Page 9 of Enticing the Devil

Chapter Four

The next morning, Anne was one of the first guests to the breakfast room. Lily’s elderly great-aunt—a wonderfully eccentric Frenchwoman—sat reading a newspaper at one end of the table while the Countess of Wright stood at the buffet with a girl who appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years of age. The countess glanced up as Anne crossed into the room and smiled widely in greeting. “Good morning, Lady Anne.”

Anne had been introduced to the auburn-haired Scotswoman shortly after the woman’s unexpected marriage to the Earl of Wright two years ago.

“Lady Wright,” Anne replied politely, “it’s nice to see you again.”

“And you,” the countess said in a slight burr as she set her hand on the shoulder of the girl beside her. “Please allow me to introduce Miss Cailleach Claybourne. Although the lass won’t be participating in any of the games, I suspect she’ll be an avid spectator.”

As the girl gave a proper curtsey, Anne smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Claybourne.”

“You as well,” the girl replied with an accent similar to Lady Wright’s. “You’re Lady Anne Humphries, then?”

“I am.”

The girl smiled widely. “So, you’re to partner my brother in the games.”

Anne’s eyes widened. “Your brother?”

“Aye. Mr. Thomas.”

Suddenly realizing this girl was another of the prior earl’s illegitimate children, Anne blinked in surprise, unsure exactly how to respond. She wouldn’t have expected a fact most would consider shameful or scandalous to be acknowledged with such casual self-assurance.

Lady Wright gave a short laugh as she shook her head. “You’ve shocked the poor lady, lass. I’ve warned you about being so forthright all the time.”

The girl just shrugged. “People will find out eventually. I see no point hiding who I am.” Then she directed a focused gaze back to Anne. “I’ve decided to champion you and Beynon for the competition.”

Anne blinked again. “Well, thank you, Miss Claybourne. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

“Have you taken a look at the event scheduled for today?”

“Not yet.”

“You should,” the girl asserted before she narrowed her gaze and glanced at Anne’s feet. “I hope you brought some sturdy shoes.”

“Caillie luv,” Lady Wright interjected with a smile though her tone was a bit firm, “why dinnae you allow Lady Anne to have a wee bit of breakfast before you interrogate her about strategy.”

“Right. Sorry,” the girl noted, only slightly admonished. “Do come find me if you’d like to discuss the games further.”

“I’ll be sure to do so,” Anne replied. The girl, though bold for one so young, seemed a good ally to have and Anne wasn’t about to shrug off any support she could get for the lengthy competition ahead.

Especially considering she wasn’t sure just how supportive her partner would prove to be. A shadow hovered over her mood as she recalled Mr. Thomas’s abrupt departure the night before.

She’d tried—she really had—to consider all the reasons he might have had to treat her so rudely, but she just kept coming round to the likelihood that he was simply unhappy with having her as his partner. That or he was simply an unconscionable grouch.

Lady Wright and her charge stepped away to claim seats at the table as Anne began to fill her own plate at the buffet. A few minutes later, two young gentlemen entered the room and went directly to the game schedule, where they commenced a little good-natured ribbing. A young woman and her mother arrived next then a married couple as the room slowly began to fill with guests. Some came for the food, but nearly everyone took a moment to review information Lily had posted about the day’s competitions.

Anne did her best to focus on her breakfast, but more than once, she found herself glancing impatiently toward the schedule posted across the room. She’d never have known it about herself if not for her experience during the games last year, but apparently, she had a rather strong—though previously dormant—competitive streak.

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