“I—I don’t know. My family and the Lewistons are very close. My parents expect me to be civil to Margaret.”
She opened her eyes. “Well, I would say you are doing a splendid job of that.”
Noah gave his head a subtle jerk, as if clearing it. “You cannot know how confusing this all is for me. First, the other night—” He swallowed. “And then Margaret coming back and expecting—” He ran a finger under his collar. “I haven’t slept properly in a week. I can barely function at the moment, seeing as how my mind is such a mess.”
“I can relate to the feeling,” Hannah whispered.
His eyes held her captive, and she saw his anguish peering out at her. “I no longer love her, if that is what you are thinking.”
“I hardly know what to think.”
His brow shot up. “As if you haven’t made me wonder the same thing, what with you carrying on with that flirt, Mr. Swinton.” He shook his head, stepping back before he began to pace the rug.
Hannah’s jaw ticked to the side. He had no right to judge her actions, especially with the way Margaret clung to him the entire night. “Thisisa ball held in my honor by your own mother to find me a husband. And you haven’t exactly encouraged me to believe that you could possibly—”
“I haven’t even had time to think!” He stopped in the middle of his pacing, his chest heaving and his eyes wide. “My parents and the Lewistons expect me to be with Margaret, and she won’t leave my side. Yet, this whole evening, all I desired was to be with you. I wanted to dance with you, and I couldn’t do that. You wouldn’t even speak to me! It was the most acute torture watching men be flaunted in front of you—to watch their hungry glances trace your form, their minds filled with plans that I shudder to know. Their pocketbooks greedy for the funds you represent. It made me sick, and I could hardly stand it!”
Hannah’s eyes burned as she watched him sputter. “I appreciate your concern, Noah. But I have a duty to perform.”
Noah cocked his head to the side. “What has happened to you? This is not the Hannah I know. The Hannah I know would rather go kicking and screaming than to let a fight go unfought.”
Hannah softly scoffed, shaking her head. “I could accuse you of the same, letting Margaret attach herself to you like some barnacle.” She ran a hand up her arm. “But it is not the same for you and me. Do not let your parents dictate your every decision in life. You have the opportunity to be your own man. So do it! Do it because there are those of us that cannot, and you shouldn’t waste your chance.”
“You are one to talk, MissI Am A Wealthy Heiress. You have many choices! Men are practically fawning over you to have the chance to win your hand.”
“Yes. It is my blessing and my curse. And that is why I will march back into that room and talk and smile and pick a man that is presented to me.”
Noah’s face fell, his eyes widening. “I was only trying to make you see reason. You cannot be serious.”
“I am, Noah. I am done entertaining fanciful things. I will do what my mother asks.”
“No.” He shook his head. “That is not fair.”
“To whom, Noah?”
He threw his hand out. “To you, obviously.”
“But I have agreed. So who are you really speaking of here?”
Noah stepped closer, his brown hair sweeping in waves over his forehead. Only, he did not look at her with tenderness in his gaze, as he usually did. Anger and hurt burned in his stare. “Then at least explain something to me.” He was so close that she could see the intricate lines marbling his deep brown eyes. “The other night . . . did you just plan to kiss me and then move on to another man? Because I do not understand what is happening here.”
“How could you say that?” she asked, her lips trembling once again. His words were like a slap to her cheek. “That was not my intention.”
“Yet that is what it appears to me.”
He didn’t understand, but she could not tell him the truth about why she was moving on so quickly. If he knew her mother thought he owed her marriage, he would propose. Hannah was sure of it. And to be married to him, knowing he only did so out of obligation . . . She swallowed, trying to calm herself. “It is not as simple as you think—”
Noah took a step back as he folded his arms across his chest. “And you stole my first kiss!”
Hannah scoffed, but at the incredulous look on Noah’s face, a telltale tickle built in her chest. Surely he was teasing her. But his expression was serious, which only made her want to laugh more. She pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Do not laugh at me,” he said, indignant. “I am in earnest.”
The laughter in her chest died as she truly considered all he was saying, her hand falling from her mouth. Noah had spoken of being jealous, angry, and hurt. Was it possible he did have feelings for her after all?
“I am sorry I stole something so special, Noah.” Her words were heartfelt and genuine, and her fire began to fade. What a mess she had made. But even as Hannah’s defenses softened, Noah’s only seemed to strengthen. He took a quick stride until he stood directly in front of her. Tonight he did not bear the bright and sunny disposition she was used to. His face was a dark storm, and she trembled before it. And then his hands lifted, cupping her chin and causing a small gasp to slip from her lips as his fingers splayed across her cheeks.
“You are fire, Hannah Gibbons. Promise me you won’t let anyone put out your light.” He whispered the words across her skin, almost as if he were in a trance. Then something shifted. A desperation entered his eyes, and he leaned forward, gently kissing an errant tear that streaked down her face.
