Joyce stared at the note in her palm with reverence. “No need, miss. This is terribly exciting. I need no reimbursement from you.”
“I insist. This is a stipulation on which I will not yield.”
Her maid nodded, her gaze distracted as she patted herself down. Then she slipped Hannah’s note to Noah into her pocket. “Does this need to go to him tomorrow? Or should I wait?”
“It needs to get to him before the end of the week. Specifically, Friday. Earlier than that if possible.” When Joyce stared at the wall, Hannah wondered if she had asked too much of the young woman. “If you are uncomfortable with the task, I will find another way.”
Joyce’s face swung back to her. “Oh, no. I was only thinking of how I would accomplish it. I know one of the young men who makes deliveries at Meadowview. I think it should be easy enough to get him to hand this to Lord Noah.” Joyce smiled, looking down. “He is a bit sweet on me, so I don’t think there will be a problem.”
Hannah squeezed her arm. “Thank you, Joyce. I appreciate your willingness to assist me.”
Joyce walked to the door, stopping with her hand on the knob as she smiled. “Anything for love, isn’t that so?”
Hannah gave her a forced smile, and Joyce finally opened the door and left the room.
Only Joyce had no idea just how far Hannah was going to go for love. A possibly unrequited love at that. But Hannah had to know once and for all.
The next morning was picturesque after the raging storm. The sun glistened on the beads of water still clinging to the grass, making Hannah feel a bit more forgiving to them for soaking six whole inches of the hem of her gown.
“This is rather early for a stroll,” Sarah said, looking completely put out at Hannah’s insistence for a walk.
Hannah glanced back at the house to be sure Mrs. Baxton wasn’t spying from some window. “I needed to speak with you, and it is a matter of some urgency.”
Sarah scowled as she looked down at her own sodden hem. “Well, then be on with it before I am completely soaked through.”
Hannah pulled her to a stop—finally comfortable that they were well out of earshot of anyone in the house. “I may have done something hasty.”
Sarah’s brow shot up. “What did you do?”
Hannah looked to the ground, not wanting to see the disapproval in Sarah’s face when she told her. “I sent a secret note to Noah.”
“You what?” Sarah hissed.
She looked up, and Sarah had her gloved hand pressed to her mouth. “Oh, come now,” Hannah defended. “It is not so very shocking. I am hardly the first unbetrothed lady to send a note to a man.”
“But what if your mother finds out? What if the maids talk andhismother finds out. What if—”
Hannah put her fingers over Sarah’s lips. “I will remove my hand, but you must stop speaking so loudly.” Sarah closed her eyes, nodding, and Hannah let her hand fall.
“But Hannah,” Sarah said, leaning close and lowering her voice. “What were you thinking?”
Hannah shook her head. “A secret note is hardly more scandalous than what occurred on the bluffs.”
“But your maid was there. Surely nothing untoward happened.”
Hannah pulled Sarah’s hand over her arm and began their walk again. “It has come to my attention that Mother told Joyce to give Noah and I privacy. She assumed he was courting me.”
“She did not!”
Hannah nodded. “Yes, she did. No one is more determined than a mother set on making her only daughter a smart match. And with the son of a marquess? I’m afraid she lost her head with the possibility.”
Sarah’s brow crinkled. “Then why did she not use the situation to her advantage and insist Lord Noah marry you?”
“Because, somewhere in her disillusioned matchmaking mind, she does love me.”
“Well, that is good.” Sarah gave a nod. “But what of this note? What did it say?”
“I asked him to come fetch me Friday night to take me to the bluffs again.”
