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“I have managed a household for the better part of a year – and I had two infants to care for during three months of that year, which I maned entirely alone. I hardly think one duke, however irritating, will prove beyond my capabilities. And so far, he has remained on his best behavior, so I feel inclined to give credit where it is due. He seems intent in simply existing to support them and I appreciate that his focus lies more on being present for his children than involving himself in my affairs.” Anna added with a shrug.

“Let us hope it remains that way then,” Rowland nodded sagely, holding his glasses slightly upward in mock cheers.

Phoebe, meanwhile, was watching her sister with an entirely different sort of interest, her smile growing sly as she leaned forward, resting her chin upon her hand.

“And is there truly no possibility of anything more developing between the two of you? You cannot tell me that expression upon your face just now means nothing at all, Anna. I have known you far too long to be so easily deceived.”

Curse her older sister and her keen eyesight.

Anna had done her best to look as innocent as possible, trying to keep all thoughts of her husband and the kiss they had unexpectedly shared out of her mind. But she was not surprised that she had been caught so easily. After all, it had been difficult to forget about it.

The moment had been brief, even though it seemed to have lasted eons and it unearthed a feeling of need Anna had not regarded since her wedding night. She was doing all she could to keep it out of her mind but it seemed to be floating just beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity to strike seize her wits.

She could still feel the warmth of his body against hers, the insistent pressure of his lips on hers as he coaxed them open for his tongue to slide over hers in languid strokes. After he left, it had taken her longer than she was ready to admit to regain composure in her body and even after that, she could not seem to focus her mind on anything else.

But of course, she would not tell Phoebe any of that – especially not with their brother there.

“Do not be ridiculous,” Anna shook her head quickly, feeling heat rise in her cheeks despite her best efforts to suppress it.

Although there was a distinct look of distrust in her eyes, Phoebe did not press, further in the matter. Though her knowing expression lingered a moment longer than Anna would have liked before she mercifully allowed the subject to lapse, turning instead to refill their glasses.

The afternoon wore on even further, and it was only when Anna began to long to return to her children did she feel spurred by a burst of courage to broach a subject she had been turning over in her head.

“Phoebe… there is actually a matter I need to speak with you. Just you,” she added, casting a nervous glance at Rowland.

Phoebe turned to him, and he quickly held up his hands and rose to his feet.

“I can see when I am not wanted. I shall go and find my brother-in-law and dearest niece. Perhaps they might want my company,” he sniffed dramatically as he took his exit.

But not before he pressed a kiss to the crown of their heads.

“Go on,” Phoebe urged softly.

Anna inhaled shakily and forced herself to swallow before she continued. “Lucy has refused to nurse these past days properly, and I find myself in need of a wet-nurse. Do you have any recommendations? I would trust your judgment on the matter far more than my own at present.”

“Of course,” Phoebe nodded easily. “I will write you a list of reputable candidates, some of whom I considered to add to the household as extra caretakers for my daughter. I think it is wonderful what you have decided to do. I know it was not an easy decision to make – it never is, putting the needs of our children above our comfort and insecurities. I am certain this will not keep you from being the remarkable mother you are on your way to becoming.”

Anna nodded, relieved to have her sister’s support more than anything else. Phoebe suggested that she hold interviews at her home to further create an environment that would allow her to make the best decisions possible.

The conversation drifted, eventually, toward the coming season, and Phoebe’s expression brightened considerably as she spoke of it, setting down her glass to gesture with growing enthusiasm.

“We shall all be attending a handful of balls, of course – Edward has already accepted a few invitations on our behalf, and I confess I have been counting the days, having missed the company of society rather more than I expected to during my confinement. You must join us, Anna, you and Hudson both. It would do you good to be seen together, and truthfully, I have missed having you at these things far more than is probably healthy for either of us.”

Anna considered it for a moment, turning the notion over carefully, and found – somewhat to her own surprise – that the idea of appearing in public alongside Hudson did not fill her with the dread it might once have, some weeks ago, before his return had upended the quiet, careful life she had built for herself. There was, if anything, a small, unfamiliar flicker of anticipation weaved through the thought instead, one she chose not to examine too closely in present company.

“We shall attend,” she stated finally. “He had previously expressed an interest in the both of us making public appearances. Hearing that you will be at some of those events warms my heart and puts me at ease. Thank you, Phoebe. Truly.”

Her sister beamed, reaching over to squeeze her hand warmly. Rowland returned and the afternoon carried on, light and easy, until the light outside had begun to lengthen and Rowland reminded them both, with visible reluctance, that they were expected elsewhere before evening, which caused them to disperse, with lingering feelings of wholeness within them.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“This is proving to be an even greater challenge than I had expected,” Anna whispered under her breath, massaging her temple in hopes of ridding herself of the headache that had manifested a few minutes ago.

Anna had interviewed exactly four candidates by the time she realized with mild horror that there was a pattern to their dismissal. Within minutes of her posing the list of questions she had prepared just for the sake of carrying out an organized and thorough interview, the candidate fell short and had to be sent out as soon as she found them dissatisfactory.

She could feel her patience thinning with each disappointing exchange, and by the time the fifth candidate was shown into the drawing room she had instructed to be set up for the interview, she had all but lost hope of finding a suitable wet-nurse.

In addition to the questionnaire, she had also prepared a small handful of scenarios in advance – situations she considered essential to test, given how precious the twins were to her, how much rested upon finding someone who could be trusted absolutely – and she watched each woman's face carefully as she described them, searching for any flicker of carelessness that might disqualify them entirely.