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She and Frederick were being spoken about. Spoken about in a most undignified manner.

“Oh…” Suddenly, she wasn’t enjoying herself nearly as much as she had been. “It is not… perhaps it is not as bad as it seems.”

“How can you say that?” he hissed. “It is bad enough that your aunt insists on spreading these rumors. But now that common folk believe they are true, I have half a mind to…” He clicked his tongue.

“You can still speak with her,” Hannah suggested. “I know you said that you do not wish to debase yourself like that, but if we were to approach her together?—”

“Absolutely not.” He pulled his hand free. “I will not beg your aunt. I should not have to.”

“Then all we can do is ignore it until it stops.”

Even as she said the words, Hannah knew them to not be an option. Rumors like this had a way of growing, and until someone put a stop to them, they would only get worse.

“And if they don’t? My name…” He clicked his tongue. “Ourname, and that of Amelia, will be worth little more than the mud in which we now stand.”

“We will think of something,” she said with little confidence.

“I sincerely hope that we do.” He was back to looking at the crowds, his confidence diminishing. “But until then, we cannot afford to be seen in public like this.”

“Frederick, that sounds like exactly what we should do. If we hide, that will lend credence to the rumors, and?—”

“I do not care,” he hissed at her. “I will not stand here and be judged. In fact—” He looked past her, toward where Amelia had vanished. “Let us fetch Amelia. It is time to go.”

“Oh, but she will be so upset.”

“We are leaving.” He shot her a warning glare, one that she knew better than to argue against. “Now.”

“Alright,” she sighed and nodded in understanding. “I suppose it is for the best.”

And that was the end of their day. A rather sour end, at that.

Frederick was quick to track down Amelia and explain to her that they needed to leave, an announcement that was met with pouting and complaining and a small tantrum because she very much wanted to stay. This resulted in a very awkward journey home, which led to a very tense night in general.

Hannah could see where this was going and knew that something had to be done. Frederick was stubborn and proud and would happily shut himself inside until the rumors died down and were forgotten. But he was also a fool because if he did that, they would only grow and mutate and become ungodly things that might follow him and Hannah to the grave.

If that was allowed to happen, it would chip away at their marriage in ways that could only cause pain and suffering. And with everything going as well as it was, Hannah wasn’t about to sit back and allow such a thing to occur.

Her aunt must be dealt with. She must be told to stop. She must be reminded that what happened was nobody’s fault and that these rumors she was spreading were causing harm to those she supposedly loved. And if Frederick wasn’t going to do it, then it would fall on Hannah’s shoulders.

Oh, she had no doubt that Frederick would be angry when he found out, but that was a risk she needed to take. For the sake of her husband, her marriage, and her future.

Chapter Seventeen

“Hannah, dear! It is so good to see you!” Teresa crooned as Hannah walked into the foyer. Her arms wide, she swept in and pulled Hannah into a tight hug. “It has been too long.”

“Nearly a month now,” Hannah agreed pleasantly. “I was sad that you missed the wedding.”

“Oh, yes, well…” Teresa sighed and shook her head. “It was all so sudden that I was simply unable to clear my schedule. You understand.”

“Completely.”

“But do not take it as a slight,” Teresa insisted. “Truly, I could not be happier for you and… Say, where is your strapping husband?” She looked past Hannah, as if expecting Frederick to step through the front door at any moment. “I was under the impression that he would be joining us.”

“Oh yes, about that…” Hannah frowned regretfully. “He was all set to join me, but some urgent business matter came up as we were about to leave. I begged him to leave it for the morrow, but he insisted it had to be dealt with. The life of a duke,” she sighed. “One never knows when they might be called away.”

“Yes, well…” Her aunt clicked her teeth. “That is most upsetting.”

“Still…” Hannah took her aunt’s hands. “There is no reason that we cannot enjoy one another’s company. We do not need my husband for that.”