She had her hand clamped over her mouth, her eyes wide, and shoulders trembling. Noah brushed his lips, attempting to hide a smile of his own. Taking a deep breath, he tried to rid his chest of the urge to laugh.
“Miss Gibbons,” he said, then cleared his throat. He leaned over his plate toward her.
She tilted up her chin as a pretense of looking at him, but her gaze dipped down to her plate. “Yes, Lord Noah?”
“Would you care for some punch?”
That was all it took. Hannah bent her head down as she shook with laughter, and Noah’s burst free as well.
“I say, you two are made for one another.” Donald looked between the two of them with a slight frown, but after a moment, it softened into a smile.
Hannah sat up, her laughter dissipating as she turned to Donald.
“Oh, come now, Donald,” Noah said, grabbing his fork. “It is not like that. Hannah and I are much like brother and sister.”
Donalds brow puckered. “Except you are not brother and sister.”
“Let us move on, shall we?” Hannah’s neck tightened as her gaze flicked between the two brothers, then she dove into her plate of food. “This pigeon is delightfully seasoned.”
“Yes, it is one of my favorite meals.” Donald’s words drew Noah’s attention, and he was startled to find his brother still watching him with that disconcerting stare. “Our cook is quite exceptional. I am glad you are enjoying it, Miss Gibbons.”
Noah wasn’t sure if he actually heard Donald emphasize Hannah’s name, or if it was only his imagination. Perhaps Noah’s conversation with his mother yesterday had put him on edge.
Dinner came to a close, and the ladies stood to go to the drawing room. Noah hurried around the table, stopping Hannah before she followed Mrs. Gibbons and Lady Chatham.
She looked up at him, askance. “What is it?”
“I’ve wanted to talk to you all evening.”
She raised onto her toes, looking over his shoulder as the mothers left her behind before bringing her gaze back to him. “Very well. What is it you need?”
The shade of her dress brought out more of the green in her eyes, and he found himself distracted for a moment. Then her mouth pulled into a grin. “Noah?”
“Oh, yes.” He shook his head. “I wanted to warn you that Mother is planning a ball.”
Her brow furrowed. “And this is bad news? I do not mind a ball.”
“It is not only that she is hosting a ball. It is the reason for her doing so.”
He had grasped her attention now, and panic had set into her eyes. “Oh?”
“She is planning to invite every eligible gentleman in the county to parade around for you.”
Her head jerked back. “What?”
“She wants to give you every opportunity for a smart match, but I told her you would hate such a thing.”
“You did?” She phrased her words in a way that it did not completely sound like a question. In fact, she sounded a bit put out. Noah knew she would hate such an idea, which is precisely why he had tried to warn his mother away from it in the first place.
“Yes. But she was not to be swayed. She thinks this your best opportunity to find a man you will approve of.”
Hannah gazed off as if her mind was in a whir of thoughts.
“Hannah?”
“Oh.” She jerked, touching her brow. “I am sorry. I just wasn’t expecting this.”
He ran a hand over his lapel. “I know. Which is why I wished to warn you.”
