Page 27 of The Parlor Game (Noble Charades #3)

CHAPTER 26

ANNE

M iles took two steps forward, casting his gaze all the way up to the lofty ceiling.

He held a bouquet of blue hydrangeas.

I cowered behind the bannister, my heart in my throat as I observed him. It had been four years, but he had hardly changed. His skin was tanner, but his blue eyes were still the same. His light brown hair was combed neatly, and his ever-present smile flooded my heart with familiarity.

My throat dried up like an autumn leaf, but I managed to choke out his name. “Miles?”

His eyes found me instantly, a wide smile splitting his face. “Anne Dixon, is that truly you?”

I was frozen where I stood, but my head nodded. I didn’t dare make a move toward him. He was a stranger at the same time that he was familiar. I had imagined our reunion so many times—I would run into his arms, he would hold me tight, promising to never let go again. But in my imaginary scenario, I hadn’t felt shy or afraid like I did now. My feet rooted me to the checkered tiles, a nervous smile tugging on my mouth. My heart pounded as he strode toward me.

He snatched up my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “You are…” he shook his head in awe. “You are beautiful. I had nearly forgotten your face.”

I seemed to have forgotten how to speak. I stared up at him. I would have been less shocked to have seen a ghost. My legs shook beneath my skirts, but there was nothing I could do to steady myself. Miles was here. He was standing right in front of me. He looked even more handsome than I remembered. He extended the blue hydrangeas with a charming smile. I took them, laughing with disbelief.

“How long have you been back in London?” I asked in a breathless voice.

He held tight to my fingers. “Only a few days.”

“How did you manage to find me?”

He sighed, pressing his lips together. “I encountered my brother, Alexander, yesterday, and he mentioned that you were also a guest at Birch House. I came as quickly as I could.” His adoring gaze traced every inch of my face. I struggled to compose my thoughts.

“I heard that your meeting with him was less than amicable.” At the reminder of their brawl, I noticed a hint of bruising on Miles’s nose, one side more swollen than the other. My heart raced.

“Yes, unfortunately Alexander has always resorted to violence to resolve his conflicts.” He shook his head with a frown. “He tried his hardest to prevent me from seeing you again, but I would not allow it. I’ve missed you so very much, Anne.” He pulled me into an embrace, tugging me close to his chest. He smelled of pipe smoke with a hint of blue hydrangeas. I wanted to enjoy the closeness I had been waiting so long for, but his words had struck an unpleasant chord in my mind.

I pulled back with a scowl, my heart sinking. “How did Alexander try to prevent you from seeing me?”

His brow creased, and he looked down at the floor. “He threatened me against coming here. He said you didn’t care to see me again.”

“That isn’t true!” I shook my head fast. “He told me that you had changed your mind about the letter you wrote to me from India.”

Miles’s eyes widened. “No.” He shook his head, taking both my hands in his. “I meant every word. I don’t know why my brother would tell such horrible lies to keep us apart.” His jaw tightened. “I should have known that his word couldn’t be trusted.”

My heart ached, sending waves of dread through my chest. I thought of the night before, when Alexander told me that Miles had changed his mind. Alexander had admitted to starting the fight between them, and then that very night, he had kissed me and made his feelings obvious. Had it been his last attempt to win me over before Miles arrived? A sense of betrayal crept through my heart. Why would he lie so blatantly?

“Have I upset you?” Miles leaned down to look at my eyes.

I shook my head in an effort to clear it. “No. Forgive me, I’m a little confused, that is all.” I gave a shaky smile.

“I hope there is no confusion regarding my feelings for you.”

I met his gaze. I wanted to say there wasn’t, but that would be a lie. Alexander had pointed out the vital truth that Miles had chosen India over me, even if he did regret his decision. I had tried to justify it over the years, but my heart had protested. Miles was a rope I clung to in order to survive the trials of life, but he had left me swinging helplessly off the edge of a cliff for two years. I had forgiven him over time, continuing to romanticize all the emotions I felt for him. But now, as familiar as his face was, I felt like I was looking at a stranger.

His arrival had overwhelmed me. The flowers, the embrace, his hands wrapped so tightly around mine. My fingers were cold and limp. We couldn’t return instantly to our relationship from nearly four years prior. Time had severed our bond, and I felt keenly the distance that had grown between us. We needed time to become acquainted again.

