brother’s father-in-law.”
With everything within her, she fought the urge to withdraw back from the man. She hadn’t expected nor knew how to deal with him. Her mind raced. She breathed deeply, “I didn’t realize you were here in New York.”
“Alive, you mean?” he spoke in a whisper, but Hannah heard the words clearly.
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand your meaning?” she questioned him.
“No, it’s I who’s sorry, Hannah. You don’t mind if I call you such. We’re family. Are we not?” he smiled at her and once more, making her uncomfortable. “No one told me how beautiful you are, my dear.”
She stared at him, making no effort to hide her contempt for the man who had hold of her. “I’m sure I would welcome news about my family, Mr. Gannon. I haven’t heard from another in ages. How did you leave them? Breathing, I hope,” she shot back at him.
He laughed. “I’m so going to enjoy our time together, Hannah, for I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other now.”
“I can only hope, Mr. Gannon,” she said, thankful the music had come to an end. She took a step back, but he leaned down for her ears only.
“You didn’t ask about Gabriel, my dear. Aren’t you interested in his behavior without you by his side?” he stared into her eyes.
“Pray, what do you mean by that?” she heard herself uttered. He took her by the arm and led her off the dance floor.
“Now, you want to talk,” he tilted head in such a manner to see within her eyes. She hadn’t even noticed Lieutenant Fletcher return to her side. “Ah, young man, you may be interested to hear this bit of information. I don’t suppose she told you about her fiancé.”
Hannah stood frozen in her spot, not looking at the Lieutenant, but could feel his eyes upon her. Gannon shrugged, enjoying the moment. “No, from your response, I can tell that maybe Miss Corbett hasn’t been totally honest with you. What a shame, but don’t concern yourself, because the news I have for Hannah will free her. But maybe she already was aware of it, since when I left Philadelphia he was betrothed to another, a fine young lady from the Reynolds family. Said you had broken the engagement. Is that true, Hannah?”
Hannah remained speechless, staring through him with hatred. Gannon maneuvered around her. “Catherine felt you would be most upset. She seemed to think that you had the most passionate views of the patriotic cause. Do you, Hannah?” He turned to the Lieutenant. “She did tell you that her father and brother were hung as spies.”
Calm yourself. Deny. Do not let him better you.
“Mr. Gannon,” she replied rigidly. “I don’t understand your resentment about me and why you feel the need to embarrass me. I moved to New York to put the past behind me. I haven’t taken to any political ties. I find better things to do with my time. I have tried to begin a new life. As for Gabriel, I’m happy he has found the ability to move on. He was correct in revealing I broke it off with him, finding a new life here.”
“I believe it best if you leave the lady alone,” Lieutenant Fletcher stepped between the two.
“Ah, you have a defender, Hannah,” Gannon took a step back. “I’ll take my leave, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing much of each other. I have only advice for you, son. Take care because if you trust her, she’ll be the death of you.”
The Lieutenant took hold of Hannah’s arm. She jerked back. “I’m sorry, Simon. I can’t talk at the moment.”
“I don’t believe a word he said, Hannah,” he said moving closer to her.
She held her hand up. “Don’t. I need air.” She left him standing. With no chance upon leaving, she took refuge upon the veranda, grabbing only her shawl to protect her from the elements.
Her mind raced. How could Tepper not have known that Gannon resided now in New York? Why had no one felt the necessity to inform her? The ground beneath her became as sand. Hadn’t Tepper assured
With everything within her, she fought the urge to withdraw back from the man. She hadn’t expected nor knew how to deal with him. Her mind raced. She breathed deeply, “I didn’t realize you were here in New York.”
“Alive, you mean?” he spoke in a whisper, but Hannah heard the words clearly.
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand your meaning?” she questioned him.
“No, it’s I who’s sorry, Hannah. You don’t mind if I call you such. We’re family. Are we not?” he smiled at her and once more, making her uncomfortable. “No one told me how beautiful you are, my dear.”
She stared at him, making no effort to hide her contempt for the man who had hold of her. “I’m sure I would welcome news about my family, Mr. Gannon. I haven’t heard from another in ages. How did you leave them? Breathing, I hope,” she shot back at him.
He laughed. “I’m so going to enjoy our time together, Hannah, for I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other now.”
“I can only hope, Mr. Gannon,” she said, thankful the music had come to an end. She took a step back, but he leaned down for her ears only.
“You didn’t ask about Gabriel, my dear. Aren’t you interested in his behavior without you by his side?” he stared into her eyes.
“Pray, what do you mean by that?” she heard herself uttered. He took her by the arm and led her off the dance floor.
“Now, you want to talk,” he tilted head in such a manner to see within her eyes. She hadn’t even noticed Lieutenant Fletcher return to her side. “Ah, young man, you may be interested to hear this bit of information. I don’t suppose she told you about her fiancé.”
Hannah stood frozen in her spot, not looking at the Lieutenant, but could feel his eyes upon her. Gannon shrugged, enjoying the moment. “No, from your response, I can tell that maybe Miss Corbett hasn’t been totally honest with you. What a shame, but don’t concern yourself, because the news I have for Hannah will free her. But maybe she already was aware of it, since when I left Philadelphia he was betrothed to another, a fine young lady from the Reynolds family. Said you had broken the engagement. Is that true, Hannah?”
Hannah remained speechless, staring through him with hatred. Gannon maneuvered around her. “Catherine felt you would be most upset. She seemed to think that you had the most passionate views of the patriotic cause. Do you, Hannah?” He turned to the Lieutenant. “She did tell you that her father and brother were hung as spies.”
Calm yourself. Deny. Do not let him better you.
“Mr. Gannon,” she replied rigidly. “I don’t understand your resentment about me and why you feel the need to embarrass me. I moved to New York to put the past behind me. I haven’t taken to any political ties. I find better things to do with my time. I have tried to begin a new life. As for Gabriel, I’m happy he has found the ability to move on. He was correct in revealing I broke it off with him, finding a new life here.”
“I believe it best if you leave the lady alone,” Lieutenant Fletcher stepped between the two.
“Ah, you have a defender, Hannah,” Gannon took a step back. “I’ll take my leave, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing much of each other. I have only advice for you, son. Take care because if you trust her, she’ll be the death of you.”
The Lieutenant took hold of Hannah’s arm. She jerked back. “I’m sorry, Simon. I can’t talk at the moment.”
“I don’t believe a word he said, Hannah,” he said moving closer to her.
She held her hand up. “Don’t. I need air.” She left him standing. With no chance upon leaving, she took refuge upon the veranda, grabbing only her shawl to protect her from the elements.
Her mind raced. How could Tepper not have known that Gannon resided now in New York? Why had no one felt the necessity to inform her? The ground beneath her became as sand. Hadn’t Tepper assured
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