“All of us widows know one another,” Lady Tisway said flippantly. “Before her death, Lucinda was a regular at our Tuesday card games. The woman would go on and on about her nieces and nephews.”
Anna blinked. “Aunt Lucy said it was a knitting circle.”
Lady Tisway barked a laugh. “Not the way that woman dropped stitches.”
“I am shocked.”
“You’re lucky.” Lady Tisway sniffed. “I’m too old and crotchety to be shocked by much of anything anymore.” Therewas a new glint in the old woman’s eye. “You would be a welcome addition to our harmless fun.”
To think her wonderful Aunt Lucinda had known the widows—well enough to spend every Tuesday with them for as long as Anna could recall. “I would enjoy that.” She really would. “But I doubt I’ll return to the country much.”
Lady Tisway waved her words away. “The ladies and I make frequent trips to the city.”
“You do?” It was a wonder London still stood with the way the trio liked to set normally composed gentlemen into hiding behind potted plants.
“We make a point to call on certain friends every week,” Lady Tisway said.
Something about the stress onfriendshad Anna’s mind stirring, but she smiled at the news. At least she’d never be long in London without good company. “Then I would be most honored to take you up on your offer.”
Lady Tisway’s cane tapped the ground with awhack. “Good. Now off with you. By the looks of it, your groom is eager to steal you away.”
Anna followed the older woman’s gaze to see Jackson making his way up the aisle of the chapel, determination in his stride.
Her heart gave a silly flutter at his hatless head, at the broad line of his shoulders. At some point since the end of the ceremony, he’d loosened his cravat, revealing more of the skin at his throat.
He stopped before her. “Your Grace.” His dark eyes were smiling. “See something that caught your eye?”
He’s teasing me.Anna beat back the next flutter in her chest and tipped her chin up. “I did, in fact.” She pointedly looked over his shoulder. “The classicist architecture is most pleasing. One of Inigo Jones’s designs, is it not?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
A shameful admittance. “Why am I not surprised, Duke?”
He stepped closer, his gaze falling to her mouth. “How fortunate I am to have a wife who has so much to teach me.”
His teasing tone drew her in, or was it the smell of earth and spicy soap that clung to his skin? “Why do I get the feeling you will be a most obstinate student?”
His smile revealed a flash of teeth. “Obstinate or passionate? They are so hard to tell apart sometimes.”
Heat sparked across her skin. “I won’t go easy on you.”
His head lowered toward hers. “I’m counting on it—”
“Well, I’m uncomfortable,” someone cut in.
Anna choked back a laugh as she took in Lady Tisway, the older woman’s cheeks uncharacteristically rosy.
“Lady Tisway.” Anna bit her lip. She’d completely forgotten the older woman was there. “Forgive us.”
“Oh, carry on.” Lady Tisway lifted her cane and nudged Jackson out of the way before shuffling down the aisle toward the altar, not a single insult thrown over her shoulder.
“I do believe we’ve managed to shock her,” Anna said.
Jackson huffed. “And embarrassed ourselves in the process.”
Anna tilted her head.
“Fine.I’veembarrassed myself,” he revised.
