The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh (21 page)

Rutherford found some rope and continued, “You will be placed in a cell at the inn, and a hearing will be held. Unless you agree to transportation, you'll hang.”

“You won't do that. I'll tell everyone I saw you and Anna. . . .”

“What did you call her?” Harry asked with a deadly calm. Feral terror entered Blanchard's eyes.

“M-M-Miss Marsh.”

Harry kept his eyes on Percy. “I'd rather just kill him now,” Harry said amiably. “He's more trouble than he's worth. We can dump him at sea.”

“I suppose that would make it neater all around.” Rutherford nodded. “The Blanchards won't have to be troubled with a scandal, and we won't have to worry about your sister, my affianced
wife
. The idiot doesn't seem to take warnings at all.”

Percy's head swung back and forth between them. “No, no, please! I'll do anything you ask. Please don't kill me or-or send me away.”

Harry fixed him with a hard stare. “Why should we believe you?”

“I-I didn't give my word before. I-I'll give it now.”

Rutherford raised a brow. “You'll sign a sworn statement that you caused the damage to this cottage and tried to accost Miss Marsh, soon to be Lady Rutherford. And you will make monetary reparations for the damages done?”

“Y-y-yes, anything.”

“You will not go within two lengths of Miss Marsh, nor will you cause anyone else to do so on your behalf.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Harry?” Rutherford asked.

Harry waited for a few long minutes, making sure Blanchard was convinced it'd be die or be transported. “Very well, subject to my sister's approval.”

“I'll speak to her. If she agrees, Percy, you will come with us to the Priory.”

Rutherford left to talk with Anna, and Harry gave Percy a hard look. “You're very lucky I don't kill you for even thinking about laying a finger on my sister. If you violate the terms of your release, your statement shall be used to transport you, if you're still alive, that is.”

Blanchard shook like a blancmange. “I understand.”

“Good. Now tell me what the devil you thought you were doing.”

Anna and Sebastian rode over to the Priory right after breakfast. His housekeeper, Mrs. Thurston, took them on a tour of the house.

Mrs. Thurston grimly pointed out the shabby, moth-eaten hangings. “It's true that we've not entertained here in many a year. . . .”

Anna understood. It was still no reason not to keep up the house. The only rooms that didn't need renovation were the morning room, drawing room, and Lady Rutherford's apartments.

The housekeeper took copious notes. “I'll have these copied for you, miss.”

“Thank you. I look forward to them.”

“You won't,” Mrs. Thurston said. “But you'll get them any way.”

Anna chuckled lightly. “You're probably right.”

“While you're getting bad news,” the housekeeper said, “you may as well go through the kitchen and cellars. If you'd like, I'll make a list of linens to be replaced.”

“Yes, please do,” Anna replied. “Ask Cook to attend me, if you will.”

“Yes, miss, my pleasure.”

Things were very wrong here. It was not as if Sebastian didn't have the funds to keep up this place and several more. Anna turned to him, opened her mouth, and shut it again. “We need to go to your study.”

He nodded and led the way. Anna walked in and waited until he closed the door. “Why does Mrs. Thurston not have the authorization to replace items such as the sheets or towels? It is a much more efficient method of ensuring they're taken care of.”

Sebastian looked abashed. “I quite frankly have not taken much notice.”

“Unfortunately, that doesn't surprise me. Men usually don't, until they stick a foot through the sheets,” she said with exasperation. “I propose a trip to a fabric warehouse I know of to replace the hangings.” Anna paced the room. “We can take Althea. She needs the experience. In fact, this is a good time to involve her in everything she'll need to learn, if she hasn't already, to hold house. What is your budget for the household expenses?”

He shrugged.

She furrowed her brows. “Sebastian, when was the last time those books were reviewed?”

“My love, I've left all that to my mother.”

Anna pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is so irksome. Lady Rutherford already doesn't like me. It will seem to her that I've intruded and taken over without the least bit of delicacy.”

“Come here.”

She walked into his arms.

“I'll take responsibility,” he said. “Tell me what needs to be done, and I shall order it.”

“I need to review the household books and make a new budget.”

Sebastian kissed her wrinkled forehead and smoothed it lightly with his thumb.

Anna sighed and tilted her head back. He found her lips, and she slid her hands from his chest to his neck as a warm tremor shot through her. Would it always be like this? She pressed against him, as he brushed her already furled nipples.

