Anthony chuckled. “And women, too, sweet. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She turned an adorable pink, her gaze dropping to her lap. The blush deepened to a fiery red as Anthony’s gaze followed hers. Her skirts were still rucked up about her thighs, her drawers parted to reveal the slightest hint of the dark red curls that lay hidden.
Anna made a convulsive move to yank down her skirts, but Anthony captured her hands. He pulled her from the desk and stood her on her feet. Her skirts dropped gracefully to the ground. Though modestly covered, she looked anything but normal, her mouth still red from his kisses, her hair mussed. Anthony’s body stirred at the sight and he reluctantly moved away, silently chastising himself.
Strange as it seemed, he realized the reason for his unease. He actually liked Anna Thraxton. Liked her better than any woman he could think of. She was intelligent, beautiful, capable, held fiercely to her opinions, and was loyal to a fault.
And she liked him—he could see it in her eyes, in the way she grinned so quickly when they talked. As ludicrous as it was, Anthony had no wish to destroy the glimmer of respect he saw in her gaze. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, wondering what he was supposed to do now.
Watching him, Anna’s throat tightened. He might be sorry for their impetuous actions, but she wasn’t. She set her shoulders and pretended to smooth her skirts so she wouldn’t have to meet his gaze. She was glad this had happened. Faint tremors of pleasure still echoed through her and her breasts felt full and tight. For the first time in over a year, she felt alive and free and…happy.
A smile quivered at her lips. Anna tried to smooth her hair back into a semblance of its usual style, knowing as she did so that it would take a handful of pins and a mirror to do it correctly. Her hands still shook and it was all she could do to replace the pins she found scattered on the desk. She stifled a giggle when Greyley made an impatient sound and tucked one of her loose curls behind her ear.
She glanced up at him and froze—it was as if he wished to devour her. His gaze was hot, possessive, a furious passion deep in the brown depths.
The silence grew and stretched. Anna cleared her throat, desperate to find a way to ease the tension. The children…yes, she would talk about them. “Since we are here, Greyley, there is one thing I wanted to ask you. Mrs. Stibbons has allowed the new maid, Lily, to assist me in the nursery.”
The change of topic did not seem to be to his liking, for he frowned. “Anna, we cannot—”
“You know Lily, don’t you?”
He was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed. “No. Who is she?”
“She is serving as lady’s maid to Lady Putney. But Lily has taken so well to the children and seems so nervous when not in the nursery, that we thought we might hire a new lady’s maid for Lady Putney.”
“Do as you deem necessary.”
“It might make Lady Putney angry.”
“Then I shall like the plan all the more,” he replied shortly.
Anna had to fight a sudden impulse to lean over and trail her lips along that tight jaw. She wanted to taste him again, to feel his touch. Even more, she wanted him to finish what he had started. She knew from his expression what it had cost him to stop when he had.
Good heavens, but she was in a coil. She was in more danger with Greyley than she thought possible. The more she saw his attention to the children and his service to the Elliot family, the more she’d come to value him. And that was the last thing she wanted to feel for a man bent on seducing her.
Not that she minded being seduced; it was quite the opposite, in fact. But she knew the pain that would come if she were to succumb to other, more serious thoughts and feelings. If she began to believe that there was a happy-ever-after for her, a governess. And therein lay the danger.
The silence in the room grew until it felt oppressive. Anna forced a brittle smile to her lips. “Greyley, I know this is awkward. We’ll just pretend it never happened—”
She was in his arms and pinned against his chest before she could blink. “No,” he said gruffly, looking down at her with a blazing look that vanquished the pain in her heart. “We won’t pretend anything. I want you, Anna. But only if you want me, too. I just didn’t mean for us to go so far.” He glanced around the room and shook his head. “Not here, anyway. I want us to have something more special, something more permanent.”
Anna’s breath caught in her throat. “Permanent?” She hated the way the word sounded so hopeful, but Anthony didn’t seem to mind.
