Page 53 of The Trouble with Anna

Julian reached for paper and a sharp quill and scratched out a note. “This is my direction. Use my name for encouragement, but summon me personally if you require outright enthusiasm.”

Mrs. Blake hadn’t been gone more than five minutes when another knock sounded on the door.

“Blast it! I said I wasn’t to be disturbed.”

The door opened anyway and an enormous, shaggy-haired man leaned back against the frame, his greatcoat tossed over his shoulders, his arms crossed over his chest, and his boots crossed casually as well. He looked utterly unmoved at being yelled at by an earl, like a lion yawning on the savannah as the jackals yowled. “Ramsay, damn your eyes,” he said good-naturedly. “That’s no way to greet a friend.”

“Warrick! What the hell are you doing here?”

Wolfgang Robert Latham, the twelfth Duke of Warrick, stepped into the room. “I heard about Captain Blake and knew I’d find you here stewing. Up on your feet, man. I’ve come to kidnap you.”

Julian looked out the window, where the mist had begun to spit. “It’s wet weather for riding.”

Warrick grinned. “Who said anything about riding? If we hurry, we can just catch the tide.”

The little sloop cut across the mouth of the Severn, carving a wake in the gray-brown water. On the left, curlews picked their way through mud flats and teals and wigeons sheltered under the marsh grasses, and on the right open water stretched off to Wales.

“It’s bloody freezing!” yelled Julian.

“It’s bracing!” Warrick yelled back. “Ready about?”

“Ready!”

Warrick pushed the tiller and Julian released the jib. Both men leaned out over the water as the boom swung into place and the sails caught the wind again, sending them scudding over the water. Air whooshed into Julian’s lungs and he couldn’t help but laugh into the salt spray and sky.

Anna would adore this. He’d take her—

His muscles clenched and his face went to stone.

“You look like hell, man!” yelled Warrick. He trimmed the mainsail and the sloop picked up speed, racing the gulls above.

The green cliffs of Steep Holm heaved themselves out of the water in the distance, with the island of Flat Holm a darker splotch behind it. Julian’s thoughts churned and frothed like the wake.

As they came around Steep Holm, Warrick allowed the sloop to drop speed. “Ships go down, Julian. What happened to Captain Blake is not your fault.”

“Damn it, I know that! But I can mourn the man, can’t I?”

Warrick fixed his eyes on Julian. “There’s something more bedeviling you, isn’t there?” He paused, and his voice went odd. “It’s not that sister of yours, is it—nothing’s wrong with Lady Charlotte?”

Julian looked over and narrowed his eyes. “You never fail to ask after Charlotte. How kind of you, Warrick.”

Warrick’s color rose, or perhaps it was just the wind slappinghis cheeks. “They’re called manners, my friend,” he retorted. “You should try for some. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

Julian’s lips twisted, and the story poured out, with Warrick listening intently.

“Why not simply buy the girl her horses?” he asked when Julian finished. “Buy her whole damn estate and be done with it.”

Julian shook his head. “I won’t jilt her. I’m her guardian. It’s my duty to—”

“Not this again! Duty requires you to do right by those who depend on you. It doesn’t require you to give up your whole damn life.” When Julian made no reply, Warrick sighed and feathered the sails, slowing the boat even further. “Your father and your guardian both let you down, and you paid for it. Dearly. Do you intend to keep paying forever?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why on earth would you marry this girl?”

Waves lapped at the boat and a pair of redshanks wheeled above them, one diving and swooping with such grace that—Julian gave an odd, choked laugh. Was there anything that didn’t remind him of Anna? “That’s the worst part, Wolfgang—I think I want to.”

Warrick stared at him, utterly astonished. He only moved when a gust of wind came out of nowhere and yanked the mainsheet out of his hands and he had to grab for it, red-faced and spluttering. “Whatdid you say?”

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