“Sebastian?”

“Yes.” His eyes were warm silver.

“Will we always want each other?”

His voice was rough. “I'm not a soothsayer, but I hope so.”

Warmth pooled between her legs, her heartbeat increased, and his hard shaft pressed against her. Anna reached down and stroked the bulge in his breeches. His groan rumbled through her.

Oh, God, she needed him. “How and where?”

He backed her up to the wall and rucked her skirts up.

“Wait.” Anna unbuttoned his fall, releasing his already hard member.

Sebastian lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me.”

When he entered her, she moaned and held on tightly as he thrust deeply into her. Her tension grew with each stroke. Just before she cried out, he captured her lips, drinking in her cry. Warmth filled her as he released his seed.

Sebastian carried her over to the sofa and held her on his lap. Using his handkerchief, he cleaned her.

Anna was in a warm stupor until a knock on the door made her jump. “Oh, no.”

Warmth flooded her face as she hopped off his lap and shook out her skirts, hoping they weren't too mussed.

Sebastian, showing none of her perturbation, stood and made himself presentable again.

He looked over at her and raised a brow.

Anna pressed her hands to her cheeks. Good, they were cooling. “Yes, I'm ready.”

“Come,” he called.

The Priory's cook, Mrs. Pippin, a short, rotund woman with silver curls under a mop cap entered the room. “My lord, Mrs. Thurston said you might want to see me.”

“Indeed, I am showing Miss Marsh around the house and making a list of items that need to be looked into.”

She bobbed a curtsey to Anna. “It will be my pleasure, miss.”

Rutherford stood back as Anna grabbed her notebook and followed his cook into the corridor and down the stairs to the kitchen.”

“It's not as fancy as what you've got at Marsh Hill,” Mrs. Pippin said.

“Indeed?” Anna was startled by the remark, then remembered that Mrs. Pippin's niece worked at the Hill. “Why don't you tell his lordship what the differences are?”

Cook stood before her old-fashioned open fireplaces. “This for one. Mrs. Kramer at the Hill has one of the new closed stoves. Makes it much nicer . . .”

Anna licked the tip of her pencil and made notes as Rutherford nodded and agreed with everything his cook suggested.

After Anna and Sebastian were finished, they thanked Mrs. Pippin and made their way back to the main hall.

Rutherford's expression was grim. “Griffin, please bring the household accounts to me in my study.”

Griffin bowed and left.

Rutherford closed the door. “What the devil has my mother been doing if not seeing to the house?”

Anna shrugged lightly. “Not every woman knows how to hold house.”

“No, I suppose not.” He rubbed his cheek. “What are we going to do?”

“We'll make it right. I only wish I could find a way to do it without upsetting your mother.”

Griffin entered with the books and placed them on the desk.

“Thank you. You may leave us and close the door.” Rutherford moved a chair closer for Anna. “You look at those while I look at the estate accounts.”

An hour later, she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her neck. “I'll take you up on the partner's desk.”

“We'll look for one when we go to Dover.” He pointed at the accounts. “What did you find?”

“I think the amount budgeted is too small. I have a larger one at the Hill, though it is a much smaller residence. Still, that is not the reason there's been no refurbishment.” Anna sighed. “Other than for food and wine and alike, none of the money was spent on the house. With the sole exception of new drapes in your mother's chambers, it's gone elsewhere.”

Rutherford frowned. “Where?”

“According to this”—she pointed to the account books—“your mother bought ten ells of silk, hats, shoes, some jewelry. The list goes on. She's been using the household account to dress herself.”

He shook his head. “That doesn't make sense. She has a more than adequate jointure. I pay for all her living expenses and those of the girls.”

Anna shook her head. She certainly hadn't expected to find what she did and wasn't at all pleased about it. “I don't know, my love. I wonder if that is one of the reasons she's not happy with you marrying me.”

“I don't understand it at all.” He glanced at the mantel clock. “It is almost four o'clock. We need to go back to the Hill. If we get an early start in the morning, you'll be able to meet all the tenants.”

They rode across the fields and entered the stable yard of the Hill to see a coach being brought around from the front of the house.

“Mama's home.” Anna slid off Thunderer and strode to the side door. Sebastian followed. She walked into the front hall to see her mother crying and hugging Harry. Her father stood off to the side gazing hopefully at his wife.

When she would have gone to Papa, Sebastian stayed her. “It's their marriage. Just as what we have will be ours. I know you do not want to choose between them.”

