The Trouble with Anna

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

O NE WEEK LATER ANNA SAT in her grandfather’s study, waiting still as stone for the terms of his will to be read. She didn’t betray her anger by so much as the flick of an eyelash, although she was livid and getting more so as the minutes ticked by and Mr. Beadle, of the firm Beadle, Bartlett & Grey, made no move toward the thick sheaf of papers lying on her grandfather’s desk.

Beadle had placed himself in her grandfather’s chair, behind her grandfather’s desk, with Anna sitting like a truant child before him. It stabbed her to see anyone in the heavy mahogany chair, so recently empty, and she almost expected her grandfather to roar into the room and eject Mr. Beadle from it. She felt herself wanting to scowl at the lawyer and forced herself to breathe calmly, just to spite him.

There was nothing like the calm of a woman to infuriate a certain type of man.

When the heavy clock above the mantel struck half past one, a full thirty minutes after the appointment was meant to begin, Anna’s patience ran out. She leaned forward. “Sir, I believe you’ve had enough of my time. This portion of the will concerns me alone, and my grandfather told me many years ago that I would inherit Chatham and the stables. Must we have the theatrics?”

Mr. Beadle, a rosy man at the best of times, went scarlet. “Perhaps your ladyship is not quite as informed as you fancy. There has been a recent change to your grandfather’s will. We are awaiting the arrival of another beneficiary.”

Anna’s eyebrows knit together, but before she could say anything else the study door swung open.

In his deepest, most resonant voice, Hutchins, the late Viscount’s butler, intoned, “The Earl Ramsay.”

The effect was spoiled somewhat by the worried look he sneaked at Anna.

Oh, not now! It was Anna’s last rational thought before Lord Ramsay walked into the room and her stomach flipped over.

He bowed deeply, and Anna’s heart bobbled. “Lady Anna, my deepest condolences. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Oh, go away! Anna thought, but she nodded, gazing fixedly at the floor. The day was overwhelming enough without him here.

“My lord!” Mr. Beadle leaped up and bowed so low his head nearly touched his knees, his broad face contorting as he tried to look at once both solemn and welcoming. “How good of you to come. Please be seated and let’s begin. I wouldn’t want to waste your time.”

Lord Ramsay flicked the man the slightest glance before turning his attention back to Anna. “Lady Anna?”

She twisted her eyebrows in a tortured way meant to seem inquiring. In truth, she had many questions. What was he doing here?

“You are not without friends. Charlotte has requested that I provide any service you require, large or small.”

Anna swallowed. “I’d simply like to get on with it.”

“Yes, of course.” Lord Ramsay turned to Mr. Beadle, and if Anna hadn’t been drunk with misery she might have laughed at how the other man snapped to attention.

“Surely this is a family matter?” Ramsay said, taking the seat beside her. Of course, he looked nothing like a truant child in the small chair. Instead, it was as if the room knew its true center and rearranged itself accordingly.

Mr. Beadle flicked a strange smile at Anna before turning to Ramsay to bow deeply again. “It’s good of you to come, Lord Ramsay. I assure you, the late Viscount was most emphatic that you attend.”

Mr. Beadle bowed yet again—really, the man might as well just lie down on the floor. But at last the lawyer sat down and got to it, making quick work of the preamble, all the stilted words that said once again to Anna that her grandfather was dead and not returning. She looked out the window at the brown grass and the cold, iron sky, trying to blink back her tears.

Oh, just cry already! You’ll drive them both off faster.

“Lady Anna?” Beadle called sharply. “Pay attention! This next part will be of particular interest.”

Lord Ramsay, who had been only half listening, gave the slightest frown. “It is in your particular interest not to use that tone with Lady Anna.”

Beadle’s eyes bulged and he launched himself to his feet. “My lord! My sincerest apologies—”

“Your apologies are misdirected. They are due to Lady Anna.” He looked over at her and his expression warmed. “Besides, she’s quite formidable. I advise you to use caution.”

The lawyer’s sideburns quivered. “Lady Anna, of course! A thousand apol—”

“It’s quite all right!” Anna blushed madly, nearly as mortified as Beadle. “Shall we just get on with it? Please.”

Beadle quickly sat back down and snatched up the papers once again. “The estate of Chatham, to include the stables, the stud farm, the horses, and the sum of ten thousand pounds, will go to my granddaughter, Lady Anna Isabel Reston…”

Beadle stopped, cleared his throat, and shot Lord Ramsay the oddest glance.

Anna’s skin prickled with foreboding.

“My lord!” Beadle burst out. “I would have you know I argued most strenuously against this ridiculous—”

“Continue, Mr. Beadle.”

“My lord, perhaps I could just explain—”

“Continue.”

The lawyer, choking with distress, put his head down and dove back into it: “The estate of Chatham, to include the stables, the stud farm, the horses, and the sum of ten thousand pounds, will go to my granddaughter, Lady Anna Isabel Reston…”

The silence stretched out until Anna, strained to the breaking point, thought she might scream. “Yes, Mr. Beadle?”

“… on the occasion of her marriage to Julian Alaric William Aveton, the ninth Earl Ramsay.”

For a moment nothing moved. Even Julian’s blood stopped cold in his veins before rushing back so hot and furious that it launched him to his feet.

“What the devil?” he roared as a fresh wave of anger seared through him. He’d dealt with thieves and scoundrels before, but his sister never had. And now her damned friend—

Just the thought of it made his vision go black.

“Marriage, Lady Anna?” he said sharply. “I didn’t know you cared.”

She bowed her dark head in misery.

Julian turned on the lawyer. “Is this some sort of joke?”

“M-my lord, I-I-I assure you—” Mr. Beadle stammered painfully.

“And you, Lady Anna—nothing to say?”

But all the wretched girl ever did was stare at her shoes. And conspire with her grandfather, apparently.

He spun on the lawyer. “Before I go, are there any other charming last thoughts from the Viscount?”

Mr. Beadle’s broad face was full of dread. “Only that the late Viscount leaves Lady Anna’s guardianship to, er… you, my lord. And that if you should refuse her hand in marriage, or”—he glanced at Lady Anna—“she should refuse yours, she is to receive nothing from the estate save the portion held in trust from her father’s side. You both have six months to decide, at which time either you are married or Chatham is folded into the entail and—”

The girl made a show of surprise. “Chatham is folded into the entail? That can’t be right. My grandfather loathed Cousin Simon—he’d never let him have the horses.”

Julian shot her a look of derision. As if she hadn’t memorized every line of the blighted document. “Enough! My sister had the misjudgment to bestow upon you the great gifts of her friendship and loyalty, and this is how you repay her? With sorry schemes?” Lady Anna gawped up at him and Julian felt his eyes begin to burn as his wrath hardened into punishment. “Listen well, as this is my first and last act as your guardian. I forbid you Charlotte’s company. I’ll not have a viper like you anywhere near my sister.”

Lady Anna jerked back as if he had slapped her. “This is ridiculous! I had nothing to do with any of it!” she cried, jumping to her feet.

Julian smiled coldly. “You’ve gone from rich to poor, my lady, with only your greed to blame. May you choke on it.”

He turned on his heel and strode furiously from the room.