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Chapter 18
Annie felt herself blush each time she looked at Luke across the dinner table. Somehow, they had managed to return to the event, unnoticed by anyone else in the room. Barbara hadn’t been aware of Annie’s long absence, far too caught up in her card game. Even Peggy was distracted, talking to Mr Barton. It made the thrill all the greater for Annie, knowing she had stepped beyond the rules, and yet her transgression was unknown.
Forget the rules! Why must we follow them in the first place?
She found she kept questioning why she had followed so many of her mother’s instructions over the years. Now that she had abandoned them, there was excitement in it. She wouldn’t take back what she had shared with Luke in that study for the world.
Once again, she looked at Luke across the dining table, only to find he was staring straight back at her, with a mischievous smile on his face. It made her blush all the more.
Annie was very aware of the Duchess of Bannerman, who was sat opposite Luke and kept trying to eagerly gain his attention. Each time she spoke to him, Annie felt a wave of jealousy, but Luke appeared to barely notice the Duchess’s attentions, for his eyes kept returning to Annie.
“Ladies, shall we retire to the drawing room and leave the men to their coffee?” the Countess of Bromshire said once their dinner drew to a close.
Annie stood with the other ladies before making her way to the door, indulging in one last glance in Luke’s direction before she slipped out of the room, trying her best to hide her giggle in case someone saw her. Moving into the drawing room, she followed Barbara and Peggy to where they were setting up a card table.
“You seem happy, dear,” Barbara said as she pulled out the cards, looking straight at Annie. “I am pleased to see it.”
“Well, it was a delicious dinner, was it not?” Annie said, much to the Countess of Bromshire’s delight.
“Oh, thank you, dear. My cook is quite excellent, even if I say so myself.” The Countess drew Barbara into conversation as they set up the card table.
Annie was about to take a seat beside Peggy and join in their game, when another lady appeared at her side, one who seemed so intent on talking to Annie, that she actually took hold of her wrist with vice-like fingers.
“Ow,” Annie muttered in surprise.
“I must steal your friend away for a minute, Miss Grove,” the Duchess of Bannerman said to Peggy, not giving Annie time to try to extricate herself. “You know how we are, ladies and their secrets. I will return her forthwith.” As the Duchess drew her away across the room, Annie could see Peggy was not fooled by the overly nice tone. She was equally alarmed, sitting forward in her chair with her eyebrows raised.
Annie reluctantly followed the Duchess, trying to get her wrist back repeatedly. The Duchess only released it when they were on the far side of the room, standing beside a table that had been set up with carafes of port and other dessert wines.
“Talking of secrets, I’d say you have a great one, Miss Storey. Port?” the Duchess offered, pouring out a glass for her.
“Thank you.” Annie tried to keep her tone polite, just as her body grew tense. She was terrified that the Duchess might know something of what had passed between her and Luke that night.
“Here.” The Duchess lifted the glass toward Annie. As she went to take it, the Duchess tightened her hold, not quite releasing it just yet. “I do not know the extent of this friendship between you and Luke, but I have come to tell you kindly, it must end.”
Annie said nothing, though she released her glass from the Duchess’s hand and brought it to her lips, needing that sudden drink.
“I do this to put you on your guard, for I fear you do now know the true calibre of the man that he is,” the Duchess said rather wistfully, staring off in the direction of the door. “He is an inconstant man. If he has made you believe he cares for you, then take my warning now, as a friend, for he does not.”
Annie took another sip from the claret glass, not believing the Duchess of Bannerman for one second. She knew all that had passed between her and Luke could not be fake. Besides, why would his own sister come to Annie’s house to talk of his affection for her if it was all a ruse?
“I believe I know Lord Yeatman a little, your Grace. I’ll choose to judge him by my own opinion alone.”
“Ah, you are more headstrong than I gave you credit for.” The Duchess poured out a second glass for herself as she offered Annie a small smile. “Let me phrase it another way, Miss Storey. It will take a special woman to make Lord Yeatman commit to marriage, andIam that woman.”
Annie nearly dropped the glass she was holding.
“You are surprised?”
“I had not heard any talk of marriage between you and Lord Yeatman.” Annie found her voice had become shaky.
“That is because there has been no talk of it yet.”
Annie feared she was talking to a fantasist. She was about to step away when the Duchess took hold of her arm, holding her to the spot. Annie wished to throw off that arm and cast it aside, but she couldn’t. This lady was a Duchess, and if Annie was rude in any way, it would be witnessed by an entire dinner party. It would be highly improper!
“Luke’s heart belongs to me, Miss Storey.”
Annie breathed heavily.
