“Well, no.”She pinched her lips together, realizing that she’d led him to believe something she’d never intended.“I couldn’t possibly—”
“Don’t worry, sweet.”His voice grew low, tempting her once again.“I’ll stop your wedding, if it’s in my power.”
She breathed once again, her shoulders falling in relief.“I would be most grateful.”Knowing that he would be there in the background, to steal her away from an unwanted wedding, gave her the sense that somehow everything would be all right.She held out her gloved palm, intending to shake his hand on the bargain.
The lieutenant took her gloved hand in his.Instead of a firm handshake, he raised her palm to his face.“If I steal the bride away,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her hand, “what will I get in return?”
Chapter Four
“Whatisityouwant?”Hannah asked.Her voice held uncertainty, as if she were afraid he might do exactly as she asked and kidnap her from her own wedding.
Michael’s response was a slow smile, letting her imagine all the things he might do , if they were alone.He couldn’t deny his own attraction to her.“Many things.”
Hannah’s expression appeared shocked, as if he’d physically touched her.“N-no, I couldn’t.I could pay you, but this is an arrangement, nothing more.”
Her face had gone pale, and Michael pulled back, putting distance between them.“Don’t you recognize teasing when you hear it, sweet?”
She looked bewildered but shook her head.“Don’t make fun of me, please.This is about Belgrave.I simply can’t marry him.”
“Then don’t.”
“It’s not that simple.Already my mother has decided it would be the best future for me.”Hannah rubbed at her temples absently.“I don’t know what I can do to convince her otherwise.”
It was clear that Lady Hannah was accustomed to obedience and following every rule.But the answer was far easier, if she could find her courage.“It’s very simple.Tell them the answer is no.”
She was already shaking her head, making excuses to herself.“I can’t.My mother won’t listen to a thing I say.”
“You’ve never disobeyed them, have you?”
“No.”She seemed lost, so vulnerable that he half-wished there was someone who could take care of her.
Not him.There was no hope of that.She was better off, far away from a man like himself.
“No one can force you to marry.Not even your father.”He adjusted her shawl so it fully covered her shoulders.“Hold your ground and endure what you must.”
Visions flooded his mind, of the battle at Balaclava where his men had obeyed that same command.They’d tried valiantly to stand firm before the enemy.A hailstorm of enemy bullets had rained down upon them, men dying by the hundreds.
Michael wondered if he was essentially asking her to do the same.Would she stand up to her father?Or would the marquess strike her down?Perhaps it was the wrong course of action.
“I don’t think I can,” Hannah confessed.She tugged at a finger of her glove, worrying the fabric.“Papa can make my life a misery.And I’ll be ruined if I don’t marry.”
Though she was undoubtedly right, he could not allow himself to think about her future.They were worlds apart from one another.She would have to live with whatever choices she made.
“Then I suppose it’s time to make your own fortune,” he remarked.“If you’re already ruined, then you’ve nothing left to lose.Do as you please.”
Hannah stared at him, as though she hadn’t the faintest idea of how a ruined woman should behave.“I don’t know.I’ve always...done what I should.”
She took a step toward the house, away from him.He suddenly understood that she’d asked him to rescue her, not because of her parents, but because the need to obey was so deeply ingrained in her.If he stole her from the wedding, she could lay the blame at his feet, not hers.
She’s not your concern, his brain reminded him.Let her make her own choices.Tell her no.
But he didn’t.Though he shouldn’t interfere, neither would he let her marry a man like Belgrave.He let out a breath, and said, “Send word to me if anything changes.Your brothers know where I can be found.”
“Will you be all right?”she asked in a small voice.“What if my father—?”
“He can do nothing to me,” Michael interrupted.Within a week or two, there would be hundreds of miles between them.He’d be back with the Army, fighting the enemy and obeying orders until he met his own end.Men like him weren’t good for much else.
The troubled expression on her face hadn’t dimmed.Instead, a bright flush warmed her cheeks.“Thank you for agreeing to help me.”Hannah reached up to her neck and unfastened the diamond necklace.“I want you to have this.”
