“You are about to be relentlessly pursued, my lady.”
Her face split into a wide grin. “If you think you can catch me.” She shrugged out of his arms, tossing an unabashedly flirtatious grin over her shoulder at him.
“Do not tease me in this state, Hannah,” he called out with a laugh.
But all she did was wave her hand in the air as she sashayed toward the door and then disappeared.
Chapter 26
AsoundstirredNoahfrom his deep sleep. Thinking it was only a dream, he rolled onto his stomach, stretching his arms beneath his pillow as he relaxed into his mattress. But then the knock came again, and he could not rationally explain it away this time.
He groaned as he rolled over and sat up, putting his feet to the floor while scrubbing his hands over his face.
“Sir.” Egerton’s voice, sharp with urgency, came through the door. “I need you to come out please.”
Noah tossed back the covers, forcing himself toward the door even though his feet protested the cool floor searing his warm feet. He flung the door open. “What is wrong?”
Egerton huffed a breath. “A servant from your father’s home has come and said you need to get to the main house immediately.”
“Is someone hurt?” Noah asked as he hurried to his wardrobe, pulling out the first shirt and pair of breeches his hands touched.
Egerton followed and began helping Noah dress, pulling the shirt over Noah’s head. “There were no details. Only that you were needed with utmost haste.”
Noah shook his head as he slipped into his breeches. He had told his father he would be over to talk about things in the morning. Surely Noah hadn’t slept in that late. “What time is it?”
“It is nearly nine o’clock.” Egerton held a boot out for him, and Noah leaned his hand on the older man’s shoulder as he slipped his foot in.
Goodness, that wasn’t even late. So why the urgency? Nerves soured Noah’s stomach, and he sent a quick prayer above that everyone in his family was well. After his clothing was in order, Noah tried combing his hair out with his fingers. He faced his man of all trades. “How do I look?”
Egerton raised his brow and slowly blinked. “It is good enough for the circumstances.”
Noah quickened to the front door. To his surprise, the servant from his father’s stood by a horse, waiting for him. “Here,” he said, handing Noah the reins. “You are requested in the morning room.”
What on earth was going on? Noah mounted the gray mare and kicked it into a gallop, his thoughts turning from bad to worse, imagining Anthony having an accident during his travels or something tragic happening to Archibald or his family. But surely, if someone in his family was injured, that would have been relayed to Noah. Unless this had to do with the events of last night?Severalthings had happened.
Luckily, the ride was short, and he dismounted and handed his mount off to a servant before running up the front steps of Willowcrest. As soon as he entered the front hall, loud voices carried to him. He followed them to the morning room and walked in without an announcement.
All heads snapped to him simultaneously. His father, mother, Donald, Peter—as well as Mr. and Mrs. Lewiston. Noah panicked, glancing about the room, but Margaret was nowhere to be seen.
“What is going on?” Noah asked as he stepped further into the room. He stood behind a chair, gripping the back of it as he scanned everyone’s faces. His parents looked tired and worn, but the Lewistons were practically seething.
“We are here about your actions toward our daughter, Noah,” Mr. Lewiston said. His tone was almost that of a scolding father, making Noah’s nerves fray. “You have behaved most poorly.”
“May I ask what you are speaking of?” To be honest, it could be any number of things, and Noah had neither patience nor presence of mind at the moment to guess at the cause. The direct approach seemed easiest.
Mrs. Lewiston scoffed as she shook her head, but Mr. Lewiston put a hand on her shoulder. “As if you do not know. Margaret has informed us that you offered for her.”
“And as I already told you,” Noah’s father said, standing from his seat. His cheeks flushed red, and his voice raised. “Noah said she declined him.”
“No,” Mr. Lewiston pressed on. “She said she wished for time to think over his offer while she was in London, and that she would give him her answer when she returned.”
His father seemed to think over Mr. Lewiston’s claim, looking at Noah with worry in his eyes.
“It’s not true,” Noah said, his hands gripping the chairback tighter. “She refused me.”
Mrs. Lewiston’s head was shaking in an adamant ‘no,’ and apparently she could hold her tongue no longer. “We have heard all about how you and Miss Gibbons behaved while we were gone. You only changed your mind. But a true gentleman would honor his offer. Margaret is crushed.” She put a hand to her chest. “I had not expected such cruelty on your part, Lord Noah. Our families have been friends for years, and for you to—”
“Enough,” Noah’s father snapped. “You will let my son speak.”
