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“I know that the Earl of Pershore went to the gathering. Did you happen to speak to him?” her mother slipped into their conversation even though it had nothing to do with their previous lines of conversation.

“Speaking with him is not pleasant,” Anna said stiffly.

Her mother sighed. “Are you even giving the poor boy a chance, or are you still wrapped up in that dreadful duke?”

Anna bristled. “I do not care for Lord Pershore because of his own actions.”

Her mother sat stiffly, primly, her lips a tight line. “I had so hoped for a match. Katherine and I have written each other many letters over the years. We both hoped that perhaps one day, our children would grow up and fall in love and have children of their own.”

“Now that sounds like something out of a story.” Anna tried to force a smile on her face, but inwardly, she was horrified. There was not much she would not do for her mother, but if her mother asked this of her, well…

“I had such hopes.” Her mother looked away, staring out the window. “To unite our families through marriage…”

It was too much for Anna to hear this. “Most mothers would wish for their daughters to marry a duke, even a supposed skirt chaser.”

Her mother pursed her lips. “I have known true love,” she murmured. “How can I not want that for my own daughter?”

“But I—”

“You only think you do, my dear girl. I know you, and I love you, and I wish you could see what I see. You are blinded by his looks and his charm.”

And she had heard enough. Anna stood. “I am rather exhausted from tonight’s activities. If you will excuse me…”

To soften the rude tone of her words, she waited for her mother to nod and grant her permission to leave. Then she departed the parlor and went to her bedroom. Her maid helped ready her for bed, but Anna could not sleep. So many emotions were bottled up inside of her that she had to express them the only way she knew how—through writing.

Anna took her quill and penned a letter, addressed to Jasper Warwick. She never intended for him to see it. She poured out her every thought, her every fear. She listed reason after reason why he should not marry her or anyone else. His rudeness. His insufferable attitude. If he was rude to someone else’s servants, he must be quite cruel to his own. His children would surely take on his terrible habits. And so on.

When she finished, she surprisingly did not feel better. In fact, in her mind, she could hear her mother saying, “Jasper is going through a troubling time.” And his own mother had said much the same. “I am afraid he has had a trying time of late.” Yes, his conduct had been a little rude each time she had spoken to him, but perhaps there might be a reason for it.

What on earth could have happened to him that his own mother, who was as prim and proper as hers, would make excuses for his revolting behavior? Was it possible she was being overly harsh toward him? True, she had her heart set on the duke, but he had yet to show any true sign of feelings for her in return.

Maybe she should at least try to become better acquainted with Jasper. For her mother’s sake. Besides, such a perplexing person would certainly provide inspiration for her writing, at the very least.

* * *

17th October, 1812

Anna contemplated skipping the morning meal, but she knew that her mother would come and check on her. It was not that she was feeling or poorly or that she wished to avoid her mother. Anna merely wanted to continue to work on her story. She had even gotten up during the middle of the night to work on it a little. Unfortunately, her traitorous thoughts continually turned back to the puzzle that was Jasper Warwick, Earl of Pershore.

Her mother was already seated at the table when Anna entered. “I was getting worried,” she said with a smile.

Anna covered her mouth as she yawned. “No need for that,” she assured her.

“We won’t talk about Lord Pershore more,” her mother started.

Anna winced for fear of what might come next.

“But I did hear that the Duke of Barnet was there as well,” her mother finished.

“Y-Yes,” Anna said slowly, sitting stiffly.

“Forgive me, but I find this interesting. You refuse to go to the three-week-long house party because of fear of running into the duke, yet you went to this gathering. Danced with him even.”

Anna refused to squirm in her seat. It was unnerving and uncanny how her mother seemed to know everything about everyone.

“You do not deny it?”

Her flushed cheeks obviously served as an answer for her mother laughed, although the sound was a bit forced.