Page 54 of The Trouble with Anna

“We might capsize if I repeat it.”

A grin split Warrick’s face. “You’ve made a fine mess, haven’t you?”

Julian gave another odd, barking laugh. “A complete cock-up.”

Warrick shrugged. “It’s not surprising.”

“What a fine friend you are,” Julian shot back, stung. “Always ready with a word of encouragement.”

“I mean it! Look at you now, itching for the mainsheet eventhough we both know I’m a better sailor. You insist on being in control at all times, but if you’ve fallen for the girl, you’ll have to let her in.”

“I never said I’vefallenfor her!”

“Didn’t you?” Warrick grinned, trimmed the sails, and turned the sloop into the horizon. “I believe I’m going to enjoy this. Immensely.”

CHAPTER23

BACK IN LONDON, ANNA STOODin her bedroom before the needle-sharp eyes of Charlotte, the Dowager, Ivy, and Josephine herself, wearing only her chemise. A pile of enormous boxes had arrived containing the first of the gowns, and she’d been pushed up the stairs and stripped practically naked before she could utter even the smallest yip of protest.

“Josephine, you genius!” whooped Charlotte. “The gowns look glorious! What shall we put on her first—the blue evening gown or the green riding habit?”

“The evening gown,” said the Dowager. “It’s past time I saw Lady Anna in a proper dress.”

Charlotte tilted her head. “Shall we cut her hair first? To get the full effect?”

“I sharpened my shears the moment I saw her,” said Ivy.

“I keep my shears sharp too,” muttered Anna.

Josephine smiled at her reassuringly. “I think a haircut first. To give my lady the full effect.”

“I don’t want a haircut!” Anna cried.

She wasn’t a bit surprised when the women ignored her objection and thrust her down into a chair in the middle of the room.They circled around, staring so intently that she began to feel like a gory carriage accident.

“Let down your hair if you please, my lady.” The scissor blades gleamed wickedly in Ivy’s hand.

“Oh, very well!” Anna gave her pins a rough yank, and the dark knot of her hair unraveled.

“Gracious, there’s so much of it!” cried Charlotte. “Who would have guessed with the way she plasters it back?”

Ivy frowned. “It’s got more curl than I thought. That’s something, I suppose.”

Anna closed her eyes, gripped her hands tightly in her lap, and braced herself. She could hear the hungrysnickof the scissors as they opened, feel the slight tug as the first lock fell. She pictured the big dark mess of her hair frizzled up in elaborate London curls and her thin face scowling from beneath it.

Oh god. Oh, help. What if Julian thinks I cut my hair for him?The thought attacked Anna like a bout of nausea.

“Are you done yet?” she cried.

“It’s a haircut, Anna, not a horse race,” said Charlotte repressively.

The haircut lasted for what seemed like hours to Anna, and the torture didn’t end when Ivy laid her scissors down. Next came the pins, the pomade, the sinister hiss of the hot tongs, and such endless yanking that Anna thought her scalp would come off in chunks.

At last, Ivy heaved a gusty sigh. “Done!”

Anna screwed up her courage to crack open an eyelid, craning her neck for a glimpse of herself in the looking glass behind her.

“No peeking! Not until we have you in the gown.” Charlotte jerked Anna to her feet, and Josephine thrust the evening gown over her head. They laced her up, fidgeting and adjusting until, with one final tug, Charlotte stepped back.

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