24. Zeth #2
Her brow shot up as I uncrossed my legs to lean my elbows on my knees and met her confused gaze head-on.
It was scary to open up, but that’s what I needed to do with her, finally.
“What I should be saying is that I treated you poorly. I returned to Everdeen with a plan to trick you into an arrangement with me. You’re rich, and I’m poor, and I remembered us getting along, when I wasn’t playing stupid pranks on you. ”
“I liked you too. You and Millie both,” Anna assured me. “Life here in this big house was getting incredibly boring until you two returned to town. I didn’t know what I was missing.”
That wasn’t what I expected from Anna after my confession. Did she not just hear me admit that I tried to con her?
I took in her tilted head and knew she was listening.
Maybe she needed to hear more. “I sold everything I owned to put on the con that I was wealthy, with plans to sell the laundry before you found out I was actually broke.” When she nodded for me to go on, I swallowed.
“Not once did I think about our… your… happiness. I was wrong to push myself on you. Neither of us wants to marry—”
“Actually, I do want to marry,” Anna corrected matter-of-factly, and I frowned. Oh shit, I was wrong. I— “Just not you.”
“Just not…” I shook my head, doubting my ears. “Excuse me?”
A gentle smile creased her face. “I was going to say, I wish to officially court your sister. We’ve bonded over similar interests in the past few weeks, and I think she’s open to courting me.
I knew about your con because Millie already confessed.
I hope this doesn’t come as a shock. We weren’t completely open with our activities or attractions either. ”
“Millie?”
“Yes, your handsome and devilish sister.”
“That’s certainly my Mildred Louise Washer.”
Anna laughed, a light and charming sound. “There’s a soiree next week, and I plan to ask Millie if she will attend with me. After our first dance, I’ll request a courting kiss. As long as I’m granted her brother’s permission…”
“Of course. Of course!” I quickly agreed while my tension eased.
Not only was Anna not mad at me for breaking off our arrangement, she was relieved, letting out a grateful sigh.
We both laughed over clearing the air. Anna wanted to marry Millie, not me.
“Were you chasing after my sister this whole time?”
“I wouldn’t say it like that, but… yes. She had me the moment I saw her woe-is-me act with twigs in her hair. Millie’s just my sort of handful.”
My eyebrows must have hit the ceiling as I tried not to think too much about my sister in Anna’s hands.
And here I was worried about hurting her feelings.
With all Anna’s mixed messages of welcoming us into her house, yet not wanting to flirt with me, I thought she just didn’t care about love.
The whole time, she didn’t care about men.
Anna had been chasing my sister, and Millie enjoyed Anna’s suit.
No wonder Millie hounded me endlessly about us visiting Anna.
“And you,” she said. “I believe you have an eye for someone else as well?”
“I do, and he fills my heart,” I answered her honestly, now that I knew she wasn’t upset over breaking this off. “Amby always had my heart, but please don’t tell anyone about us yet. We’re still paving our way to be together, and I don’t want it to be a rocky road.”
“I can keep a secret. Will you keep my plan a surprise too?”
“Gladly. I can’t wait to see Millie’s face at the dance when you ask to court her.”
I stood and observed the library collection that was easily equal to my inheritance, not giving a flying shit about walking away from it all.
I was wrong to think Anna’s money was a solution.
I just hoped Amby and I might find some stability and acceptance from his dad.
Amby was lucky to still have him around.
Speaking of… I felt fatherly as I offered my hand to Anna, and she stood quickly to shake an agreement. When her face lit up, I brought her in for a quick hug. “Anna, as long as you love our bratty Mils and keep her out of trouble, you’ll be welcome in our family.”
She pulled away and rolled her eyes. “No promises on behaving.” Her teasing sounded stiff, as if she just learned how to tell a joke, a sign of Millie’s influence. Apparently, I was destined to have two strong-willed sisters in my life now. Anna would fit right in with us Washers.
***
Later that evening, Millie and I reached the Washington house for the poetry salon.
The town was bustling with evening travel as I slowed my steps on the front walk and stared at the impressive columns on the enormous house.
Looking over at Millie, I decided to mess with her before telling her Anna and I called things off.
