Page 138 of The Language of Love

“She shan’t need to, I hope,” Annis said, hastily taking her leave.

But Annis soon feared that she would not get to the store in time, as every single person in Stokely stopped her to say something or thank her for something.

Annis never saw Henry with the villagers, so she didn’t know how they behaved around him, but they treated Annis as if she walked on water. She suspected that was because she had personally visited most of them.

She had been surprised to learn that Julia had visited no tenants in decades. Apparently, she had embraced none of the duties that went along with her position.

The more Annis learned about Julia and her dead husband, the more she understood that their marriage had been a profoundly unhappy one. Neither the earl nor Julia had appeared to care for much beyond their own pleasure.

Because of Annis’s popularity, she had less than ten minutes to purchase the few things she needed when she finally reached the mercantile.

Another fifteen minutes to exchange more pleasantries with Mrs. Coleman, the owner of the shop, and several other people on her way out of the village and soon it was close to six o’clock, and she had to hurry, or she would be late for dinner.

She took the shortcut through the woods, which led her past the Dower House.

Annis paused when she reached the house, curious to see what work they had done since the last time she’d come by, a week earlier. The new roof was already on, and they had replaced the broken panes of glass. The front door had been freshly painted and—

The door in question opened, and two women and a man stepped out. One was Julia, but she didn’t recognize the other woman.

Then Annis looked at the man and the ground seemed to fall out from beneath her.

“Good afternoon, Annis,” Julia said, apparently unaware that the earth had just tilted wildly on its axis. “This is Mr. Gates and his sister, Miss Gates. Mr. Gates is enjoying a holiday in the Dales before he takes up his curacy in Kent. They were searching for the wishing well but got lost and found me, instead.”

All three chuckled.

“Mr. and Miss Gates, this is my dear cousin, Lady Rotherhithe.”

Like a ghost or a nightmare, Richard Leech came toward Annis, his warm brown eyes glinting with amusement. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady,” he said, bowing when she failed to offer her hand.

Annis could only stare.

“Good afternoon, my lady,” Miss Gates said, dropping a graceful curtsey.

“Annis? Is aught amiss? You look so pale.” Julia’s beautiful face creased with concern.

Pull yourself together. Now!

“No, I’m just a little breathless from hurrying from the village,” she said, her voice raspy.

Julia peered at the little watch she kept pinned to her bodice and grimaced. “Goodness! It’s so late. We’d better hurry, my dear, or we shall be late for dinner.” She turned to Richard—or whatever his name was—and the woman. “If you take a left at the mile marker, instead of a right, you’ll find the path that leads to the old well.”

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rotherhithe.” Richard bowed, smirked, and then the two headed back down the path.

It was all Annis could do not to break into a run.

“My,” Julia said from beside her. “You are in a hurry.”

Annis had forgotten all about the other woman. “I’m sorry.” She slowed her breakneck pace.

“Is Henry that much of a tyrant that he punishes you if you’re late for dinner.” Julia chuckled, but Annis heard the bitterness in her voice.

She ignored the comment.

“What a nice brother and sister Mr. and Miss Gates are,” Julia said. “It is a shame they are only here for a holiday. I love Reverend Thompson, but he is getting on in years. It would be nice to have a young vicar who is full of vim and vigor like Mr. Gates. Don’t you think?”

Annis had to swallow down hysterical laughter. She made a noncommittal noise, rather than risk opening her mouth.

The ten-minute walk passed in a blur, with Julia chattering away. Annis probably didn’t say five words, but Julia didn’t appear to notice.