“What is it?” Mr. Corbyn noticed her stare as he led them up the approach, but misinterpreted its cause. He slowed his stride. “Is something the matter?”
“No. You look perfect.” Hannah was too dumbstruck to care whether she sounded foolish. She couldn’t let him think there was anything wrong when he’d come here looking like that. “You were meant for these clothes.”
Mr. Corbyn looked at her oddly before continuing up to the house. She wasn’t sure whether her words had brought him the reassurance she’d intended. There was no time to think about it further, as Mama urged them on.
“Don’t dally, we’re delaying the queue.”
* * *
Inside the house, a servant announced their entrance in a booming voice, causing a number of heads to turn their way. Mama ushered them over to pay their respects to their hostess directly. Though Hannah spotted some ladies murmuring behind the safety of their fans while she was trapped in polite conversation with Mrs. Brandon, her arrival had provoked less of a reaction than she’d feared. News of her engagement to Mr. Corbyn must have stolen most of the shine from the rumors.
Even so, Mr. Corbyn looked ill at ease with all the attention. Hannah recalled how wooden and standoffish he’d been at the outset of the garden party two days ago. These events took a tollon him, but he came because she needed him. Who else would have done this for her? Even if she was paying him for the service, Mr. Corbyn took his role far more seriously than she’d expected.
They spent the first hour being paraded around to Mama’s friends like a shiny new bauble, and Hannah did her best to keep a smile on her face and steer the conversation in directions most likely to be easy for Mr. Corbyn to navigate. He played his part admirably, being perfectly charming to everyone. Well, perhapscharmingwasn’t the right word. He was a bit too reserved to make fast friends. But so long as they avoided the subject of his naval service, he gave no one cause for any offense, which was all she needed.
It was only once Mama had finally exhausted her supply of very dear friends and had progressed down the list to passing acquaintances that she finally saw fit to break for some refreshments, giving Hannah and Mr. Corbyn a much-needed moment alone.
“You’re doing very well,” Hannah encouraged him, sipping her punch and wincing at the taste. The Brandons had been far too generous with their rum this evening. She’d best watch herself, or she was liable to have a headache tomorrow. “Thank you for letting my mother introduce you to everyone she’s ever met. I know these events can be a trial for you.”
Mr. Corbyn stiffened. “I’m perfectly capable of making chitchat for a few hours.”
Oh dear. Why did he always presume that she looked down on him, even when she was trying to be kind?
“I know that,” she assured him. “I didn’t mean to give insult.”
This seemed to mollify him somewhat, though he still had a guarded look in his eye as he took a long swallow of his own drink.
“Mr. Corbyn, if we are going to spend the rest of the evening posing as an engaged couple, we may as well speak to one another openly.”
“Very well.” He waited.
“I really do have every confidence in you. But you can’t deny that you become tense when we’re forced to mingle in a crowd.” As Mr. Corbyn didn’t deny this observation when Hannah paused to draw breath, she felt bold enough to continue. “I understand it completely. I’m the same way. I only want to know if there’s anything I could do to make it easier on you.”
“It will be over soon enough,” he replied simply, without acknowledging her offer. Was he counting the minutes until they could part ways? The possibility stung.
Just when she thought Mr. Corbyn must care about her, at least a little, he said something to make her wonder if she’d imagined everything.
“I tried not to leave you alone this time,” Hannah pointed out, childishly wanting him to notice her efforts. “I hope that helped.”
“You don’t need to stay with me if you’d rather seek out your friends.”
“Iwantto stay,” she insisted. “You’re doing me a favor. I want to return it in kind, if you would tell me how.”
Mr. Corbyn finally seemed to realize that she wouldn’t be deterred. He inhaled slowly and replied in a tight, even voice. “It isn’t that I’m afraid of crowds. It’s only that my father used to dream of the day I might find myself invited to a place like this. More than anything, he wanted to see me advance my station. It’s difficult not to imagine what he might say if he could see me now.”
“What do you think hewouldsay?”
Hannah should have thought to ask Mr. Corbyn about his family sooner. It was a bit suspicious that she couldn’t name most of the people who were supposed to become her in-laws shortly. Corbyn’s family must be close if his brother and cousin had come all the way to town to see him, but Hannah hadn’t forgotten his words to her onthe night they’d met. That he understood what it was like to have a parent controlling his every move.
If Mr. Corbyn’s father was as determined to advance his children’s futures as Mama, perhaps they had a great deal in common.
His expression soured. “Nothing complimentary.”
“You aren’t on good terms, then?” she guessed.
“We aren’t on any terms at all, is more like.” Mr. Corbyn’s face was grim as he explained. “I stopped being his son when I got myself discharged.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t think that,” Hannah reassured him. Surely no one would cast off their own child. Mr. Corbyn must be overstating the breach.
