Chapter 15
Fifteen
Hannah’s father and brother arrived on Monday without any fanfare. They simply rapped on the door and let themselves in when the maid was slow to answer, so that Hannah came upon them in the hall without warning and cried out in surprise.
“Papa!” She launched herself into his arms, which only seemed to embarrass him.
“There’s no need for a fuss,” he said gruffly, brushing her hands from his morning coat. “It’s only been a few weeks.”
“Eight,” Hannah corrected. “And we’ve missed you terribly. Mama and I both.”
“Hmm.” He didn’t seem moved by this declaration, but then, Papa was never one to show his feelings. It didn’t mean he didn’t care.
By this point, Eli had heard the commotion and came down to greet their visitors. Gloria was tucked in the crook of his arm, sleeping soundly.
“Why isn’t your nanny minding her?” Papa asked when he spotted them.
“We don’t have a nanny,” Eli reminded him.
“But where’s your wife gone?”
“She needed to go to the club for an hour or two, but she’ll be back presently.” Seeing Papa scowl at the mention of bishop’s (or possibly the fact that he was holding a baby), Eli changed the subject. “We weren’t expecting you to arrive before four. I take it the roads were good?”
“Excellent.” Jacob took the hint, turning their conversation away from any dangerous subjects. “Give us a proper look at her then.” He craned his neck to peer at Gloria. “She favors Jane, I think. Fortunate thing. I was worried she might take after you.”
Eli used his free hand to shove his brother lightly on the shoulder. “Come in. I’m not sure where the maid’s got to, but we’ll ring for some refreshments.”
Why hadn’t Mama come down yet? If Eli had heard them, surely she must have too.
It was just like her to sulk instead of greeting Papa properly! How was Hannah to ensure her parents reconciled if she couldn’t even get them in the same room?
“Excuse me,” Hannah said. “I’m just going to pop upstairs a moment.”
She took the steps by twos and went straight to the guest room, only to find it empty.
Not just empty of her mother’s presence, but emptied of all its contents.
Mama’s powders and perfumes had been stripped from the vanity; the wardrobe stood ajar, one door still swaying slightly; and her most recent floral arrangement had disappeared from its place on the night table.
She’s fled the house.
No. That was silly. She wouldn’t pack up and leave when she believed Hannah was about to be married, would she? Why go to all the trouble of planning an engagement supper, then? She must still be here somewhere.
Hannah tried her own room next, where she found her mother and Molly (so that was where she’d got to!) trying to stuff far too many clothes into the wardrobe, crushing Hannah’s new taffeta gown in the process.
“They won’t all fit,” she protested, rushing forward to save her dress before they damaged the beadwork on the bodice. “Why are you moving all your things in here?”
“Because Jacob and your father are taking the guest room and Mr. Bishop’s old room. I’ll have to stay with you until they return home.”
“Why can’t they share?”
“Men need more privacy than ladies,” her mother said simply. Hannah might have suggested that her parents share, but she already knew what the response would be. Better not to press her luck this quickly.
“I think I hear them calling me downstairs, ma’am,” the maid interjected. “By your leave.”
“Yes, thank you, Molly.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” Hannah asked warily, once the servant was gone.
“Where do you think? In the bed.”
“But then where am I going to sleep?”
“There’s room enough for two.”
Hannah eyed the mattress with concern. If Mama had been suffocating her when they’d had their own space, how much worse would it be now?
She was far too old for this! “I don’t sleep well with another person.
You’re going to kick me and keep me up all night.
Couldn’t you stay in the nursery? Please? ”
“Gloria would wake me up at all hours. Now don’t be childish,” her mother scolded. “It’s only for a few nights.”
A few nights? How was she supposed to engineer a reconciliation with so little time?
“Papa’s not staying any longer? What about my wedding?”
“You’ll have to ask him his plans. He hasn’t informed me.” It sounded as though Mama’s patience for this conversation was nearing its end.
“Will you come down soon?” Hannah tried. “To greet him?”
“I have a lot of unpacking to do, and I still need to finish the centerpieces before supper. I’ll see your father when we all go in to dine.”
Hannah deflated a little. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get them into a room together! Mama was being obstinate on purpose; she was sure of it.
I can’t force her to come. I’ll just have to work twice as hard this evening.
Hannah wandered away reluctantly, pondering her strategy.
