Page 199 of Snowbound Surrender

Did it?

“Anne, I am speaking to you!”

Anne jumped. Sir Thomas was staring with a slight frown across his face, and she realised she had likely been completely ignoring him for the last few minutes, her mind so overwhelmed with thoughts.

“I apologise, Father,” she said quietly. “It is just…”

Her gaze was pulled inexorably towards Maxim again, who inclined his head to Sir Thomas.

Her father sighed. “My dear, we are attempting to plan this wedding, a wedding, may I remind you, which is only two days away.”

Anne nodded without taking her eyes from Maxim. How could she? He was everything she wanted, and after everything that happened, after the regret she had lived with for years, she was finally going to have something that was her very own.

“And then you will be married, and someone else’s problem.”

Anne turned to stare at her father, who looked a little defiant. “You…you almost sound as though you are relieved to be rid of me!”

“Any father would be,” Sir Thomas began, but he was not permitted to continue.

“Any father?”

“I did not mean it like that,” he said hurriedly, keeping his voice low. “Now, do not look at me like that, Annika. I am not ashamed of you, nor do I seek to lose you. But I do worry about you. Who will look after you when I am gone? Who will care for Meredith?”

Hot fire seemed to be burned through her veins as Anne tried to swallow down her bitterness. He was not a bad person. He was her father, and he knew her better than – well, a week ago she would have said anyone.

Now that Maxim and she had…

Anne swallowed. “I had hoped you would always be proud of me,” she said quietly, to ensure that no one else in the court would hear her words. “No matter what mistakes I have made in the past.”

Sir Thomas shook his head sadly. “Ah, Anne. You know that I love you, but your marriage will solve more than one problem, do you not see?”

She rose. “I see,” she said coldly. “This wedding is for you then, as I suspected. For you, and your honour, and to relieve you of me as a burden. I will see you later, Father.”

Ignoring his protestations, Anne stepped away from their chairs and strode across the room. A few gentlemen had toscuttle out of her way, but she ignored their scandalised looks and the whispers moving around the room. Maxim had gone, and there was no one else she wished to speak to here.

The door to the corridor flew open and Anne almost ran through it – straight into the arms of Maxim.

Even from a distance,standing and waiting for Prinny to finish his banal conversation about a foolish bet he regretted, Maxim could see that Annika was upset. Was it the turn of her head, the lilt on her voice that carried over the crowd?

He could not tell, but every inch of him knew that she needed him. Maxim’s eyes glanced at Prinny, and he hesitated. The royal regent was not always in attendance at St. James’ Court. This was a perfect opportunity to speak with him, plead his case.

Annika’s voice grew, still indistinct enough that he could not hear the exact words, but clearly in heightened distress.

Maxim’s decision was made. Turning on his heels, he strode out of the room. If there was a time for another gift, then this was it.

As he moved to step back into the court, gift in his hand, he almost ran headlong into Annika herself.

“Ann – Miss Marsh, I…” Maxim’s voice trailed away. If he did not know better, he would have said there were tears in her eyes. “Let us go for a walk.”

He spoke so firmly that she simply nodded, taking his arm and allowing him to guide her through the corridors with festoons of Christmas decorations, into the cold air. Snow was starting to fall.

The pressure of her hand on his arm felt natural. As though it should have been there all along. How deep am I falling here,Maxim wondered. When did I start to not want this woman, but need her in my life?

Words seemed to fail him as they trod footsteps into the lightly fallen snow. What did one say to a woman who, mere hours ago, you had naked beneath you?

And yet there was no tension between them. If anything, the tension was leaving Annika; he could see her shoulders slacken. Just walking here, in silence, was wonderful. As though they were made for each other.

There were only a few people walking in the grounds of St. James’ Court, kept inside undoubtedly due to the inclement weather.