Page 92 of Three Weeks with a Princess
Jack and his sister stopped to exchange greetings with their host and Sir Dominic, then made their way to join Lia and Gillian. As much as she hated to admit it, Lia was so anxious that she could barely think straight. She hadn’t seen Jack since that exceedingly fraught night at the Cyprians’ ball. To have his sister witness their meeting was utterly nerve-racking.
Jack gave her a wink and a smile, but it did nothing to calm her nerves. “Good afternoon, ladies. Your Grace, I’m sure you remember my sister, Lady Anne Kendall.”
“Indeed I do,” Gillian said dryly. She gave Jack’s sister a polite nod.
Lady Anne sank into a respectful curtsy. “Your Grace, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to speak with you. I wish to extend my sincere apologies to you and your husband for the most distressing episode that occurred at your ball. I deeply regret my mother’s behavior and the embarrassment it surely caused you.”
Gillian gave a casual wave. “I wasn’t embarrassed in the least. But I can’t say the same for my cousin and your brother.”
Lady Anne regarded Lia with a somber expression. “Yes, I know. I’d like to speak to Miss Kincaid about that, if she’ll let me.”
“Of course she’ll talk to you. She’s not an ogre, you know,” Jack said. He gave his sister a sardonic smile. “But I don’t think you two have ever been formally introduced, have you? Miss Kincaid, allow me to introduce you to my sister, Lady Anne Kendall.”
Lia dipped into a somewhat shaky curtsy. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Anne.”
At least her voice sounded relatively normal. Feeling awkward, she would have given anything to be back in her cozy bedroom at Bluebell Cottage, safe and secure under its welcoming—if leaky—eaves.
Lady Anne flashed Lia a lopsided smile that was all too familiar. In that moment, she looked very much like her big brother, her dark eyes friendly and surprisingly warm. “I very much doubt you consider it an honor, Miss Kincaid, and no one could blame you in the least.” Then she jabbed her brother in the arm. “As for formal introductions, you’re being idiotic, Jack. Miss Kincaid and I know exactly who we are. In fact, we’ve even exchanged a few words on occasion, have we not?”
“Um, yes, I suppose we have,” Lia said.
If you counted the stiltedhellosthey’d mumbled on the rare occasions they’d accidentally run into each other in the gardens or in the lane behind Bluebell Cottage. Lia had been under strict instructions from Lord Lendale to stay far away from the Easton family on their yearly visits, and she’d always feared that Lady Anne would report their encounters to her mother. But nothing had ever come of it.
“That’s news to me,” Jack said.
“We weren’t supposed to even acknowledge each other’s existence, or have you forgotten that?” his sister said. “And it was rather uncomfortable for both of us, as I recall.”
“As is this unfortunate encounter, I have no doubt,” he replied. “But you did insist on coming.”
“Lord and Lady Peckworth are my godparents,” Lady Anne explained to Lia. “They invited me to visit them while I was in London. When Jack told me he was coming here today, I thought I’d take the opportunity to see them and also talk with you.”
“It’s almost like a family reunion,” Gillian said in a droll tone. “What fun.”
“If your idea of fun is sticking a needle in your eye,” Jack said in blighting tones. “There is no way this is not going to end in disaster, thanks to Anne’s pigheadedness.” His sister merely grinned, which he obviously found annoying. “And don’t ask me to come to your rescue when Mother finds out about this. I’ll leave you to your well-deserved fate.”
That was a bit much, even if Jack was deservedly out of sorts. It couldn’t have been easy for Lady Anne to come here or to make a public apology to Gillian.
“Jack, stop being so mean to your sister,” Lia said.
“You’d be mean, too, if you had to put up with her antics,” he said. This time, though, his mouth curved in a smile of rueful affection.
When he tugged on one of the curls escaping from under Lady Anne’s dainty frippery of a hat, Lia’s stomach took a flop. He’d tugged on her ragtag curls many times over the years, in an intimate gesture she’d thought was reserved for her. How silly to think she was more important to him than his own sister. Jack had a real family, with bonds strengthened by blood, loyalty, and a shared history. Their curiosity of a relationship could never compare with that.
“That’s enough out of you, my lord,” Lady Anne said sternly. “Now, I would be most grateful if you took the duchess for a little stroll around the gardens so Miss Kincaid and I can have a chat.”
Jack’s gaze narrowed. “Anne, I really don’t think—”
Lia touched his arm. “I’m happy to hear whatever you sister wishes to say to me.”
“And to paraphrase you, dear brother, I’m not an ogre,” Lady Anne said. “But I do need to make my apologies to Miss Kincaid and I’d prefer to do so in private.”
Lia mentally frowned. Her ladyship had easily apologized to Gillian in front of an audience. Why did she need privacy now?
“Very well,” Jack said to his sibling. “But you’re not to upset her.”
When Lady Anne rolled her eyes at him, Lia was again struck by how much alike they were. They’d inherited the same dark good looks from their father, along with his easygoing charm. When Lady Anne stretched up and gave her brother a fleeting kiss on the cheek, it was another unwelcome reminder that Jack already had a family to which he owed his true allegiance and support.
“I know how much Miss Kincaid means to you, Jack,” Lady Anne said. “And I also know how fond our uncle was of her. I promise to treat her with the respect she deserves.”
