Mariah watched me with apprehension. “Salts?” she asked, holding up a vial.
“No. Thank you, Mariah. I hate the way they make me feel.” What I needed was to speak with Papa. Graham had said he did not want help, but he’d also said Papa was hisclose friend. And like it or not, friends should know about one another’s struggles. They should helpeach other.
“Miss?” Mariah prompted.
I drew in a breath through my nose and swallowed it all down. “I’m finished here,” I said, motioning to my things all packed and organized, ready to follow Papa to the inn when he came.
“I am to ride ahead,” Mariah said, eyes frantically searching for any missing piece. “I shall see you at the inn.”
Another dabbing of my cheeks, then I followed her toward the staircase, where happy voices carried up from the foyer.
I heard his deep, familiar laugh before I saw him—Papa. Descending the stairs unnoticed, I waited for him at the bottom. I caught sight of his peppered hair, his bright face wearing a wide grin. My aching heart leaped toward him. No matter what he’d kept from me, Graham had been right. He was my father. He loved me. He would never knowingly hurt me.
“Anna, youcannotleave.” Tabs bounded toward me, falling into my arms in a fit of tears at the bottom step. It took every effort to wrap my arms around her, to comfort her, for I was frozen, watching Papa and Graham interact like this morning hadn’t happened. Like Graham and I hadn’t exchanged our hearts only last evening.
Tabs squeezed my middle, and I crouched low. “You shall come and visit me in London soon,” I whispered. “You are my very favorite, and I shall write to you. I promise.”
“There’s my darling girl!” Papa’s deep voice bounced around the hall.
Graham turned, and I caught the strain in his eyes as Irose. The worry he could not shake. No matter how hard he tried, he could not pretend with me. Not anymore.
Papa held out his arms, and I drew near, but the air around us shifted, heavy and tense with secrets as he placed a kiss on my temple.
“Ginny, Tabitha, shall we see to tea?” Mrs. Everett motioned, and Ginny, despite her curiosity, nodded and followed, leaving the three of us in the foyer.
“Please, Mr. Lane. Make yourself comfortable,” Graham said, motioning to the drawing room.
“What a stunning location, right above the sea,” Papa said, stepping through the doorway.
Graham smiled at me as I passed through, but I could not hold his gaze. Our unspoken words grew louder by the second. “Thank you. Yes, I could not pass up the opportunity, despite the house’s character.”
“You have a good eye for it; that I have never doubted.” Hands on his hips, Papa glanced out the back left window, which overlooked the sea.
“Thank you, sir.” Perfectly polite. Compassionate. No declarations on his lips.
My smile became tight, and I realized, as I took a seat, my legs were shaking.
Papa sat on Graham’s settee and turned to me. “Am I to assume Brighton is as lovely as Mr. Everett claims, Annie?”
I glanced sideways at Graham. His stare was like fire on my cheek.
“Surprisingly, yes. I have enjoyed my time here immensely.” The polite thing to do would be to inquire after his time in Bath. Part of me did not wish to hear the truth, butI was decidedly through with pretending. I raised my chin. “How did you find Bath?”
Papa chuckled uncomfortably, his gaze moving meaningfully to Graham’s. “Very amenable.”
Graham cleared his throat from the chair opposite me. To his credit, he did not smile, did not encourage Papa’s secret. “Your daughter has made quite an impression on my household, Mr. Lane. I am quite reluctant to give her up.”
“Is that so?” My father furrowed his brow, then straightened in his seat. “Then I am to assume our investment is in order?”
Graham lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck, then shifted in his seat. His brows scrunched as he said, “I am afraid things have become more complicated than—”
“Perhaps the two of you could renegotiate the terms.” I gave Graham a meaningful look. “Brighton is indeed worth the investment, Papa. Perhaps ... perhaps we should increase our share in the investment.”
“Anna, please,” Graham worried aloud, but he’d clearly spoken my name without thinking. He winced and rubbed his face with a hand.
Papa frowned, the crease deepening in his brow. “Everett? What is the meaning of this?”
Still, Graham watched me, a pained expression on his face that I instantly regretted causing. None of this was his fault. None of it was mine. We were simply the products of a very unfortunate circumstance that needed mending, and I was making a mess of it.
