Hannah eyed the mattress with concern. If Mama had been suffocating her when they’d had their own space, how much worse would it be now? She was far too old for this! “I don’t sleep well with another person. You’re going to kick me and keep me up all night. Couldn’t you stay in the nursery? Please?”
“Gloria would wake me up at all hours. Now don’t be childish,” her mother scolded. “It’s only for a few nights.”
A few nights?How was she supposed to engineer a reconciliation with so little time?
“Papa’s not staying any longer? What about my wedding?”
“You’ll have to ask him his plans. He hasn’t informed me.” It sounded as though Mama’s patience for this conversation was nearing its end.
“Will you come down soon?” Hannah tried. “To greet him?”
“I have a lot of unpacking to do, and I still need to finish the centerpieces before supper. I’ll see your father when we all go in to dine.”
Hannah deflated a little. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get them into a room together! Mama was being obstinate on purpose; she was sure of it.
I can’t force her to come. I’ll just have to work twice as hard this evening.
Hannah wandered away reluctantly, pondering her strategy. By the time she returned to the parlor, Papa and Jacob had installed themselves on the divan with Eli and were midway into a discussion of their recent fishing trip with their neighbors in Devon. Fishing and hunting were about the only things that Papa talked about with Hannah’s brothers.
She settled into a nearby armchair and waited patiently for one of them to notice her. Eli was the first to oblige, turning the conversation her way as soon as their father paused for breath.
“Are you excited for tonight?”
It took Hannah a moment to realize that he was speaking of introducing Mr. Corbyn to the rest of the family, and not her secret plans to repair the rupture between their parents, where her thoughts had been occupied. In fact, she’d been trying very hard not to think of Corbyn at all since the night of the Brandons’ ball. Anytime her mind wandered there, it grew heated and confused. It was bad enough that she kept reliving the aching pleasure of his touch in her dreams, waking with an empty feeling that nothing else could fill. She wouldn’t let it cloud her reason in the day as well.
“Of course.” She forced a smile. “I know you’ll like Mr. Corbyn.”
“Hmm.” Papa frowned and took a bite of the bread and jam that Molly had brought out. “Your mother tells me you’re quite taken with this gentleman.”
She must not have told him about the scandal, or he wouldn’t sound so unconcerned. Hannah cast a hesitant glance at Eli. He gave her a long look, but didn’t say a word.
There was some loyalty among siblings, it seemed. Despite Eli’s misgivings, he didn’t seem eager to throw Hannah and his former friend to the wolves.
“Yes,” Hannah replied. “We’re very much in love.”
“I’m happy you’ve finally decided to settle down.” Papa underscored his point with a curt nod. “But a midshipman. Are you sure? You could do far better, poppet.”
“Oh. Ah. He’s not exactly a midshipman anymore.”Oh dear.How to explain without turning her father against Mr. Corbyn? She didn’t want the poor man walking into a trap tonight. “There was a bit of a misunderstanding. He’s, er, expected to purchase a commission in the army presently. Mama could tell you more about it.”
Let them have a reason to talk again. They could be united in their approval or their disapproval, for all she cared. The important thing was only that they spoke.
Regrettably, her father didn’t take the hint. “I hope he’s a respectful sort. Too many young men these days don’t have any sense of duty.”
“Would you like to take your things upstairs?” Hannah was struck by a flash of inspiration. “You must want to get settled in.”
And if he ran into Mama and the two of them started speaking again, well, that would just be a happy accident.
But Eli immediately ruined everything. “I’ll see to that. Here, take Gloria a moment, won’t you?”
Before Hannah could object, the sleeping infant was unceremoniously dumped in her arms, and Eli disappeared in search of their luggage.
Drat!
“Shall we take a walk before supper?” Jacob suggested.
What was he doing? Couldn’t any of them see what a tremendous opportunity this was? It had taken her weeks of planning and a fake engagement just to get their parents in the same house, and they couldn’t even stop to appreciate the significance of this meeting before they went rushing off again!
Papa rose to his feet, apparently in agreement.
