“It is no wonder that he wished to be away from her.”
“I would have preferred a hunting accident.”
At last, Spencer remembered where he was and what he had to do. He took the glass from his wife and placed it down, taking her gloved hand and turning her toward the door.
“Alright,” he announced. “You may all continue as you were.”
He led her outside, pleased that they were not followed by any of their friends. The last thing that Spencer wanted was for them to be regarded in the same way that he and Anna were.
She had done enough damage.
His cousin, on the other hand, was all too happy to chase after them.
“My apology,” he reminded them. “I will not be spoken to that way!”
“Walter, I trust that you can see this is unlike my wife. If she is unwell enough to behave in this way, then you would understand that her apology would not be as meaningful as it otherwise would be. Surely you would rather wait until she is recovered?”
“I want one now.”
“Then I am sorry,” Anna replied petulantly. “I apologize for not being the sort of lady that you want me to be.”
She said nothing further, taking her seat in the carriage and looking forward, unblinking.
“I shall speak with you tomorrow,” Spencer assured him. “In the meantime, you can see that she is in distress. It has been a difficult while.”
“Yes, and it is only going to be worse for you if she continues to act this way.”
It was not like his cousin to threaten him, but Spencer knew that was precisely what it was. He was quick to anger, and for the first time, he seemed perfectly happy to direct that anger at Spencer.
Then again, things had changed. He had power over Spencer that he never had before, and he was clearly enjoying it. He was going to have to navigate everything carefully and do all that he could to keep him happy if he wanted to keep his estates.
Anna realized it too, and her silence in the carriage spoke volumes.
They returned home, and Anna did not wait for him to help her out of the carriage. She left it herself and made her way inside with him on her heels.
“Anna,” he called out, “Anna, do not walk away from me. I am not angry with you.”
“You certainly seemed it.”
“I had to be if it meant pleasing one of the trustees you are so concerned about,” he pointed out, “but I do want to understand what happened.”
“You do not,” she replied, and he saw the look again.
She was not looking at him, but past him. Her eyes were all but blank, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Anna,” he said gently, taking her hands again and squeezing them gently, “tell me what happened.
She looked at him, and for the first time, Spence saw something in her that made him furious.
Fear.
CHAPTER 9
Anna’s heart pounded as her husband stared at her.
She had expected him to be angry with her, and in a sense, she supposed it was deserved. They were supposed to prove that they were proper members of thetonand that they were a united couple, and she had ruined it.
“What happened, Anna?” he repeated, and she steeled herself for the inevitable anger.
