Time went by very quickly, with spring's arrival Benjamin was stronger. They would take walks in the garden. He had color in his face again. He was on the mend.
"I want to hear more about this man that you were on the island with." Hannah froze as she heard these words come from her husband. "I owe him a debt of gratitude for looking after you. I would like to express my appreciation to him, in person."
"Oh ...no ....ah ....that would not be necessary. I am sure that he would be quite embarrassed as he feels that he did his duty. He just did what he felt he ought to have done. He would not want you to fuss over him."
"Nonsense! He should be rewarded." Her husband said emphatically.
Hannah was panicked. She could not bear to be in his company again. She stayed quiet and was so glad when Benjamin's secretary Mr. Clark, approached him to discuss some business. Hannah took her leave.
Benjamin seemed not to be suspicious about anything untoward. He never accused her either in word or thought. He trusted her. She was after all faithful to him up to the point of her disappearance. She was grateful for that.
Other people did not give her the benefit of the doubt. They never would. They would snicker and sneer. The women always looked for someone they could distain. They searched for someone or something to talk about. Certainly loved to make up stories about a person and their circumstance. What they believed to be true was spoken in a whisper to make it that much more intriguing.
Benjamin was improving in leaps and bounds. He would never be one hundred percent better. Something was broken inside him. Hannah would have to be very careful about him. Any additional shock would certainly compromise his weak constitution. She would have to work very hard to keep all the slanderous comments and tittle-tattle away from him. If anyone condemned her within earshot of him it would be detrimental to him in the worst way.
A few months later Hannah was passing the library Benjamin was sitting at his desk and he called her, "Hannah, Darlin' come in, please, just for a moment."
"Yes, Darling, what is it?"
"Come in and close the door behind you." She accommodated his request.
He waited until she sat down in the large leather chair in front of his desk before he started.
"I have arranged to have a ball in your honor. I think it time that everyone celebrate your return and share in my joy."
Hannah's eyes bulged. "Ohhhh ..well .....that would be marvelous, Darling. Thank you." She lied.
"It is all arranged for a week Saturday."
He smiled and bowed his head towards her. She bowed her head slightly while she curtsied and left the room.
Closing the door behind her she leaned on it horrified and closed her eyes and sighed.
'Oh no!' was her only thought.
