Page 56 of The Trouble with Anna

IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE THEtownhouse was awash with boxes. More arrived every day, frothing over with new gowns and lacy chemises, carefully packed with delicate hats, or sturdy boots, or whalebone stays. One slim square box had nothing in it but a single linen handkerchief, which Charlotte snatched up with a look of high mischief and stuffed into her pocket. Anna’s wardrobe swelled, but the steady stream of deliveries showed no sign of slowing.

“Just how much did I spend?” Anna asked as she dressed for her very first London dinner party, a small gathering of friends handpicked by the Dowager, and, more important, Anna and Charlotte’s first venture into gambling on a larger scale.

Strangely, Anna didn’t have even the smallest urge to vomit. Where had her newfound confidence come from? she wondered. Was it the clothes, or the love of the people who’d bullied her into them?

Even now Charlotte was fussing over the evening gown laid out on Anna’s bed. It was pale silver, shot through with tiny dots of silver thread that sparkled faintly, like morning frost. The thread had been Charlotte’s idea, as had so many of the details in Anna’s new wardrobe. Anna had always known Charlotte had an eye for clothes, but she’d never realized how encyclopedic her knowledgewas, nor how much art she brought to dressing. She and Josephine squabbled over every detail of Anna’s wardrobe like a pair of Oxford scholars locked in debate.

Charlotte looked up and frowned. “You’re looking revoltingly sentimental! Don’t you dare hug me and wrinkle my gown before we get downstairs.”

Anna stuck her tongue out. “All right! Then back to my question—how much did I spend?”

“An absolute fortune, but Chatham can afford it. Which begs the question—if you can spend Chatham’s money on clothes, why can’t you spend Chatham’s money on other things you want?”

“Because if Chatham pays for something, Chatham owns it. Which means Cousin Simon owns it when he inherits. I suppose he could even repossess my wardrobe if he wanted to. The only way I own something outright is if I pay for it from my personal allowance, which is, unfortunately, quite small.”

“Small for now but not for long, Anna.” Little devils danced in Charlotte’s eyes. “Let’s win a bunch of money tonight!”

CHAPTER25

IT WAS WELL AFTER DARK WHENJulian arrived at his London townhouse and flung off his greatcoat. “What news from the Dowager, Williams?”

“Welcome home, my lord. The Dowager is in residence in London, as requested.”

“With my sister and Lady Anna?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Julian let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. So Anna had stayed in London, as he’d hoped she would? Informative. If she had chosen to run, he would simply have had the pleasure of chasing her, but his Countess was much too sensible for that.

With each hoofbeat that brought him closer to London, his confidence had grown. He’d wooed her once, before he even knew the stakes. He was quite confident in his ability to woo her again, no matter what Warrick said. Julian slapped his hands together in satisfaction. “Williams, I believe I’ll join the Dowager for dinner.”

“I’m afraid the ladies are not at leisure tonight, my lord. The Dowager is hosting a party.”

Julian stiffened. “You must be mistaken.”

“No, my lord. I believe it’s a dinner in honor of the young lady.”

“The devil it is!” Anna, facing a room full of Londoners withouthis support—furious, miserable, glaring daggers at anyone who tried to approach? His heart seized. Damn it, what was Gran thinking? “Send Evans up and ready my carriage immediately. I leave again in ten minutes.”

Julian bounded up the stairs two at a time, threw off his jacket, and unbuttoned his shirt. “Evans, damn your eyes, where’s my evening kit?”

“Here.” The valet, three freshly starched cravats draped over one forearm, held out an evening shirt. “Pantaloons on the bed, shoes on the floor.”

Julian yanked on the shirt and grabbed a cravat, tying it into such a rough knot that Evans raised an eyebrow. “I believe the point is ornamentation, my lord, not strangulation?”

Julian ignored him and threw on the rest of his clothes, stalking down the stairs and into the night. He had a fiancée to rescue and no time to spare.

In the corridor outside the Dowager’s grand salon, Anna took a gulp of air as her nerves jolted and twanged. “How many did you invite, Charlotte?”

“It’s a very small party. No more than twenty.” Charlotte looked over and her smile vanished. “No! You mustn’t fall apart. Everyone invited is a particular friend of mine or Gran’s, and I’ve sat you next to Lord Hartley at dinner. Parties are forpleasure, not pain.”

Anna’s stomach heaved.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Charlotte nicked two glasses of champagne from a passing footman and handed one to Anna. “Glug it down. Quickly, now!”

Anna made a face but did as told, and Charlotte swept theempty glass away and presented her with the second. “There! Hold on tight to this and take a sip each time you need courage.”

“I can’t do this!”

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