Page 93 of The Trouble with Anna

“What’s arranged?” Anna demanded. “Never mind! I don’t care. I simply want to—”

“Take a turn outside? I understand completely.”

Before Anna could muster a response, Julian swept her across the ballroom and out the wide doors that led down into the Dowager’s garden. The cold slapped Anna’s mouth closed, and by the time she’d found her wits to protest, they were standing alone together by the tall brick wall at the far end of the garden, near the little wooden door that led into the back alley.

It was quiet, blissfully so after the frenzy of the ballroom. Anna stopped twitching and her senses began to wake up. It was just the two of them, together in the dark, and Julian looked more pleased with himself than any man had the right to be.

“Why have you hauled me out to the g-garden?” Her teeth clattered in the cold, but she was much too intent on his answer to notice.

Julian did. He gave a low whistle, the little door opened, and Levy stepped in from the alley carrying a long cloak for Anna and Julian’s greatcoat. Julian laid the cloak carefully over Anna’s shoulders and pulled up the inky-black hood, concealing her face entirely.

“This ought to keep you warm. Charlotte called it her ‘assignation cloak.’ Does she truly sneak out in this, or did she say it simply to shock me? No matter. I refuse to let my sister needle me tonight.”

Anna frowned up at him. “Why are we here? Why have you made poor Levy lurk in the alley? Where were you all night? Your behavior is distinctlystrange.”

Julian’s eyes gleamed. “I believe you mean masterful.”

“I do not! ‘Masterful’ is a horrid word. Men only use it when they want to be difficult without facing consequences.”

“How well you understand me.”

“You wretch!” Her laugh faded away. “Julian, your banner. I’ve never—”

His eyes blazed. “Not here, Anna. Not yet.”

Julian nudged her gently through the door and into the alley, where two glossy hunters were saddled for a ride.

Anna gasped. “Oh, what beauties! Whose are they?”

“Mine. I had them sent down from Clare.”

He lifted Anna up onto the nearest of the pair, his hands warm around her waist. When she was settled, he reached up and flicked her nose.

“No more questions? I’ll have to remember that it takes only a fine animal to hush you up.”

“I simply know better than to question a good horse when it comes my way.”

Julian’s handsome face grew serious, and Anna’s stomach turned over in response. “Did I do right, my lightning? I thought you might need peace, and this seemed the quickest way for you to find it.”

Oh!Her eyes started prickling and Anna ducked her face.

His lips curved. “I see. I’ll take that as a yes.”

Julian swung up into his saddle and turned to Levy. “Not a word of this to anyone. You may open a crate of brandy in the servants’ hall tonight.”

“Certainly, sir!” Levy drew himself up. “Lady Anna, on behalf of the house—you’ve done us very proud today.”

Anna gave him a wobbly smile. “Charlotte and I put a bet down for the house. Ten to one odds, Levy, to be shared out equally. We’re so grateful to all of you.”

“Thank you, my lady!” Levy was still beaming as she and Julian rode away.

The two riders made their way slowly down the alley and out into the square, where flickering light from the streetlamps danced on the cobblestones. No one paid attention to the pair, her face obscured by the cloak and his by a large muffler.

Anna soaked in the quiet, the sudden peace.

She’d done it.

She’d doneallof it—she could pension off Chatham’s servants with plenty of money left over to buy the best horses and start a stable of her own. Even Charlotte had won her independence. But the wild tension of the day was still with Anna, so she gave herself over to the slight sway of the saddle and the clip-clop of hooves on hard ground, and let those old rhythms steady her.

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