Anna nodded slightly. “You're right.”

Several minutes passed before Lady Marsh could let go of Harry. When she did, her gaze moved to her husband.

“William.” There was a hitch in her soft voice.

“Lucilla, I'm sorry. I was wrong.”

Her mother held out her hand to her husband. “I never should have left as I did.”

He embraced her.

Tears pricked Anna's eyes. She smiled up at Sebastian, and he drew her closer.

Harry joined them. “Do you think we should play least in sight?”

“We can change and meet in my parlor.” Anna gazed at her parents. “Are the children still upstairs?”

“I believe so.”

She turned, and they walked down the corridor to the back stairs. Many of the servants peeped into the front hall and then ducked out of sight. There was a hum of activity.

Ledster asked Anna if Cook should hold back dinner.

“Push it back a half an hour, and send a dinner tray up to the children.” She thought for a moment. “Better yet, have them meet us in my parlor. I'll ring when they are ready for dinner.”

“Yes, miss.” He bowed and left.

Anna kissed Sebastian lightly on his lips before entering her room where Lizzy waited.

“Is it true? Her ladyship is back?” Lizzy asked.

Anna smiled. “Yes, she is. I hope everything will be all right again. I couldn't have received a better wedding present. My brother and my mother back here at the Hill. Oh, drat, hand me a handkerchief.” Taking it from Lizzy, Anna chuckled wetly and wiped her eyes. “My nose will be red.”

“Here, miss, splash your face and it will be fine. How was your visit to the Priory?”

Anna told her most of what they'd found, leaving out the part about Lady Rutherford's personal purchases.

Lizzy rolled her eyes. “Well, they are happy as grigs to be getting you.”

Anna sobered. “More talk?”

Lizzy's eyes widened. “How could there not be? The two most important families in the area? And everyone knowing how you took care of everything while your mama and Mr. Harry were gone.” She nodded. “The tenants are doing a jig to meet you. You mark my words, there'll be more talk when you start making changes.”

Anna made a face. There was no hiding anything in the country. Especially when there were so many relations between the Hill's servants and the Priory's.

She quickly changed and was waiting in the parlor when Sebastian arrived.

He strode to her and wrapped his arms around her. “My love, do you know I hate your being out of my sight?”

Anna chuckled. “Do you know how much I enjoy hearing you say that?”

“Come now, you two. You've still got sometime yet until you're married.”

They turned as one to greet Harry.

“I'm not going to be happy when my mother returns,” Sebastian said. “I wish she'd stay away until the wedding.”

Anna opened her eyes wide. “Sebastian, I know you don't always agree with her, and there are problems, but that's not a nice thing to say.”

“I wish it,” he said, unrepentantly. “Because once she is returned, I've no excuse to remain here.”

Anna frowned. “You're right. She'll insist you return with the girls.”

“I do feel for the both of you,” Harry said with specious sympathy. “What a sad pair you are.”

Anna punched playfully at him. “It's nothing to laugh at.”

“No, you misunderstand. I lived in the same house as Marcella. I
do
know how you feel. It's not the same, but you can still use the cottage.”

Sebastian glanced at her brother, startled. “What brought this about?”

“I remembered something else.” Harry looked at Anna. “You've loved him for years.”

Her throat tightened. “Yes.”

Harry smiled. “I'm glad to finally see you happy. You weren't before.”

Anna struggled to hold back her tears. “No, I wasn't.”

Sebastian turned her face to his. “Because of me?”

She touched his cheek. “Yes, but it's fine now.”

Anna hugged Harry. “Well, I for one am very glad you understand. I hated it when I thought you and Sebastian were going to fight.”

“Ah, yes, well, it was quite a shock at first, and it didn't help that you were much younger when I left.” Harry glanced at Sebastian. “After I had time to think about it, I knew you wouldn't hurt her.”

Sebastian grabbed Harry's hand and patted him on the back. “No, I wouldn't,” Sebastian said gruffly, slipping his arm around Anna.

“I'm glad that's settled.” She sighed. “Now we only have Mama and Papa to worry about.”

Harry poured glasses of wine for them all. “I think they'll be fine.”

High voices were heard in the corridor, and the door bust open. “What's going on?” Cece asked.

“Is Mama home?” Eloisa added.

Althea shook her head. “No, if Mama was home we'd have to leave. What has happened?”