Bernie thought she might melt into the wall. She’d never seen him this way before, so handsome, his blue eyes lit with something hot and his cheekbones prominent as he flexed his jaw. This was Chester the man—the side he never showed her.

  “Then kiss me.” She didn’t know where the words had come from, but they just sprang out.

  “If I kiss you it changes everything, our friendship, every interaction between us from here on out. There will be no going back.”

  “I know. But things have already changed. I can’t forget how hearing you offer for Anne made me feel.”

  He didn’t move and yet he was closer, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. She licked her lips, she’d seen many women do that to entice gentlemen.

  She grabbed the lapels of his jacket just in case he might change his mind.

  “Chester, I want you to kiss me.”

  He moved his head slightly, as if to shake his head, but just before Bernie lost all hope, he bent close, his lips brushing hers. She closed her eyes. It was the sweetest, briefest kiss she’d ever experienced. He pulled away and the line between his brows deepened. She took a breath, inhaling the scent of him. Had he ever been this close to her before? Had she ever looked this long into his eyes? There were so many flecks of silver inside them. It was mesmerizing.

  “What happens now?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.” And she truly didn’t. It was as though they’d stepped through a door into another world with that one kiss. She didn’t know what she should do now, but she started by releasing her grip on his jacket. He stepped back, still watching her.

  The awkwardness settled over them both, and Bernie pretended to be fascinated by the design in the carpet.

  Chapter 28

  Anne didn’t know how she got to the floor, but when Roderick pulled away, she was looking at the ceiling. How long had they been in here? Her hair was mussed, but they’d only been kissing and talking, so her clothes weren’t in too much disarray.

  Roderick sat back on his haunches, looking weary.

  “You should go back to bed,” Anne said as she sat up.

  “We should be married as soon as possible,” he replied.

  “Yes, but it can wait until you’re feeling better.”

  “We can be in Scotland in four hours.”

  Anne giggled. “Or you could rest today, and we can go to Scotland tomorrow.”

  “I can’t wait another day.”

  “You can. I don’t want you collapsing before you say your vows to me. Besides, what is the harm in waiting a bit longer? We can announce our engagement then plan a wedding right here at home.”

  “But…the baby?”

  “Will arrive at its proper time no matter what we do. There will be no hiding that the timing is not proper. What could we do?”

  He sighed. “I suppose you’re right. But I still don’t want to wait.”

  Anne tucked a lock of his hair behind his ear. “We have forever now. What’s another day, or another week?”

  “Plenty of time for disaster to befall us.”

  “You worry. I’ve experienced plenty of disasters and look where I am now?”

  He raised a brow. “Engaged to a drunkard?”

  “But I’m engaged,” she said with a grin. “And he’s no longer a drunkard, and he’s devilishly handsome.”

  They both leaned forward to kiss when a knock fell on the door.

  “Go away,” Roderick barked.

  “It’s my parlor and I’ve given you plenty of time to compromise her. You better have good news to tell me when I enter this room.” The knob turned and Violet marched in.

  Anne gasped. “I thought I’d locked it.”

  “It’s broken,” Violet replied, appearing out of breath. “Now, anything pertinent to tell me?”

  Roderick grinned. “We’re engaged, dear sister.”

  Violet squealed and hugged both of them, followed by Chester and Bernie.

  Anne looked after Roderick longingly as Chester helped him back to his room.

  “We shall have a special dinner tonight to announce the happy news,” Violet said.

  “Only if Roderick feels able to attend,” Anne said.

  “Of course! And we shall invite your parents and have the Kings Hall prepared for dancing.”

  Anne smiled. She’d been smiling so much her cheeks hurt.

  But even though Roderick now knew her secret and they were engaged, she still had to tell her family.

  On the bright side, she was engaged to a wealthy lord, but that lord was Roderick, a man her family believed her to hate. How could she begin to explain her pregnancy and engagement to them?

