Your loving mother,
Lady Hampton.
She folded the letter and set it down on a table beside her. Her mother’s tone had grown softer with each letter, and Anna was inclined to believe that her parents were truly mending their ways—her mother, at least. Her father had not written, but her mother always spoke for him.
It would take some time for Anna to forgive them, and now she pushed the thought from her mind and returned her attention to her conversation with Mrs. Willis. “I have another question.”
“I hope I will be able to give you an answer, Your Grace.”
“What was the Duke like as a child?”
Mrs. Willis smiled fondly. “He was very peaceful. He still is. Always kept to himself, except when Sir Nathaniel was around. Then he could be quite rambunctious.”
“When he played, did he injure himself often?”
Mrs. Willis blanched and lowered her eyes. “No, Your Grace.”
Anna’s heart twisted painfully. “Were the late Duke and Duchess kind to him?”
It took the housekeeper a moment to respond. “He was the most precious thing in the late Duchess’ life. Every morning when she woke, she did not leave her bed until he was called and she saw him. When he was old enough to understand how important it was to her, he would rise very early and wait at her door.”
Her cat stretched beside her, then crawled onto her lap and curled there. Anna absently stroked him, trying to understand how Colin’s childhood had formed him into the man that he was now. Mrs. Willis had spoken of his mother’s love, but she did not mention his father, and Anna believed it was not an inadvertent mistake.
Anna finished her tea and set the cup down, her movement waking the cat. He gave her a languidly displeased look before hopping off and seeking another lair, where his slumber would not be disturbed. He stopped and scratched the leg of the chair, marking it as his, before jumping onto it. She could not help the smile that came to her lips.
Rising, she smoothed her dress. “I am going to take a nap before dinner.”
Mrs. Willis stood too. “Rest well, Your Grace.”
She walked to the arched entrance and stopped, turning. “I did inform Cook that we are expecting Sir Nathaniel for dinner, did I not?” She seemed to be forgetting quite a bit lately, besides feeling very tired right after waking. She had thought Dr. Quentin’s tea was responsible but she had stopped taking it a fortnight ago, and her ribs had healed nicely. Perhaps it was the weather.
“You did, Your Grace.” Mrs. Willis smiled but her forehead was creased with concern. “Do you feel well?”
Anna frowned. “I believe I do, but I have been feeling quite tired even when I have slept for long hours.”
“Shall I send for the physician?”
She shook her head quickly. Colin would worry, and that was the last thing she wanted—to add to his troubles. “I think I just need more fresh air. I shall take a walk early tomorrow morning.”
“Very well.”
Anna walked out and ascended the stairs. When she reached the second floor, she moved toward the door instead of her bedchamber, glancing behind her to ensure that no one was about.
Gathering her skirts, she hastened to her destination. Unfortunately, she had to slow when she got winded very quickly. She stopped and rested one hand on the wall and another on her midsection, breathing. When she felt the wave of exhaustion pass, she continued.
As she approached the door, she reached up and removed two of her hairpins, then she knelt in front of the door, and began to expertly attempt to pick the lock. She’d had years of practice because her father had often locked her in her chamber.
The lock refused to give, and when she examined it closely, she discovered it was a different lock than the ones she was used to picking. She tried to get through again but one of the pins snapped, pinching her finger. She dropped it and stuck the finger into her mouth, annoyed.
“What are you doing?”
Oh, God!
A nervous flutter ran through her, and she turned to find Colin standing some feet away from her.
Chapter 19
Catherine is on her way to Dawnton Hall! We have much to talk about. I hope she will like the changes I am making to the manor. Colin does, and he smiled the first time he saw my study. He also pretends to be annoyed by the cat, who cannot stop clawing at his boots, but I know he is secretly fond of him. I cannot say that Bishop is pleased, however, because he has to mend the scratches on Colin’s boots.
