But if I didn’t try, who would? Papa would take me home, and I had no idea when I would see Graham again.
“Forgive me,” I said, swallowing back the rising emotionin my throat. Dizzy, I stood and paced around the settee. “My head is aching, and I fear I am not well.”
What could I do? I did not wish to leave, but neither could I intrude longer on Graham. Not without invitation.
Papa stood and quickly wrapped his arm around my back as though I might faint any second. “I have you, Annie. Let us go and rest at the inn.”
“Where are you staying?” Graham asked, following us. “I’ll send the doctor.”
“No need,” I said, even as the room spun. Papa muttered off an address.
Mrs. Everett and Ginny reentered, slowing their steps as they took notice of Papa with his arm around me and Graham, a frightened look upon his face.
“Ready the carriage at once,” Papa barked out as he led me toward the door.
Roland flew through the foyer and out the door, and Graham stood helpless as we emptied the drawing room. Mrs. Everett grabbed his arm. They spoke with a single glance, and she pursed her lips.
I turned as we reached the front door. “I cannot thank you enough for welcoming me into your home. My room was perfect, our days well spent, and I shall miss you. All of you.”
Mrs. Everett smiled, her eyes soft though unsure. “You brightened our home, Miss Lane. I hope you’ll soon return.”
Ginny reached out and drew me into a hug. “Please come again soon. It’s been so lovely to have a constant friend.”
I squeezed her back. “I promise I will.”
“You are my very dearest friend, Anna,” Tabs said, hugging my legs. I couldn’t help it; tears started to well up, and I sniffed, wiping the wetness.
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t look at Graham. Why would he not ask after me? Why wouldn’t he beg me to stay? Why would he notspeakto me?
“I will call upon you soon,” I heard Graham’s voice from behind. “And if you need anything—”
“Thank you,” Papa muttered, and a servant closed the door behind us.
Neither of us spoke as we entered the carriage. Papa sat directly across from me.
I tilted my head back against the carriage wall and pinched the bridge of my nose. My head did not hurt as much as my heart did.
The carriage bolted forward with a creak.
“Odd, that. He’s never spoken to you so directly,” Papa said quietly. “Never so forcefully. Nor with such familiarity.”
“Perhaps not in front of you,” I breathed. My stomach lurched with every turn of the wheels, with every word Graham hadn’t said. I did not want to stoke this fire between Papa and me, but we needed to have an honest conversation, and I feared the longer I waited to divulge my secrets, the worse I would feel.
“I do not understand.”
I shook my head. There was so much to say, and I hardly knew where to start. “Mr. Lennox is engaged. Or was, before I encouraged his attention and his uncle paid the woman to cry off.”
A long moment passed as my words found their place among Papa’s befuddlement. He blinked, scoffed. “That cannot possibly be true.”
“He has admitted as much. And just yesterday he told me more. About you and some woman in Bath.”
I watched as the color drained from Papa’s face and realization dawned. He grasped the edge of his seat. “What, exactly, did he say?”
“Ms. Peale, is it? He saw the two of you in Bath. And Graham told me the whole of it.”
“I—well.” Papa fell back against his seat, cheeks turning rosy, eyes wide with surprise. He started to laugh. “Forgive my ignorance, Anna, but this is all very unexpected. Ms. Peale is a friend, yes—”
“You should have told me.”
