Chapter 27
Gown hitched up over her hips and her hair spilling out from the well-crafted coiffure, Anne lay boneless on the billiards table. Contented and utterly sated, she stretched like a cat. That thing Colin had done made her completely forget her desire to win the game.
She gazed over at him as he stood beside the table and adjusted his trousers. “Where did you learn that? I haven’t even shown you the book yet.” It had been one of the pages she’d marked and planned to ask him about.
He peered over his shoulder at her. A lock of hair tumbled over his forehead where she had grabbed hold when he was .
. . busy between her legs. A self-satisfied smile was plastered on his face.
“Give me some credit, Anne. I’m not a novice at this.
” He held out his hand and helped her off the table. “Now, about that puppy for the girls.”
“We haven’t finished the game.”
He laughed. “Is that really necessary? You’ve proven you have the skill to beat me. Why don’t we leave it at that? Leave some of my pride intact.”
An aching tenderness ballooned in her chest, his praise lifting her high as if she had wings and could fly. Soaring so high, in fact, she hadn’t realized he was still speaking.
“ . . . and if there is more than one remaining in the litter, I’ll get two puppies. One for each of the girls. It will save some fighting in the long run.”
She threw her arms around him and peppered him with kisses. “Really? I’ve already asked Mr. Ford to acquire one for me, so we only need one more. Although I promised my nieces I would share it.”
He grabbed her waist and held her at arm’s length. “What? You’d already had one waiting in the wings? Then why the challenge?”
She gave a little shrug. “It seemed like fun.”
He shook his head and laughed again. “At least the way it ended was fun. And I’ll write to your brother and ask him if I may purchase a puppy for the girls, if there are enough left.”
She circled back to his other comment. “You really admit I could have beaten you?”
He hauled her to him and cradled her head against his chest. “Yes. You play better than most men I know. But I’d appreciate the kindness of keeping this between us.”
Face pressed against him, she couldn’t resist the smile. “As long as I get another chance to beat you.”
Deep rumbling from his laugh vibrated against her cheek. “Very well. Now, it’s getting late.” He stood back and took in her disheveled coiffure. “Your hair needs work, but perhaps we can sneak upstairs without anyone noticing.”
“What about Alan, the footman?”
“Trustworthy. He won’t say a word. Now, come.” He held out his hand and led her to the door. After peeking around the corner, he pulled her out of the billiards room, and they raced upstairs like two naughty schoolchildren.
Out of breath by the time they reached her bedroom, Anne slipped inside while Colin stood in the hallway.
“Call your maid to ready you for bed while I say goodnight to the girls.”
When he turned to leave, she touched his arm, stopping him. “Let me come with you. I want to tell them about the puppies.”
“Puppy. We shouldn’t promise two until we’re sure they’re available, and we should wait until the morning. If we tell them tonight, neither of them will get any sleep.”
Anne gave him a little pout, although she knew he was right. As an aunt, she excelled, but as a stepmother, she had much to learn.
He brushed a fingertip over her lips. “However, if it pleases you, you may tell them. In the meantime, why don’t you prepare for bed, and I’ll join you later to finish what we started in the billiards room.”
The wicked grin he gave her coaxed a flush to her cheeks.
“And find that book. I want to see it,” he said, leaving her gaping into the empty space he’d just occupied.
“Don’t fall asleep this time,” she called after him.
A muffled chortle trailed behind him.
He did fall asleep, but Anne was pleased to say it was as they lay wrapped in each other’s arms. And only after exploring several of the interesting pictures in the book.
When she woke in the morning, she stretched her hand out seeking Colin only to find the other side of the bed cold.
She blinked the sleep from her eyes. On the pillow beside her lay a perfectly formed red rose.
With the bloom at her nose, she inhaled its rich fragrance and brushed the velvety petals against her lips.
The tingle reminded her of Colin’s kiss, and refreshed from her peaceful slumber, she bounded from the bed and threw on her dressing gown before ringing for Joan to help her dress.
