“Then we should be about it,” her grandmother announced. “In truth, I had nearly forgotten the day.” To Annalise, Lady Smithfield said, “I shall send a note around tomorrow, my dear, and we might confirm our plans.”
“Permit me to walk out with you,” Annalise said as she released Beaufort’s hand.
Navan had watchedhis wife’s departure with a sense of completeness. He was still quite fascinated by the gentle sway of her hips as she moved through the world, as well as the feel of said hips beneath his fingertips when they were in the throes of passion.
“Your wife has moved quite easily into the role of society wife,” Aaran said from somewhere off Navan’s shoulders.
“I do not think Annalise is quite ready to tolerate Prince George, as are the Smithfield ladies, nor could she compete with Lady Orson, but then again I do not hold the same type of aspirations as Richard does in government,” Navan admitted.
“Neither do I,” Graham commented. “Then again…”
Navan turned to confront his brother. “No more belittling yourself, Aaran, or you may be required to contend with me.”
Graham shrugged in embarrassment. “We are an odd pair, you and I. That is because we are the non-English members of Duncan’sfamily,” Graham observed.
“But you are also Scottish,” Navan said as he crossed to pour them both a drink. “That leaves me the bedlamite of the family.”
Graham accepted the glass, and they both took a sip of the port just as Annalise returned.
“Did you have a pleasant day?” Navan asked.
“Very much so,” she admitted with a sigh.
“Might I pour you a small wine?” he asked.
“I am well settled,” she said with a smile, and Navan marveled at how his wife’s temperament held no bitterness. She had a temper when provoked, but she was not built for sourness. “I want to hear Lord Graham’s news.” She sat in what had become her chair in this room, and Navan contentedly sat near her. He had thought no one would ever fill this house with gladness, but Annalise had. As well as she had done with his staff, she had won him over.
“There is not much to say,” Graham began as he sat. “I stayed at the southern estate until just recently. Then I traveled towards the lowlands before returning to England.”
Annalise frowned. “I had hoped you would have more to share of Lady Freya.”
Navan noted the slight blush on Graham’s cheeks. Perhaps Annalise’s speculation regarding Graham’s interest in the woman was correct.
“The lady’s father despises me,” Graham protested. “Cunningham still sees me as illegitimate and my half brother as the rightful heir to the earldom. No matter how many people stood as witness to my parents’ marriage, I am not worthy. Cunningham would gladly present Lady Freya to my brother and then pray someone does away with me to place young Mr. Graham as the new earl. It is the way of the Highlands.”
Navan noted Annalise’s frown, indicating she did not approve of Graham’s self-deprecation, but his wife said, “Then we must find youanother who shall steal your heart away. I am determined that you should be as happy as Beaufort and I.”
Before Annalise could continue to question Aaran, Navan changed the subject. “Duncan said you wished for our interference in a new Luddite threat.”
“I was hoping for the assistance of those of you who reside in the northern shires. In that manner, many in the area will not take note of your presence in Yorkshire in January.”
“Are you confident about this movement, Aaran?” Navan asked. “There have been plenty of rumblings in the past, but nothing of merit for some months now.”
“On January 2, shortly after Christmastide, those from the attack in Marsden will be put on trial in York. The government expects a large crowd to attend the trial and more so if there is a verdict of guilty, which there surely will be.”
Annalise said innocently, “One can hardly criticize men fighting for their livelihoods.”
“The world is constantly moving forward,” Graham said without a hint of reprimand in his tone. “The United Kingdom cannot stand still, but I, too, hold sympathy for the workers’ despair. They do not know where to turn for redress. Unfortunately, just like Spencer Perceval, Liverpool means to put an end to this distraction as quickly as possible. He will make examples of those who defy him.”
Navan took the choice from Annalise’s lips. “It appears, my dear, that we will enjoy Christmastide in Staffordshire, after all. I cannot permit your high-strung brother to go alone against a bunch of power-hammer-swinging hand-croppers.”
“Alexander always believes his ideas are superior to others,” Graham said with a grin.
“So I have learned,” his wife said with a smile. “Meanwhile, I hope you mean to dine with us, Lord Graham. I shall not take anything from your lips other than ‘such sounds lovely, my lady.’”
“Such sounds lovely, my lady,” Graham said obediently.
“Finally,” Navan saidas his coach pulled into the circle before Shaw Manor. His wife had not traveled well, which worried him greatly, for Annalise had been remarkable when they traveled the mountains and rivers of Ireland. She said it was because of what she had eaten, but that could not be true, for each evening they had partaken of a different meal. Navan was excessively worried that she had taken some sort of ague, and he knew, without a doubt, some people died from a simple cold. That idea had him more frightened than he had ever known previously.
