Page 11 of The Trouble with Anna

Julian scanned the scene again, narrowing in on the slight, grimy figure of a stableboy running sprints far off down the track on a fine-boned chestnut. A stableboy with telltale black skirts bunched up around the figure’s knees.

Lady Anna? He gave a low whistle. She was shockingly fast.

And muddy.

He grinned. A rather grubby lightning bolt.

She cantered past him into the cooldown, leaning forward to give the horse a big pat. “Yes, I know. We’re badly off pace. I’m afraid my form has fallen to pieces. Can you forgive me, Caesar?”

Ah.So she did speak then, and rather charmingly. But only to horses. And sisters, he supposed.

“He doesn’t look as if he holds a grudge,” Julian called, and strolled down toward the fence.

Lady Anna’s spine went poker stiff as she pulled up her horse, and he could see her ribs expand at the shuddering breath she took. Such a strange little thing, she had to brace herself even to look at him. His conscience thwacked him hard on the back of his head, like a schoolmaster with a straight rule.Why shouldn’t she feel awkward? She’s just lost everything and you were awful to her.

Julian bowed deeply. “I’m here to apologize, Lady Anna. Charlotte assures me you had nothing to do with your grandfather’s will. I spoke to you unforgivably yesterday, but I hope we can move past it and come together as friends.”

She turned her horse vaguely toward him but kept her gaze trained on her saddle. “There’s no need, my lord.”

“There’s every need, but you mustn’t worry,” Julian said gently. “I’m here now. I promise to take everything well in hand.”

That brought her head up, as he knew it would, though her expression was rather cold in his estimation. He didn’t expecther to fall off her horse in gratitude, but he also didn’t expect her strange dark eyebrows, straight as rules, to come together quite so thunderously as she stared down at him.

“What, exactly, do you plan to take in hand?”

“Chatham, of course, for the six months before your cousin inherits. And your future as well, my lady.”

“I see. On what authority?”

It was Julian’s turn to frown. “On my own authority. As you may recall, your grandfather named me your guardian.”

That only seemed to make her choke. At least, her small mouth fell open and it took her what seemed like ages to find words. “You can’t mean to take any of that seriously?”

“Quite seriously.” Julian felt his patience began to fray. “If you’re too shocked to speak sensibly today, I understand. Please direct me to Chatham’s bailiff and I’ll begin my review of the books.”

Lady Anna drew herself up. “Iam Chatham’s bailiff.Irun the estate and I have no intention of opening my books to—”

Someone shouted from the meadow, high and frantic, and she whipped toward the sound. “George? George! What is it?”

A young boy barreled toward them, his face a gulping mess of sweat and tears. “H-Henry! Henry’s in the well.”

CHAPTER6

JULIAN VAULTED NEATLY OVER THEfence. “Give me your horse.”

Lady Anna wheeled the chestnut. “Find the stablemaster. Tell him to come after me!”

“Damn it, Lady Anna, I said give me the horse!” He lunged for her reins, but too late. In three strides, she’d reached the rails and arced over them, racing for the burst of red and orange leaves that marked the low woods across the meadow.

Julian charged for the yard.

“I need a horse!” he yelled to a groom currying a tall gray. The groom gawped at him, so Julian grabbed the lead rope and swung up onto the gray’s bare back. “There’s a child in the well. Fetch me a rope, the longest one you have. Quickly, man!”

The groom sprinted for the tack room and returned with a long coil.

“Good. Now find the stablemaster. Tell him we need more rope, blankets, and men. Hurry!”

Julian didn’t wait for an answer. He looped the lead rope through the halter and kicked the gray into a flat run. Without a bridle or saddle and on an unfamiliar horse, he couldn’t jump the fence, and by the time he’d skirted it, Lady Anna was almostacross the meadow, riding fast, too bloody fast. She reached the tree line and the forest swallowed her up.

---