But Mr. Horvath hadn’t actuallydoneanything to her yet, except smell of brandy, and Mama would hound her all night if she didn’t dance a few sets. Perhaps it would be easier to get it over with and make an excuse to leave after.
Hannah allowed Mr. Horvath to lead her to the floor, executed the requisite curtsy, and linked her hand in his. It was a waltz, which meant they would have to talk the whole time.Drat.Of course Hannah wasn’t lucky enough to get herself a country dance where they could change places too frequently for a real conversation.
“What part of the country are you from?” Mr. Horvath opened. A safe move, if uninspired.
“Devonshire,” Hannah replied.Where I would much rather be at present.Not that she’d had any choice in the matter, with the way Mama had rushed her off without a moment’s notice three weeks ago. “We’re in town for the season to visit my brother and his wife. They’ve just had a baby.”
“That’s nice.” Mr. Horvath looked bored. His eyes kept darting around the room to watch the other dancers. “Your parents must bethrilled to meet him.”
“Her,” Hannah corrected, though she didn’t think Mr. Horvath was listening. Mama was thrilled to meet baby Gloria, at any rate. Papa must be thrilled too, even if he hadn’t come along.
Hannah didn’t want to correct Mr. Horvath’s assumption that both her parents were in town. There was no reason to. After all, what business was it of his whether her parents travelled separately? It was perfectly normal for Papa to remain at home. He’d never liked London.
Although the row they’d had just before Mama had packed Hannah up and carried her off like an overburdened trunk hadn’t felt quite as normal as the others. There had been an awful lot of “You’ve never understood me”s and “Oh, stop your wailing”s, which Hannah had tried not to hear from the safety of her bedroom with a pillow folded over her ears.
And then there was the fact that Mama kept changing the subject every time Hannah asked when they were going back home.
Never mind. Mr. Horvath certainly didn’t need to know about any of that.
The conversation had lapsed into an awkward silence while Hannah had been ruminating on her worries, and she saw no reason to try to rescue it. Better not to give this man any false encouragement. Besides which, he’d already stumbled twice and would probably do better to concentrate on his steps. But Mr. Horvath seemed to feel the need to fill the silence with more noise, and stammered, “I b-believe I saw you speaking with Miss Annabelle Danby earlier?”
“Yes.”
He brightened at this, finally focusing his gaze on Hannah instead of watching the other couples. “I say, do you know her sister, the elder Miss Danby? Such a stunning young woman.”
“I do,” Hannah replied slowly, wondering where this was leading.
“I don’t suppose you might introduce us? I’ve been trying to manage it since last season, but it seems we’re never at the same events. I would be so grateful.”
“Are you…asking me to introduce you to another womanwhilewe’re still dancing?”
Hannah knew that her looks were underwhelming—and Della was, as Mr. Horvath had so eloquently put it, stunning—but this was really a bit much. Even if she had no interest in Mr. Horvath, if he was going to trap her in a dance, he might at least take the trouble to be polite.
“And why not?” Mr. Horvath grew indignant at the criticism in her tone. “We’re all friends, aren’t we?”
Praise heaven, the song was ending. Hannah gave a rushed curtsy, murmured, “Thank you for the dance, Mr. Horvath,” and hurried from the floor before he could rise from his bow.
She’d been foolish to think she could flee so easily. Mama found her before she could even make it to the door. “Where are you going in such a rush? How did you like Mr. Horvath?”
“I didn’t.” Hannah saw no need to sugarcoat her words, though she kept her voice low. “Mama youhaveto stop foisting these men on me. None of them want to be with me. They only agree because you coax them into it, or because they hope to get at my dowry.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d tried to explain her objections, but Mama seemed determined not to hear her. Only last week, Hannah had been so incensed after Mr. Bailey’s visit that she’d threatened to join a convent, but her mother had wryly observed that they “weren’t Catholic” and that Hannah “wouldn’t last a week.” She hadn’t even shed a tear at the prospect of losing her only daughter! It was very vexing, the way no one ever took her seriously.
“Shhh.” Mama’s deep-set brown eyes widened in shock. “Don’t say such a thing.”
“It’s true.”
“Only because you won’t make any effort! Of course I have to coax a little, when you hardly speak two words to anyone. If I didn’t help you along, you’d never leave your room.”
How unfair! She made Hannah sound like a recluse, when the truth was that there were plenty of things she might like to do if only Mama would allow it. “I would go to Bishop’s if you let me,” Hannah retorted.
“Absolutely not. It will ruin your reputation. No one will want to marry you if you’re seen in a house of ruin.”
This sounded like a winning prospect to Hannah. “If Jane can go to a gambling club, why can’t I?”
“Because Jane is married, and your brother doesn’t object.” This subject was quickly making Mama lose her patience, if her tone was any indication. “Once you are married, you may do as your husband likes, but as long as you live under my roof, you will follow my rules. And I insist that you make an effort to be polite this evening and encourage a gentleman to dance. One to whom you give an honest chance before you dismiss him.”
“But we don’t live under your roof.” The words were out before Hannah could stop them, though her face grew hot with embarrassment. She was tired of being put off. “When are we going home? Why didn’t Papa come with us?”
