Page 34

Anna gave a reluctant smile; she had expected a tad too much of Josie’s talent for gathering gossip.

They continued along a path that wound through a copse of elm trees. The park was laid out in a naturalistic style—less fashionable than its showier neighbour Hyde Park—but far preferable to Anna’s eye.

"I'm worried about him, Josie," Anna admitted after a moment. "For all his faults, he's never disappeared for so long without word. What if something dreadful has happened to him?"

"Like what?" Josie asked, looking around nervously as the path grew narrower and more secluded. They had lost sight of The Queen’s Walk now, and were completely alone.

"I don't know. Perhaps he owed more than he admitted to Falconbridge. Perhaps—"

Anna's words were cut short as two rough-looking men stepped from behind a large oak tree, to block their path. From their rough features and mean eyes, Anna quickly deduced that they did not wish to engage them in polite chat about the weather.

"Well, well," the taller of the two sneered, his eyes roving over Anna's simple dress with a frown of disappointment. "Not much to take from you two, but I reckon that necklace will fetch a decent price."

Josie gave a small squeak of terror and Anna instinctively stepped in front of her to shield her. This was all her fault—if only she hadn’t insisted on walking alone!

"Step aside," she commanded, attempting to emulate her husband’s authoritative tone.

It did not work, for the men merely laughed seeing straight through her bravado.

"Hear that, Tom? Her Ladyship wants us to step aside,” one of the men guffawed.

"We have nothing of value," Anna said, attempting to change tack.

"Let's see that necklace first, love,” the shorter of the two grunted, waving his meaty paw at Anna’s neck.

She balked, taking a step back from him. The necklace had belonged to her mother, and while it held little financial value, to her it was priceless.

“Unhand her, or you’ll feel my whip.”

The quartet all turned in unison at the sound of the deep, cultured, and very male voice.

A tall, elegantly dressed young man emerged from a connecting path, his riding crop tapping ominously against his palm.

"This don't concern you, friend," the taller ruffian growled, though he took a half step back his eyes on the whip in the man’s hand.

"Any lady in distress concerns me," the gentleman replied, his tone dangerously soft. "Now, I suggest you both find another path to walk. Immediately."

Something in his manner—the absolute certainty that he would be obeyed—caused the men to exchange glances before backing away with muttered curses.

Anna breathed a sigh of relief, as the two men finally turned and fled from sight. Her mother’s necklace was saved! And she was saved from having to explain a black eye or cut lip to Falconbridge—she imagined that he’d never let her leave the house again.

"Are you hurt, madam?" the gentleman asked, turning to Anna with concern.

"I—we—are quite well, my lord, thanks to you," Anna replied, her heart still racing from the encounter.

“It is always a pleasure to help a beautiful woman,” the man replied, offering her a curt bow. “Lord Gravesend, at your service.”

From the corner of her eye, Anna could see Josie swooning at the young lord’s manners. Anna hid a smile; though she was grateful to her rescuer, she was not as easily impressed as Josie by his Byron-esque pale skin and ruffled hair.

The gentleman’s gaze lingered on her face, his expression momentarily troubled.

"May I have the honor of knowing whom I’ve had the pleasure of assisting?"

"I am—" Anna hesitated, unsure whether to reveal her new title to this stranger.

"This is Her Grace, the Duchess of Falconbridge," Josie blurted, so impressed by their rescuer that she wished to impress him in turn.

Recognition flickered in Gravesend’s pale eyes, before his expression settled into one of polite surprise.