Page 17 of Duke of Bronze
CHAPTER 17
" I sn't that right, my lady?"
"I beg your pardon?" Anna blinked, abruptly pulled from her thoughts.
A peal of laughter erupted from her small audience. "Why, she wasn't listening again!” Kitty, a bright-eyed girl of no more than six, giggled behind her hand.
"Lady Anna is woolgathering again," Robbie—a boy of nine with an impish grin—declared with great satisfaction.
Anna sighed, though a smile played at the corners of her lips. "I fear you have caught me, Robbie. My apologies."
Truth be told, she had spent the better part of the morning lost in memories of the lake. Of Colin. And no matter how she attempted to banish the thought, it lingered, creeping in at the most inconvenient moments.
Before she could fashion an excuse for her distraction, the door to the ward swung open, and Nurse Adams entered, her expression one of mild intrigue. "My lady, there is a caller for you. A gentleman who claims to be your friend."
Anna straightened, a frown tugging at her brow. A caller? Here? Who would possibly?—
Her breath caught as Colin strolled into the room with the ease of a man accustomed to being welcomed wherever he went.
"Colin," she gasped, her voice a whisper.
The sight of him in such an unexpected setting sent her pulse racing. His presence here was not coincidence. It could not be.
"Did you follow me again?" she hissed, stepping closer, her voice low, but unmistakably sharp.
Colin had the audacity to shrug. "It is Tuesday."
Anna narrowed her eyes. So now he knew her schedule? The nerve of him.
Swallowing her irritation, she turned to the children, all of whom were staring at Colin with varying degrees of fascination. The hospital staff looked equally astounded.
"Everyone," she said, forcing a measure of calm into her tone, "allow me to introduce His Grace, the Duke of Copperton."
A hushed murmur swept through the ward.
Robbie, never one to be shy, stepped forward and surveyed Colin with wide, curious eyes. "So this is what a duke looks like. I've never seen a duke before."
Laughter rippled through the room, and even Anna found herself unable to suppress a chuckle.
"I should hope I meet your expectations," Colin said, inclining his head with exaggerated solemnity.
Robbie tilted his head. "You're taller than I thought."
"An unfortunate trait, I am afraid," Colin replied dryly. "Difficult to go unnoticed."
Anna shook her head, still unable to fathom his presence here. But before she could question him further, his gaze landed on the book in her hands, and an amused glint entered his eyes.
"I had no notion you were so studious," he remarked, lips curving ever so slightly.
Anna arched a brow. "It is for the children."
"Lady Anna always reads to us," Kitty chimed in, beaming up at her.
Anna ruffled the girl's carroty hair fondly. "This is Kitty," she introduced.
Colin's expression softened ever so slightly. "What a pleasure to meet you, Kitty. Would you like me to read to you?"
Colin's sudden offer sent a ripple of surprise through the room. Anna, the children, even Nurse Adams—all turned their attention to him with varying degrees of skepticism and intrigue.
He crouched before Kitty, his gaze warm but playful. "What say you, little one?"
The girl pursed her lips, her bright eyes narrowing as she assessed him with grave importance. "Lady Anna reads best," she finally declared, her small voice unwavering in its conviction.
Colin clutched at his chest in mock despair. "My, you haven't even given me a chance. You wound me, little miss." He reached out and ruffled her carroty curls, eliciting a delighted giggle.
"How about a little bargain then?" he suggested, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"I want in too!" Robbie chimed in, practically bouncing in his seat. A chorus of eager agreement followed from the other children.
"Very well," Colin said, settling himself in more comfortably. "Here is my proposition: if you do not enjoy my reading, I shall owe each of you a gift."
"And if we do?" Robbie asked, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Do we have to give you the gifts, then?" Kitty asked hesitantly.
Colin chuckled. "Certainly not. If you do enjoy it, I still owe you gifts."
A moment of stunned silence followed before the room erupted into delighted squeals and excited chatter. Even Anna found herself smiling despite her best efforts. He was utterly charming when he wished to be, and—she had to admit—rather adept with children.
She took a step back, allowing herself the rare indulgence of observing him. He had settled by the hearth, the firelight casting a golden hue over his features as he held the book aloft. His voice, rich and steady, filled the room as he began to read, weaving the tale with an ease that held even the most restless child enraptured.
Something warm and unfamiliar curled in Anna's chest, tightening with every passing moment as she watched the way the children nestled closer, utterly entranced by his storytelling.
"They like him," Nurse Adams murmured beside her, her voice touched with quiet approval.
Anna swallowed, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral. "It would appear so."
"You have a good and generous friend in His Grace, my lady," the older woman added, a knowing smile in her gaze.
Anna parted her lips to issue a swift denial—to make it clear that whatever existed between herself and Colin was not friendship. And yet the words would not come.
She had not realized he could be quite so at ease with children. Then again, Colin Caldwell could charm even the very walls if he so desired. The thought sent an unwelcome warmth rushing to her cheeks, and she inwardly cursed her own susceptibility.
"Now, now," Colin announced, snapping the children's book shut with a flourish. "Since you have all been most excellent listeners, I have a small token for your efforts."
Curiosity lit up the eager faces surrounding him as he reached into his coat pocket. A moment later, he produced a small pouch, loosening the strings with deliberate ease. The delighted gasps that followed were instantaneous as he revealed an assortment of sweets, distributing them among the children with a flourish.
Anna stared. This was unexpected.
Colin must have noticed her surprise, for he leaned in, his voice a low murmur meant only for her. "You will find that I am a man well prepared, Anna."
He was unbearably smug, and Anna found herself rolling her eyes even as a chuckle slipped past her lips.
Before their departure, Charlie, a shy boy of no more than seven, tugged lightly at the hem of her sleeve. "Lady Anna, will you bring your duke friend again?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Robbie, Kitty, and a handful of others nodded fervently. "We rather like his reading," Charlie added demurely.
Colin let out a rich chuckle, clearly pleased with himself. "My, it seems you have competition now, Lady Anna."
Anna opened her mouth to issue a retort, but before she could do so, Colin crouched slightly, addressing Charlie with mock solemnity. "I promise to make her bring me back, Charlie. Have no fear."
A chorus of delighted squeals filled the room at this declaration, and Anna was forced to swallow the unaccountable warmth curling in her chest.
As they took their leave, Colin insisted upon securing a hackney for their journey back to her home, citing the approaching dusk as reason enough. Anna did not argue; walking alone with him would have been entirely improper—not that riding in close quarters with him in a carriage was much better.
The ride was… something else entirely.
The space within the hackney was limited, and despite her best efforts to maintain a reasonable distance, Anna was acutely aware of Colin's presence beside her. The scent of him—sandalwood and something intrinsically him —curled through the air, distracting her more than she cared to admit.
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words and something else—something she dared not name.
Before she could dwell on it further, the carriage rolled to a stop before her residence. Colin disembarked first, turning to offer his hand. She hesitated only for a moment before accepting, allowing him to assist her down.
And then, just as she made to bid him good evening, he took her hand once more and, with practiced ease, pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
The contact was brief. Chaste, even. But Anna felt the warmth of it seep into her skin, lingering long after his lips had left her glove.
"Good evening, Lady Anna," he murmured, his voice laced with something that sent her pulse skittering.
She swallowed, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. "Good evening, Your Grace."
With that, he stepped back, inclining his head in farewell before turning on his heel and disappearing into the night.
Anna slowly let out a breath, her eyes dropping to where his lips had just been.
What, pray, was she to do about him?