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“It was an inspiring sight, I must admit,” said Lily by her side. “You should read that book. When you’re finished, then we can try walking again for the other one.”
“Is this my prize then?”
“No, of course not. That would be a very boring and unimaginative surprise, don’t you think? No, I’m thinking I could surprise you in another way entirely.”
Belle didn’t want to focus on the hint of mischief she caught in Lily’s voice. “I want to leave the room. Help me down to the sitting room so I can read.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Lily kept a stronger hold on her this time as she helped Belle out of the room. Belle didn’t attempt to walk. She hopped, wanting to ease her ankle a bit.
Getting downstairs took as long as she expected it to but when Belle made it to the sitting room, she breathed a sigh of happiness, relaxing into the couch. Lily placed the book in her lap.
“Have fun,” she said to her. “I think I’ll work on my blanket and I can’t have you seeing it.”
“That’s fine,” Belle said, waving her hand. “I’ll be busy with my book for a while.”
She heard rather than saw Lily leave the room and when she picked up the book, Belle felt more accomplished than she had in a long time. And it wasn’t until she started reading, did she realize that she hadn’t spared Stephen a single thought the moment she started walking. That only made her more determined to do it more.
* * *
The four days he had spent without seeing Hannah had been utter torture. And here on the fifth day, he didn’t think he could handle it any longer.
But the things he had to get done grew unsurmountable. The bustle of London life was much different from what he knew in India and he was wholly unused to it. Try as he might, it was taking him a while to settle into his role as duke and Stephen hated how much like a failure that made him feel.
Seeing Hannah will make everything better.
He was determined to, not willing to allow another day to go by without seeing her. He hadn’t realized how much he had grown to rely on her presence until he didn’t have her around. With Hannah nearby, Stephen felt like himself. When she wasn’t, he felt as if he was walking around in a skin that wasn’t his own.
He didn’t know when his feelings had grown to be so dramatic.
He was returning from the accountant’s office after he had called him in to speak about a matter he’d found in the books. What Mr. Reid said had only raised more questions and he had hoped Stephen would be able to shed some light. The fact that he was unable to meant it would be a while longer before there was conclusive assortment of the numbers.
As he continued on his way to his waiting carriage, Stephen came to a stop. Staring back at him from behind the window of a French modiste, was a beautiful blue dress. The moment he saw it, he thought of Hannah.
That would look lovely on her.
It was the sort of dress she could wear to a ball. Stephen could already picture her in it, with her curls piled high and turning heads wherever she went. She would be a vision under the dazzling lights of a chandelier, just as she was under the pale moonlight shining through the window of her room in the Stanton’s residence.
Stephen didn’t hesitate a moment longer. He quickly purchased the dress, asking them to wrap it into a gift box, and he left with a pep in his step.
When he arrived at the Stanton home, he was unsurprised to hear that Robert was out making house calls. Lily was in the kitchen, working on some sort of pastry that Stephen couldn’t identify, and it was Julia who let him in.
“Good day, Stephen,” they both greeted, all smiles.
“Good day, Lily and Julia,” he said, returning their smiles.
“I haven’t seen you around in a while,” Julia said. She sat at the table and picked up the fabric she was working on, her fingers deftly pulling the needle up and through.
“Yes, well, I’ve been a little busy,” he said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “A lot busy, actually. But I’m here now.”
“And is that for Hannah?” Lily asked idly.
“Yes,” he said in a bold manner that required more effort than usual in front of Lily. “When I saw it, I instantly thought of her. I thought she would like it.”
“I’m sure she will,” Julia said. She cocked her head toward the sitting room. “She’s in there.”
Stephen frowned. The girls gave him knowing looks but then they soon went back to their silence, focusing on what they were doing. Stephen made his way into the sitting room and, lo and behold, Hannah was truly sitting there.
Her ankle was propped up on a hassock, a book in her hand. From behind her, brown hair shone, falling around her shoulders and shielding most of her face. She looked up at him as he came around the couch. She blinked at him.
