"Truth will always be the truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance." -W. Clement Stone

The next couple of days Oliver kept bugging Hannah, accompanying her on the errands and she made sure to lengthen everything till dusk so he wouldn't take her to any more sightseeing. Oliver was playful and friendly never once crossing his line. He always stood at his place as a Lord, an aura of regalia to him.

Hannah was having a difficult time keeping uninterested and stoic facades while she was amused by every single thing out there. Oliver was the only one who seemed unaffected by her past after Lady Caro, treating her like any other ordinary person. And her cold walls were starting to melt.

All her errands were completed after 3 days of running around London, the shipments were already on their way to Raymond's. She was going to miss Lord Oliver's company much to her annoyance. Since the day she arrived, he was always present around her one way or the other. And today was her respite before leaving for Raymond in 2 days. She was going to spend the remaining time with Mrs. Morrison and Laura and Missy, who had become her friends in these last days. 

"Hannah," Laura said knocking on her door.

"Laura, come inside," She said opening the door, "I was coming to you. Today is my free day and I decided to spend it with you and Missy before leaving for Raymond's."

"His Lordship has asked you to get ready and meet him outside," Laura said her face falling, "I thought all your errands were over, we were looking forward to spending time with you, Hannah."

"My errands are over," She said puzzled, "Do you know why did his lordship ask for me?"

"He asked to prepare carriage too, I believe you have to accompany him," Laura said still upset.

"Where is his Lordship? I will speak to him, I am sure he doesn't want me to accompany him," She said comforting Laura. She was on the way to his bed-chamber when Mr. Morrison intercepted her.

"Miss Hannah, what are you still doing here?" He asked," Didn't Laura notify you of his Lordship's request?"

"She did. I ..."

"Then what are you doing here? His Lordship is waiting for you outside in his carriage," He said not at all pleased. She reached the carriage outside in no time.

"Milord," She said peering inside the carriage where Oliver was hiding his face behind the Ledger.

"Ah, Miss Hannah, you are here, please get inside," He said smiling his most charming smile.

"What is this about?" She asked skeptically.

"Please step inside the carriage, Miss Hannah and I will answer all of your questions," He said hiding back behind the Ledger once again.

Hannah couldn't believe he was acting like a child.

"Milord," She called him again without any response from him.

She kept standing anger rising in her when she noticed the carriage driver standing there awkwardly. She wanted to storm back into the estate, his estate. She didn't have the privilege to disregard the lord of the manor.

She sat in front of him seething with anger which she didn't try to console. A moment later the carriage started to move and he was still hiding behind the Ledger fueling her anger more and more.

Without thinking she snatched away the copy of Ledger from him revealing his smiling face aware of what he was doing.

"Miss Hannah," He said excitedly.

"I do not appreciate your games, milord," She said seriously.

"I assure you I am not playing any games, Miss Hannah," He replied equally serious.

She was upset and instead of replying back she sat there silently looking outside the carriage window. She didn't like the way she was reacting to him, letting him do whatever he wants. She kept telling herself he was the lord of the manor and it wouldn't be wise to defy his order but it was nothing but an excuse to justify her reasons to be in his presence. They rode in silence thinking about each other.

"We are here," He said after the carriage came to halt.

He stepped out of the carriage, offering his hand to her. She looked out and her steps froze at the sight before her. Oliver was watching her intently, her beautiful blue eyes were filled with tears while her smile mesmerized him. She walked in a state of daze towards the entrance of the orphanage where the Brown's waited for her.

"Hannah, my child," Mrs. Brown said hugging her tightly sobbing into her shoulder.

After the teary reunion, they entered the orphanage to meet the children that were yet to be adopted. Hannah was surrounded by children, some of them from her previous orphanage she took care of, the rest followed them and joined her too.

Soon, a box was put in her hand filled with candies and sweets, she looked up to see Oliver smiling at her.

"I thought you would want to bring something for the children, there are toys too," He said and made his way toward another group of children.

He didn't make it any easy for people to keep from admiring him. She found it nothing wrong to admire the man in front of her currently sitting on the dirtied floor without caring about his expensive clothes distributing toys to every child and listening to them intently. But that unknown feeling that crept inside her every time he smiled or looked at her was starting to scare her more and more.

Their eyes met over the bunch of children around them and amid all the people and voices around, their smiles for each were the brightest. The smile on both of their faces stayed till the end of the day while they enjoyed themselves with everyone.

"You are happy," Mrs. Brown said sitting beside her while Oliver served the food to the children.

"It is okay to admit you are happy just as you admit you have the worst life on the land," Mrs. Brown continued chuckling.

"What is the point when it will go away soon? And I will back to my dark place," She said.

"Nothing stays forever, Hannah," Mrs. Brown said, "You learn to enjoy the happiness at the moment rather than worrying over the sadness that will come. And when the sadness comes you need to brace your heart and believe this too shall pass."

Hannah didn't say anything, she didn't have anything to say.

"He is different, isn't he?" Mrs. Brown asked observing Oliver.

"Very much so," She replied.

"And he put efforts to make you happy, doesn't he?" Mrs. Brown asked.

"He shouldn't have," She replied curtly.

"It is pity he is a lord," Mrs. Brown said, "It is even sadder that society is cruel enough to keep people away from the one that can make them happy."

"He also angers me and annoys me and irritates me," Hannah said frowning.

Mrs. Brown laughed out loud at her statement.

"Isn't that perfect?" She asked after her laughter subsided.

"I do not understand what you are talking about," Hannah said walking away.

"Ignorance is not a bliss, my daughter," Mrs. Brown said.

As dusk fall, all adults failed to keep up with the energy of children. Mr. Brown made the appearance soon after, requesting Hannah to speak with him personally.

"It is good to see you healthy and faring well, Hannah," He said as he offered her a glass of wine.

"Thank you, Mr. Brown," She said, "How is your health?"

"Deteriorating, I would be lucky if I could see next winter," He said.

He looked ill and exhausted. Hannah never had any relationship with Mr. Brown but he was the closest father figure she had in her life and to look at the man slowly dying saddened her.

"You should know better than to get close to a Lord," He said after a moment of silence.

"I am not close to any lord, Mr. Brown," She said in a cold voice.

"I think it is my responsibility to warn you once," He continued.

"And if it has been said then I will take your leave," She got up and left without looking back.

After an emotional farewell, Hannah and Oliver were back to the estate. Oliver didn't speak a word till they entered the estate. Something in her countenance changed after the talk with Mr. Brown and he thought it was best to let her deal with it.

"Good night, Miss Hannah," He said standing on the stairs on the way to his chamber walking away without waiting for her reply. 

"Milord," She spoke up. Oliver turned back waiting for her to speak.

"Thank you," She said her eyes anywhere but him.

Oliver walked away after bidding her good night once again while she stood there looking at his retreating back.

"I am, in this very moment, I am happy," She said to herself.