While Joan arranged her hair, Anne chattered away, caught up in her own happiness and excitement, and she bragged about how she’d convinced Colin to give the girls two puppies. Well, perhaps not exactly how he’d decided. Instead, she kept her recounting to the game of billiards.
“If they still have two left, that is.”
Her maid wasn’t the sunniest person, especially compared to Anne herself, but one would expect the mention of puppies to elicit a semblance of a smile.
Instead, when Anne lifted her gaze to meet Joan’s in the mirror, tears glistened in her maid’s eyes.
Anne’s first instinct was to tell her that was all.
She didn’t want anyone to ruin the moment.
But that was the old Anne. The Anne with little to no responsibilities. Now she was mistress of a fine home. A viscountess. She should care about her staff. And although she really didn’t want to know, she asked anyway, “What’s wrong?”
“The other servants here aren’t very friendly.”
Anne snorted a laugh and immediately regretted it.
She didn’t want to make fun of Joan’s concerns.
“I apologize, Joan. But you’re not the only one who’s experienced a cold welcome.
I told my husband I think Mrs. Campbell hates me.
He’s spoken to the staff, but I don’t want them to be rude to you, either.
Do you wish me to say something to Lord Manning? ”
Joan’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, please don’t. That would only make matters worse.”
“I found Mattie to be pleasant. See if you can form a friendship with her. If it becomes unbearable, let me know. I would hate to lose you, but I could enquire as to another position for you, or you could even go back to Andrew’s if you’re horribly unhappy.”
“Thank you, Lady Manning.” Joan curtsied and left.
Anne slammed the silver hairbrush on the dressing table. “Stupid Mrs. Campbell and Greene.” How dare they mar her happiness! Well, she simply wouldn’t allow them to. And she would speak to Colin about how they treated Joan.
But first, she couldn’t wait to tell the girls about the puppy!
Hurrying downstairs, she smiled at every servant she passed. She’d kill them with kindness, laughing to herself at the image.
She peeked into the breakfast room and found it empty except for one footman. Luckily, the man stood at attention at the sideboard that was laden with chafing dishes. Ravenous, she piled her plate high with sausage, toast, and two eggs.
“Has my husband already broken his fast?”
“Yes, my lady. He said to tell you he would be in the morning room with the young misses.”
She hated eating alone, but for once she didn’t mind. At the moment, she simply wanted to finish her meal and go find Colin and the girls.
Armed with the good news about the puppies, she practically skipped down the hallway to the morning room. As she passed Colin’s study, movement inside caught her eye. How long had it been since he’d had breakfast? Didn’t he wait for her as the footman said?
Rather than Colin’s tall frame and auburn hair, a much shorter man with thin, graying hair, pushed open a panel in the room.
Greene!
“I knew it!” she whispered as Greene slid into the secret passageway and closed the panel behind him. She would have to find a way to occupy Colin so she could see what was in that passage.
In the morning room, waiting for Anne, Colin sipped his coffee and read his newspaper.
Dated two days ago, no word appeared in The Times regarding his father’s ill health or Lord Easton’s death.
Tucked away on page three, a brief mention of Colin and Anne’s expected marriage remained succinct, without any of the lies that repulsive gossip sheet implied.
He wondered whether he should alert Anne or let her remain in blissful ignorance.
Would she have some idea who leaked the information based on what she and the other ladies discussed in their meetings?
The girls busied themselves embroidering handkerchiefs, although Ellie yelped each time she stuck her finger with the needle. “I don’t see why we have to learn to do this.” She huffed as the cloth stretched in a hoop dropped to her lap.
“Miss Hart says that embroidery is what fine ladies do, and we must learn if we want to become acceptable wives.” Cassie straightened her shoulders as if she were the voice of authority on acceptable wives.
Like Ellie’s needlework, his newspaper dropped to his lap.
Wives! Dear God, he didn’t want to entertain that thought when they were barely out of leading strings.
His thoughts shifted to the interesting book Anne had shared with him.
