Page 21 of The Viscount's Code
He cleared his throat as he clasped his hands behind his back. He didn’t often apologize, but he also found himself strangely displeased with animosity between them.
“I apologize for my harshness yesterday,” he said, his words stilted. “I did not wish to speak of the past, but I could have been more understanding in my wording.”
She dipped her head for a moment, and he could almost see her thinking.
“Thank you,” she finally said. “I suppose I am also at fault for trying to push you to speak of something you had no desire to address.”
He nodded his own thanks, just before a rainbow bird began screeching at them from within a cage they were walking past. Hope jumped as it yelled “ahoy!” and Anthony reached out a hand, placing it on hers to calm her.
If she was anyone else, he would have allowed her to save herself – or waited for someone else to comfort her – but he couldn’t help admitting that he kind of liked the way she felt beneath his touch.
“Would the lady like to hold the parrot?” a man asked, leaning out in front of them, and Anthony looked to Hope, who shook her head, so he growled “no” to the man before they continued on.
“I must confess something,” Hope said, her voice soft as they passed a “bearded lady” who was quite obviously a man wearing a dress.
“Yes?”
“I do not particularly enjoy these kinds of displays,” she said, her voice so soft it was nearly a whisper, as though she didn’t want anyone to overhear her and be insulted. “It seems rather cruel, to leer at people or animals just because of the way they look.”
“I agree with you,” Anthony said, as it eerily reminded him of the way people used to stare at his family when they walked by, as though they were trying to determine just what traitors looked like. “Why do we not go find something to eat instead? It appears the market is on the other side of this fair.”
She nodded her thanks, and when they asked her, Lady Faith agreed to accompany them.
“Roasted almonds, anyone?” he asked when he picked up the scent of cinnamon and sugar, and both women nodded their heads. He even bought some for himself, unable to resist the promise of sweetness, even though he knew it shouldn’t be for him.
“Thank you,” Lady Hope said with a smile, while Lady Faith still eyed him warily.
“Where to now?” he asked.
“I think I’d like to walk through the market, to perhaps buy some items from the local sellers,” Lady Hope said.
“Very well,” he said, but before they could start that way, Lady Faith was shaking her head.
“No,” she said. “If we spend too much time there, then all will expect us to buy something from them. It will seem as though we have a preference for a select few.”
“I do not think they would mind, Faith,” Hope said gently. “Even a friendly word shows that we care.”
But Lady Faith was still shaking her head. “Do not raise their expectations, Hope,” she said. “It is best we return to the fair itself. Besides, Father and Mother will not want us to stray far.”
Hope’s disappointment was clear, but she nodded and began following after her sister. Anthony placed a hand gently on her arm.
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Whatever she tells you to do.”
“I—” Lady Hope blinked her eyes as she looked at him, almost as though she hadn’t realized what she had been doing. “It does not matter that much to me, whereas Faith seems quite convinced. If it will make Faith content to return to the fair, then I am happy to do it.”
“You should think of yourself sometimes.”
“Lord Whitehall, it is fine,” she said, a smile on her face but her voice firm.
“It is not,” he said, shaking his head.
“This is how things are between me and my sister,” she said. “Now, we best follow her before we lose her in the crowd.”
Anthony did allow her to lead him forward, but he didn’t enjoy the turn of the conversation. This was what bothered him about Lady Hope – she never did as she pleased, always preferring to act in deference to everyone around her.
