He couldn’t let Edwin try again—not with her.
This time, Henley was ready.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The clouds separated,allowing yellow beams of sunlight to brighten the linen-covered makeshift tables the servants set up to display the various selections of picnic treats.Woolen blankets were scattered along the meadow as the guests all lazily moved about, some lounging on the blankets while others stood in cheery conversation.Wildflowers danced in the warm breeze.
It was an idyllic moment, but Anna couldn’t relax.Not when Edwin’s eyes continued to watch her with that cool, calculative expression.How had she once mistaken his scrutiny for affection?That cold, calculated stare—she’d called it intensity.Now, it felt like a noose.The realization was humbling, and disconcerting as well.Even with his eyes on her, Anna kept her expression polite, and she refused to give him the attention he was all but silently demanding.
Her parasol offered the perfect shield, and she angled her body slightly.How different would it feel if Henley were watching her with that same intensity?Surely someone else had noticed that Lord Devon hadn’t looked away from her once.Yet no one seemed concerned.Of course—they all assumed he was on the brink of securing her hand.
Little did they know she had refused, rather, stepped away before he had even offered.She gave a delicate shudder.She started toward the heavily laden tables and picked up an empty plate.She wasn’t that hungry, but she needed something to do with her hands.Selecting a few small tarts and some sliced ham, she scanned the picnic area for Pere.
Her heart pounded when she found her friend in deep conversation with her brother Henley.His dark brown hair fell over his eye softly, partially hiding his expression from view, which made her all the more desperate for it.As if sensing her attention, he tipped his chin up and scanned the crowd till his eyes landed on her.He dipped his head, a polite nod that was completely proper for the situation.It wouldn’t draw attention, but it was the intensity of his gaze for those blessed few moments that nearly set the meadow ablaze.Her heart hammered as her fingers gripped the handle of the parasol tighter.He looked away first.She followed, staring blankly at her untouched plate, willing her heartbeat to slow.
Soon.He needed to speak with her parents soon.This… tension, delicious and wild, wasn’t going to go unnoticed for long, not with Lord Devon’s pride so wounded and him looking for a reason.She considered Henley’s short conversation with her upon arrival.Words that were so unremarkable unless one was listening for the underlying message.He understood the protocol, and he knew they had to be cautious.Surely that meant he would speak with her parents soon?Because if Edwin caught of wind of their secreted affections before everything was made proper through the correct protocols, then it could all unravel and a scandal would occur, and after all that took place last summer… She let the thought fade without finishing it.She lifted a tart to her lips and tried to appear cheerful.Her mother had already commented that her silence was becoming concerning while on the ride over to the park.She didn’t need to create suspicions now.
“Seems like scandal just doesn’t stick to them.”A gentleman’s voice interrupted her thoughts, and Anna paused, listening.
Was he talking about the Allendales?About Henley?She hadn’t ever heard the full story of what happened last summer, but she trusted Henley, that was what mattered, wasn’t it?
Anna glanced up to the men speaking, and making sure they didn’t suspect her of eavesdropping, she took a few steps closer and lifted a glass of lemonade from a servant’s tray and waited.
“The boxing scandal?Terrible business.I don’t know why the switch was made but—”
“Switch?”the other gentleman asked.
“You didn’t know?”the older of the two asked, then lifted a pickled beet and seemed to chew with obscene slowness.
Anna waited impatiently, taking a sip of lemonade and pretending to admire the wildflowers.Her hand shook slightly, and she took a deep breath to calm herself.
“Yes.Allendale, Henley, was scheduled to fight Lawson, a younger man, but it was an even fight.My money at Whites was on Allendale; he’s a clean fighter if I ever saw one.Right hook that will send you to the devil himself, but clean.”
“You lose the bet?”
“No, Lawson backed out the day before and it was the oddest thing, but Brookdane volunteered himself, or something like that.I’d heard…”
Anna held her breath listening as the men lowered their voices, her heartbeat loud in her ears as she willed them to speak louder.
“Devon… affair… duel.”
Anna nearly swore under her breath.She’d only caught a few key words, but they were rather daunting ones.She waited for them to continue.
“You never want to duel unless you know it’s the right man you’re accusing.”
“I’d rather not duel at all, thank you,” the other replied.
“You would if your wife was sleeping with the bloke,” the man whispered, so softly Anna wasn’t sure she heard correctly.
Her heart froze and she replayed the information.Right man,duel, how did this make sense?
“By the time everyone sorted out the mess it was too late anyway.The damage had been done.”
“They don’t seem to be too worse for the wear.”
The blasé tone in the man’s voice was irritating, grating on her already frayed nerves.She wanted to storm up to them, demand they explain their cryptic words, but she didn’t dare.It would only create more questions.
Frustrated, she glanced about the meadow once more, her eyes finding Pere.With a quick wave, Pere beckoned her closer, and Anna nodded once.She glanced back to the gentlemen, giving up on their conversation as they started back toward the picnic tables.Anna moved toward Pere, and as she took a few steps, a disconcerting sensation of being watched crept over her.Scanning the crowd with a practiced polite smile, she casually looked about till she saw him.Edwin was on a path to intercept her just as she would approach Pere.Taking a deep breath, she nodded to him—no reason to pretend he didn’t exist, not with him that close.Cutting him direct would only invite speculation—exactly what she couldn’t afford.So, she smiled.Thin.Practiced.
