Page 236 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Fitzwilliam's note told me enough. You are staying with us.”

Anne kissed her aunt's cheek. “Only if you will have Mrs. Jenkinson as well. I cannot abandon her after she has devoted so many years to preventing my death at mother’s negligent hands.”

Mrs. Jenkinson's mouth twitched.

Lady Helen kissed Anne's cheek. “You are both welcome for as long as you wish to stay.”

“Thank you, Aunt Helen. I do wish it. I would very much like to stay here with you.”

The door opened, and Richard entered.

He stopped when he saw his cousin.

“Annie.”

She smiled at him. “Richard.”

He crossed the room and kissed her cheek. “I was told you were here. I did not expect to find you looking so pleased.”

“I have left Rosings, refused a baronet, chosen my own ribbon, and arranged to spend a considerable sum of money on gowns tomorrow. It has been an unusually productive day.”

Richard's eyes went to the blue ribbon and returned to her face.

“You chose it yourself?”

“I did. You need not look astonished. I have been dressing myself for some years now.”

Richard held out his arm to her. “Come and sit with me, Cousin. You may tell me all about the baronet.”

Anne slipped her hand through his arm.

“He is sixty years old, Richard, quite miserly, and he smells.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Would you not rather hear about my new gowns?”

“Then tell me about the gowns.”

Richard led her toward the sofa.

Chapter 60: Anne

Within a few weeks of residing at Matlock House, Anne had gained enough weight that her new gowns had to be altered.

Lady Helen noticed it first.

“You are eating better,” she said one morning at breakfast.

Anne looked down at the remains of an egg and a slice of dry toast on her plate. “I am eating considerably more, though my dear Maria would never have permitted me to stop eating altogether. She used to bring simple food to my room without Mama knowing.”

Mrs. Jenkinson looked across the table at her, and winked.

Anne smiled. “You see? Even now she is considering whether she ought to encourage me to eat more.”

Lady Helen laughed. “I had no idea you ate so little at Rosings.”

“Mamma's French chef is very accomplished, but he seems to believe that no food should be permitted to reach the table until it has been covered in butter, cream, or both. It tastes wonderful, but my gallstones do not appreciate French cooking nearly as much as Mamma does. I learned long ago that if I ate very little at dinner, I was much less likely to be ill afterward.”

Lady Helen glanced at Mrs. Jenkinson.