The idea of men doing some of those things with his daughters, even if they were their husbands, set his teeth on edge.
He decided not to allow Cassie and Ellie to come out until they were thirty. Maybe forty.
The scent of sweet pea filled the room as Anne breezed in.
“Good morning!” she announced brightly.
Colin placed his newspaper aside and rose. “Good morning, Nymph. Sleep well?” He gave her a knowing smile.
“Oh, passably well. And you?” Her blue eyes sparkled as she joined him.
“Never better.” Pleased that he meant it, he kissed her cheek in greeting.
Cassie jumped to her feet. “Father said you have something to tell us.”
“And he wouldn’t even give us a hint.” Ellie cast him a glower he could be proud of.
“I most certainly did,” he said. “I told you it was something you both wanted.”
“That could be anything!” Ellie said.
“You want to eat only parsnips for a year?” Lord, it felt so good to tease his girls again. He hadn’t felt this alive in ages.
Anne laughed right along with him but mercifully saved the girls from their worry about a year’s diet of parsnips. “Your father has agreed to a puppy, just like little Flash.”
The girls launched themselves at him, then at Anne, taking turns hugging them both, their tear-stained faces radiant with happiness.
“I wrote to Mr. Ford first thing this morning.” He leaned closer and whispered in Anne’s ear. “And to your brother. If he agrees, and there aren’t three puppies available, I’ll enquire about another litter.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Colin.”
And although his daughters’ gratitude pleased him immensely, Anne’s joy soaked into him like rain after a long drought.
He wanted to thank her for bringing joy back into his life and making him feel alive again.
Hell, he wanted to kiss her soundly, pleasure her with his mouth again, explore more of her delightful book.
But if he didn’t get his thoughts under control, he would embarrass himself in front of his girls.
Voice gruff with need, he managed a few words as he extricated himself from Anne’s arms. “You’re welcome. Now, if you all will excuse me, I have work to do.”
Cassie and Ellie had grown accustomed to abrupt exits, but the expression on Anne’s face cut him like the tip of Grey’s épée.
He strode to his study with mixed feelings of elation and guilt, but he vowed to make it up to Anne when they were alone later. As he entered, he came to a halt upon seeing Greene adjusting some papers on his desk.
“Greene?”
The man gazed up, his expression not quite one of guilt, but certainly not innocence. “My lord. I was looking for you.”
“Indeed? And you couldn’t see I wasn’t in the room from the hallway? Did you think perhaps I was hiding behind the desk?”
“Of course not, sir, but I remembered you needed the inkpot replenished.”
Which would be a maid’s duty. However, Colin didn’t press the matter and instead took a seat at his desk. “And that’s all?”
“Yes, sir. Unless you have need of me, I shall take my leave.”
Greene was halfway to the door when Colin stopped him. “Greene, I want the final entrance to the passages sealed. Choose one trusted footman and attend to it when I’m not here.”
With a nod, Greene left, moving faster than Colin could recall.
Inkwell? He’d penned the letters to Mr. Ford and Andrew Weatherby that morning, and the inkpot had been half full. A quick glance at the clear bottle confirmed his suspicions. Greene had lied. But why?
Had he been looking for something on or in the desk? Colin ruffled through the papers and found nothing out of the ordinary. Reports from his steward on the projected yield of crops, a request from a tenant for repairs, and a letter from Mr. Sedley to discuss Colin’s run for MP.
Reminded of his promise to his father to obtain the writ of acceleration, Colin fell back against his chair and exhaled a heavy sigh. So close. So close. Was it too much to hope the request would be denied and his father would make a speedy recovery?
Perhaps under Ashton’s, Somersby’s, or Marbry’s care, his father’s diagnosis would prove false.
A dry laugh escaped him. Married only two days and he’d already adopted his wife’s sunny optimism.
Oh, Anne. How she had turned his world upside down. Thoughts of her reminded him of his request for Greene to seal the passage. He wouldn’t put it past her to go snooping around and stumble upon the entrance.
And he couldn’t have that.