Page 52 of The Earl’s Hoyden

“I’m curious,” Hannah said as though musing an idea that had suddenly come to her. “How do you all feel about the vow we made back at Lady Finch’s?”

“The one to never wed?” Lucy asked with a smirk. “Suits me well enough. I’m not the marrying sort.”

“It would be a relief to be free so long as my father would allow it.” Jillian sighed heavily. “Which I do not see being possible. But if I can manage, the pact still holds fast for me.”

“I haven’t thought of our vow in years.” Elizabeth frowned slightly. “I’m not sure. I confess that the idea of a manor in the country has always been appealing, but also…”

“Romance,” Lucy sighed dramatically.

They all laughed good-naturedly, and Elizabeth flushed a delicate shade of pink.

“One never knows when a gentleman might sweep a lady off her feet,” Elizabeth protested.

“It isn’t so much a husband necessarily that I want, or even love, but children…” Amy smiled softly.

“You can’t have one without the other,” Hannah said lightly.

Lucy stuck her finger in the air. “Well…”

“Lucy,” Amy gasped as she swiftly looked about to ensure no one had overheard, and they all laughed again.

But even as Hannah joined in their shared mirth, there was a tug of disappointment in her friends’ responses regarding the pact. She had put far too much stake into the simple agreement.

Amy was right. They had been practically girls when they signed it, with no idea who they were then or what life would bring their way.

While Hannah’s prediction had been correct about her own future, her friends might fare far differently than what they anticipated when they signed the book. At this point, she might very well become a spinster in a large country manor all by herself.

The thought was not pleasant.

A clatter of commotion came from the right side of the stage, where several women shifted through the crowd toward a gentleman. Hannah’s stomach sank. Not just any gentleman…Lord Brightstone.

He was regal in a navy wool jacket with gold buttons and long tails, set nicely with a pair of buckskin breeches that admittedly hugged his finely sculpted legs in all the right places. His top hat was perched perfectly over freshly cut blond waves, and he fished something from the pocket of his light blue waistcoat.

Ah, yes, a pocket watch.

He had followed her suggestions and was successful because of it.

No, that was unfair, she had to admit grudgingly. He wasn’t simply successful for having listened to a bit of fashion advice. He was successful because he wore those clothes so bloody well. His looser garments before did nothing to show off the expanse of his broad shoulders or the neatness of his waist and narrow hips.

He truly was a handsome man.

Now every woman in London knew it. She’d heard what they said about him, what was written in the scandal sheets. How he listened to women in a world where men talked over them, that he was a great conversationalist who always knew how to unlock a woman’s deepest secrets.

That last bit had Hannah snorting at breakfast that morning and earned her a sharp look from her mother. But truly, the only thing he did to “unlock a woman’s deepest secrets” was to use Hannah’s suggestion of asking the questions and letting the woman fill in the gaps of silence while they danced. She’d heard enough women speaking of their time on the dance floor with him to know how often he implemented her recommendations.

But those women didn’t see beyond the clothes or the title and wealth to the shy man she knew. They didn’t appreciate how he could gaze up at the sky and know the stars and each story behind them.

They didn’t deserve him.

“Hannah, do you want to leave?” Amy asked softly.

“I think…” Hannah’s face burned at having been caught staring at Lucien. No, not Lucien - Lord Brightstone. “I think I should like to go to the retiring room.”

“I’ll join you.” Elizabeth pushed to her feet, and together, the two of them slipped from the private box.

After a moment alone and a bit of cool water on her cheeks, Hannah was feeling markedly improved.

“We can stay here a moment longer if you prefer,” Elizabeth said gently.