Page 15 of Duke of Bronze
"Like fire and gunpowder," Fiona added, her grin positively wicked. "Perfectly explosive."
Anna could only gape at them as they carried on, thoroughly enjoying themselves atherexpense.
"I see you three have a collective death wish," she muttered, folding her arms as they giggled.
"Oh, do your worst, Anna," Fiona said sweetly, reaching over to pat her hand. "We know you adore us."
Anna rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips betrayed her as they twitched upward. And when her friends dissolved into laughter once more, she found herself—despite her better judgment—joining them.
When the time came to see them off, she escorted them to the door, bidding them farewell before turning back inside. Just as she did, her cousin Elizabeth was stepping through the entrance, unwinding her cloak.
"You are in remarkably good spirits," Elizabeth observed, looping her arm through Anna's as they made their way back to the drawing room.
"Oh? And here I thought you were about to tell me I had been sulking," Anna quipped.
Elizabeth gave her a sidelong glance, entirely unimpressed. "What am I to say when you have, in fact, been sulking?"
Anna scoffed. "What am I, Lizzy? A five-year-old?"
"Well," Elizabeth mused, tapping her chin as though considering the question in earnest, "at times, you throw tantrums grander than any child I have encountered."
Anna shot her cousin a pointed look before—unable to help herself—letting out a reluctant chuckle.
"I have sorted through all miscommunications and reached rather convenient arrangements regarding the matter," Anna reassured her.
"That is good news," Elizabeth said with a nod. "But I must warn you to be cautious, dearest," she added, her voice taking on an unfamiliar edge.
Anna frowned. "Why do you suddenly sound so dire, Lizzy?" This was unlike her cousin.Shewas the cynic, not Elizabeth or Margaret.
Elizabeth exhaled, folding her hands in her lap. "When society sinks its claws into something, there is always cause for alarm, is there not?"
Anna's brows drew together. The true worry in Elizabeth's gaze unsettled her, a slow unease curling in her stomach.
"Society?" Anna repeated. "What do you mean?"
Elizabeth regarded her. "Why, you must not have seen this morning's gossip sheet, then."
Anna stiffened. Of course there had beentalk, but surely?—
Lizzy cast an expectant glance around the drawing room. "Do you still keep the general correspondence and morning papers in the same place?"
Without waiting for an answer, she stood and made her way to the end table by the window.
"You know I do not care for the gossip sheets, Lizzy," Anna said, crossing her arms as if that might shield her from whatever nonsense was about to be revealed. "Aunt Petunia was the only one who paid them any mind, and I have hardly touched them since she married and left."
"Oh, the only reading Aunt Petunia ever did was those dreadful gossip sheets," Elizabeth said with a fond chuckle as she sifted through the neatly stacked letters and papers on the end table. "One might think she lived for the scandal alone."
"She did have a rather impressive knack for keeping account of everyone's affairs but her own."
"Ah! Here it is." Elizabeth extracted one of the papers and returned to Anna's side, unfolding it. "Read it."
Anna took the paper and let her gaze skim over the familiar printed lines. The moment her eyes caught sight of her name alongside Colin's, her fingers tightened around the edges of the sheet.
One must commend His Grace's generosity, though one must also wonder whether the Duke's interests lie solely in philanthropy.It would appear that Lady Anna has at last captured the attention of a gentleman bold enough to match her reputation. And what better suitor than the dashing and roguish Duke of Copperton?
The ton shall watch with great interest as this unexpected pair embarks on their arranged outings. Perhaps what began as an act of charity may yet lead to a courtship? Stranger things have happened in our dear London society.
"Oh, now they have taken things entirely too far." She tossed the paper onto her lap with a scowl. "I should pen a letter to the author and correct their delusions at once."