The joy I had felt upon seeing him walk through the door had been dampened by the suspicion that Alexander had lied to me. A fresh stab of pain struck my heart.

“We have been apart for a very long time.” My voice was weak. I stared at his cravat instead of his face. “I—I hardly know what to think.”

He nudged one finger under my chin, bringing my gaze back to his. “Time cannot steal what we have. The bond we share has carried me through many long months at sea. After you married, I thought I would never see you again. It tortured me.” He gave a soft smile. “I would be the most fortunate man in the world to be granted a second chance to win your heart.”

I had been yearning to hear those words for so long. My delight only lasted a few seconds before it was replaced with unease. What would he think if he knew I had kissed Alexander not once, but twice? How would he react if he learned that Alexander had practically handed me his heart the night before? I swallowed the tightness in my throat.

Had Alexander truly lied to me?

I took a deep breath. I didn’t know how to respond. I couldn’t think clearly with Miles standing so close. He may not have run to me before leaving for India, but he had run to me now. That must have meant something. I had to believe he was genuine, or the last four years of dreaming would have been for nothing. This was the moment I had longed for. I had to seize it without fear, or I might lose my opportunity all over again.

“The—the flowers are lovely,” I stammered, burying my nose in the tiny blue petals. I sniffed back my sudden emotion. “They remind me of my childhood.”

Miles grinned. “I knew you would like them. I always imagined you with a bouquet of blue hydrangeas at our wedding.”

The words, our wedding, sent a spiral of nervous butterflies through my stomach. My gaze flew to his.

Miles laughed. “Forgive my boldness, but I want you to know for certain that my intentions have not altered with time. I fully intend to honor the proposal I offered you in my letter.”

I gave a quick nod, my breath shaking on the way out.

“You don’t need to answer me now, but I invite you to think on it.” Miles gave me a reassuring smile.

“It has been an eventful two days. Forgive me if I do not seem like myself.”

He raised his brows with a curious look. “What has been so eventful?”

I cursed my mind for instantly jumping to the kiss from the night before. My new inheritance was the most eventful part of the day, but somehow that kiss and Alexander’s words had felt just as significant. Just as world-shaking.

“Did you read anything about me in the papers this morning?” I asked.

Miles shook his head with a frown. “No.”

I wrung my hands together in front of me. “Not the gossip issue from Lady Teignmouth?”

“I haven’t read anything.” His brow creased with concern. “What did she write about you?”

I almost told him, but Lady Tottenham’s voice from the staircase made me jump.

“Who might this young man be?”

I whirled around. She held tight to the bannister as she descended the final few stairs. Miles stepped forward to assist her, extending his hand with a bow. “Mr. Miles Holland at your service, my lady.”

Lady Tottenham pressed a hand to the bosom of her vibrant yellow gown. “Holland? A relation of our dear Alexander?”

Miles nodded with one of his charming smiles. “Ah, yes. I am his elder brother.”

Lady Tottenham cast me a delighted glance. “Where is he now? Has he not come to greet you?”

Miles stepped closer to me. “I came to call upon Lady Daventry first and foremost.”

A crease formed in Lady Tottenham’s brow, but it quickly faded away. “Oh, you must have come to congratulate her on her inheritance.” She eyed the bouquet of flowers. “I will send a servant to fetch Alexander from outside.”

Panic set into my limbs. “That will not be necessary.”

“Why not? Mr. Holland ought to congratulate Alexander as well.” Lady Tottenham cast a smile in Miles’s direction. “Surely you must know that Lady Daventry has been courting Alexander throughout this entire house party. It is my hope that they will soon be engaged.”

She bustled to the nearest footman. My heart sank through the floor. I had already told her that the courtship had been fake. Why was she pretending otherwise?

Miles’s shoulders stiffened. His brow set in a deep crease, his mouth a firm line. I wanted to explain, but Lady Tottenham had already returned to my side. Her large green eyes never left Miles’s face. “Would you like to attend Anne’s congratulatory ball this evening? I have made arrangements for the finest food and music to celebrate my future heiress.”

Miles shook the confusion from his expression, replacing it with a polite smile. “I would be honored, my lady.”