Page 17 of His Scandalous Lessons
“Thank you,” she breathed against his coat. “For showing me that.” She didn’t know what else to say to him.
Richard stiffened and gently pushed her away. “Of course. Our lessons.” What was that tone? So...cold, almost? Before she could ask, he was straightening her clothes, redoing buttons. “The rain stopped. We should return to the house now.”
He wouldn’t look at her as he took her hand and led her out of the gazebo.
Chapter 9
Though Richard didn’t act any different after that day in the gazebo, the remaining time they had alone with their lessons was changed. He didn’t touch Anne as readily, nor did he flirt quite so shamelessly. He was, by any accounts, courteous and professional.
Anne did not like it.
She kept thinking of the way he had pleasured her with his tongue, his lips, his hands. How she had called out his name. No other man’s name would fit now. How could it? Richard had marked her.
When the other guests arrived and she introduced herself, she tried not to seek Richard out. His distance was for a reason. She wasn’t going to marry him, after all. He wasn’t for her. She ought to be grateful that he was wordlessly reminding her of it.
Still, Anne was nervous. Though she’d managed well enough on her own as guests came and went from their rooms, a ball was different entirely.
As the maid carefully began brushing out her hair, Anne schooled herself into a meager attempt at calm. She was late for the ball downstairs, and she couldn’t afford to waste more time on nerves.
Twelve days, she reminded herself.
Twelve days to find a husband.
Anne turned as a soft knock sounded at the door. “Enter.”
The Duchess of Hastings swept into the room, appearing every inch her station. Rubies glittered at her throat, matching the exquisite dress she wore of crimson silk. The low neckline displayed the creamy complexion of her throat, and the cinched waist showed off her figure to its best advantage. Next to Caroline, Anne felt so very plain.
“I came to see if you needed anything,” the duchess said politely.
Caroline had kept a respectful distance during Anne and Richard’s lessons, but Anne had got to know the duchess better during dinners. Her beauty was matched only by her personality; in all regards, she was utterly lovely. Anne adored her.
“I’m nervous,” Anne said. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
“Darling, you don’t have to apologize. I’m not here to lecture, only to help.” The other woman swept an assessing gaze over Anne’s gown. Anne recognized that it was not the current style; her father loathed the low cut fashions of women Anne’s age. Most of Anne’s dresses covered her to the throat, as if she were a governess. This dress was the loveliest she owned. “This is what you plan to wear?”
Anne flushed, embarrassed. “It’s the best dress I have.”
Caroline looked thoughtful. “Charity,” she said, addressing the maid, “go into my wardrobe. The green silk will do nicely. Make haste.”
Before Anne could protest, the maid hurried out of the room. “But I couldn’t—”
“I want you to know something.” Caroline came forward and took Anne’s hands. “You would look absolutely lovely in anything you wore, you must know that. But I believe an emerald green would suit your complexion much better than mine. We’re close in size; it would only need minor adjustments.”
The maid scratched lightly at the door before entering again, this time with one of the most beautiful dresses Anne had ever seen. The color was a deep green, the gleaming shade of a polished emerald. It possessed none of the extra adornments that ladies had added to their gowns; no bows or fripperies. No, the gown depended entirely on the talents of the modiste, and whomever she was, she had outdone herself.
“You like it,” Caroline said appraisingly. Anne hadn’t realized she’d reached out to touch it.
Anne curled her fingers into her palm and dropped her hand. “This is too daring.”
“Daring,” the duchess said, “is precisely what you need.”
Anne knew she was right. She needed to be bold. Courageous. She could not hide behind her father’s shadow and expect to gain freedom from it. To do that, she needed to take chances.
You’ve already taken so many chances,she reminded herself.Look at you. It’s changed you for the better.
So would this. It was another leap of faith, a moment of trust. Richard had told her that he would teach her how to trust, and she was beginning to understand the benefit of it. How it made a person feel less abandoned, alone, and vulnerable.
“All right.”
