Page 11 of Wicked Is the Duke
"I'll take care of that. I've spoken with your brother once. Tomorrow I'll go to him and see if he was able to dissuade Carlisle," he said. "If that's what you'd like, Anna."
Hearing him use her given name melted any doubts she may have had about the duke. He was perfect, almost too perfect. "Yes, I would like that very much, Henry."
"Then consider the matter settled," he replied. To her amazement, he winked at her. "As a duke, I hold more status than an earl. That does come in handy from time to time."
"Thank you. I've heard stories the earl has more than one reason to marry a wealthy woman."
"Yes, I've heard the rumors. I understand he’s broke, and creditors stand in line at his door. He spends his money recklessly, gambling, drinking, women, among other things."
The lights dimmed, and a gong sounded, reminding theater goers the show was about to begin.
"Enough talk of the earl. Let us enjoy our evening. The first of many to come," he whispered.
They turned their attention to the figure on stage. Before they knew it, the pair were mesmerized, under the spell of the Spanish-Italian soprano, Adelina Patti. The theater was silent, the majestic voice the only sound.
"She's magnificent, isn't she?" Anna whispered.
"She is," Henry replied.
"How is it she's performing here? I've heard her fees are huge."
Henry gazed down at her. "I believe the theater owner is a close friend of her husband."
Anna simply nodded, her opera glasses fixed on the stage below. What was it about being in such proximity to this man that made her body react in ways no other man had done?
Intermission came, and immediately a buzz began in the hall. Anna rose from her chair, more to stretch her legs than anything else. Henry had wandered over to the refreshment table when there was a knock at the door. The footman startled as the Earl of Carlisle and Lady Caroline strode in.
She watched as Henry's gaze went from one interloper to the other before setting his eyes on her face. His expression was unreadable, but she was quite sure beneath his calm demeanor his fury boiled.
"You know the Earl of Carlisle, don't you, Henry?"
Anna cringed. As she was ignoring Anna, she could only deduce the woman had done it as a way to attempt to stake her territory. Henry.
"I do. I believe you know Miss Grover?"
"Yes," Lady Caroline replied distastefully. "I wasn't aware you had a fancy for such common chits."
Anna sucked in a deep breath. "I can assure you I'm anything but common, Lady Caroline."
"Really? You, a lady of impeccable breeding? Please, Miss Grover, don't embarrass yourself."
Henry began to speak, but Anna responded first. "I'm sure my cousin, the Prince of Wales, would be happy to give you a brief tutorial on our family history. He's here this evening as I noticed him in the royal box."
Lady Caroline stood, her mouth agape, as did the earl. Obviously, she had no idea of her lineage.
Lady Caroline made a quick comeback; Anna had to give her credit for that. "If that were true, why would you not be known as a peer, Lady Anna?" she mocked.
"Precisely for this reason. I have no desire to be lumped in with the rest of theton."
Henry smiled at her. Never had he imagined Anna could be so fierce. He'd heard rumors of course, that the Grovers were cousins of the Prince of Wales. Their father, it was said, having been a younger son made his own way without the privilege a title brought. It made perfect sense. It was one of the reasons why Robert had been able to procure membership at White's.
Anna wanted to flee. Women like Lady Caroline were part of the reason Anna had few friends. She didn't need false friends.
"So it's true, you really are here," the familiar voice of Henry's sister, Jane, lilted through the room."
"Yes, I'm here," he replied trying to sound exasperated by his sister's arrival. He turned to Anna. "You remember my sister, Lady Jane, Countess of Norwood, don't you?"
"Of course I do. It's good to see you."
