Page 65 of What's an Earl Gotta Do?
“And she thought you had refused me,” Michael said quietly.
“She must have, yes.” Anne’s face crumpled, and tears began to streak across her cheeks. “I could have married you,” she said, her voice breaking. “I could have spent every single day with you. My best friend. My favorite person in the whole world. And instead, I… I…”
He pulled her into his lap. “I know, Anne. Believe me, I know.”
They stayed that way for a while, with Michael stroking Anne’s back while she cried on his shoulder. Eventually the worst of her sobs subsided, and she sat up, accepting Michael’s handkerchief. “Come on,” she said, sliding off his lap. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter 24
They made the short drive back to Anne’s house mostly in silence. Anne did find the arm Michael wrapped around her shoulders comforting. She was still struggling to process everything he’d told her. It was probably a sin to think it, but a part of her was glad Wynters was dead. She could not imagine how she would have gone on with him as her husband had she found out about his deception while they had still been married. He had tricked her. He had taken her choices away. That blackguard.
Then there was the fact that Michael loved her! Anne peered up at him. He gave her a rueful half smile. She was starting to accept the truth of his feelings. It still felt unreal, but she knew Michael Cranfield almost as well as she knew her own self, and she could tell he was sincere.
What Anne was having a more difficult time processing were her own feelings. Did… did she love Michael, too? Of course she did, he was her best friend. But did she—
The carriage drew to a halt, and Anne shook her head to clear it. She could not dwell on these things right now.
She informed her two other footmen, Hugh and John, of the death of Nick and Johnny’s former master, then led Michael to the front parlor. She immediately pulled out paper and ink. She needed to write to a few of her contacts, ask if they’d heard anything…
Her train of thought was interrupted by the clearing of a throat. She glanced up to find Michael looming before her writing desk. “So. Anne.” He drew in a deep breath. “Now that I’ve explained myself better, I will go ahead and obtain a special license so we can marry with all possible haste.”
Anne sighed, laying down her pen. “I hope we can, Michael. But there are still things we need to discuss.”
“Such as?”
She steeled herself. “Such as where we would live. Now that you’ve seen the Ladies’ Society, surely you understand how critical my work is. That there are women and children depending on me.”
“I understand.”
Anne’s eyes flew to his. She felt hope bubbling up inside of her. “Then… does this mean you’re not planning to go back? To Canada?”
He set his jaw. “I do plan for us to go back to Canada.”
She blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and turned back to her letter. “Then we remain at an impasse.”
“Look, Anne,” he said, coming around the desk and taking her hand, “I know how important your charity work is. But my work in Canada is important, too. I’m going to be—”
“Lady Wynters.” Hugh appeared in the door bearing a letter on a silver tray. “This arrived for you while you were out.”
Anne unfolded the note.
* * *
I’ve heard you’re asking questions about the R.M.A. The rot goes deeper than you realize. If you want to learn more, meet me tonight at midnight in the alley behind the Red Lion Inn. I won’t speak to nobody but Lady Wynters, and don’t do nothing that will draw any notice, or I won’t come out.
* * *
“An informant has come forward.” Anne showed the note to Hugh. “Who brought this?”
“It was a boy,” Hugh said. “Not in livery. Just your standard delivery boy. I’m sorry, I didn’t question him, m’lady. I didn’t think nothing of it.”
“That’s all right, Hugh. Would you please go and fetch Sarah?”
Hugh bowed. “At once, m’lady.”
Michael wandered over to her desk and picked up the note. Anne rose and began pacing the library as plans started to form in her mind. “I’ll need something very plain to wear. Sarah can find me something.”
“Wait,” Michael said, “tell me you’re not even considering it.”
