Page 68 of Duke of Bronze
Would she not be joining them? The thought settled unpleasantly within him. The idea of playing the affable host without Anna's presence struck him asdistinctly unappealing, and he could not, for the life of him, understand why.
Tamping down the unwelcome sensation, he turned his attention to Lady Fiona, who stood alone near one of the carriages. He made his way toward her, adopting his usual charm with ease.
"Surely, we are not to depart without the others?" he inquired, glancing about as if her companions might materialize at any moment.
Fiona gave a soft chuckle, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "I am afraid I tend to be an early bird more often than not."
"Or perhaps your friends are of the opinion that lateness is a mark of distinction." Colin countered, his gaze moving once more over the gathered company.
"Nancy and Hester, perhaps," Fiona mused, amusement dancing in her eyes. "But Anna would not take kindly to having her punctuality questioned."
"She must keep her own clock, then, entirely independent of ours," Colin replied with a chuckle.
"I daresay she would be equally displeased to be accused of tardiness, Your Grace," Fiona laughed, mirth lacing her words just as the ladies in question approached.
"Oh, here they are," she announced.
Colin turned, his gaze instinctively seeking one face in particular. And there she was—Anna, flanked by her friends, her expression lively as she conversed with Lady Hester. But then her gaze landed on him.
And something changed.
The light in her eyes dimmed, ever so slightly, yet noticeably enough to twist something inside him. Her step, once so assured, seemed to falter for a breath of a second before she righted herself.
He nearly frowned.
Was ithim? Had he done something to sour her mood further? The thought unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
"Were you speaking of us, perhaps?" Lady Nancy inquired lightly, looking from Colin to Fiona with a gleam in her eyes.
"Merely remarking on your sense of timing, dear Nancy," Fiona answered breezily.
"As prompt as you were, I do not see you in possession of the finest worm, Fiona," Lady Hester teased, earning a chorus of laughter from their small gathering.
Colin found himself joining in—at least, outwardly. His focus, however, remained on Anna, whose laughter did not quite reach her eyes. A small smile graced her lips, polite but lacking the animation he so enjoyed seeing.
That did not sit well with him.
She was being distant again. Reserved.
He wanted the Anna who challenged him; who met his wit with sharpness of her own, who eavesdropped at doors and feigned innocence when caught.
More than that—hewantedto be the reason for her laughter. For the liveliness that set her apart from every other woman here. He wanted to reach across the space between them, shakeoff whatever veil of detachment had settled over her, and remind her of who she was when she looked athim.
The desire was sudden, sharp, and entirely unwise.
I should not be feeling this way.
CHAPTER 27
Anna felt utterly adrift. Lost, even—if she dared admit it.
Colin and Fiona's acquaintance had undeniably deepened. Or perhaps he was simply playing the attentive host, as was his nature. Either way, she could not seem to quell the persistent weight in her chest whenever she saw them together. And, of late, that sight had become all too frequent.
The crisp country air should have refreshed her, yet it only felt stifling, pressing in from all sides. As though she were trapped in a place that had once been familiar but now felt foreign.
When the opportunity arose, she slipped away from the traveling party unnoticed. The carriages had been drawn to a halt, and the group had dispersed through the bustling village market, pausing at stalls and admiring wares. Anna drifted through the winding paths, past vendors and villagers, but everything blurred into the periphery. The vivid hues of ripe fruit, the fragrant pull of fresh-baked bread, the cheerful hum of conversation—all of it faded beneath the weight of her thoughts.
Then came the laughter.
