Page 39 of Duke of Bronze
As he sat behind his desk in his study two hours later, Colin found himself dwelling on Anna once more. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. He had been touched, yes, but more than that, he had beensurprised.
She was not the woman he had believed her to be.
Society had painted her as wild, ungovernable, a creature of scandal and sharp retorts. But now, he saw her for what she truly was—a woman with a heart far greater than she cared to reveal. A heart that, against all better judgment, he found himself wanting tounravel.
A dangerous thought.
Colin straightened in his chair, shaking his head as though the movement alone could dislodge such notions. He reached for the open ledger, attempting once more to turn his mind to business. Yet as his gaze skimmed over the page, a small detail caught his attention.
The date. Tuesday.
His fingers drummed against the desk as a realization struck him.LastTuesday had been the first time he had encountered Anna outside the expected bounds of society. AndthisTuesday, once again, he had found her at the foundling hospital.
A coincidence? Perhaps not.
His lips curved in a knowing smirk. Did she make a habit of volunteering on Tuesdays?
There was only one way to discern that.
The thought of it sent a curious thrill through him. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as a plan began to form.
CHAPTER 15
Anna,
I shall send for you at precisely three o'clock for our second engagement. Kindly refrain from bringing your dogs. It would be most unseemly if you insisted upon a pack of overzealous beasts interfering in what I am certain will be a most delightful afternoon.
—C
Anna read the note thrice, her grip on the parchment tightening with each passing moment.Kindly refrain from bringing your dogs?Well, then. If Colin thought to dictate the terms of their outings, he would quickly find himself in a most unexpected predicament.
A slow, deliberate smile curled her lips. No, she would not comply. In fact, she would do quite the opposite.
And why should she not? Did he presume her incapable of managing her own affairs? Did he believe she required the presence of a chaperone simply because Society dictated it so? He was mistaken—sorely mistaken.
The thought alone steeled her resolve.If Colin wishes to assess me, then I shall do the very same. He is, after all, a rake of the highest example. What better way to gauge his true intentions than to see precisely how he reacts when the proper constraints of society are absent?
Anna folded the note and slipped it into the top drawer of her escritoire, ensuring it would remain hidden from prying eyes. She would not take her lady's maid, either. Titan and Plato would suffice as guardians of both her virtue and her dignity. And more importantly, they would keep her mind firmly grounded in reality.
It was an impeccable plan—one that had no possible consequence except proving once and for all that she was utterly immune to Colin's ridiculous charm.
At half-past two on the fateful afternoon, Anna found herself orchestrating what she could only describe as a great deception.
"Miss Watson," she said airily, pretending to examine a bolt of muslin, "I have quite suddenly decided that I should like to wear my pale green dress to dinner this evening. The one with the lace trim."
Her maid blinked. "The one currently at the bottom of the laundry pile?"
"The very same," Anna said, mustering the most innocent expression she could manage. "I do hate to trouble you, of course, but would you mind terribly ensuring it is pressed and aired? I should so like to wear it."
Miss Watson sighed, clearly weighing the merits of challenging her mistress's sudden whims, but at last, she sighed in acquiescence. "Very well, my lady. But it shall take at least an hour, if not more."
Anna did her very best to feign disappointment. "Ah, well. I suppose I shall have to endure the wait. Thank you, Miss Watson, truly."
Her maid cast her a suspicious glance before gathering the offending dress and departing, no doubt muttering about Anna's peculiarities under her breath.
And just like that, the path was clear.
Anna wasted no time. With a swift motion, she snatched up her gloves and bonnet, fastening them hastily as she strode toward the front hall. Titan and Plato, sensing adventure, trotted at her heels, their tails swishing with unbridled enthusiasm.
