Page 72 of Duke of Bronze
Anna hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Nowthatdoes sound like quite the sight."
As she spoke, her gaze caught Fiona's, and she stilled slightly.
Fiona regarded her with a peculiar expression—a gleam in her eyes as she glanced between Anna and Colin, who still stood beside her. For a brief, uncomfortable moment, Anna thought she saw something unpleasant pass over her friend's features. Was it disapproval?Jealousy?
The thought unsettled her. But before she could fully dissect it, Fiona's gaze softened, something almost knowing settling behind her composed demeanor.
Anna frowned slightly. Whatwasshe thinking?
"Where did you get the apple?" Fiona's voice was light, but her curiosity was unmistakable as her attention finally settled on the fruit still cradled in Anna's hand.
Anna cast about for an explanation, scrambling for something that might sound remotely plausible. But before she could find one, she felt Colin's finger grazing the back of her hand in the subtlest of gestures.
A silent exchange.
Before she could find her voice, Colin spoke for her. Thankfully.
"It was the last apple at a nearby fruit stall," he supplied with smooth ease, offering their companions an affable smile. "And you know what they say—there is fortune to be found in the last of its kind."
His quip, paired with a light shrug, proved effective in distracting them from any further inquiries.
Anna felt her chest loosen, a silent breath escaping her before she even realized she had been holding it.
Her gaze lifted to his, gratitude evident in her eyes. She only hoped he saw it.
From the slight smirk that ghosted across his lips, from the way his gaze lingered on hers just a fraction longer than necessary, she suspected he had.
And for reasons she could not quite name, that realization sent a peculiar warmth rushing to her cheeks.
Hester, blissfully unaware of the silent exchange, clasped her hands together with renewed enthusiasm. "Come now, we must not dawdle! There is a most exquisite selection of porcelain dolls at the ceramics stall—Iinsistwe go at once!"
With little room for protest, she led them onward, her excitement proving infectious. Soon, they were perusing delicate figurines and charming trinkets, their afternoon marked by lighthearted conversation and a handful of small but meaningful purchases.
Among them, a dainty porcelain doll found its way into Anna's possession—a quaint memento of a day that had, against all odds, turned into one of unexpected pleasure.
And as they made their way back toward the carriages, Anna could not help but acknowledge a simple truth:
This had been one of the most pleasant outings she had had in quite some time.
And oddly, she felt all but content.
The following afternoon, Colin sat at his desk, his mind only half-engaged with the estate accounts before him. The study was quiet, save for the occasional scratch of his quill and the soft rustling of parchment. The stillness ought to have been soothing. Instead, it was stifling.
He clenched his jaw and pushed back from the desk, rolling the stiffness from his shoulders as he let his gaze drift toward the open French doors. The summer air drifted in, carrying with it the scent of the gardens, and for a moment, he considered stepping outside for a reprieve.
And then?—
He stilled.
Through the doors, a sight rooted him to the spot, tension coiling in his limbs like a drawn bowstring.
Anna.
Walking through the gardens.
With none other thanRoderick.
Colin's jaw tightened, his grip flexing against the arms of his chair. He watched as Anna moved with ease beside the man, the sunlight catching in her hair, her lips curved ever so slightly as she listened to something Roderick was saying. Whatever it was, it seemed to amuse her.
