She went to rinse her mug, but he took it from her and did it himself.
“I think,” she continued, “that you like the distraction.”
“Oh? What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that, in focusing on the people around you, you do not have to confront what is in front of you. It is easier for you to think about something that has nothing to do with you.”
He was quiet for a moment, putting her mug away, and then he turned to face her. He walked toward her until he had her pressed against the wall, his knee between her thighs. Her breathing deepened, and he grinned playfully at her, enjoying the effect he had.
“If that was the case, why would I be doing this?”
“I– I do not know. I would very much like to, though.”
“I am sure that you would,” he chuckled, placing a hand on the wall by her face.
Had he been anyone else, she would have been terrified. He towered over her and was able to do anything that he wanted, and yet he seemed to hold himself back just enough so that she was riled. If his grin was anything to go by, he was getting what he wanted with that alone.
“Come,” he said. “I am to confer with my cousin in the morning, and I do not wish to be unrested.”
Anna followed behind him, and he walked her to her door.
“I meant what I said,” he said gently as she opened her door. “He will not treat you that way and go unpunished.”
“But the estate–”
“I do not care. I would rather lose my lands than have anyone risk your safety in the way that he did. I will not allow it, Anna. You are my wife, and therefore my responsibility.”
As she reentered her room, she realized at last that she was exhausted, and her body succumbed to slumber the moment she rested her head on her pillow.
The following morning, Spencer was gone. She felt a twinge of fear every time he left the house, for it was possible that he would not return again, but this time she managed to soothe herself. He was going to see his cousin, and he was going to straighten everything out. Everything would be mended, just as he promised. And then…
What then? Would she be alone once again?
CHAPTER 10
“Iunderstand, Your Grace, but what do you expect us to do?”
Before going to visit his cousin, Spencer met with his trustees and explained the situation. He was not the sort of man to act without thought, usually, and this predicament would be no exception.
“I am only asking that you be wary,” he explained. “It is fitting that a man who stands to inherit everything would want to be rid of me, and I would argue that you see the unfairness in that.”
Then men looked at him with one unanimous gaze. They were all practically identical: medium build, dark eyes, neatly trimmed hair. It was almost eerie, but Spence could not give that away, not when he needed them to agree with him.
“Be that as it may,” one replied, “it was your father who selected him. We have to believe that he had a good reason for that.”
“And, knowing my father, he did, but I cannot claim to know what it is, and neither can any of you. He is not trustworthy, and I do not want him left with too much power.”
“Your Grace,” he replied gently, “if you know of any reason why he cannot be trusted, you may tell us, but without good reason, we cannot take his role away from him. He would have recourse to find a solicitor, and then he would be left with even more power than he already has.”
Spence had a reason, of course, and a good one, but he did not know whether or not to tell them of it. If he did, he would be sharing something that Anna had told him in confidence. If he did not, his trustees would continue to think that Walter was an innocent man and Spencer was jealous of him. He took a breath, hoping that his wife would not be too furious with him. It was, after all, partly for her sake that he was there.
“He has made unwanted advances toward my wife,” he explained. “He has told her in no uncertain terms that he is going to do what he can to take my estate from me, and I tend to believe him.”
The men looked at one another for a moment, brows furrowed, and then they turned back to him.
“He has been advocating for your removal,” one said uncertainly.
“While telling my wife and me that he is doing the opposite,” Spencer nodded. “I do not trust him, and knowing that he has ulterior motives, how can you?”
