“Oh, I don’t know.” He tried not to let sarcasm slip into his tone, but he failed. “An engagement perhaps?”
Margaret put a hand on her chest. “Nonsense. None of the men could compare to the men of Warthford.”
Noah’s eyes trailed up to hers. Was she being entirely serious? Did she really miss him while they were gone? Realize her feelings for him? He did not trust himself to make any decisions regarding emotions at the moment. Not after what happened with Margaret two months ago, nor after Hannah’s kiss last night. He clearly was not well-versed in the language of romance—or women.
“Miss Lewiston,” Noah began, “I fear I need to speak with my brother about the dower house. If you would please excuse me.” He nodded and turned to leave.
“Noah,” Margaret said, making him pause in his escape, “I hope to speak with you sometime in the coming weeks.”
Noah turned his head, but he didn’t look at her. He couldn’t even bring himself to respond—not even nod. All he could do was take another step toward the hall where he could try and sort out his thoughts and escape this nightmare.
All too soon, dinner was called, and Noah was forced to take Margaret by the arm and lead her into the dining room. It was hard to believe he had done this very thing dozens of times before for how foreign it felt at the moment.
He pulled her chair out, and just as she claimed her seat, she turned and gave him a smile. Noah drew in a slow breath, then forced himself to return his own sorry version of a smile before taking his seat beside her.
“So,” Margaret said, turning her head toward him, “what is the news in Warthford since I’ve been gone? Anything exciting?”
Noah ran his tongue over his teeth. “Nothing I think will entertain a lady who has just spent a season in London.”
“Nonsense. There must be something.” Margaret leaned back as the first course was set before her.
Did she not realize how inappropriate this was? She didn’t seem to think anything of her smiles and ordinary conversation, as if he hadn’t proposed and been rejected by her. She seemed perfectly at ease while he felt as if everything happening was merely a figment of his imagination. Maybe it was and he had finally fallen asleep after being up all night thinking about Hannah.
“Noah?”
Margaret’s voice reminded him that this was very much real and not a dream, no matter how much he might wish it was.
He took a long drink from his glass, then set it down and wiped his mouth. “There is a new family in town.”
“Oh?” She cocked her head to the side. “How refreshing. It is always stimulating to have new company.”
Except the new company in London, apparently.
“Yes, the Gibbons,” Noah continued. He kept his eyes on his food.
“Gentry, I assume?”
“No, actually. Trade.”
Margaret’s head jerked toward him. “Really?”
“Well, it began with trade, but I believe they now live a life of leisure. Mr. Gibbons owns some land. Lovely people. My mother and Mrs. Gibbons have become good friends.”
Margaret leaned down and took a bite of soup, then dabbed her mouth with a napkin from her lap. “And do the Gibbons have any children?”
“Just one. Miss Hannah Gibbons. She is a couple years my junior.”
Margaret crossed her hands over her lap. “How nice. I should like to meet her. It is always good to have another young lady to visit with.”
Noah wondered just how much he should share, especially since he was on such unsure footing with Hannah at the moment. “Miss Gibbons is a lovely young woman. Anyone would enjoy her company.”
“Do you know her well?”
“I do.” And he left it at that, giving his focus to his meal. He would let Margaret make her own assumptions, for Noah hardly knew what to think of his and Hannah’s relationship himself. So how could he rightly explain it to her?
“Well, if you have found her worthy of friendship, then I’m sure I will as well, seeing how you and I are so alike.”
Noah nearly choked on his soup, and he covered his mouth as he gave a discreet cough. “Is that so?”
