Page 48 of A Rogue to Forget

She was much too nervous to notice more than the extravagant flower arrangement in the foyer as they went to a sitting room where several people gathered and were talking.

At their entrance, everyone turned to them.

“Mother, Father, Sister, may I introduce Miss Hannah Kerr.” Henry’s voice was steady. He turned to Hannah and walked with her to where his parents sat. “You already know my father.”

Hannah nodded and did a quick slight curtsey.

“This is Catriona Campbell, my mother.”

Hannah kept her gaze lowered, head bent as she lowered to a curtsey. “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Henry didn’t wait and motioned to the other woman in the room. “My sister, Alana Robertson.”

Once again, Hannah curtsied, fully aware that Henry’s mother studied her.

Henry escorted her to sit and then brought Felicity into the room. “You have all met Missus Felicity Macleod. She agreed to attend as Hannah’s companion.”

“You have no one else then?” Lady Campbell asked, her eyes pinning her. “A companion?”

“I am alone,” Hannah replied. “I do have a woman in my employ, Marta, who accompanies me whenever I leave the house.”

The woman slid a look to Felicity. “How is your mother, Felicity?”

“Very well, thank you for asking,” Felicity replied.

Henry’s sister was indeed quite late with child. She seemed uncomfortable by the way she leaned back in the chair. Hannah met her gaze. “How much longer?”

Seeming pleased to be spoken to, Alana grimaced. “Another month at least.” She let out a sigh. “Everything hurts.”

“Ah yes, drinks,” Lord Campbell said with much enthusiasm. “Welcome to our home, Miss Kerr.”

Alana seemed to sink further into the chair, her feet barely touching the floor.

Unable to stand it, Hannah looked to Lady Campbell. “May I use one of the pillows to make her more comfortable?”

“I doubt anything can make Alana more comfortable.”

Felicity and Hannah exchanged looks and stood. While Hannah placed a pillow behind Alana’s back, Felicity slid a footstool under her swollen feet.

“Oh my goodness, I could weep. This is perfect,” Alana exclaimed, her hands crossed over her extended stomach. “You must show my lady how to do it.”

“Hannah and Felicity volunteer at the woman’s maternity ward in the city,” Henry told his parents.

Mrs. Campbell frowned. “I am not sure an unmarried woman should be exposed to such things.”

“There is great need and not enough workers to help,” Felicity replied with a smile. “They are very careful when assigning duties.”

Instead of a reply, Mrs. Campbell slid a look at her daughter. “You should be home, Alana. I do not understand why you are traipsing all over town in your state.”

A young female servant came to the door to announce that dinner was ready.

No one moved. It was as if everyone waited for something. Hannah wasn’t sure, so she looked at Henry who in turn gave his parents a bland look.

“A word, Hannah,” Mrs. Campbell said, and then looked to Felicity, Henry, and her daughter who seemed to have fallen asleep. “In private.”

Giving his mother what seemed like a warning look, he held out his arm to Felicity and escorted her out of the room.

“Do not dawdle,” his father said as he went to Alana, who refused to budge, murmuring something about resting for the first time. Hannah wondered if she just wanted to be nosy and hear whatever her mother was about to say.