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Anna willed her tongue to be silent, but she could not bear to hear Benjamin spoken about so poorly. Given what her mother believed, it was no small wonder she so strongly opposed Benjamin. “You do not know him. Have the two of you even spoken? You care too much for gossip and yourTeatime Tattler. You must realize that they spew vicious lies!”

Her mother gasped. Her eyes narrowed, but then her expression relaxed slightly. “Even rumors have kernels of truth to them or else they would be only falsehoods. Other magazines have closed because they only spewed vicious lies.The Teatime Tattleris not like that, and you well know it.”

Immediately, Anna felt abashed and ashamed. “I would rather us not—”

“Did you not readThe Teatime Tattlerjust this morning?” her mother asked, her lips curled in a bemused smile.

“I…” Anna flushed. “Perhaps…”

“I happened to read a week ago that Katherine Warwick, the Marchioness of Bredon, has arrived back in London after all these years abroad. Do you by any chance remember her?”

Anna shook her head, some of her dark curls falling out of her pins. “I confess I do not.”

“Well, it was thirteen years ago. You were only four at the time. It has been many long years since last I saw her. She travels a great deal because of her husband. I cannot wait to see her again. Would you oppose having lunch with her on the morrow?”

“No.” Anna slid to her feet. “Now if you will excuse me…”

Her mother nodded.

Anna swept out of the parlor and ventured to her sanctuary—her bedroom. Try as she might, she could not forget what her mother had said concerning kernels of truth. Yes, the duke charmed the ladies and was friendly with them all. True, some suggested he did not wish to marry for a long while yet… Perhaps her mother truly did have the right of it all along.

Well, I won’t be going to the charity ball. I will not see him, and perhaps that will help to get him out of my mind.

I hope.

CHAPTER2

2nd October,1812

Jasper Warwick, Earl of Pershore and son of the Marquess of Bredon climbed out of the carriage. Turning, he extended his hand inside to aid his mother.

“Thank you.” She fluffed her skirt and took his arm. “You can smile, my dear.”

“Indeed I can.”

“Won’t you?”

“No.”

His mother heaved a sigh. “Do try to not look miserable. I have not seen Louisa in a rather long time.”

“Ah, yes. We must keep up appearances that all is well.”

She shot him a look, one that would make a lesser man cringe. “I do not appreciate your tone.”

“Forgive me,” he murmured.

“It is quite all right.” She patted his arm. “Come along now.”

The manor was lovely if a little on the small side. The lawn was well kept, and the bushes were full of colorful flowers. He caught a whiff of their sweet aroma as they made their way to the front door.

“Chin up.” Mother smiled up at him. “Please?”

The door opened, and a sharply dressed butler bid them enter, and they trailed behind him to the parlor.

A thin woman with a kind smile, her clothes in a fashion Jasper had not seen worn outside of older portraits, stood. “Katherine! It has been an age. How are you, my dear?”

As the ladies became reacquainted, Jasper walked over to the mantel. The portrait hanging above featured a lovely young girl with brown curls framing her face. She could not be more than five or six.