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now, and Hannah supposed it was only natural that people would look to him first. There was no point in feeling miffed. She was just going to have to get used to the fact that this was Robert’s house, and that no matter what the lawyer said, she was only a guest in it. Which meant there was nothing she could do but wait until her brother summoned her, or bide her time until Lady MacInnes was ready to see her.
What a pity, Hannah reflected, that she hadn’t learned patience as well as she had some of her other lessons.
In the library, Robert greeted with genuine warmth the elegantly dressed lady whom Mr Mudd had just brought to the room. ‘Cousin Margaret,’ he said, crossing to take her hand. ‘It is a pleasure to see you again after all these years. And looking very well, I might add.’
The tall, regal-looking lady inclined her head, though her lips pulled into a rueful smile. ‘It has been years, Robert, though I fear time has not been as kind to me as it has been to you. I have grown old, while you have only grown more handsome.’
Robert’s mouth curved upwards in a smile. ‘I’ve always held beauty to be in the eye of the beholder, Cousin. I’m sure that what I see in you is seen by everyone else too.’
She did indeed look well, Robert reflected, though he couldn’t deny that she had changed. The last time he’d seen his mother’s first cousin, her hair had been as darkas Hannah’s. Now it was almost white. Surprisingly, however, it only added to the elegance of her appearance. He suspected that she was somewhere in her late fifties, but her gown of black bombazine was of the first stare, and her straw bonnet tied with black lace was extremely becoming.
Robert knew that his mother and Lady MacInnes had once been very close. Indeed, it was to Burgley Hall in Scotland that his mother had retired after his father’s death. It was there too, that she had given birth to Hannah. But something had happened in the weeks following his sister’s birth. For some reason, the two women had suffered a falling out. At least, Robert had always assumed that that was what had happened. He knew from his Aunt Prudence that Lady MacInnes had stopped coming to Gillingdon Park, and that his mother had never paid a return visit to Burgley Hall.
He, of course, not being close to his mother, and not inclined to write to his cousin, had never learned the reasons why. Nor did it matter now. Lady MacInnes had come to pay her final respects to his mother, and hopefully, to put aside whatever manner of argument had caused them to distance themselves from one another in the first place.
‘How is Lord MacInnes?’ Robert enquired. ‘I recall Hannah saying that he was not well.’
‘He is much recovered now, thank you, Robert. We were all quite concerned at the time, but the doctor has assured me that the worst is over, and that with rest, he will be fine.’
‘Was he well enough for you to leave him unattended while you came to see us?’
Lady MacInnes smiled. ‘He is not unattended. My daughter, Fiona, is looking after him, and I trust her todo whatever is necessary. But I had to come, Robert. And I had to come now. Not only to pay my last respects to your mother, but to see you.’
Something in her voice caught Robert’s attention. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘I wish I could say that it was, but what I have come to say will not be easy for you to hear, and it will come as a tremendous shock. But I have wrestled long and hard with my conscience and feel I cannot remain silent any longer.’
Wondering what manner of news could be so alarming, Robert leaned back against the edge of the desk. ‘Then tell me what you came to say, Cousin. And pray, do it quickly, for I have found that suspense is only effective when employed upon the stage.’
‘Do not mock, Robert,’ Lady MacInnes scolded. ‘This is not a matter to be taken lightly. What I am about to say will have far-reaching consequences on your life
What a pity, Hannah reflected, that she hadn’t learned patience as well as she had some of her other lessons.
In the library, Robert greeted with genuine warmth the elegantly dressed lady whom Mr Mudd had just brought to the room. ‘Cousin Margaret,’ he said, crossing to take her hand. ‘It is a pleasure to see you again after all these years. And looking very well, I might add.’
The tall, regal-looking lady inclined her head, though her lips pulled into a rueful smile. ‘It has been years, Robert, though I fear time has not been as kind to me as it has been to you. I have grown old, while you have only grown more handsome.’
Robert’s mouth curved upwards in a smile. ‘I’ve always held beauty to be in the eye of the beholder, Cousin. I’m sure that what I see in you is seen by everyone else too.’
She did indeed look well, Robert reflected, though he couldn’t deny that she had changed. The last time he’d seen his mother’s first cousin, her hair had been as darkas Hannah’s. Now it was almost white. Surprisingly, however, it only added to the elegance of her appearance. He suspected that she was somewhere in her late fifties, but her gown of black bombazine was of the first stare, and her straw bonnet tied with black lace was extremely becoming.
Robert knew that his mother and Lady MacInnes had once been very close. Indeed, it was to Burgley Hall in Scotland that his mother had retired after his father’s death. It was there too, that she had given birth to Hannah. But something had happened in the weeks following his sister’s birth. For some reason, the two women had suffered a falling out. At least, Robert had always assumed that that was what had happened. He knew from his Aunt Prudence that Lady MacInnes had stopped coming to Gillingdon Park, and that his mother had never paid a return visit to Burgley Hall.
He, of course, not being close to his mother, and not inclined to write to his cousin, had never learned the reasons why. Nor did it matter now. Lady MacInnes had come to pay her final respects to his mother, and hopefully, to put aside whatever manner of argument had caused them to distance themselves from one another in the first place.
‘How is Lord MacInnes?’ Robert enquired. ‘I recall Hannah saying that he was not well.’
‘He is much recovered now, thank you, Robert. We were all quite concerned at the time, but the doctor has assured me that the worst is over, and that with rest, he will be fine.’
‘Was he well enough for you to leave him unattended while you came to see us?’
Lady MacInnes smiled. ‘He is not unattended. My daughter, Fiona, is looking after him, and I trust her todo whatever is necessary. But I had to come, Robert. And I had to come now. Not only to pay my last respects to your mother, but to see you.’
Something in her voice caught Robert’s attention. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘I wish I could say that it was, but what I have come to say will not be easy for you to hear, and it will come as a tremendous shock. But I have wrestled long and hard with my conscience and feel I cannot remain silent any longer.’
Wondering what manner of news could be so alarming, Robert leaned back against the edge of the desk. ‘Then tell me what you came to say, Cousin. And pray, do it quickly, for I have found that suspense is only effective when employed upon the stage.’
‘Do not mock, Robert,’ Lady MacInnes scolded. ‘This is not a matter to be taken lightly. What I am about to say will have far-reaching consequences on your life
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