Page 2 of Duke of Bronze
Colin Caldwell. Handsome, broad-shouldered, infuriating Colin. The very man who had spent the better part of the last two years perfecting the art of aggravating her; who never took anything—or anyone—seriously; who was now sauntering toward her with the satisfaction of a fox who had just secured himself a particularly delightful hen.
What ill luck!
Her fingers tightened around the folds of her dress, a fresh wave of mortification crashing over her.
"I must admit, I did not expect such fierce competition," Colin drawled as he came to a stop before her. His amber eyes gleamed with amusement. "Though I daresay I was prepared to go even higher if necessary. I would not be outbid by these…" he glanced about the ballroom with a smirk, "simpletons."
Anna narrowed her eyes, determined to ignore the peculiar warmth that was settling on her cheeks. "Youpaidfor this?" she demanded.
Colin inclined his head. "Indeed. I considered simply bribing the auctioneer to declare me the winner outright, but I decided I ought to let the other gentlemen enjoy a moment of false hope."
Peggy's eyes widened in horror. "You mean to say youknew?"
"Not precisely," Colin admitted. "But when the bidding started, and I saw Lady Anna's charming expression of distress, I thought,now, here is an event worth investing in."
Anna's hand clenched at her side. "You do realize, Your Grace, that we need not actually attend these five promenades?"
Colin's smile widened. "Do we not?"
"No!" she said on seeing the unsettling gleam in his gaze. "We do not!"
"A dear friend such as yourself," Peggy, now smiling, touched Anna's shoulder as she addressed Colin, "would not insist upon such a thing if the lady in question was so clearly opposed."
Anna felt her shoulders relaxing.Yes, this is precisely the argument I need, and I have many allies here.Colin was many things—arrogant, vexing, a menace to her sanity—but he was notcruel. He would not force her into?—
"I insist," Colin said, his mouth twitching at the corners.
Anna's stomach twisted. She straightened, ignoring the strange shiver that coursed down her spine at the way he was looking at her. As though he had already won something far more dangerous than an auction bid.
She lifted her chin. "I fail to see the necessity."
Colin leaned ever so slightly forward, dropping his voice to a murmur that only she could hear. "Come now, Anna. Where is the adventure in that?"
At that very moment—heaven help her—she realized she was in far, far more trouble than she had anticipated.
CHAPTER 2
Colin is a rake!
The thought struck Anna with such force that she nearly staggered. He was a rake of the most incorrigible variety, at that. A man whose exploits were the whispered delight of every drawing-room gossip; whose reputation preceded him like the scent of brandy at White's.
Andthatwas the man who had just purchased five promenades with her. She could not—would not—fathom what a man like him could possibly want with her.
"Anna, my dear!" Her father's voice cut through her chaotic thoughts without giving her any relief. She turned to see the man who had always championed her independence, now positively beaming at her as though this entire debacle was a blessing rather than the disaster it truly was. He was also oblivious to the fact that his daughter was very nearly unraveling before all of London.
"Copperton," her father said, clapping Colin heartily on the shoulder. "A most generous bid, indeed! The orphanages and hospitals shall benefit greatly from your kindness."
Kindness? Anna barely suppressed the urge to gawk at her father. Colin had manyqualities, but kindness had never struck her as one of them.
He inclined his head with that insufferable smirk of his. "A noble cause deserves a noble contribution, Lord Dowshire."
Anna inhaled with some effort, tightness forming in her chest as if her stays had suddenly constricted several inches. She should never have agreed to attend this charity auction.
The crush of the ballroom, the ceaseless murmuring, the speculative gazes… it was all too much. Her vision blurred, and for one horrifying moment, she feared she might actually swoon.
“Anna." Peggy took her arm. Elizabeth followed, her sharp eyes narrowing in assessment. "You are as white as a sheet. Come." Anna could not even muster a protest before her cousins looped their arms through hers and steered her from the ballroom.
They led her down a bright hallway to a small, quiet salon. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, Anna let out a shaky breath. "Tell me that did not just happen," she croaked, pressing a trembling hand to her forehead.
