“I suppose we are even now.”
“Indeed.” Anna thought she saw him smile when she said that but his face barely moved.
When she looked out and saw that they were almost at her father’s townhouse, her heart began to pound, and her legs grew numb.
God, help me, for I am returning to the wolf’s den.
Chapter 5
Returning to my father’s house struck more fear in me than I thought. Suddenly, I was a child again, holding my palms out to have them whipped with a cane until I could no longer feel the pain.
Anna placed her hand against her belly and tried to breathe while concealing her fear from Ashden, as the carriage rolled to a halt before her father’s house in Mayfair.
He alighted and held his hand out to her, and when his warm fingers curled around her trembling ones, she felt a sense of ease and comfort. Alas, it did not last long, for even a force as great as Ashden was no match for the years of torment she had endured.
“Miss Hampton, are you well?” he asked gently, and she looked up at him, forcing a tight smile onto her features.
“Yes, I am,” she replied.
Releasing her hand, he allowed her to precede him to the door, which was immediately opened by the butler on their approach. Every reasonable part of her screamed to turn and run back into the carriage, but she did not see the point in doing that because she had nowhere else to go.
Her father, Elliot Hampton, was in the front hall when they walked in, and Anna’s insides further twisted when she saw that he was with Hunter Winthrop, the Earl of Darpley, and the man she would rather die than marry. He was also her sister’s brother-in-law, and he became the earl after her sister’s husband’s death a year ago.
Her father saw Ashden behind her, and she saw him quickly arrange his features before gasping, “Anna! My goodness!” He came toward her, opening his arms. “Where have you been?”
Anna stiffened and almost took a step back but considering that she might pay a hefty price for revealing anything before Ashden, she let Elliot embrace her.
“We have been so worried about you,” her father continued, pulling away to regard her with concerned brown eyes. He was a master in concealing his vitriol. “Are you well?”
“Yes, Father, I am well,” she said, glad her voice was devoid of any feeling despite the quake within her.
Her father looked past her at Ashden, who proceeded to introduce himself. “The Duke of Ashden, Baron.”
Elliot bowed after glancing from Ashden to Anna. “Your Grace. Shall we go into the drawing-room?” He wrapped an arm around Anna’s shoulder and guided her into the room. Behind her, she could feel Ashden’s quietly curious stare and Hunter’s venomous one.
Her father helped her into a chair before straightening and facing the Duke. “Thank you for returning her to us. We have been very worried. We had searched all night, and Lord Darpley and I were just about to go out and search again.”
“How did you find her, Your Grace?” Hunter asked.
Anna turned imploringly to Ashden, silently hoping he would not tell them that she had asked him to marry her. She truly had thought she would be able to convince him to marry her, and this encounter would have been avoided.
“Miss Hampton got lost and wandered into my estate in Hertfordshire. She had a fever and was in no state to travel back to London in the storm.”
Thank you!Anna almost smiled. However, both her father and Hunter did not seem to believe that tale. They knew she had run away. After all, her father had been the reason she fled town.
“That was very kind of you, Your Grace.” Elliot bowed again. “We are most grateful. Lady Hampton has been inconsolable since Anna left. She told us she was going for a walk, you see. I cannot understand how she found herself in Hertfordshire.”
“That is quite puzzling,” Hunter agreed, and Ashden’s eyes found Anna’s. She could see the question behind them, but she could not answer. Her father was also not telling the truth because no one knew when she left the house yesterday.
“Well, she is safe, and I can assure you that no harm has come to her reputation,” Ashden reassured him.
“Of course,” her father said. “She is to be married next week to Lord Darpley.”
“Oh?” Ashden’s eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to Hunter, who began to grin like a proud suitor. “My felicitations.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Hunter looked at Anna. “I am very happy you are home safe, my dear.” His green eyes gleamed with contempt that only she could see, and when he inclined his head, a lock of his black hair fell over his eyes before he languidly brushed it away.
Quick footfalls sounded in the hall before her mother, Jemina, appeared in the doorway, her light brown curls bouncing about her face as she rushed into the room to wrap her arms around Anna.