  “Perhaps we should wait a bit longer?” Anne said.

  “Why?” Bernie and Violet asked in unison.

  “I want to tell them myself first, privately. This will come as quite a shock, and I’d feel like I was ambushing them.”

  Bernie groaned. “Not more secrets.”

  “Just for a little while longer,” Anne begged.

  “Very well. It will give me more time to plan a marvelous event.”

  Anne smiled her thanks, but inside she was nervous.

  * * *

  The following day Roderick rejoined the party. No one had questions about his mysterious illness. He was tired, but he ate solid food for his breakfast and drank two cups of Sonam’s tea. He was exhausted, but he could sit upright, and his hands didn’t shake. He’d resumed his previous schedule that had worked before, and this time, he knew Anne would be by his side.

  The planned excursion for the day was a tea hosted by Chester’s mother, The Marchioness of Kirkland. It would be a large gathering with guests of Lady Kirkland in the midst. Roderick was not looking forward to it. Lady Kirkland had been throwing women at him for years, convinced he only needed a woman’s influence to settle him down. Roderick suspected she would not approve of that woman being Anne. Roderick considered Chester one of his closest friends, but his parents were snobs, typical classists who believed that wealthy aristocrats should only marry wealthy aristocrats. They were polite enough to their poorer neighbors but never considered them equals. Lady Kirkland would never offer to host the Marsden daughters if it weren’t for his mother’s influence. She’d made that clear when she’d refused to sponsor seasons for Anne and Bernie years ago. His father had been alive then and had forbidden his mother to do the same.

  Roderick climbed into the open barouche beside Anne and took her hand. She promptly tugged it back as his mother and Violet joined them.

  “What the devil?” he whispered to her.

  “We haven’t been announced as engaged. I told Violet we would wait.”

  Roderick curled his lip. “What for?”

  “I wanted to tell my family myself.”

  “So, tell them. We can stop on the way to Kirkland.”

  “No, I will tell them when I’m ready to. Alone.”

  He grimaced.

  “Dear are you still unwell?” his mother asked.

  Roderick folded his arms. “No. I’m aggravated.”

  “Why?” his mother demanded.

  “I’m engaged, about to be a father, and I can’t even hold my intended’s hand.”

  “What!” his mother screeched, startling the horses.

  Anne covered her face and Violet glared daggers at Roderick.

  He grimaced and rubbed his neck. “Oh. I gather neither of you know.”

  His mother reached across the barouche and whacked his knee with her fan. “What the devil did you just say?”

  Violet folded her arms and huffed. “You have to tell us now. It seems you’ve been keeping quite a bit to yourselves.”

  “I’m sorry,” Roderick said, and he turned to Anne. “I thought at least they would know.”

  Anne folded her arms, her cheeks glaringly red. “You may as well tell them.”

  “Anne?” the dowager duchess said. “You are carrying Roderick’s child?”

  “Yes, Your Grace. And we intend to marry, but I wanted to tell my family before it was announced to everyone.”

  The dowager duchess glared at Roderick. “And when were you going to tell me?”

  He shrugged. “I assumed Violet had.”

  She twisted toward Violet. “Well, what were you waiting for?”

  “I knew about the engagement only yesterday, and I was respecting Anne’s wishes. I didn’t know about the baby.”

  The dowager duchess pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so happy for you both,” she said.

  “Really?” Roderick asked. “Because it doesn’t appear so. You did hear the part about the baby, didn’t you? You’re going to be a grandmother just as you wished.”

  “Yes, I did hear and believe me, if we weren’t on our way to Kirkland, I’d demand champagne for everyone and be crying tears of joy. But I am hurt that this important news was kept from me and worried about how it will affect the sisters.”

  Roderick stared silently at his mother. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’m sorry, Your Grace,” Anne said.

  Roderick could hear the hurt in her voice. He put his arm around her. He didn’t care whether he ought to or not. What should have been a happy announcement was now sad. She didn’t scold him this time.

