Page 32 of His Accidental Duchess

Kitty eyed Anna’s dress with wide eyes. “It’s sobeautiful. You looked very beautiful, Miss… Anna. Are you glad to be married?”

“Yes, very,” Anna said. It wasn’t the truth, of course, but it wasn’t exactly a lie either. “Kitty, since our rooms are in the same wing, perhaps I could tuck you into bed tonight? I’m sure Martha has had a long day.”

Kitty perked up at this suggestion, glancing at both her father and her nursemaid for permission.

Theodore’s eyes were fixed on Anna when she glanced at him, his expression unreadable.

“Of course,” he said. “But Anna can’t stay too long. This is her wedding party, after all.”

There was something about his tone that made shivers run down Anna’s spine. Notunpleasantshivers.

It was simpler to turn her back to him, offer her hand to Kitty, and set off across the ballroom, with Martha trailing behind.

People moved to get out of her way when she passed by, murmuring congratulations and compliments. She heard more than oneYour Graceand was quite sure that it would never feel normal.

It’s like I’m a different person from the one I was this morning,she thought and had to bite back a laugh.

Kitty’s room was exactly what one would expect from a child of her age. It was messy, despite Martha’s obvious best efforts, and there were dolls and toys everywhere, and a surprising amount of books.

Once Martha had gotten the little girl ready and into bed, she whispered her goodnights and left Anna and Kitty alone together.

“I’m allowed to have the candle burning while I fall asleep,” Kitty said, indicating the half-burned candlestick on the bedside table, “but somebody comes in and blows it out when I’m asleep. When I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s always dark.”

“Ah, that’s to avoid fires. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Anna perched on the edge of Kitty’s bed. The little girl’s eyes were already closing, despite her protestations of not being tired at all.

“You are a very nice dancer, Anna,” Kitty said drowsily. “Everybody said so. I wish I could dance.”

“It takes a great deal of practice,” Anna acknowledged. “I’ve been having lessons since I was only five years old.”

Kitty’s eyes flew open. “Five? I am seven, and I’ve never had a lesson!”

Anna chuckled. “Then we must arrange some lessons for you.”

Kitty seemed pleased at this. “I suppose it wouldn’t have occurred to Papa to give me lessons,” she said thoughtfully. “He’s not very good at lady things.”

Anna bit her lip, fighting back another smile. “No, I imagine not.”

“He is… he is so veryman,” Kitty murmured.

Suddenly, Anna found herself conjuring up an image of Theodore’s cool, amused expression, looking down at her when she finally dragged her eyes up from the pin on his cravat.

“Yes,” she agreed. “Heisvery man.”

Less than five minutes later, Kitty drifted off to sleep, and Anna was able to sneak out of the room, gingerly closing the door behind her.

After the warm, buttery light of the nursery, the hallway seemed exceptionally dark and gloomy. There were candles set into the walls at intervals, but the difference in light was so stark that she stood there for a moment, waiting for her eyes to adjust, virtually blind.

“Your Grace.”

She nearly jumped out of her skin, spinning around. “Mrs. Haunt,” she gasped. “I… I didn’t hear you there. You nearly scared the life out of me.”

The housekeeper smiled wryly. “Haunt by name, haunt by nature. I beg your pardon, Your Grace. I didn’t wish to disturb you and Lady Katherine.”

“Yes, that’s probably for the best. I think she’s just fallen asleep.”

Mrs. Haunt nodded meditatively, her eyes giving away nothing. “She seems to like you a great deal already, Your Grace.”

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