The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh (4 page)

A
nna and Rutherford rode into town and stabled their horses at the inn. She draped the train of her riding habit over her arm.

“You could fasten it up.”

She glanced down at her skirt and the large bone button. “I'm just used to carrying it.”

Unable to take her hand, Rutherford walked protectively close, lightly gripping her elbow. She flashed him a questioning glance, but said nothing.

It was market day, and the town was crowded with people. Everyone in the countryside must be here. As they turned on to High Street where most of the shops were located, a tallish, gangly man, a few years younger than Rutherford, walked out of the haberdashers and turned toward them.

Rutherford closed his eyes in pain. The young man's shirt points were so high he couldn't turn his head, and he wore a garish yellow jacket and striped pantaloons. His highly polished boots had white tops with gold tassels. Various fobs adorned his person. A beaver hat sat at a rakish angle a-top wavy blond hair. He was so ridiculous even the Dandies wouldn't have owned him. “Is that who I think it is?”

“Yes,” Anna replied. “Percy Blanchard in all his glory.”

“
Bartholomew Baby
,” Rutherford said with disgust.

Anna gave a little gurgle of laughter.

“You abominable girl, don't giggle.” He pressed his lips together as Percy came up to them. “Blanchard, it's been a long time.”

Percy scowled. Whether it was because Rutherford was with Anna, or the other man could sense Rutherford's amusement, he didn't know.

Percy bowed, pointedly ignoring Rutherford. “Miss Marsh, if I'd known you wished to visit the town, I would have been happy to escort you as well as my mother.”

“But, my dear Percy,” Rutherford said. “As you can see, Miss Marsh is with me. Shall we continue on, my dear?”

Percy shot Rutherford a malevolent look, and he wondered if the fool would be idiot enough to challenge him.

“Yes, there is a lot I'd like to accomplish today.” She inclined her head. “Mr. Blanchard, good day.”

“Miss Marsh.” He bowed. “I believe I am accompanying my mother to see your aunt this afternoon. Perhaps I shall see you then.”

“Perhaps.” Anna's grip on Rutherford's arm tightened.

Percy continued his way down the street.

“
Coxcomb
,” Rutherford growled. If Percy thought there was any way he was going to get Anna, he was out of his mind.

Anna loosened her hold on Rutherford and said, “Indeed. Come, you may help me select some ribbon.”

“With pleasure.”

Anna made several purchases before Rutherford complained he was going to starve if he didn't have something to eat. They each got a glass of cider and a coffyn from the baker.

Anna finished hers and glanced up at Rutherford gazing down at her empty hand. “What?”

“You ate it all.”

“I was hungry.”

“Yes, but you told me I could finish it,” he said.

“Only if I didn't.” She punched him lightly. “Go buy another one. You can afford it.”

He smiled at her with a softness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. She gave herself a shake. If only he could accept her as she was. Anna found herself leaning closer, then stopped. That wasn't good. She wished he'd taken himself back to Town.

“Yes?” His brows rose.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

Rutherford called to the girl to order another pie.

While she was waiting, Anna gazed out the shop window. A strange man lingered near the Fish and Line across the street. He wasn't from here. Yet, there was something about him that was familiar. “Rutherford, look. Do you know that man near the inn? There's something about him that's not right, but I can't place it.”

Rutherford turned around and peered out the glass. “Yes, I see what you mean. He is out of place. Everything about him is medium, ordinary, but . . .” He shook his head slowly.

“I know I've seen him somewhere.” Anna said. “I don't think it was here.”

“No, you're right, not here. London. Yes, that's it. I've seen him in Brook's.”

The clothes the man wore made him appear, at first glance, more like a merchant than a member of the
ton
. The way he carried himself unsettled her. “I wonder what he's doing in Thanport and dressed like that.”

“I don't know.” Rutherford rubbed his chin. “We're not likely to find out standing here.” He finished his coffyn. “Let's go back to the inn.”

Rutherford questioned one of the ostlers. It was the second time the strange man had been in town, but other than that, they knew nothing. Anna shrugged. “Oh well, maybe it's nothing. We'd better go if we are to be properly dressed for tea.”

She led Thunderer to the mounting block. If Rutherford placed his hands on her once more today, she'd fall off the horse and into his arms. That she could not do. He only thought he knew her. What would he do when he found out about the smugglers? Her whole body had prickled and tingled the last two times he'd touched her. She'd never had that reaction to him before. Why did it have to happen now?

They rode more slowly back to Marsh Hill than they'd left it. Anna trotted in first and slid down from her horse before Rutherford could offer to assist her. “No need for you to dismount. I'll see you in a bit,” she said with an airiness she didn't feel.

He glanced at her curiously, but inclined his head. “I'll be back after I change.”

Anna summoned a smile. “Maybe I can watch you throw Percy into the fountain.”

Rutherford shook his head, but his well-molded lips curved up. “Vixen.”

She stared after him as he rode out of the yard, before turning toward the house. This was not turning out at all as she'd planned.

When she got to her chamber, Lizzy was waiting for her.

“I got a message from Kev. That gent's back. He wants to meet with you. There's more cargo coming in for the next two nights, and Kev wants you to be there when it arrives.”

So that was who the man was. Who said the country was quiet? Anna nodded. “Very well, tell him to plan the meeting with the London gentleman for three nights from now. I want to make sure the cargo is in and stored before we have any strangers poking around. Tell Kev I don't want anyone else to know about the man until I've made a decision.”

“Yes, miss,” Lizzy said. “I'll let him know.”

“Good, now I have to bathe. I smell of the stable, and Lord Rutherford is coming to tea.”