By the time she returned to the parlor, Papa and Jacob had installed themselves on the divan with Eli and were midway into a discussion of their recent fishing trip with their neighbors in Devon.
Fishing and hunting were about the only things that Papa talked about with Hannah’s brothers.
She settled into a nearby armchair and waited patiently for one of them to notice her. Eli was the first to oblige, turning the conversation her way as soon as their father paused for breath.
“Are you excited for tonight?”
It took Hannah a moment to realize that he was speaking of introducing Mr. Corbyn to the rest of the family, and not her secret plans to repair the rupture between their parents, where her thoughts had been occupied.
In fact, she’d been trying very hard not to think of Corbyn at all since the night of the Brandons’ ball.
Anytime her mind wandered there, it grew heated and confused.
It was bad enough that she kept reliving the aching pleasure of his touch in her dreams, waking with an empty feeling that nothing else could fill.
She wouldn’t let it cloud her reason in the day as well.
“Of course.” She forced a smile. “I know you’ll like Mr. Corbyn.”
“Hmm.” Papa frowned and took a bite of the bread and jam that Molly had brought out. “Your mother tells me you’re quite taken with this gentleman.”
She must not have told him about the scandal, or he wouldn’t sound so unconcerned. Hannah cast a hesitant glance at Eli. He gave her a long look, but didn’t say a word.
There was some loyalty among siblings, it seemed. Despite Eli’s misgivings, he didn’t seem eager to throw Hannah and his former friend to the wolves.
“Yes,” Hannah replied. “We’re very much in love.”
“I’m happy you’ve finally decided to settle down.” Papa underscored his point with a curt nod. “But a midshipman. Are you sure? You could do far better, poppet.”
“Oh. Ah. He’s not exactly a midshipman anymore.
” Oh dear. How to explain without turning her father against Mr. Corbyn?
She didn’t want the poor man walking into a trap tonight.
“There was a bit of a misunderstanding. He’s, er, expected to purchase a commission in the army presently. Mama could tell you more about it.”
Let them have a reason to talk again. They could be united in their approval or their disapproval, for all she cared. The important thing was only that they spoke.
Regrettably, her father didn’t take the hint. “I hope he’s a respectful sort. Too many young men these days don’t have any sense of duty.”
“Would you like to take your things upstairs?” Hannah was struck by a flash of inspiration. “You must want to get settled in.”
And if he ran into Mama and the two of them started speaking again, well, that would just be a happy accident.
But Eli immediately ruined everything. “I’ll see to that. Here, take Gloria a moment, won’t you?”
Before Hannah could object, the sleeping infant was unceremoniously dumped in her arms, and Eli disappeared in search of their luggage.
Drat!
“Shall we take a walk before supper?” Jacob suggested.
What was he doing? Couldn’t any of them see what a tremendous opportunity this was? It had taken her weeks of planning and a fake engagement just to get their parents in the same house, and they couldn’t even stop to appreciate the significance of this meeting before they went rushing off again!
Papa rose to his feet, apparently in agreement.
“But Papa, you hate London,” Hannah reminded him. “You always say it’s too crowded and full of miasma.”
“Too true. But I could do with a chance to stretch my legs,” Papa insisted. “That carriage was so cramped.”
“Let’s wait a moment for Eli to come back.” Jacob offered Hannah a friendly smile, unaware that he was destroying all her best-laid plans. “You don’t mind staying here with Gloria, do you?”
“I do mind,” Hannah protested, indignant. “I had things to do before supper.”
“Jane will be back in an hour or so,” Jacob assured her. “You heard Eli.”
“Don’t you want to hold her, Papa?” If she could persuade him to stay here and mind the baby, Mama was sure to come downstairs at some point. And what could be a better reason to find harmony than the sight of their first grandchild? It would remind them of happier days together.
But Papa only scoffed. “I’m no good with babies. Don’t know what to do with them at that age.”
Fine. She was tired of being rebuffed at every turn. Let them go on their walk. She would concentrate on preparing for their evening meal, where she would redouble her efforts.
They would have no choice but to sit down to dine together, and Hannah would use every trick at her disposal to remind her parents why they loved each other. By the end of the evening, they would have to see the error of their ways. That, or Hannah would die trying.
* * *
It wasn’t that Silas was nervous to meet Hannah’s father. Not exactly. It was only that no one had told him what to expect. He’d never been in a situation like this before, needing to impress a lady’s parents. What were they supposed to talk about?