Page 48

By contrast, there were no two sides to her father, Magnus.

He was as unlikeable and cold to Anna as he was out in society.

Somehow, the ton loved him for it. Anna didn’t know much about the way he ran his estate, but he was visited frequently by peers from all over England.

And judging from their long sojourns in her father’s den, they must have enjoyed his company.

Her sister, Rebecca, older than her by nine years and married in her first Season, swore that Anna was mistaken and that she judged their parents too harshly. Their father may have been distant, but that did not make him a villain. Both of their parents only wanted the best for them.

The best for themselves . It would make their lives so much easier if I married as quickly and successfully as Rebecca. But I am not a diamond like her, and I never will be. I wish they would see me for who I really am and stop comparing us.

These were vain wishes, and she knew it. Anna could do nothing but disappoint her parents at every given opportunity. She read too much to their liking, thought too deeply, spent too much time with her friends or on her music…

She saw that same disappointment in her mother’s eyes that evening. It manifested the moment she caught sight of the earrings dangling from her ears. Cutting through the group of Anna’s friends, Rosamund pushed back the ringlets framing her daughter’s face and examined her.

“Your father will not be happy,” she muttered after a moment, releasing her. With a sigh, she turned to look at Anna’s friends. “At least the rest of you look presentable. What a lovely gown, Sophia,” she added with forced levity.

Sophia was the granddaughter of a duke and had earned Rosamund’s respect, and favor, because of her shining lineage. She bobbed a performative curtsey, lightening the mood somewhat.

The earl arrived swiftly. He immediately cast a black cloud over them again. Checking his pocket watch for emphasis, he looked between the girls, assessing them individually, before concluding his evaluation with a grunt.

“You are already ten minutes late, and now you stand here, speaking about your dress, while the carriage driver waits outside. What took you so long?” He looked at his wife. “I thought you were overseeing the preparations.”

Rosamund blanched, nodding apologetically. “I was distracted by a call, husband dearest. Lady Sophia’s mother remained for a while to talk over tea. But the girls are ready now, and there is, as you said, little time to waste.”

Backing toward the doors, Rosamund took Sophia and Margaret by the arms and led them toward the waiting carriage. Lucy and Helena curtsied to the earl, then quickly followed them outside.

Anna hurried after them, keeping her gaze low. She adjusted her scented gloves, angling her head in a way that she hoped concealed her earrings from her father, who was watching. Who was always watching.

“Anna,” came his voice, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned to face him. Her friends had disappeared into the night with her mother, leaving her at his mercy.

“I made a great concession in letting you attend the opera tonight. But do not believe that I am stupid, girl. I guessed from your emphatic plea that your wretched cousin was performing this evening. And I have since confirmed my suspicions.” He closed the distance between them, making her stomach lurch.

Her father stood at least a foot taller than her, and she struggled to breathe in his shadow.

“I do not tolerate liars. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord .”

He quoted the bible, as was his habit. But in this instance, Anna wondered whether he was blaspheming, not speaking of the Good Lord but the lord of the manor.

There was nothing so great—and so terrible—as her father’s high opinion of himself.

“If I find out that you have spoken to Alicia tonight, you will discover the limits of my patience once and for all.” He sighed, his lips twitching beneath his salt-and-pepper mustache.

“You are twenty, soon one-and-twenty. Three Seasons you have spent in vain exercise, more focused on your books and music than the real world. I will not tolerate another failure. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Father,” Anna replied, too terrified to say anything more.

Satisfied, Magnus stepped back and cleared the way for her to leave. She made for the doors without looking back, her eyes stinging with tears she refused to let fall.

It was difficult for Anna to appreciate her freedom that evening with her father’s warning ringing in her ears.

Her friends kept themselves busy in the carriage ride to the opera, admiring the lights and spectacles of London as they drove down the Strand and then into Haymarket.

Margaret kept a hand on Anna’s leg the entire ride, lending her silent support to her, even though Anna was too deep in her misery to notice.

Helena’s aunt lived nearby, and it had been decided among their parents that she would chaperone them for the evening.

One by one, the girls exited the Bristol carriage upon reaching The King’s Theatre.

Not a moment later, they were greeted by Lady Jane, whose auburn hair was a perfect match for her niece’s.

“Oh, so many beautiful doves come spilling out of their gilded cage!” she cried, kissing each girl as they appeared.

Anna alighted last, and Lady Jane grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into a hug.

“I have seen all the girls this summer but you, Anna. And how terribly I have missed you. Would that your father had retired to Somerset with the rest of them. What fun we could have had together!”

Lady Jane’s embrace shook Anna out of her misery. She smiled as she hugged her tightly before letting go, even as the fabric of Lady Jane’s opulent coat made her skin itch where it touched it.

“Father wanted to summer with my sister and her husband in Yorkshire,” Anna explained, recalling how isolated she had felt while her parents played happy family with Rebecca, her perfect husband, and their new baby.

“I heard about that,” Lady Jane said, not bothering to conceal her disapproval. “I shall say nothing about Lord Kite, nor about your sister’s desire to live there as Lady Kite, but Yorkshire is not suitable for a young woman in the prime of her life like you.”

The group proceeded into the foyer.

“I’ve rented a box for the Season,” Lady Jane added as they climbed up the stairs behind their usher.

“You are more than welcome to occupy the box as you wish, so long as we coordinate the dates in advance. I know that your father is…” She took time to choose her words, glancing around for eavesdroppers.

“Let us simply say, a bit of a philistine. Something which I have always found absurd, because your family tree is decorated with excellent artists. Your cousin Alicia, in particular, is a marvel.”

“You have watched her perform?” Anna beamed in delight. Any flattery Alicia received made her giddy with pride. “I will tell her how highly you approve of her voice. She will be so pleased, Lady Jane.”

That is if I dare to find her after the show and speak with her, knowing what it might cost me…

As if Anna had summoned her cousin with her thoughts, Alicia appeared on the landing at the top of the stairs. Her face was flushed, and her chest heaved with labored breaths. She started as she caught Anna’s eye.

Her cousin’s skin had taken on a golden tone from her time in Italy, and it suited her. She had only returned to London a few months ago for the operatic season, currently dressed in a lavish white and red gown, not yet changed into her costume.

“Heavens, you’re all here. And there are so many of you!” Alicia exclaimed through a laugh, catching her breath. She nodded at Anna’s friends, whom she had met before.

“But of course, I’m glad to see you—so glad for the support.

Anna…” She sighed in relief, extending a hand for her cousin to take.

“We must catch up after the show. There is so much that I…” She stammered, looking behind her.

“Well, there will be time for that later. I will leave you to find your box. I hope you enjoy your evening.”

Anna furrowed her brow in confusion as her cousin raced down the stairs. Surely it wasn’t usual for the Seconda Donna to be visiting the boxes moments before the opera began. Anna hesitated as the usher continued his ascent and her group followed after him.

Had Alicia been looking for someone in particular? Why had she seemed so upset? Her cousin was distressed, late for her performance. What could possibly have happened?

“Anna?” came Margaret’s voice. Looking up, Anna noticed that the rest of the girls had disappeared with Lady Jane. “What’s wrong?”

It was rare for Anna to listen to her gut. In fact, she had trained herself to repress most of her instincts to please her father. But in the case of Alicia, whom she admired and loved more than anyone, she felt compelled to follow after her, no matter what rules she might break by doing so.

“I need a moment,” she said, pushing past other patrons down the stairs before Margaret could stop her. “Tell Lady Jane that I retired to the ladies’ room to fix my hair or something like that.”

It was a paltry lie, and Anna didn’t like telling it.

But I must find Alicia and figure out what is wrong.