He looked down at her, a gleam in his eyes as he ran his hands over her back and hips, over and over again, the movement sending ripples of pleasure through her. “Yes. I have a small house not two miles from here and—”
“A house?”
“Yes. For now. Later…” He shrugged. “If you wish something more grand, I can have something built here, on Greyley lands.”
“Later?”
His jaw tightened at her expression. “Anna, I will take care of you always. I swear it.”
The brief flash of hope was incinerated by searing anger. She pushed herself away. “You—”
“Well!” came a voice from the doorway. “There you two are.”
Anna whirled to see Lady Putney standing just inside the library. Oh no. How long has she been there?
Lady Putney’s gaze narrowed on Anna, seeming to take in her flushed checks. “I can see that I’m interrupting something.”
“Nonsense,” Anthony said shortly.
Anna managed a brittle smile. “Lady Putney, how nice to see you. Have you come from the nursery?”
“Yes, which you would know if you had been where you belonged,” the old woman said coldly.
Anthony frowned at Lady Putney. “That’s enough of that. I’m glad you’ve come.”
She raised her thin brows, suspicion on her face. “Why?”
“A girl named Lily has been serving as your lady’s maid.”
The change of topic unnerved Lady Putney, for she blinked. “Lily? She is a clumsy child, but with a little instruction, I daresay she’ll do.”
“Her clumsiness is about to become someone else’s concern,” Greyley said without any show of emotion. “She has shown herself to be adept at working with the children so I am assigning Lily to Miss Thraxton. You will find another maid.”
Anna winced. Why did Greyley have to be so preemptory in his speaking? He barked orders as if he were the general of a very uncooperative army.
Lady Putney’s jaw tightened. “I just got that stupid girl where she could do my hair with some talent!”
“What a pity,” Greyley said. “Lily is going to the nursery and that is that.”
Anna rubbed her forehead. Sweet heavens, but the man is insufferable. Greyley stormed his way through life, stepping on toes and tromping on other people’s pride without the slightest regard. She said smoothly, “Lady Putney, Lily will come to the nursery only if you don’t mind.”
Greyley waved his hand. “Lady Putney will not be discomfited. I will send to London for a suitable replacement. Someone more practiced in being a lady’s maid.”
Anna could see the elder woman grappling with the decision. Since it was obvious that Anna wished for Lily’s assistance, Lady Putney did not wish to relinquish her claim. But if she did not, she would lose Greyley’s generous offer of a London-trained maid.
“Perhaps I should simply find another servant,” Anna interjected, keeping a narrow watch on Lady Putney. “I’m sure there are a dozen or more who would do.”
Anthony turned to Anna. She met his glance with a meaningful stare.
After a moment, he smiled, then said, “I’m sure you are right, Miss Thraxton. There are probably two dozen persons capable of dealing with the children in the nursery. And I’m sure that Lily is a more than proficient lady’s maid for Lady Putney. Besides, I’m not sure what it would cost me to procure the services of a London trained maid, but I’m certain it would be outrageous and—”
“Wait,” Lady Putney said, her mouth pinched. “Surely you would not count pennies when talking about my comfort. I will tell Dalmapple to see to the hiring of a maid from London as soon as possible.” She turned a bitter glare at Anna. “As for Lily, Miss Thraxton is welcome to her. She has clumsy hands and has pulled my hair I know not how many times during the past sennight. I am forever boxing her ears for her lack of attention.”
Anna decided it would be very satisfying to box Lady Putney’s ears, but only if she could use a boat oar to do so. She managed a credible smile. “Lady Putney, you are too kind to allow the children to have your maid.”
That seemed to mollify the woman, for her face softened slightly. “Yes, well, anything for the children. They are my only joy.” She sent a bitter glare at Greyley. “That is the reason I came looking for you. The children have not been to Chawley House in some time. I would like to take them for a visit.”
“Chawley House?” Anna asked.
“Lady Putney’s home in Somerset,” Anthony said grimly. He glanced at Lady Putney from beneath his brows. “We have spoken of this before, and we agreed that the children would stay here for at least a year.”
