She reached up on tiptoes and aimed a friendly kiss toward Sir John’s cheek. But he turned his head at the last moment and she met his lips instead.
She blinked in surprise. The firm warmth of his lips on hers was unexpected and unexpectedly... welcome. Mixed emotions stirred through her: confusion, loyalty, disloyalty, guilt. It was only a chaste kiss, she told herself, for the doctor’s benefit. Was it not? Whatever it was, she was glad James Lowden was not there to witness it.
Dr. Parrish clapped again. “Now, that’s more like it. A good day’s work indeed.”
Sir John’s eyes shone as he held her gaze. “Indeed.”
That night, Hannah struggled to fall asleep. When she closed her eyes, she found her thoughts spinning from Mr. Lowden to Sir John—their faces revolving through her mind again and again.
Hannah did not sleep well, and was late coming down for breakfast the following morning. Kitty mentioned Mr. Lowden had already eaten and gone out for his ride.
After her meal, Hannah put on the altered spencer jacket andreturned to the garden once more. She strolled past the flower beds, enjoying the fragrances of the colorful blooms and the temperate breeze in her hair. Secretly, she hoped for another stolen moment with James Lowden. Though she supposed if she were wise, she would keep her distance and avoid a private meeting with the man.
Hannah had just convinced herself to return to the house when he came riding through the gate.
She paused behind a wide yew tree as Ben came out and took his horse. How furtive she felt, hoping to shield herself from any prying eyes at the house windows. She hoped James wouldn’t guess her motives. Or did she?
Entering the garden, he removed his hat and smiled as he neared. “Good day, my ... Hannah. May I call you Hannah?”
She warmed to hear her name on his lips. “Yes. I miss hearing it.”
He reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. “Hannah. Sweet Hannah...”
Her pulse skittered.
He glanced about, and seeing they were alone, he leaned toward her. His mouth neared, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, “I have been trying to keep my distance from you. Especially here, under Sir John’s roof.” Straightening, he again stroked her cheek. “But one day, I hope to kiss every single one of these freckles....”
Her breath caught and a flush ran over her.
Suddenly, rain blew in off the channel in a pelting shower.
She squinted up at the sky in surprise. “Oh no...”
“Come on.” He took her hand and together they ran toward the house, him all but pulling her behind him.
They dashed inside, laughing. Her wet shoes slipped on the polished floor and his arm quickly came around her, catching her before she could fall. Even after she was steady on her feet, his arm remained.
She smiled into his face and saw a leaf plastered to his cheek like the golden imprint of a kiss. She lifted her hand and peeled it off, her fingers tracing the admired groove as she had longed to do for days.
“A leaf,” she explained, showing him the offending thing—her excuse for touching him.
His eyes darkened, and again he leaned near.
Suddenly a flicker of movement, a squeak of sound, drew her attention upward. There at the top of the staircase sat Sir John in his invalid chair. Her heart twisted to see him through the balusters as though he were trapped behind bars—a prisoner abovestairs. He watched them, face tense, eyes hard. She realized how they must look, standing so close together, James Lowden’s arm lingering at her waist, her hand touching his face. Instinctively, she stepped back from James.
He followed the direction of her gaze and his smile faded. “Good afternoon, Sir John. We were caught out in the rain.”
“So I see.”
Caught. It seemed a very appropriate word.
“Did you need something, Sir John?” Hannah asked, stepping to the bottom of the stairs.
For several moments, his eyes held hers from above. “I thought I did, but I was mistaken.”
After she had dried her face and hung up her damp spencer, Hannah went up to the nursery to look in on Danny. Then she went back downstairs and knocked softly on Sir John’s door.
“Yes?” came his muffled reply.
