Page 192 of Snowbound Surrender

Anne breathed out and tried to calm her beating heart. He was everything she had ever hoped for – no, had ceased to hope for. She could never have expected any gentleman like this would ever want her.

“Miss Anne Marsh.”

She turned to see who had spoken, and was immediately accosted by a well-dressed elderly gentlewoman who was frowning.

Anne curtsied low. She did not have to know who this woman is to see it would be ungracious not to give her all the deference of a queen.

The lady looked a little mollified as she said, “Lady Romeril. I thought in incumbent upon me, Miss Marsh, as you have no mother, to warn you about that man.”

With her last two words, Lady Romeril pointed her fan towards Maxim.

Anne’s cheeks darkened as she said, “My lady, I do not – ”

“He is a ruffian,” Lady Romeril said decidedly. “A wild gentleman, one with a secret no one can discover. I know that your little tête-à-tête was indelicately disturbed and you had no choice but to announce your engagement – ”

Anne stared. Who was this woman, to walk up to her so forcefully, in the middle of St. James’ Court, and speak to her this way?

“ – but you are not the only one, of course,” continued Lady Romeril with a wink. “Why, I remember Lord Romeril and I, at the Duke of Axwick’s ball – not the incumbent, of course, his grandfather, who from memory – ”

“Lady Romeril,” Anne interrupted, praying her cheeks would remain calm, “you must excuse me.”

“Oh. I see.” Lady Romeril’s eyes narrowed as she pointed a wrinkled finger at her. “Just you remember what I have said, Miss. A ruffian. A trickster. I pray you avoid him, Miss Marsh.”

Without another word, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving Anne with nothing but intrigue and curiosity – probably a quite different impact than the one Lady Romeril had intended.

“Who was that?”

Anne jumped. Maxim had appeared by her side with two glasses of something, and her cheeks flamed to think of what Lady Romeril had just been saying.

A gentleman with a secret…

“Let us take some air outside, and cool down,” she said quietly. “It is far too hot in here.”

Maxim took one look at her and seemed to understand. “Of course.”

He proffered his arm which Anne took gratefully. Anything to be out of this mêlée, where they were evidently being watched and gossiped about, if Lady Romeril was any indication.

As they reached the door, Maxim whispered something to a footman, who nodded and disappeared down a corridor. Within a few seconds he had caught them up as they reached the outside door. There was a fur coat in his hands, and he handed it with a bow to Anne.

“You have made a mistake. That is not mine, it is – ”

“My lady,” said the footman, with a nervous glance at Maxim. “I was instructed to – ”

“Give it here, man,” said Maxim easily, and nodded at the footman. “Off you go.”

The servant bowed gratefully and disappeared into the gloom.

“Here, put this on.”

Anne stared as he placed the fur coat around her shoulders. “Where did you get this?”

Maxim smiled, his breath billowing in the cold night air as they stepped outside. “Why, ‘tis one of mine. Did you think I had it stolen?”

Anne laughed nervously, pulling the warm coat around her. A small part of her had wondered, and she hated that her instincts had played her false. Why should she believe Maxim could not provide something as simple as a winter coat?

“Now, tell me,” said Maxim in a low voice, pulling her arm into his once more. “You are a beautiful woman, Annika – no, do not dissemble – and witty, and charming. Why have you not been married before?”

Anne hesitated. Was this the moment to tell him the truth?