“I need to tell you something before we enter the party,” I started. “Something important.”
Millie didn’t say anything, so I glanced over to find her big round eyes blinking in surprise beneath the brim of her lovely top hat that Anna gifted her. Millie was sure to impress Anna tonight.
Feigning deep sorrow with drama equal to Millie’s, I took her hands and squeezed.
“I visited Anna earlier today while you were working and confessed about our con. Now she doesn’t want to marry me.
She seemed to be interested in someone else.
Someone smart and attractive, with a hell of a mouth on her. ”
“Oh?” Millie said softly. I could almost see my half-truths filtering through her smart head until her face cleared. When she squealed and pulled out of my grasp to dance a little jig up and down the Washingtons’ front steps, I chuckled at her excitement.
“So then, I take it you like her?” I asked as I reached out to straighten her tipping hat.
But Millie straightened it herself with a grin. “Oh aye, and she’s fond of me too. We’re the ones who set you and Amby up.”
“Excuse me?” I asked for the second time that day. These girls were determined to surprise me.
“Anna saw right through our con at the picnic. She’s sharp, and wanted to turn the tables on us by inviting you to fish with Amby.
After you both fought so much that you fell into the lake, she told me about it, and we had a good laugh.
That’s when Anna and I came up with our plan to leave you and Amby alone as much as possible. ”
“So the idea to ride horses around the Winters estate?” I asked, never questioning that Millie had suggested that scheme as a way for me to woo Anna, but Anna was the one who had the same idea to invite us over.
“Our idea. We wanted you to visit Amby in his barn.”
“Uh-huh.” I frowned at her, slightly annoyed since that day ended poorly for Amby and me.
At least Millie had the good grace to dip her head slightly. I guess I couldn’t be too mad that she played matchmaker, since she helped push me past all the grief that had lodged in my throat, keeping my emotions trapped.
That didn’t excuse coy tricks, though, so I used my fatherly voice to make sure she understood, “We were wrong to start this con in the first place. Let’s pledge that the plotting is over.”
“Aye,” Millie agreed. I was about to thank her when she added, “Then I probably should confess, I’m plotting a surprise for you that’s happening next week.”
“Heaven help me.”
“And I want to court Anna. I hope you approve.”
She should have said that last part easily, but the uncertainty in her voice made me ache. Did she doubt me? Of course I would always support her. I wanted her to experience true love, no matter who it might be with. She was my sister.
I turned to face Millie and took her smaller hands in mine again. Then I caught her moist eyes full of worry. “Mils, Anna’s a better match for you than me, and I couldn’t be happier for you both.”
“Thank you. Home is where the heart is, after all.”
“Oh no, not you too!”
“What?” She blinked up at me, and I tugged the brim of her hat down to blind her.
“You and Anna can keep your silly sayings to yourself. I’m a logical man,” I teased.
Millie snorted into her hat before tipping it back. “So logically, does that mean you’ll give someone quite handsome a courting kiss soon?”
I grinned widely. “I hope to hell it does.”
Her chuckle was joyous, and I felt grateful she approved of me and Amby as we ascended the steps to the Washingtons’ front door, where she nudged my arm with hers.
She looked damn cute in her newly tailored attire.
I never would have chosen a men’s suit for Millie, yet the sleek black jacket added a commanding presence that caught the eye.
The matching split skirt and white blouse showed off her curves, and Anna’s top hat was the cherry on top of my handsome sister.
“You should know, I’m proud of how hard you worked at the tailor shop to buy those clothes. They look good on you. You’re dressed to impress the elite of Everdeen.”
“Damn right I am.” Millie snorted and reached up to grab the golden pineapple knocker, slamming it far harder than necessary.
I was still flinching when she turned back to me. “I just wish you had a fancy new suit too. That cravat isn’t enough.”
“It’s an ascot,” I corrected with dramatic offense and caressed the smooth amber and black paisley.
Amby liked how it matched my eyes. Hopefully, it also distracted everyone from my plain, brown jacket.
His ring on my pinky flashed a nervous deep gray, and I couldn’t wait for it to shift colors once I saw Amby again.