“Good day,” she greeted. “My apologies, I was not expecting company today.”
“I know,” he replied. “That is a part of the problem. My name is Sir Walter Gale, the Earl of Vernon. I am a cousin of your husband.”
“Is that so? My husband never mentioned a cousin, so you must forgive me if I am rather skeptical. When one has a position suchas mine, there are plenty of people who wish to take advantage of me.”
“I understand, Your Grace. Fortunately, I am not here to ask anything of you. Not yet, at least. Instead, I have come to give you a word of warning.”
Anna narrowed her eyes, then took a seat. Sir Gale, on the other hand, paced the floor, looking around as if he were sizing it all up.
“Very well.” She said at last.
“You see, Your Grace, I am aware of the fact that your husband has been absent for a year now. You may not know this, but there is a stipulation that your husband must fulfil his role in order to keep his estate.”
Anna felt a chill, but that was not out of the ordinary at Wutherton Manor.
“As you know,” he continued, “your husband is absent and therefore cannot do his duties. As it has now been a year, I am afraid that the trustees will soon assume management of all financial functions tied to the dukedom.”
“But that is– Sir, you must be mistaken. Our estates are taken care of, and my husband does not need to reside here in order to handle them.”
“Be that as it may, he knows what he has to do. He is also aware of the consequences that will come of his not fulfilling such obligations.”
She felt herself twitch. It was even worse that there was a stranger making such suggestions. Wutherton Manor might never have truly felt like a home to her, but she did not wish to leave it behind. Where would she go? Back to her father, whose dismissal was made all the more painful by his physical presence? At least here she had control of her situation.
“I shall write to him,” she said finally. “I thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
“That is not enough,” he replied, standing over her where she sat. “But I can help you.”
Anna rose to her feet, not liking the way he was looming over her. She knew the sort of man he was. She’d seen enough like him crowding her father, pressing for charitable donations and more “in the name of your dear wife”. It did not matter that he had seemingly come in good faith; he was too close for her to think that he had propriety at the forefront of his thoughts.
“And how do you propose you can do that?”
“I am one of the trustees. I will be able to influence the others, given that I am family to him.”
At that moment, he raised his hand and touched her cheek. It burned, and she backed away instinctively. She did not want him to touch her, and she certainly did not want him to continue looking at her the way he was, his lopsided grin revealing gaps where his teeth were missing.
“You may leave now,” she replied, but he simply stepped closer to her.
“Everything comes at a cost, Your Grace. If you give me what I want, I will ensure you areverywell taken care of.”
His hand returned, this time to her waist. His touch felt like poison, but each time she pushed him away, it only encouraged him further. It was evident what he wanted, and it sickened her.
“Leave,” she said firmly, though her voice was more panicked than she would have liked. “Or I shall have you thrown out. I will not be spoken to in this way, nor will I allow you to make such advances.”
“Of course,” he smiled, slinking away to the door before lingering. “But remember this: I am the only way that you can save yourself. After all, how can a duchess be without a home?”
“Go.”
“I will. In the meantime, send for your husband, and see if he can stop me.”
Without thinking of propriety, she stormed to him, her hands on the backs of his shoulders, and shoved him hard, repeating her instruction to leave. He gave her a mocking smile as he went, winking before turning away and not looking back.
Anna’s pulse did not return to normal until long after he had left. She was mortified at being spoken to in such a way, but it was more than that.
She was terrified.
“Are you alright, Your Grace?” her lady’s maid asked as she entered the room.
“Yes, quite.”
