Page 64 of Duke of Bronze
Anna blinked, still caught off guard, but as the moment settled, a genuine smile curved her lips. "What areyoudoing here?" she asked, warmth threading through her voice. Whatever the circumstances of his presence, she was glad to see him.
Roderick shifted his stance slightly, his gaze slipping away before he answered. "Business. I have been in the country for sponsorship meetings."
"My, what a most unexpected delight." Anna clasped her hands before her, her earlier disquiet momentarily forgotten. "Would I be correct in assuming that His Grace is among those interested in your cause?" She could think of no other reason for Roderick to be at Copperton Hall.
He cleared his throat, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "Yes," he said after a moment, though he did not quite meet her gaze.
Anna frowned slightly, sensing something amiss, but before she could question it, she asked instead, "And the family? How are they?"
His features softened, and he nodded. "Much the same as when you last saw them. They are well."
Anna sighed in relief, but her chest tightened as another name came to mind. "And Lydia?"
Roderick sighed, a shadow passing over his face. "I am afraid it is always a decline with her." His voice was low, carrying the weight of quiet resignation.
Anna's heart clenched. "I am so sorry," she whispered, meaning it with every fiber of her being.
Roderick gave a small, almost wistful smile. "It is life."
"It isunfair," Anna corrected, her voice gentle but firm. "You deserve better.Shedeserves better."
He let out a soft chuckle, though there was little mirth in it. "You are too kind, Anna. If only fate possessed some of your heart."
A moment of silence passed between them, thick with unspoken thoughts. Then, with a noticeable effort, Roderick shifted the conversation. "And how do you find this grand affair so far?"
Anna noted his deliberate attempt to steer the discussion elsewhere, but she allowed it. For now.
She shrugged lightly, though her earlier ease had begun to wane. "It is tolerable," she murmured, her thoughts drifting back—unbidden and unwelcome—to Colin and Fiona.
"Well, that does not sound like a promising endorsement," Roderick observed lightly, tilting his head as he studied Anna.
"Should I be concerned for my own entertainment then?" he added with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Anna laughed, the tension that had lingered in her chest loosening just a fraction. "You may find yourself in need of your own diversions, I suppose. Unless, of course, you count tolerable company as amusement."
"Ah," Roderick mused. "Then I should count myself fortunate indeed."
Their laughter melded into easy conversation, and Anna found herself grateful for his presence that afternoon, a welcome distraction from thoughts she had no wish to entertain.
By dinner, Copperton Hall was abuzz with its usual energy, the grand dining room alive with the hum of conversation and the clinking of fine crystal. When Colin rose to speak, the room hushed, all eyes turning toward the Duke as he made an announcement of particular significance.
Colin rose from his seat, his expression as composed as ever as he surveyed the gathered guests. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice carrying easily across the dining room. "It is my pleasure to introduce Mr. Roderick Millard. Some of you may already be familiar with his name—or rather, his moniker in the world of sport."
A murmur of interest rippled through the guests, and Roderick inclined his head in acknowledgment, though Anna noticed the stiffness in the motion.
"The Mighty Stone," Colin continued, "is a fighter of great skill and reputation, and I am pleased to lend my support to his future endeavors. Sponsorship, as many of you are aware, is key in securing a promising career, and I have decided to invest in his talents."
Polite applause followed, the sound reverberating through the grand dining hall. Yet, as Anna observed the exchange between Colin and Roderick, something about it felt…off. Roderick's expression, though outwardly composed, lacked any true ease. There was no pride, no satisfaction—only something tightly held beneath the surface. And Colin, though ever the gracious host, seemed to watch Roderick too keenly, as if waiting for some unspoken response.
Why did it feel like there was more to this arrangement than what had just been declared?
After dinner, Fiona and Hester had occupied themselves with a game of cards, their quiet murmurs mingling with the low chatter in the drawing room. But soon enough, Hester sighed, pushing back from the table.
"I must take a moment's respite," she announced, pressing a delicate hand to her temple. "I believe I have indulged in too much wine."
Anna chuckled at her friend's dramatics, but before she could respond, movement at the doorway caught her attention.
Colin entered the room with an air of casual distraction, his gaze sweeping over the gathering as though in search of something—or someone. Anna's breath hitched slightly before she could chide herself for it.
