Page 37 of Duke of Bronze
No.
He refused to fall victim to such baseless gossip. HeknewAnna. Knew her spirit, stubborn pride, and fierce independence. Whatever had brought her to the East End was no idle whim. It was something important.
It had to be.
The hackney came to a halt before a large and rather dreary-looking building. Colin, still keeping a safe distance, watched as Anna stepped down with practiced ease. She hesitated for only a moment before moving toward the entrance, her cloak drawn tightly around her.
Just as she raised her hand to knock, the door opened of its own accord, as though she had been expected.
Colin frowned, pressing himself against the nearest lamppost as she cast a swift glance over her shoulder. His pulse leapt in anticipation, but she did not linger. Within seconds, she disappeared inside, leaving him staring after her, more intrigued than ever.
What in God's name is this place?
His gaze lifted, his question answered by the large wooden sign above the door:The Adderley Foundling Hospital.
He straightened slightly, the knot of confusion in his chest loosening just enough to make way for something else—curiosity.
Moving cautiously, he approached the building, his boots silent against the worn stone path. From a nearby window, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He stepped closer, keeping to theshadows, and what he saw sent a strange, unfamiliar sensation twisting through him.
Anna had removed her cloak and was now moving from bed to bed, assisting the nurses in serving and feeding the children. There was no air of reluctant obligation about her; she moved with purpose, her touch gentle, her posture open. A small child reached out with a hesitant hand, and she took it without hesitation, offering a soft smile that transformed her features in a way Colin had never seen before.
A lump formed in his throat.
Never—not even in his wildest imaginings—had he pictured her like this. He had always thought of her as stubborn, vexing, impossible to pin down. But this? This was something else entirely.
She wasGod-sent,he thought, unable to look away.
And then she turned.
Her gaze lifted toward the very window where he stood, and his stomach plummeted. He barely had time to react before instinct propelled him backward, pressing himself against the cold stone of the building's exterior. His pulse thundered as he counted the seconds, half-expecting her to come rushing outside and demand an explanation.
But the moment passed. When he dared a glance back, she had resumed her task, oblivious to his presence.
Colin raked a hand through his hair. He needed time to think.
With one last glance at the hospital, he made his way across the street to a modest pub, choosing a seat near the window where he could keep watch over the entrance. He ordered a drink, though he barely touched it, his mind occupied with what he had just seen.
He waited.
Minutes passed. Then an hour. And finally, when the door to the hospital creaked open once more, Anna emerged, her cloak fastened tightly around her once again.
Colin tossed a few coins onto the table and strode out after her.
She was already walking away, her pace brisk, as though eager to put distance between herself and the hospital. He quickened his step, careful not to draw too much attention to himself. But, as fate would have it, his boots met with a patch of loose gravel, the crunching sound loud in the quiet street.
Anna froze.
Slowly, she turned, her eyes widening in shock as they settled on him.
"You," she breathed.
He lifted a brow. "Me."
Her expression shifted from surprise to sharp suspicion. "What in the world are you doing here?"
Colin tilted his head. "I should ask you the same question."
Her eyes narrowed. "Did you follow me?"
