All the more disturbing was his answer. He truly didn’t know who that man was. He’d spent so much of his life being the man everyone expected him to be, somewhere along the way, he’d lost sight of himself.
Greene tapped lightly on the open door. “Sir, Mrs. Campbell has finished showing the new mistress the house. Which parlor would you like us to put her in for tea?”
Colin frowned at his butler’s choice of words.Put her in?As if she were a decorative object he had brought home. “I’ll join Lady Manning in the blue parlor, Greene.”
“Very good, sir.” Rather than leave, the man stood ramrod straight in the doorway.
“Is there something else?” The day had taken a toll, and Colin snapped the words.
“Well, sir, if I may be so bold, your marriage is just so...sudden. We were unaware you had been courting anyone.”
Colin stared at the man’s audacity. “I didn’t realize I needed to keep the staff apprised regarding my personal life.”
The man winced.
Good.
“Of course not, sir. However, the new mistress differs greatly from Lady Manning. We do hope that your lordship has chosen wisely.” With that, he scuttled away.
Colin wanted to throw the inkpot at the man’s retreating back. Greene was an excellent butler, but he had overstepped, and Colin would have words with him later. As it was, he tamped down his anger, folded, addressed, and sealed his letter to be posted later.
As he strode toward the blue parlor, he passed Miss Hart in the solarium with the girls. At least the governess seemed to treat Anne with respect. She gazed up from where she was reading the girls a book and smiled.
When he entered the blue parlor, he halted at the sight of Anne. Seated on the sofa, with her head hanging low, she dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes.
The thought of her in pain closed tight around his heart.
“Anne?”
Her head jerked up at his call, and she tucked the handkerchief in the folds of her skirt. But as he stepped closer, nothing could hide her red-rimmed, still shimmering eyes.
He sat next to her and took her hand in his. “What’s wrong? Do you hate your room? Remember, I told you that you can redecorate if you wish.”
She nodded. “I remember. Everything but your study. But my room is fine.”
“Then what is it?
“Mrs.Campbell hates me.”
Apparently, Greene wasn’t the only one. “Surely that’s not true,” he lied.
“She certainly doesn’tlikeme. All she could talk about was Lady Manning.”
“But you are Lady Manning now.”
Even though she hadn’t spoken her thoughts aloud, Anne delivered a look that said he was a nodcock.
“Lady Manning was so poised. Lady Manning was so elegant. Lady Manning was so gentle. Lady Manning had been a diamond of the first water. Lady Manning. Lady Manning. Lady Manning.”
Anger lit in his chest. Hot and volatile.
When Greene brought in the tea, Colin said, “Assemble the staff.”
Greene blinked. “My lord?”
“You heard me. Here. Now!”
After Greene rushed off in a huff, Colin turned back to his injured wife. “Would you please pour me a cup of tea, Anne?” Truth was, he could use a brandy for what he was about to say, but on second thought he needed a clear head.
