“I believe I’ll prepare for the outing.Lady Anna?”
Anna stood as well, abandoning what was left of her breakfast due to the knots in her belly.Belatedly, Edwin stood and pulled out her chair the rest of the way.
“I look forward to this afternoon, Lady Anna.”He gave a slight bow, his eyes roaming her features and a charming smile teasing his lips as he bid her farewell.
Anna returned the smile, politely, noting the acute absence of any fluttering in her knot-filled belly.She also noted that Henley had stood as well, as was polite when a lady was leaving.Though she knew it was dangerous to do so, she looked over to him, unable to keep her eyes away.He bowed slightly, his eyes never leaving hers, and wordlessly, he spoke with his expression everything that was scandalous to say out loud.
Anna’s heart pounded, and she bit her lip, looking to Pere, who called her name once more.
“Anna, shall we?”Her eyes widened, and with a playful tug, she wrapped her hand around Anna’s arm and pulled her from the room.
Anna turned toward the stairs but was halted by Pere’s hand.
“No.We need air.I need air.You, you certainly need air.A lot of it,” Pere remarked, leading them toward the back exit to the gardens that Anna was now quite familiar with.
As they exited the manor and into the warm morning sunshine, Pere began, “Merciful saints,” she breathed, low and reverent.“He just devoured you—with a look.At breakfast.”
Anna hissed, “Pere!”
“I need air.”Pere fanned herself, clearly enjoying herself far too much.“And possibly a priest.”She paused.“You need the priest.And my brother, Henley.Good Lord, I think I need to sit down.”She found one of the stone garden benches and took a seat.“I just have one question.”
Anna took a seat beside her.“Just one?”Anna teased.
“Very well, I have millions at this point.But this question… is one for myself, and that is…” Pere sat forward and grasped Anna’s hands.“How in the name of all the saints did I miss this?I think I might be going blind.That is truly the only explanation.Because even Lord Hawthorne—”
“Wait, Lord Hawthorne?”
“Yes, even he noticed.He gave me an odd look, as if wondering if I was aware, and unfortunately it was that moment I had my mouth gaping open like a fish because my brother—who is usually the most circumspect human I know—was trying to set the breakfast room ablaze with a flirtatious glance at my best friend.”
“Do you think everyone else noticed?”Anna asked, gripping her friend’s hands tightly.
“No.Everyone else was oblivious, including my other brother.You know, the one everyone expects you to be marrying?Not that it’s official, just the gossip… but wow.”Pere fanned herself again, raising her eyebrows at Anna.“Again, I question how I missed this, and to think!”She faced her friend fully.“I was pushing you, encouraging you toward Edwin!It’s… as your best friend, I feel like I should have known, or have seen it sooner.But, that is beside the point.The second question is…”
“There’s a list of questions, isn’t there?”Anna asked, feeling the tension of her upcoming decisions weighing heavily on her shoulders.
“There’s a book of questions,” Pere remarked with a wry expression.“But I’ll limit myself, never fear.”
“The second question?”Anna encouraged, certain she knew what it would be.
“What are you going to do about it?”
“It?”Anna asked, smoothing her skirt and glancing around the empty garden.
“Very well, them,” Pere corrected herself.“My brothers.Both of them.In case you wanted further clarification.”
“Well, I need to make myself clear and soon, because I abhor the idea of being dishonest in my affections.”Anna frowned.“Even though I feel as if I’m already guilty of such a sin.”
Pere patted her hand gently.
“I need to speak with Lord Devon,” Anna said, twisting her hands.
Her mind swirled with anxiety—how was she to begin, let alone say everything that needed saying?
“Yes, yes you do.”Pere frowned, her chestnut brows crinkling over her fair skin.“And I think I can help.”Pere stood and smoothed her skirt.“Everyone is just finishing breakfast, and I can ask him to the parlor, one that won’t be used as often by guests… and you can easily have a few moments of privacy.”
“That seems risky.All we need is one person to see us and what I’m trying to do will be undone because I’ll be considered compromised by being alone with him.”Anna breathed deeply.“But this conversation can’t exactly happen in polite company, you know?”
“I know, and I’ll be close, so if I see someone coming, I’ll just come in the room, and you present with me and my brother?Not scandalous at all.It’s the perfect solution.”Pere shrugged.“You’re wound up tight, I can see that by the way you keep biting your lip, Anna.But the faster it’s finished, the faster you can put this behind you.”