“I only wish to take them for a week or so. They would benefit from it, especially poor Desford. He is wilting away in this moldy pile.”
“Greyley House is not a ‘moldy pile.’”
Lady Putney shuddered. “This house is a mausoleum.”
“Then leave,” Greyley said, reaching out to pull the bell rope. “I’ll order a carriage.”
Lady Putney seemed to realize she’d gone too far, for she tittered nervously. “I cannot leave while the children are here.”
“Yes, you can.” But he removed his hand from the bell pull. “And it is time you realized that.”
The tension in the room was so taut that Anna cleared her throat. “Lady Putney, perhaps you would like to go to the nursery with me now, to visit the children.” It seemed imperative to get the interfering woman out of the room before Greyley burst into flames.
Lady Putney’s face tightened. “Miss Thraxton, it is not your place to tell me what to do.”
“She didn’t tell you to do anything,” Greyley replied. “She asked you. And much more nicely than I would have.”
Lady Putney looked from Anna to the earl and back, dawning disgust on her face. “Well! I see how things are.”
“I doubt it,” Greyley said. “But that is nothing new.”
“I don’t have to listen to this,” Lady Putney replied. She turned to Anna. “Miss Thraxton, I hope you enjoy the services of my maid. I’m sure you’ve earned it.” Sniffing rudely, she turned and left, slamming the door behind her.
Anna whirled to face Greyley. “Must you be so offensive?”
“You don’t know the half of what that woman has done.”
“It doesn’t matter. Setting up her back will do no good at all.”
“Listen, Thraxton, I don’t need anyone telling me how to act.”
“I beg to differ. Your manners are harsh and unfair. Worse, you allowed Lady Putney to think that we were—” Her anger threatened to boil over. “Lord Greyley, our involvement is at an end.” She turned toward the door.
He stepped forward as if to stop her, but Anna was too quick. She made sure she slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing in the hallway.
The nodcock! The arrogant, ill-mannered ass. She fumed all the way back to the nursery, throwing the door open with such force it bounced against the wall.
The children all looked up, as did Mrs. Stibbons, surprise on their faces. Anna cursed her own ill temper. “Sorry. Must have been a draft.”
Mrs. Stibbons set Selena off her lap and stood. “I was just tellin’ the children a story.”
Selena nodded, her curls bouncing along. “It was about a giant.”
“And a magic arrow,” added Marian, who was pink with excitement.
Anna’s mouth softened, though she couldn’t quite manage a smile. “You must be quite a tale spinner, Mrs. Stibbons.”
“I’ve heard it before,” Desford said sulkily.
“There now,” Mrs. Stibbons said, smiling merrily. “That’s why I brought some of Cook’s finest apple tarts, for those who’d be bored to tears by my poor rendition of the Tale of Chatswith.” She leaned toward Anna and said loudly, “Master Desford was very polite and did not once offer to tell the surprise ending.”
“Excellent,” Anna murmured, noticing that Desford was keeping his gaze fixed on an apple tart. “I’ve already noticed that he is a man of his word.”
His gaze jerked up to her, and he frowned, and then looked away.
Mrs. Stibbons noted it all. Once she had settled the children back to their tasks, she said quietly, “Don’t let Master Desford set you off, miss. He’s a good boy, but full of the Elliot pride. If Lord Greyley would just imagine himself at that age, they’d get along like Flick and Flin.”
“I fear that Lord Greyley lacks the delicacy of thought such a concept would take. He has all the charm of a violent explosion.”
Mrs. Stibbons chuckled. “There you have it, miss. I’m glad to see you know him so well already.”
“He isn’t very difficult to decipher.”
“Oh, he’s the salt of the earth, he is. As good as they get, but—” She blew out her breath in a gusty sigh. “There are times I could wring His Lordship’s neck. He’s a good master, but he doesn’t understand the need for a soft word now and again.”
“He’s gotten his way far too much for his own good.”
“Lord, yes. What he needs is a good wife. A pity Miss Melton’s grandmother died and she had to go into mourning. I think they’d have already wed if it wasn’t for that.”
