“Well, you’re all right now. No one is here except me and Louie. You are safe.”
Lady Celia asked, “Is the door locked?”
“No, though the goose feather is in the keyhole to warn everyone not to disturb you.”
“Too late—I am disturbed. Lock it. Please.”
“Very well.” Taking a long match from the case beside the silver mantel box, Anne lit a candle from the embers to help her see. Finding the key on the desk, Anne inserted it into the lock and then returned, pulling an armchair nearer to the bed. “I’ll sit here with you until you fall back asleep, all right?”
She half expected the woman to rebuff her offer, saying she could sleep on her own without some young chit sitting vigil, thank you very much.
Instead, Lady Celia said, “I would appreciate that, Anne. Thank you.”
10
In the morning, Anne awoke slumped in the chair, neck and back stiff. After a restless night, Lady Celia was sleeping peacefully at last. The fire had gone out, yet the room was still too warm for Anne’s comfort.
Rosa came in and, finding Anne in the chair, walked over and whispered, “Have you been here all night?”
Anne nodded. “She had a nightmare and struggled to fall back to sleep.”
“You go on now,” Rosa said. “I’ll make sure she has her breakfast when she wakes.”
“Thank you.”
Anne thought about lying down in her room and trying to get a little more sleep but decided against it. Instead, she washed in refreshingly cool water, dressed, and went downstairs.
She met Colonel Paine coming out of the parlour.
“Ah, Miss Loveday.” He bowed. “How are you this morning?”
“I am all right, thank you.”
“And my aunt?”
“Weary. She passed a restless night, I’m afraid. Bad dreams.”
“I am sorry to hear it.”
Anne gestured toward the library. “I thought I’d try to find a book to read to her. Something to soothe her mind before she goes to sleep tonight.”
“Good idea. I always likedGulliver’s Travels. In fact, she gave me a copy when I was a lad.”
“Did she? I was thinking of another book of sermons. Though I suppose I could simply read from the Psalms....”
His gaze traveled over her face. Lingered. “If it isn’t ungallant to say, you look a bit weary yourself. Come, take an invigorating turn with me around the grounds.”
“Fresh air does sound heavenly, I admit. Lady Celia prefers to keep her windows closed and a fire burning even in warm weather. Just give me a few minutes to let Rosa know I’m going outside.”
Anne returned in short order, wearing a bonnet and gloves. Colonel Paine opened the side door for her, and together they crunched over the gravel walk to the broad expanse of lawn and gardens beyond.
After a few moments of silence, she said, “Remind me why you spend so many of your leaves here, rather than with your parents?”
He shrugged. “I am more welcome here.”
“Really? Why?”
He considered, then said, “It’s a bit complicated. Do you mind a long answer?”
