I have,Hannah thought.The kiss might not mean a thing to him, but it had shaken her.The sensation of his mouth upon hers had been the most sinful thing she’d ever experienced.She’d fallen under his spell, wanting to know his touch in a way she shouldn’t.
Michael opened the carriage door the rest of the way, about to disembark, when they heard the sounds of men shouting and the rumble of another carriage approaching.Her father’s voice broke through the stillness, and within moments, he was standing in front of the door.
“Are you all right?”the marquess demanded of Hannah.
Hannah gripped her hands together, cold fear icing through her.For she suspected the truth was not going to be enough to pacify her father.
Chapter Three
“Getawayfrommydaughter,” the Marquess of Rothburne ordered.
Hannah tried to rise from her seat, but the lieutenant motioned her back.With a horrifying clarity, she realized what her father must think.With a pleading look she insisted, “Papa, this isn’t what it looks like.Lieutenant Thorpe rescued me from Lord Belgrave.”
Though she tried to find the right explanation, her father looked more interested in murder than the truth.
Hannah continued talking, though she knew how unlikely it must sound.“Lieutenant Thorpe tried to bring me home, but I had one of my headaches.I didn’t have any laudanum, and the pain was unbearable.He obeyed me when I ordered him to stop the carriage.”
Her father gave no indication that he’d even heard her speaking but gave a nod to one of his footmen.The large servant reached to seize hold of the lieutenant, but Michael’s hand shot out and stopped him.With a twist to the man’s wrist, the footman had no choice but to release him.
“Enough.”The lieutenant climbed down from the carriage and regarded the marquess.“Instead of having this conversation here in the park, I suggest we return to Rothburne House.Take Lady Hannah home with you, and see to her health.I will follow in this carriage.”
“I should have the police drag you off to Newgate right now,” the marquess countered.
“He didn’t dishonor me, Papa.”Hannah moved forward, but when she exited the carriage, the world tipped.A rushing sound filled her ears, and Michael caught her elbow, steadying her.“I swear it.He protected me while I was ill.”
“Because of him, you may be ruined.”Her father stared at her as though she’d just run off with a chimney sweep.“You just spent the night with a common soldier.”
But she hadn’t.Not really.Heated tears sprung up in her eyes, for she didn’t know how to respond to her father’s accusations.Never could she have imagined he’d be this unreasonable.
A defense leapt to her lips, but Lieutenant Thorpe shook his head.“As I said before, this is not the place to talk.Take Lady Hannah home.”
Hannah had never heard anyone issue an order to her father before, but the lieutenant didn’t appear intimidated by the marquess.
“No one knows about this,” she whispered.“My reputation is still safe.”
“Is it?”Her father’s face was iron-cast.“Baron Belgrave knows all about what happened to you.Nonetheless, he has graciously offered to wed you.”
She’d rather die than wed Belgrave.“Papa, it isn’t as bad as all that.Lieutenant Thorpe did nothing wrong.”
“Belgrave informed me that Thorpe assaulted him and took you away in a stolen carriage.”
“That lying blackguard,” Hannah blurted out, then clamped her hand over her mouth.Insults wouldn’t help her cause.
Horrified, she met her father’s infuriated expression, hoping he wouldn’t believe the lies.Surely he would trust her, after all the years she’d been an obedient daughter.One mistake wouldn’t eradicate everything, would it?
Thoughts of the lieutenant’s forbidden kiss flayed her conscience.She could have fought him off, but instead, she’d kissed him back.It had been curiosity and shock, mingled together with the first stirrings of desire.She’d wanted to know what a real kiss would be like.But not at this terrible cost.
“Harrison, take my daughter home,” the marquess commanded to his footman.“I will accompany Lieutenant Thorpe in this carriage.”
The lieutenant gave an abrupt nod, and Hannah tried to fathom the man’s thoughts.His hazel eyes were shielded, his face expressionless.
She prayed that they could undo the mistake that had been made.Surely they could keep matters quiet.She’d been a victim and didn’t deserve to be punished like this.If anyone deserved to be drawn and quartered, it was Lord Belgrave.
As the footman closed the carriage door, Hannah twisted her hands together.Thank goodness the lieutenant possessed no title.Were he an earl or a viscount, no doubt her father would demand that he marry her.
As a common officer in the British Army, that would never happen.She should feel relieved, but her nerves wound tighter.Her father was so angry right now, he might do something rash.
And she didn’t know what that might be.
