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All of this talk about the house party. Jasper had no wish to go, and it seemed to him that Lady Anna shared the sentiment as she poked at her buttered bread. “Charity is wonderful,” she began.

Jasper grimaced. The idea of a house party, of spending time with so many people after…

He abruptly stood. “If you will all excuse me please,” he said stiffly.

He nodded to them in turn, grimacing under the disapproval his mother cast his way and ignoring the shock in Lady Anna’s wide eyes. Had no one else ever dared to interrupt her before? He strolled out of the room and out of the house entirely.

Rude, yes, and perhaps rumors would start here too, as they did everywhere he went, but he could not stand another moment here. Not after what had happened.

* * *

Jaw lowered, Anna watched Lord Pershore leave. Had that been a flicker of pain she had seen cross his sharp but handsome features? She could not be certain. Her mother always did say that Anna should try to find the good in every person. Perhaps she was only trying to find a kind reason for his abrupt and rude departure.

“I do apologize,” his mother offered. “Jasper, well…” She shook her head and touched the gold chain at her neck. “I am afraid he has had a trying time of late. But do continue, Anna. You were talking about charity; I believe?”

So Anna launched into her story, telling the marchioness about her work for the orphanage and how she tried to brighten the children’s lives any way she could.

“Last year, my Anna raised enough money and donated cloth to either purchase new or mend old coats for every child. She has a large heart and a good mind.” Her mother smiled at her, but Anna only frowned back at her as a terrible suspicion filled her.

She wishes me to consider Lord Pershore in lieu of the duke. Instead of Benjamin.

The thought churned her stomach, and she found herself unable to take another bite. Ever since she had met Benjamin, two years ago, she had fallen for him and looked at no other gentleman with interest. It felt strange, wrong even, to think about another with marriage in mind.

I did say I would try to move on.

But with the rude Lord Pershore? Surely her mother would reconsider given his actions. And he had hardly spoken, too. Pompous, entitled, a true villain. Yes. He would kidnap her… Why? For jewels. No, a chest full of jewels! She would have discovered a treasure map, committed it to memory. Her burning it would spark his dubious attempts to convince her to tell him. Not even a threat that he would toss her into the sea would make her talk for he planned to use the treasure to…

Oh, she really must write this story down so she would not forget one detail when regaling the children with it!

Trying to hide her distraction, Anna forced herself to converse with her mother and her friend. At last, enough time passed that she could excuse herself. From her bedroom, she secured a quill and ink and some paper. She put on her pelisse and retreated to one of her favorite locales outdoors, a huge boulder beneath the shade of a towering oak.

Although her mind had been full of fanciful ideas while she had no quill, now the words would not come. It proved a struggle to write anything. She found herself looking at the sky, at the grass, at the trees, anything but the ink-splotched paper.

A figure came into view, and she recognized Lord Pershore. He was walking swiftly, head down, hands in his pockets.

Now, where might he be going? Curiosity spurred her to leave behind her work, and she followed him at a distance to the stables, keeping out of sight. Perhaps her story was too much on her mind, tempting her to be sneaking about like this. She wished to see what Lord Pershore was up to.

Caleb, the young stablehand, had been toying with a stick, tracing designs in the dirt. He glanced up and dropped the stick as soon as he spotted Lord Pershore. “May I—”

“I do not need your help,” Lord Pershore said a little abruptly.

“Are you certain? I can fetch—”

“You can leave.”

Anna narrowed her eyes. Who was Lord Pershore to send their stablehand away? Because Caleb did leave, looking rejected.

Lord Pershore moved to the back wall and was reaching for a saddle when she could hold back no longer. She marched toward him. “What do you think you are doing?” she asked, her tone as sharp as his had been with Caleb.

The man did not turn around to face her nor did he respond.

“Have you asked for permission to ride one of our horses?” she demanded, hands on hips. Something about the man roiled her blood.

“I have.” His movements sharp and jerky, he saddled a horse and climbed on.

She reached for the reins. “I do not think—”

“Excuse me.” He forcefully yet gently secured the reins from her and rode off, leaving behind a cloud of dust from the horse’s hooves.