She nodded absently, still staring off into the distance before bringing her gaze back to him. “And you think this a good idea?”
He scoffed. “Hardly. I think it is stupid.”
“Because?” She turned to him. The look in her eyes was different than normal. It wasn’t the comfortable, pleasant gaze that usually accompanied their conversations. It was tense. On edge. Expecting, even.
He searched for words, raising his hands. “Because you shouldn’t have to pick out a man like a needle from a haystack.”
Hannah nodded as she lightly chewed her lip. Her distraction was understandable, and that was the entire point of telling her now. Best to come from him, someone she could be honest with, than to come from his mother, with whom she would have to be polite. Though, he expected a bit more outrage on her part. At most, she seemed mildly flustered.
“Are you going to be all right?” he asked. He put a hand on her shoulder, gently holding it.
She sighed and gave a single nod. “Yes. Thank you for letting me know.”
“Did I do the right thing in telling you?”
Her face fell as her eyes held his. “Yes, Noah. You did the right thing.” She stepped around him, and he turned to watch her go. Her soft green dress swished as she walked, and his eyes trailed over her.
A seed of bitterness sprouted within him as he considered what would occur in two weeks. Hannah being paraded around for men to look at and flirt with. Would they get to know her? To truly know her? He highly doubted they would take the time to learn that she hates raisins but has a taste for currants. Or that she prefers the musical stylings of Rossini over Mozart. Or, that after a long day, she wishes for nothing more than to have someone make her laugh. What if the louse doesn’t care one whit about her and only wants her dowry?
The thought made Noah sick, knowing that was a very real possibility, and one of Hannah’s greatest fears.
When the ladies had all vacated the room, Noah was left with pestering thoughts regarding Hannah’s future. He was so immersed in his own mind that he hardly heard the conversation of the other men. Their words were only a soft droning sound that drifted into one ear and out the other.
The men finished their port and sojourned to the drawing room. Noah’s eyes immediately fell upon Hannah, and he did not hesitate to join her by the fire. He wanted to be sure she was all right and that news of the ball hadn’t upset her. She sat still, her hands clasped in her lap as she stared at the empty firebox.
“Mind if I take a seat?” Noah stood behind a vacant chair that was situated beside hers.
Hannah did not remove her eyes from the hearth. “Of course not.”
He came around, claiming his seat.
“Noah, I have a request for you.” Hannah’s gaze flicked to him, her chin set and her mouth unsmiling.
“Of course.” He rested his hands in front of his stomach as he reclined into his seat. “Anything.”
She shook her head. “You may wish to withhold your ready answer until you know what I am about to ask.”
“You are not going to ask me to run outside and jump in the pond, are you?” He leaned his elbow on the arm of the chair as he grinned at her.
Her mouth gave a slight lift. “No.”
“Because, if that was your request, I would probably do it. I have not had a good dare since all five of us brothers lived under one roof.”
Hannah looked down at her lap. “No, it has nothing to do with the pond.”
His mouth turned down. Something was wrong with her tonight. And he would help in any way he could. “Very well. Then what is it you need? You know I would be happy to be of service.”
Hannah fiddled with the handkerchief she held in her hands. Was she nervous?
Noah looked around to see if anyone was watching them. At the moment, no one seemed to be paying them mind. “Hannah, is everything all right?”
“Yes. I only thought it might be a good idea if . . .”
“If . . .” he prompted her to continue.
She lifted her face, and a challenge was in her gaze. “If you burned Margaret’s letters.”
Noah stared at her in silence, too stunned to respond. He had not been expecting that at all. To be honest, he’d hardly thought of Margaret in weeks. Only a time or two since Hannah had mentioned her when they sat together at the bluffs. Why was she bringing this up now? “May I ask why?”
