Page 47 of Anastasia and the Duke
Another silence fell between them, and Hannah stared down at her uneaten slice of brioche.
"I had best pack my things," she finally said, making to stand from her seat, "I shall leave everything you bought me; you have been far too generous. Perhaps you can find someone more worthy of them than I."
"Take them," the countess argued, also rising from her seat, "And there is no rush, no urgency to go just yet..."
But there was. Hannah could not stay, she had business to finish with Sidney, and, after that, she would have to get on with the business of starting her life anew.
"I must," Hannah replied, determinedly, "I shall come say goodbye before I go. Thank you, Lady Lansdowne, for all the kindness you have shown me."
With tears in her eyes, Hannah raced up the stairs, to hastily pack the few clothes she had brought with her into her batteredportmanteau. Once done, she took a final look around the beautiful bedchamber--the likes of which she would never see again--before making her way back downstairs.
"You really don't need to go," Lady Lansdowne, who had been waiting for her in the entrance hall, ventured, "You could stay. I enjoyed having you as my companion; you brought light to my dreary life."
"You have shown me more kindness than I have ever known," Hannah answered, simply, "I cannot accept any more from you."
"Oh, my dear," the countess sighed, and to Hannah's surprise, she walked towards her and drew her into a hug.
"Take this," she continued, once she had released Hannah from the embrace, "It's just a little something to get you started."
The countess slipped a heavy coin purse into the pocket of Hannah's skirt, and waved away Hannah's objection.
"I won't hear another word," she said, firmly, "Now, if you must go, go. I am not good with goodbyes; I have had too many in my lifetime."
"Thank you," Hannah answered, throatily, picking up her bag from the ground, "For everything."
She turned and made her way to the door, but as she placed her hand on the handle, she paused.
"Would you please tell the duke," she asked, turning her head, "That I'm sorry I had to leave."
"I will," the countess smiled, "I forgot that I'm not the only person who will miss you, Hannah."
On that sad note, Hannah took her leave, stepping out onto Grosvenor Square with her heart sore, but her head held high.
It was well past noon at this stage, and a strong sun beat down on Hannah as she made her way from one side of the city to the other, lugging her bag with her. She was heading for the Seven Dials and Nan, though she intended to make a stop along the way.
As she passed by Drury Lane on her way through Covent Garden, Hannah felt an ache in her chest as she thought of the duke. She was a coward, really, to run away without offering him any explanation.
She would write him a letter, she decided, when she reached Bristol, or Liverpool, or wherever it was that she and Nan would land.
They would not stay in London; that much was certain. Even though she felt almost drunk with courage, she was not delirious enough to be blind to the truth. Sidney would be furious with her, and would make it a point of honour to see her suffer, if she tried to remain on in St Giles'.
After over an hour's walking, Hannah finally found herself outside The Half Moon Pub on Monmouth Street. The Half Moon was one of the few buildings in London to have survived the Great Fire, and if one didn't know any better, they might consider the timber-framed pub, with its mullioned windows and the door so low one had to stoop, to be quaint. Hannah, however, knew otherwise.
It was from here that Sidney ruled his kingdom, in a small room on the top floor which afforded him a view of nearly every corner of St Giles'. Hannah slipped down an alleyway, which led to a courtyard at the pub's rear. From there, she went through the back door and up three flights of rickety steps, until she reached the door to Sidney's rooms.
She knocked and after a moment, Sidney's raspy voice called out to bid her enter.
"What a surprise," Sid said, as he looked up to find it was Hannah who had knocked. His eyes fell from her face to the bag she clutched in her hand, and they lit up with greed.
"I wasn't expecting you to succeed so soon," Sid whispered, his words almost a hiss, as he stood from his desk and began to approach her. "If I had known a few motivational words were all you needed, I would have offered them much sooner."
"I don't have the jewels," Hannah replied, her voice flat.
Sidney paused, as a look of anger crossed his face, rendering him uglier than usual.
"If you don't have them," Sidney replied, his voice low and threatening, "Then why are you here? Did I not tell you what would happen if you failed me, eh, girl?"
Hannah swallowed her fear and offered him a disdainful glance. He was not frightening, she told herself; he was a weak man who sent others to do his bidding and threatened women. She would like to see him speak to the Duke of Hawkfield in the same manner.
