handrail tightly, she made her way downstairs and into the sitting room.
James turned at her entrance. “Miss Rogers.”
She dipped her head. “Mr. Lowden.” She smiled at him, but he did not return the gesture.
“Was that Daniel I heard? He doesn’t sound very happy.”
“I am afraid it’s the colic again.”
“Ah,” James murmured vaguely, clearly distracted.
Hannah closed the sitting room door and turned toward him, but he held up a hand to forestall her. “I am afraid this is not a social call.”
She hesitated, feeling both confused and strangely relieved. “Oh?”
“I am here in my official capacity as Sir John’s solicitor. I’ve had a letter from him. In it, he enclosed a letter to you, and asked me to forward it on, as he does not have your direction.”
He withdrew a folded rectangle from his pocket and handed it to her.
She accepted it, glancing at the seal and finding it still intact.
“No, I did not read it,” he said dryly, noticing the direction of her gaze.
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. “But you want me to tell you what it says?”
He held her gaze a moment. “I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. If you weren’t curious, you might have sent it by messenger.”
“That’s not why I came in person.”
She expected to see a grin on his face or a flirtatious light in his eyes. Instead, he remained somberly officious.
He looked down, clearing his throat. “Pardon me. I have one more duty to discharge.”
He extracted a small leather purse from another pocket and kept his eyes averted. “The stipend for Daniel. Sir John insists he be allowed to support him, at least as long as you remain unmarried,and beyond that if your...” He swallowed. “...husband ... is agreeable. He bids me to state that accepting money on Daniel’s behalf in no way obligates you to him.”
Looking at James, Hannah was reminded of royal guards with their raised chins and stiff upper lips, staring straight ahead while carrying out their solemn duties.
“Oh, James...”
Again he held up his hand to forestall her. “Miss Rogers. I am compelled to ask. Are there any questions or requests you would like to make of my employer? Any news of Daniel’s health or needs you would like me to pass on?”
Tears bit Hannah’s eyes. “Only one request, Mr. Lowden.”
His stoic gaze flickered to hers uncertainly. “Yes?”
