Read Online The Lady Seals Her Fate (The Langley Sisters #5) by Wendy Vella - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Wendy Vella
Tags: Regency Romance
Ads: Link
knew he had a head for business, but she had thought he spent his nights with his brother and friends doing what young men did. It seemed she had to revise those thoughts and imagine him reading by his hearth.
“Mr. Hetherington, you simply must come and see the flowers. They are in full bloom, and I wish to show you my favorite.”
Hannah knew these women, having seen them regularly in the evenings. Of course, none of them spoke to her, and they were a year or two younger. Popular, beautiful, with families who could trace their lineage back to their wealthy and titled forefathers, they were never seen with the likes of her and were at present acting as if she was not hanging off Alex’s arm.
It didn’t hurt; she’d told herself that many times. They were not all shallow, just children of parents who were also children of parents who believed themselves better than people of lowly birth like the Woollers.
“I think you’ll agree the bluebells are particularly beautiful at this time of the year.”
She had no right to feel jealous or indeed possessive of Alex, but she did, and that annoyed her because this was make-believe. He did not care for her as she did not care for him, Hannah reminded herself.
“Ladies, I know you have met my dear friend, Miss Wooller, therefore I shall find it a direct insult to me if you do not acknowledge her.”
He should not have said that, Hannah thought, horrified yet secretly flattered that Alex had defended her. By nightfall everyone would know what he had done. Did the man have no sense?
“Oh of course, how do you do, Miss Wooller.”
Each of the girls acknowledged her reluctantly, and then tried to maneuver him from her side to follow them once more. Alex, however, hung on to her.
“Forgive me, ladies, but I am walking with Miss Wooller today. You shall have to find another to look at the flowers.”
The surprise on their faces had Hannah biting her lip to stop from laughing. They were totally cast down, throwing her accusatory looks as they turned to walk away. Her popularity with women was not about to increase, it seemed, as it had with men.
“Do you suffer that kind of thing often?”
“Yes, but your little scheme may give me some breathing room for a few weeks, and I tell you, Hannah, I shall enjoy the reprieve.”
They started walking again, and found a seat before the river.
“I knew you were highly regarded as a wonderful catch, but not what that entailed,” Hannah said, settling her reticule between them on the seat. “I am beginning to wonder which of us has the direst plight. My inability to attract suitors or your overabundance of them.”
“It is a conundrum.” He closed his eyes, raising his face to the sun, and she studied his side profile; high cheekbones, perfect nose, and strong jaw. The man should be immortalized on canvas, if he hadn’t been already.
“Alex, you really should not have stood up for me with those women.”
“You have said ‘Alex you really should not,’ a great deal today, Hannah. And yes I should have; they were rude to not acknowledge you and I’m sorry you were subjected to that, and even more sorry that I had not understood the way society has been treating you.”
“Not all of society,” Hannah said as warmth filled her chest at his words. “Some are nice, but unfortunately most of them are the chaperones or elderly.”
“Can I read that note now, Hannah?” Before she could react, he had picked up her reticule and stood. “Give that back to me!” She jumped to her feet also.
“Tell me what the note says, because it must be serious, and I would rather you told me than read it myself.”
“I will not!” She followed him as he walked backward. “That is private, and I wish you to return it at once.”
He kept walking until they were behind some bushes and out of sight. Hannah was glad her maid Mary trailed behind them. If anyone should see them, her reputation was safe.
“Tell me what it says.” He
“Mr. Hetherington, you simply must come and see the flowers. They are in full bloom, and I wish to show you my favorite.”
Hannah knew these women, having seen them regularly in the evenings. Of course, none of them spoke to her, and they were a year or two younger. Popular, beautiful, with families who could trace their lineage back to their wealthy and titled forefathers, they were never seen with the likes of her and were at present acting as if she was not hanging off Alex’s arm.
It didn’t hurt; she’d told herself that many times. They were not all shallow, just children of parents who were also children of parents who believed themselves better than people of lowly birth like the Woollers.
“I think you’ll agree the bluebells are particularly beautiful at this time of the year.”
She had no right to feel jealous or indeed possessive of Alex, but she did, and that annoyed her because this was make-believe. He did not care for her as she did not care for him, Hannah reminded herself.
“Ladies, I know you have met my dear friend, Miss Wooller, therefore I shall find it a direct insult to me if you do not acknowledge her.”
He should not have said that, Hannah thought, horrified yet secretly flattered that Alex had defended her. By nightfall everyone would know what he had done. Did the man have no sense?
“Oh of course, how do you do, Miss Wooller.”
Each of the girls acknowledged her reluctantly, and then tried to maneuver him from her side to follow them once more. Alex, however, hung on to her.
“Forgive me, ladies, but I am walking with Miss Wooller today. You shall have to find another to look at the flowers.”
The surprise on their faces had Hannah biting her lip to stop from laughing. They were totally cast down, throwing her accusatory looks as they turned to walk away. Her popularity with women was not about to increase, it seemed, as it had with men.
“Do you suffer that kind of thing often?”
“Yes, but your little scheme may give me some breathing room for a few weeks, and I tell you, Hannah, I shall enjoy the reprieve.”
They started walking again, and found a seat before the river.
“I knew you were highly regarded as a wonderful catch, but not what that entailed,” Hannah said, settling her reticule between them on the seat. “I am beginning to wonder which of us has the direst plight. My inability to attract suitors or your overabundance of them.”
“It is a conundrum.” He closed his eyes, raising his face to the sun, and she studied his side profile; high cheekbones, perfect nose, and strong jaw. The man should be immortalized on canvas, if he hadn’t been already.
“Alex, you really should not have stood up for me with those women.”
“You have said ‘Alex you really should not,’ a great deal today, Hannah. And yes I should have; they were rude to not acknowledge you and I’m sorry you were subjected to that, and even more sorry that I had not understood the way society has been treating you.”
“Not all of society,” Hannah said as warmth filled her chest at his words. “Some are nice, but unfortunately most of them are the chaperones or elderly.”
“Can I read that note now, Hannah?” Before she could react, he had picked up her reticule and stood. “Give that back to me!” She jumped to her feet also.
“Tell me what the note says, because it must be serious, and I would rather you told me than read it myself.”
“I will not!” She followed him as he walked backward. “That is private, and I wish you to return it at once.”
He kept walking until they were behind some bushes and out of sight. Hannah was glad her maid Mary trailed behind them. If anyone should see them, her reputation was safe.
“Tell me what it says.” He
Similar Books
