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They rounded the corner of the Circus, and Anna looked up in surprise. Somehow their conversation had managed to distract her after all. So much so that she almost regretted it was coming to an end.
‘Here we are.’ Captain Delaney put a hand on Bramble’s nose, bringing them to a halt. ‘Without a single broken bone.’
‘Only a few ragged nerves.’ She smiled down at him. ‘You do an excellent job of distracting a person, Captain.’
‘With my tale of woe?’ He raised an eyebrow ironically.
‘It is a tale of woe,’ she scolded him back. ‘You may make light of it, but I know how terrible it is to be estranged from your family. I’ve seen how the experience affected my mother. I’m truly sorry for the situation with yours.’
‘Thank you. Maybe we have something in common after all?’ He held on to her gaze for so long that she felt heat start to spread up her throat and over her cheeks.
‘Perhaps.’ She tried to sound brisk. ‘Now, how do I get down?’
‘Here...’ he reached a hand up, his voice husky ‘...jump down.’
‘Just jump?’ She slid her feet out of the stirrups, grabbing hold of his fingers and trying not to crush them.
‘I’ll catch you.’
‘All right.’ She launched herself into the air, flinging herself against him with such force that her bonnet smacked into his forehead.
‘Oomph. I meant down, not outwards.’
‘I’m sorry...but you said jump!’ She clamped her arms around his neck as he staggered backwards.
‘Maybe slide would have been a better word.’ He laughed as he lowered her to her feet. ‘Never mind, no harm done.’
She looked into his face, shocked by the sensation of his hard body against hers. She could feel the muscles of his neck and shoulders beneath her fingertips, large and thick and corded, definitely not parts of him she ought to be touching!
‘Thank you, Captain.’ She sprang backwards, remembering how many windows were facing towards them.
‘You’re welcome.’ He bowed, though there was a look of something like regret on his face.
‘I expect that your grandmother is waiting for me.’ She shuffled one foot on the ground awkwardly.
‘She doesn’t wait for anybody. She’s probably halfway through her bacon and eggs by now.’
‘Will you be joining us?’
‘I’ll take Bramble back to the mews, but then I’ll come and submit to coffee and a rigorous questioning. I ate breakfast an hour ago.’
‘You must have been up early.’
‘You’re not the only one with an early rising profession, Miss Fortini.’
‘Oh, yes, of course.’ She felt her cheeks flush a vivid shade of crimson. ‘Well, thank you for the lesson.’ She started towards the front door, eager to get away before she looked like a beetroot. ‘It was most instructive.’
‘Miss Fortini?’
‘Yes?’ She turned back as he called after her, surprised to see a deep furrow between his brows.
‘There’s something I think you ought to know.’ He paused as if he were giving her time to brace herself. ‘My grandmother intends to reintroduce your mother into society.’
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‘What?’ Her lips parted in surprise. ‘How?’
‘She intends to ask her to visit the Pump Rooms with her later this week.’
