The words were spoken with a casual air, as though it were nothing.But even as he rested his wrist on one knee, she saw a caged alertness.This was a man who would defend someone to the death—a ruthless soldier who showed no mercy to his enemies.
“A dictionary,” she remarked.“Not a weapon I’d have expected.It seems you are a man of more words than I’d thought.”
A hint of a smile twitched at his lips, and she avoided further discussion by opening the basket.She found a plate and began loading it with slices of ham, bread, and creamed spinach.
Concentrating on the food made it easier to forget that she was alone in a gardener’s shed with a man who was far too handsome.Hannah’s skin prickled with awareness of him, and she tried to ignore his scrutiny.
She reached up to straighten a strand of hair, feeling completely improper without a bonnet or gloves.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”he asked, after he’d made a sandwich out of the bread and ham.He ate slowly, but from the flash of relief on his face, Hannah knew she’d made the right decision to offer food.
“I’m not hungry.”She’d lost her appetite after the ordeal with Belgrave.Her emotions were bottled up so tightly with the realization that her family’s reputation was about to be destroyed.
An awful pressure tightened in her chest, and she clenched her skirts, staring down at them.A tear dripped down on her palm, and she struggled to keep herself together.
“Lady Hannah,” came the lieutenant’s deep voice.“What is it?”
“Shh.”She raised a hand, unable to look at him.“I just need a moment to...fall apart before I collect myself.It’s been a most difficult morning.”
“Go ahead and cry,” he said.“You deserve it, after the way he threatened you.”
Hannah couldn’t stop the sobs from breaking forth, her shoulders huddled forward as she released the anger and disappointment.“He’s going to ruin me, after this,” she cried.“All because I refused to marry him.”
Strong arms enveloped her in an embrace, but there was no judgment, only comfort.He said nothing, but she sensed his anger toward Belgrave.
“What am I supposed to do now?”Hannah whispered, feeling ashamed that her tears were dampening his shirt.
He held her against his chest, gently patting her back.“I think you should leave London.”
“I agree.”A change in her surroundings was the only thing that would allow the gossip to die down.
Hannah dried her tears, extricating herself from his arms.Though she’d expected to feel abashed at being in his embrace, strangely, she didn’t.She sat down upon one of the sacks, keeping a respectful, proper distance.Across from him, she felt small, almost fragile.Lieutenant Thorpe remained alert, as though he expected to leave at any moment.
“I am grateful for your help today.Tell me, did anyone else see you?”
“I don’t think so.”His eyes held a glint of mischief.“It’s a good thing your father opened the window earlier.”
Smoothing her skirts, she straightened her posture.“I do appreciate your help.”
“I suspect, after you struck Belgrave with the candlestick, Lord Rothburne will be less likely to force you into marriage.”
Hannah wasn’t entirely certain that was true.But she brushed it off and asked, “When do you have to leave for the Crimean Peninsula?”
Lieutenant Thorpe tensed, and he busied himself with finishing the ham sandwich.After a moment, he replied, “My orders were changed.I’ve been asked to go to Lohenberg instead.”
Lohenberg?Hannah frowned, wondering what the Army would possibly want with the tiny country, nestled between Germany and Denmark.In school, she’d learned Lohenisch, among her studies of European languages, but it was hardly an important principality.
Hannah stared at him, unable to comprehend what he’d just informed her.“Do you mean you’re not going to fight any more?”Before he could answer, she plunged on.“This is my fault, isn’t it?My father—”
“—had nothing to do with it,“ he finished.“Another man is involved.”
“Who?”
“The Graf von Reischor.”He shook his head and took a bite of creamed spinach.“It’s a long story.”
“He was at Papa’s ball the other night, wasn’t he?”Hannah mused.Her father was good friends with the Lohenberg ambassador, but she’d hardly spoken with the man beyond an introduction, over a year ago.“What would the Graf want with you?”
She bit her tongue as soon as she spoke, for it sounded as though she’d denigrated the lieutenant’s rank.“I mean, why would he interfere with your orders?”
