Page 18 of Anastasia and the Duke
The lad's face paled as he looked over Hannah's shoulder, and without another word, he turned on his heel and fled.
Hannah turned to face her "saviour" and found Captain Edgeworth smiling down at her, looking rather proud of his gallantry.
"Ruffian," the captain snorted, as he watched the bare-footed boy make his escape. His handsome face quickly turned to concern, as he recalled the damsel-in-distress he had rescued, and he dismounted his steed to check on her.
"Are you harmed, Miss Blackmore?" he asked, with so much pomp that Hannah had to hide a smile, "You poor creature; whatever are you doing walking alone?"
As chivalry was usually reserved for women of a far higher station than she, Hannah could not help herself from laughing at his dramatics.
"I hardly think he would have hurt me, Captain," she smiled, "He barely reached my hip."
The captain's face fell and Hannah realised that she had erred greatly; another lady--one who had not been dragged up in The Rookery--would probably have fainted at such an encounter. She was displaying her roots and showing herself for the hardy weed she was, rather than the delicate flower he thought her to be.
"Though Idothank you for your help," she continued, hoping that, like most men, Captain Edgeworth was susceptible to flattery, "Heaven knows what might have happened, had you not..er..rescued me."
Just as she had hoped, the captain puffed his chest out proudly at her false flattery.
"It was no trouble," he said gravely, as though he had chased off an entire army and not a boy of six, "But where is your maid? You should not be walking alone. Come, I will escort you back to Grosvenor Square."
"There's no need," Hannah began to insist, but he brushed her protests away with a gloved hand.
"There's every need," he scowled darkly around the path, which was lined with flower beds and topiary hedges, "Danger lurks around every corner."
If Captain Edgeworth found the sedate paths of Hyde Park to be dangerous, then that did not say much for the armed forces, Hannah thought with amusement. Still, she did not wish to protest too much--for surely a proper lady would wish for an escort after such an ordeal--so she nodded her consent.
Once Bonbon had been called to heel, the pair set off, with Captain Edgeworth's steed trotting gently along beside them.
Hannah had worried that she might fumble again and say something stupid but, luckily, the captain did not seem inclined to hear her speak. From Brook Street back to the square, he chattered endlessly, sharing his opinions--of which he had plenty--on everything, from the price of butter to the next race at Newmarket.
"This is me," Hannah said, with some relief, as they reached the steps to Lady Lansdowne's house.
"Oh," Edgeworth blinked in surprise, "I didn't realise that we had come so far so quickly. Time flies, as they say! You are an extremely interesting creature, Miss Blackmore; I have enjoyed myself tremendously."
"Thank you, Captain," Hannah dipped her head, so that he would not note her smile, for it was clear that the captain had found the sound of his own voice the most interesting part of all. "And thank you again...for your help."
"An honour," he replied solemnly, taking a step back and doffing his hat to her, "I do so hope that our paths will cross again."
Hannah made a noise in response, which she hoped did not sound too strangled, and fled up the steps to the safety of the house.
Inside, a footman rushed to Hannah's side to take Bonbon away to wash his paws, followed by Lady Lansdowne, who emerged from the morning room in high spirits.
"Was that Captain Edgeworth I saw you with?" the countess queried; her voice high with excitement.
"He escorted Bonbon and I back from the park," Hannah answered, leaving out the part about his "rescue" of her.
"You shouldn't be walking alone, it's not safe," Lady Lansdowne scolded, "But, oh, how gallant of the captain to walk you home. He is handsome, is he not? Only a third son, but my birds tell me he is intending to enter politics, once the war ends."
For this, Hannah had no answer, unsure as to why she should take an interest in Captain Edgeworth's future career path or care that he was but a third son.
"Of course," the countess frowned, "We can do far better than the heir to the spare. With Hawkfield's interest in you now known, you'll be beating them back with a stick. Imagine, you managed to capture the eye of a duke, even with yourdémodéwardrobe."
"I--what?" Hannah stuttered; all this talk of beating men with sticks was confusing her--and what had she said about Hawkfield?
"Bien sûr!" the countess exclaimed, clutching a hand to her breast, "You have not read the papers!"
The countess took Hannah by the hand and led her to the morning room, where one of the daily news sheets was left open on the walnut coffee table. Lady Lansdowne sat on the chaise, and then patted the cushion beside her to indicate that Hannah too should sit.
"It's here," the countess said, pointing a finger at one of the columns.
