Page 6 of The Trouble with Anna

Anna’s skin prickled with foreboding.

“My lord!” Beadle burst out. “I would have you know I argued most strenuously against this ridiculous—”

“Continue, Mr. Beadle.”

“My lord, perhaps I could just explain—”

“Continue.”

The lawyer, choking with distress, put his head down and dove back into it: “The estate of Chatham, to include the stables, the stud farm, the horses, and the sum of ten thousand pounds, will go to my granddaughter, Lady Anna Isabel Reston…”

The silence stretched out until Anna, strained to the breaking point, thought she might scream. “Yes, Mr. Beadle?”

“… on the occasion of her marriage to Julian Alaric William Aveton, the ninth Earl Ramsay.”

For a moment nothing moved. Even Julian’s blood stopped cold in his veins before rushing back so hot and furious that it launched him to his feet.

“What the devil?” he roared as a fresh wave of anger seared through him. He’d dealt with thieves and scoundrels before, but his sister never had. And now her damned friend—

Just the thought of it made his vision go black.

“Marriage, Lady Anna?” he said sharply. “I didn’t know you cared.”

She bowed her dark head in misery.

Julian turned on the lawyer. “Is this some sort of joke?”

“M-my lord, I-I-I assure you—” Mr. Beadle stammered painfully.

“And you, Lady Anna—nothing to say?”

But all the wretched girl ever did was stare at her shoes. And conspire with her grandfather, apparently.

He spun on the lawyer. “Before I go, are there any other charming last thoughts from the Viscount?”

Mr. Beadle’s broad face was full of dread. “Only that the late Viscount leaves Lady Anna’s guardianship to, er… you, my lord. And that if you should refuse her hand in marriage, or”—he glanced at Lady Anna—“she should refuse yours, she is to receive nothing from the estate save the portion held in trust from her father’s side. You both have six months to decide, at which time either you are married or Chatham is folded into the entail and—”

The girl made a show of surprise. “Chatham is folded into the entail? That can’t be right. My grandfather loathed Cousin Simon—he’d never let him have the horses.”

Julian shot her a look of derision. As if she hadn’t memorized every line of the blighted document. “Enough! My sister had the misjudgment to bestow upon you the great gifts of her friendship and loyalty, and this is how you repay her? With sorry schemes?” Lady Anna gawped up at him and Julian felt his eyes begin to burn as his wrath hardened into punishment. “Listen well, as this is my first and last act as your guardian. I forbid you Charlotte’s company. I’ll not have a viper like you anywhere near my sister.”

Lady Anna jerked back as if he had slapped her. “This is ridiculous! I had nothing to do with any of it!” she cried, jumping to her feet.

Julian smiled coldly. “You’ve gone from rich to poor, my lady, with only your greed to blame. May you choke on it.”

He turned on his heel and strode furiously from the room.

CHAPTER3

THE TREES WHIPPED BY ONJulian’s long gallop back to Mayne. He stalked into the entry hall, calling to Gifford, “Where is Lady Charlotte? I need her at once.”

“Oh, hullo, Julian!” Charlotte, a streak of buttercup yellow, raced down the staircase. “I can’t stop now, Anna’s expecting me.”

Julian’s eyes went flat. “I’m afraid it can’t wait. In the drawing room, if you please.”

Charlotte heaved a great sigh and clomped down the last few stairs. “Very well, but do be quick. And if it’s about those trifling few bets I placed, I’ll tell you right now that it’smyallowance and I shall spend it asI—”

“It’s not your allowance.”

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