“Whatever for, miss?” Her eyes widened. “You just spent all morning with him.”

Anna had indeed, and despite her good sense, was looking forward to seeing him this afternoon. She gave her maid a wicked grin. “He is going to rid me of Mr. Blanchard.”

Lizzy let out a peel of laughter. “Now that's something I'd like to see.”

 

Rutherford rode back to the Priory deep in thought. How the hell Anna thought the sensations they'd had today were mere lust was beyond him. Lust was what he'd felt for her before. This sudden need to make Anna his and keep other men away from her, was something else entirely. He had to find a way to make her understand the difference. There was something else wrong as well. What made her think she wasn't what he wanted? Something told him that was the real hurdle. Until he solved the riddle of her mind, he'd not get where he wanted to be.

There was something about the gentleman masquerading as a merchant that made him uneasy. With Dover, Sandwich, and Ramsgate all nearby, they didn't get many of the
ton
in this area. Whatever the man was up to, it wasn't good. He wondered what the innkeeper had discovered about the smugglers, if anything. This would all be so much easier if he could hit something or kill it. He smiled to himself. Percy. Getting rid of him might satisfy some of Rutherford's frustration.

The day Rutherford had thrown Percy into the fountain, he had been at Marsh Hill with his mother. Rutherford and Harry had acquired a pair of stilts, and were in the garden practicing, to the hilarity of Anna, who was about five years old at the time.

Percy came out, and the next thing Rutherford knew Anna was crying, and Percy was standing over her. Harry was on the stilts, and from the expression on his face he was ready to pummel Percy into the ground. Rutherford was closer. He took one look at Anna's red and tear-drenched face, then reached out, grabbed Percy, and tossed him into the fountain.

Afterward, Rutherford had picked Anna up and dried her tears. His throat tightened. When she'd seen Percy in the water, she'd laughed, thrown her arms around Rutherford's neck, and kissed him on the cheek. It was the first time he'd felt like a hero. Rutherford smiled. Maybe she'd do the same thing today. Given the slightest provocation, he'd make a repeat performance, both to enjoy punishing Percy and to receive a reward from Anna.

He entered his house to the sound of high-pitched squeals. Three girls, ranging in age from eleven to sixteen, came running down the stairs and threw themselves at him. He reached out, laughing. “How am I ever going to take you to London if you act like hoydens?”

Althea, the eldest, hugged him back. “Mama says I'm to be presented in the spring!”

Rutherford tried not to frown. “Indeed. I thought she planned to wait another year. You'll barely be seventeen.”

“I know, but that's how old she was. Ruhy, what if I fall in love and someone falls in love with me? Would you allow me to marry? I mean if we were truly in love?”

He wanted a brandy. It was much too soon to have this conversation. “If you were truly in love, and he truly loved you, and he could support you in the proper style, then I'd give it serious thought.”

“But . . .”

“No, I'd have to see who the hypothetical love is first.”

Althea pouted. “Very well, I guess that's fair.”

He chucked her under her chin. “Cheer up. I wouldn't withhold my consent unless I had a good reason. I do want you to be happy.” A thought struck him. “As long as it's not Percy Blanchard. None of you will marry him. Do I make myself clear?”

Rutherford smiled as they all went into whoops.

“Percy is going to marry Anna. His mama thinks it would be a good match,” said his youngest sister, Cecilia, with all the seriousness of eleven years.

“Devil a bit.” Perhaps he'd just kill Percy and have it done with. “When did you hear that?”

“When Lady Blanchard came for tea a couple of weeks ago,” Eloisa, the thirteen-year-old, offered. “Lady Blanchard said Anna has not taken in London, and she should come home to find a match here.”

“The old biddy.” He ground his teeth. If either of the Blanchards thought Percy would have Anna, they were much mistaken. Rutherford would pack her off back to Town and marry her by special license. He'd pound Percy into oblivion.

Cecilia wrinkled her nose. “I don't think Lady Blanchard is
that
old, she—”

“For your information,” he interrupted, “Anna Marsh could have been married several times over, if she'd wanted. Never mind. I must change. I'm having tea at Marsh Hill.” He raised his brows. “Don't you have lessons?”

Three heads nodded.

“Go then. I'll see you before dinner.”

“Will you be in a better mood then?” Cecilia asked.

“Yes.” Because he was going to find any excuse he could to smash his fist into Percy Blanchard's pasty face.

He watched fondly as his sisters ran off as quickly as they'd come. He didn't like to think of Althea's being old enough to come out or having her exuberance stifled by the
ton
. Yet Anna had not allowed that to happen. That was the reason he'd been so fooled about her. She presented such a serene front in Town. How did she accomplish keeping the demands of the
ton
from crushing her essence? How much did he actually know about her? He had the feeling he'd only scratched the surface. Well, if he was going to marry her, he'd better find out.

Anna sat in the small drawing room entertaining Aunt Lillian with stories from the Little Season when Rutherford arrived. Anna turned to him and smiled. For some reason he looked more handsome than usual. His coat of dark blue superfine fitted snuggly across his shoulders. His cream and light-blue striped vest was just the thing, and his pantaloons showed his muscled legs to perfection. She could probably see her reflection in his highly polished Hessian boots.

Anna rose to greet him and, without thinking, took his hand. Flames lanced through her as if she'd been hit by lightning. She pulled her hand back, but he tightened his grip. Anna glanced up at him and swallowed. Rutherford raised her hand to his lips, and she closed her eyes, waiting. A tingle started where his mouth touched her fingers and spread. She opened her eyes and met his gaze. This spending time with him was not working. Her heart would only break again when he left. She must come up with something else.