Anna’s heart jerked to a halt and she slowly turned toward the housekeeper. “Miss Melton?”
“His Lordship’s betrothed.”
A roar pitched forth, echoing in Anna’s ears. She thought of Greyley’s mouth on hers, of the warmth of his arms about her and she took a long, slow breath. “Miss Melton?” she said again, as if in repeating the words, they might disappear like a wisp of troublesome smoke.
Mrs. Stibbons seemed blithely unaware that the air had turned to dark gray and was too thick to breathe. “Barely eighteen if she’s a day, and as pretty as they come, not that I think that had anything to do with it. His Lordship knows his responsibilities and he has to provide an heir else the entire estate will revert to the Elliots, and there’s not a one who’s worth a thimbleful of His Lordship’s spit.”
“Then Greyley’s engagement isn’t a love match?” Anna said, unsure why such a trivial thing made her lungs work again.
Mrs. Stibbons laughed merrily. “Lord love you, child! The gentry don’t do things that way. Besides, I don’t think His Lordship loves anyone.”
“Except his sister.”
“True. And his brothers—you can tell he’s fond of them. His marriage to Miss Melton was arranged between her father and His Lordship. The Melton land marches along Greyley’s and I daresay His Lordship thought to increase his holdings.” Mrs. Stibbons took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped a smudge off Selena’s cheek. The little girl didn’t even look up from where she was trying to make an “A” on a chalkboard. “A pity you’ll never meet Miss Melton, for I daresay she’d benefit from the experience.”
Anna leveled a look of disbelief at the housekeeper. “Why do you say that?”
Mrs. Stibbons tucked the handkerchief back in her pocket. “Miss Charlotte Melton is as sweet as they come, but she’s a mite short on spirit, if you know what I mean.”
Greyley would choose a bride with the character of a limp rag, Anna thought, seething at the thought that the bounder had been trying to make love to her while he’d been engaged to another woman. Not that Anna had thought for one second that Greyley’s intentions were anywhere near honorable. He couldn’t spell the word, much less serve as a definition.
Still, tears gathered at the thought of h
ow intimate they’d already become. It was maddening, but she cared about him. Cared more than she wanted to admit.
To take her mind off her unruly emotions, Anna turned to the children and said in a brittle voice, “Perhaps we should make shadow puppets today.”
For the rest of the afternoon, Anna kept the children busily engaged, making puppets to go with their lessons on Queen Elizabeth and the glorious battle with the Spanish Armada. While assisting Desford in flipping tiny paper cannon balls at the large ship cutouts, Anna realized that perhaps it was all for the best. Her feelings for Greyley were growing far too quickly for her own comfort—just witness what the news of his betrothal had caused. A dull ache still reigned in the region of her heart.
If it weren’t for the fact she needed her pay to take care of Grandpapa, she’d be tempted to pack up and leave. Anna fingered a paper cannon and wondered what Sara would think of her brother’s betrothal to an eighteen-year-old miss who was still wet behind the ears.
Of course, that was just Mrs. Stibbons’s opinion. It was entirely possible that Miss Charlotte Melton was a very competent and knowledgable young woman. Perhaps she was even mercenary, or cruel. Anna’s arms tightened about Selena, who had come to stand at her knee. Anthony was just like any other man, susceptible to flattery and a pair of thickly lashed eyes.
Well, Anna would meet this paragon and see how the wind blew. And if Miss Charlotte Melton was anything less than the purest driven snow, Anna would immediately send word to Sara. It was the least she could do.
That decided, she picked up a pair of scissors and furiously chopped out a new cannon for the children’s amusement.
Chapter 19
The man owes me twenty pounds and what does he do but stick his spoon in the wall and die without so much as a by-your-leave. There’s nothing left for it new, unless, of course, I were to nip a few of those silver buttons off the corpse, which I’d never do, there being so many people about and all.
Edmund Valmont to his friend, the Duke of Wexford, at the funeral of Lord Dunsmore, who died while eating a sausage at his lodgings on St. James Street