“Greene, Mrs. Campbell, you may recollect how I was trapped in the hidden passageway. However, what you may not realize is I overheard a particularlyinterestingconversation regarding your plot against me. No doubt, Mrs. Campbell, your tale of ghost knights roaming the manor seeking revenge was deliberately meant to frighten me on my very first day here. In addition, you expressly disregarded my husband’s order not to haveThe Muckrakerin our home. Neither I nor my husband will tolerate such machinations and disobedience from our staff. As of this moment, your services are no longer required in our home. Good luck seeking other positions.”
Ghost knights? Oh, his poor, sweet Nymph. No wonder she appeared terrified when he surprised her.
Greene’s gaze darted to Colin’s, but he remained silent.
Mrs. Campbell’s hand flew to her mouth and muffled a pitiful gasp. “Sir, I assure you. That is simply not true.”
Blood pounded in Colin’s ears at his housekeeper’s accusation. “Are you calling my wife a liar, madam?”
The woman had the audacity to appear affronted. “No, sir. I’m merely suggesting that your wife misconstrued what she overheard, as many do when they eavesdrop on others’ conversations.”
The nerve of the woman! Arms still crossed over his chest, he clenched his fists so hard the nails dug into his palms as he tried to restrain himself.
Anne, however, handled it calmly, her voice like honey. “What might that be? Was it when you called me a title-seeking lightskirtand planned to torture me and drive me away once I gave Lord Manning a son? Would you care to explain how I have misconstrued that?”
Lightskirt!Colin wanted to leap across the desk and strangle the woman.
When Mrs. Campbell opened her mouth, Greene put a hand on her arm to stop her.
“Surely, many years of service are worth something, my lord.”
“They are worth precisely what you have already been paid. No more. I owe no loyalty to disloyal servants. My wife’s instructions are perfectly clear, Greene. You both are dismissed. Permanently. I never want to see either of your faces again. And don’t expect letters of recommendation as none will be forthcoming.”
As the two slithered from the room, Colin squeezed Anne’s shoulder. “How did that feel?”
“Wonderful. No wonder you like being grumpy.”
He laughed, and moving from behind, crouched beside her. “And no wonder you like being optimistic. Perhaps we’re rubbing off on each other and finding a happy meeting place.”
Anne glanced at the letters he’d left strewn on his desk when he went searching for her. “What’s this?” She lifted the one from the Crown first. “The king wrote to you?”
“He did. About the writ of acceleration.”
Anne’s gaze returned to the letter, and Colin knew the precise moment she read the most important detail. “This Thursday? As in two days from now? Is he mad?”
Colin pointed out the date at the top of the missive. “Delivery must have been delayed.”
“Greene?” Fire flared in his beautiful wife’s eyes.
“No. As much as we’d like to blame him, he would have been one to support my acceptance into Lords. He always did have a bit of snobbery about him.”
Anne rose so quickly from the chair, it tipped into him. “What are you still doing here? You need to leave right away.”
Colin shook his head. “That’s not all.” He pointed toSedley’s letter.
Anne’s hand moved to her throat as she read. “Oh, Colin. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I left to find you to ask your opinion. When I discovered Joan packing your trunks, I panicked because I couldn’t bear to lose you. Not without telling you how I truly felt.”
Tears misted her eyes, and he credited her reaction to his declaration of love.
Which she completely dispelled. “You wanted my opinion?”
He took the letters from her hands and laid them on the desk. They didn’t matter. Only she mattered. One after another, he kissed her palms. “You’re my wife. My heart. Any decisions I make affect you. Of course, I wanted your opinion.”
“I want what makes you happy. What doyouwant?”
“To be your husband.”
