Page 69 of The Trouble with Anna

The Prince dropped his voice. “I am your most obedient servant. I will put my stars wherever you want them.”

Her face flamed. “You are ridiculous!”

“Again, I agree! And still Charlotte will not marry me!”

Anna laughed again. She was flushed and hectic by the time the last notes of the song died away and the Prince held out his arm to escort her back to the Dowager.

Something across the ballroom caught his attention and he went still. “You know them?”

“Who?” Anna asked.

He indicated the far corner with his chin. “Those two, there. Who stare at you so rudely.”

Anna looked over and spotted the pair, an old woman and a rather faded middle-aged man standing next to her, like a pale copy. The woman was tall and held herself rigidly, with an air of joyless command Anna recognized at once.

Anna pasted on a smile as cold climbed up her vertebrae. “Congratulate me. I believe I am about to meet my relatives.”

“Anna Reston?” The tall woman inspected Anna slowly, thoroughly, as if her gaze alone could peel back Anna’s skin to pick past her bones and poke at the secrets inside her.

“She is addressed asLadyAnna,” the Prince corrected. His laziness fell away, and he stood still and alert, like a hunting borzoi. “I am Prince Mikhail Nikolaevich Belozersky. You may address me as Your Highness.”

The woman curtsied and gave a tight smile. “You will excuse us, Your Highness. This person is my niece and we have much to say to each other.”

Anna dipped her own curtsey. “Lady Prudence, and my cousin Simon, the new Lord Barton.”

The words felt strange in her mouth. Her stomach felt strange too, queasy at the idea of this petulant, fish-eyed man carrying her grandfather’s title.

“We have family matters to discuss, Your Highness,” said Lady Prudence. “I wouldn’t want to bore you.”

The Prince remained at Anna’s side, vast and solid as a mountain. “But what luck! I myself am most interested in family matters.”

Anna put a hand on his sleeve. “It’s quite all right, Your Highness. Thank you for the dance.”

He frowned. “You do not need me?”

“No, thank you.”

“I have not had the opportunity to fight a duel since I came to this country. Not a single one, imagine!”

“Your luck is out again tonight, I’m afraid.”

Prince Belozersky sighed, raised her hand, and gave it a loud, smacking kiss. “Until next time, Lady Anna.”

As he left, Lady Prudence was moved to raise her eyebrows. “You’ve found yourself in exalted circles, girl. How your circumstances have risen.”

“I am fortunate to have good friends.”

“Friends?” Lady Prudence gave a soft laugh. “Raised by a recluse, daughter of a slut, with no particular charms of your own. Where did a girl like you get such friends?”

Anna sucked in her breath. “It seems friends are preferable to relations, my lady.”

“You bought those friends with the money that was meant tocome tomy son. Chatham was meant to beours. I will not stand by and watch you steal it.”

Anna’s stomach lurched. Little did they know it, but in just a few months these awful people would own the whole estate. The house, the stables, the horses—even her own sweet Sally. Her hands fisted by her sides. “Do you prefer Chatham to be gambled away? I understand that’s what your son does best. My congratulations! How proud he does the family name.”

Lord Barton gave a cry and his damp hand snaked out and clamped down on Anna’s wrist. She tried to jerk herself free, but he only twisted her arm tighter.

“Release me!”

---