If I hadn’t known he was up last night, I’d never suspect.I wonder if that is the intention?Anna thought, watching as he selected a seat beside Pere.
Anna blinked as Pere’s face turned a little pink while she offered the gentleman tea.He nodded and thanked her, reaching for the sugar just as Pere’s hand was about to grasp it.Anna watched as both of their hands froze, then Lord Hawthorne mumbled an apology and served his own sugar, while Pere’s hand darted to her lap and was hidden from view.It was a short and subtle interaction, but curious enough that Anna’s attention was so focused on her friend, she missed Henley’s entrance into the room.
“Good morning.”
His voice shook her from her focus on Pere, and her eyes darted to his.He’d announced the greeting to the room, but his expression made it feel as if he’d been speaking to her alone.Warmth crept up her back and pooled in her cheeks as she felt the blush singe her skin.Henley took a seat across from her and was the first to break eye contact as he turned his attention to Pere.
“Good morning, Pere.”
Anna watched as Pere smiled at her brother, then gently nudged her other brother, seated beside her.“This is why he’s my favorite—he actually says good morning.”She directed the words to Anna.
“I said good morning,” Edwin defended himself, then offered a glare to Henley.
“Saying my name isn’t exactly a greeting,” Pere corrected him, then lifted a piece of toast from the stack.“Please pass the preserves,” she requested of Edwin.
“Here.”Edwin obliged.
“And how are you this morning, Henley?”Pere asked, scraping marmalade across her toast.
Anna’s attention kept volleying between the siblings, watching and listening to the interactions.When Pere asked Henley the question, her gaze latched on to his.
“It was difficult to find rest when the evening was so lovely.The moon was a little bright for sound sleep—wouldn’t you agree, Lady Anna?”
Anna didn’t dare glance at Pere, but she couldn’t help the deepening of her blush as she answered.“It was rather luminous.”
“Indeed,” Henley agreed.
“Would you like tea?”Anna offered, needing to distract herself—and perhaps others—from reading too much into the conversation.
“Of course.Thank you.”Henley offered her his cup.
She could feel his attention on her as she went through the simple motions of pouring the aromatic liquid.
“And what is the plan for today?I assume there is one,” Edwin asked.
Anna hazarded a glance toward him, wondering if he’d picked up on any of the nuanced cues.Would that be a bad thing?Did she want him to notice?She truly needed to sort this out quickly—but how?
“Last night they announced that we will be traveling to Skyline Park and having a picnic lunch, if the weather holds,” Pere added, taking another bite of her toast.
“I’ve heard of Skyline Park, but never have I seen it.Is it as lovely as described?”Anna asked, looking around for someone to answer.
“It’s a bit of a walk, and toward the summer the grasses can be a little brown from the heat, but this time of year it will be fine,” Edwin answered, reaching over and patting her hand.
Anna jumped slightly at the touch and glanced to Henley.How would he react to his brother’s movements?
Henley’s eyes dropped—just briefly—to her hand, then rose to meet hers.The corner of his mouth curved into a smile, soft and secret, like something only the two of them knew.Then, as if by accident—or intention so subtle it could be denied—his gaze dipped to her lips.He licked his own, slow and almost imperceptible.
Anna’s breath caught.
The effect was immediate and shamefully physical.Heat unfurled across her chest, her neck, her cheeks—no touch, no words, and yet it was as if his fingers had skimmed down her spine, across her back, traced her mouth with a reverent thumb.Her skin tingled like a struck bell.
And this—this—was the breakfast table, for heaven’s sake.The clink of porcelain and quiet murmur of conversation felt obscene by comparison.
She tore her eyes away, heart thudding like she’d run full tilt up a hill.In desperation, she looked to Pere.
A mistake.
Pere’s teacup paused midway to her lips.Her eyes were wide, round as saucers, blinking rapidly as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just witnessed.Then slowly, slowly, she lowered the cup, mouth slightly agape.Noticing that Anna was watching, she mouthedLaterand then stood.