  His mother reached across and squeezed Anne’s hand.

  “I’m so proud you will be joining my family—surprised—but proud. You are an exceptional young woman, Anne.”

  Anne wiped her own eyes. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  “We will celebrate this properly, but first we must endure Lady Kirkland’s snobbery, and I cannot express enough how vital it is to keep your wonderful news a secret to protect your sisters from slander. Lady Kirkland is a leader in society. She has the power to ruin your sisters’ chances for marrying well. There will be more gentlemen at this party for them to meet, and they must make a good impression.”

  “I understand,” Anne said.

  Roderick did not like the forlorn tone of her voice. He tucked her against his side until they drew close to Kirkland, and he had to let her go. His mood was black now, and he knew Anne was about as happy as a pig on the spit.

  They couldn’t act engaged at this party, but he’d be damned if he had to act like he wasn’t courting her. He’d personally see that she enjoyed every moment of it.

  They were introduced to Lady Kirkland’s small group of guests and led to the east lawn where tents, tables, and chairs had been set. Lawn bowling was provided as well as other games for the younger set to enjoy together.

  Anne was separated from him by her sisters, anxious to begin a game of lawn bowling when Lady Kirkland cornered him with one of her guests, Lady Elain, her niece, daughter to the Earl of Halfrost.

  “Lord Roderick, I’ve yet to introduce you to me niece, Lady Elain. She’s just recently returned from a tour of the continent.”

  “We’ve met,” Roderick replied.

  “Oh!” Lady Kirkland said, tittering. “How forgetful of me. Then you won’t mind filling a plate for her while I see to my other guests.” Lady Kirkland swiftly abandoned them.

  Roderick glared after her.

  “Not very subtle, is she?” Lady Elain purred. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Have you?” Roderick said absently.

  “Your reputation precedes you.”

  “Lovely.

  She laughed huskily. “I’m tired of tea and lemon water. Shall we go find my uncle’s study and sip something more…satisfying?”

  Roderick pinned her with a bored stare. “I love tea. Tea is the water of life.”

  She blinked at him. “Oh?”

  “Tea is like licking the dew off rose petals as dawn breaks over the sky. Tea is like—”

  “Please excuse me, I hear my aunt calling for me.”

  She bolted away, and Roderick grinned.

  His brother came to his side. “I saw what Lady Kirkland was trying to do. What the devil did you say to Lady Elain?”

  “I told her how much I love tea.” Roderick said. He took a sandwich off the plate his brother held and took a bite.

  Weirick frowned. “That was for Violet.”

  “Have you seen Anne? I should make her a plate.”

  “She already has a plate, and she’s sitting over there under a that tree.” Weirick pointed.

  Roderick headed straight toward her and seeing his intent gaze, no one stopped him. He stopped by Anne’s chair where a youngish fop was sitting and stared at him until he grew uncomfortable and moved.

  He claimed the seat and Anne raised a brow at him, but she said nothing as she popped another tiny square of cucumber sandwich in her mouth.

  “You look to be enjoying that sandwich.”

  She nodded and then swallowed. “I didn’t realize I was so hungry.”

  Roderick grinned. He wanted to touch her, to run his hand over her stomach, and connect with the life that was growing there, but he couldn’t.

  He made the other guests uncomfortable enough that one by one they left the table. That was when Violet came to them and took the chair at his side.

  “Roderick, I’ve heard whispers about your odd behavior. Something about an unnatural love for tea?”

  Anne had finished her last sandwich and raised a brow at him. “Tea?”

  “Tea was only a metaphor.”

  “Are you spouting poetry again?” Violet frowned.

  “Spouting poetry?” Anne asked.

  “She’s quiet as a starless night…” Violet teased.

  Roderick blushed.

  Anne blushed too. “Where did you hear that?”

  “He recited it to me the night of ball for him when I met you, Anne. Don’t you remember?”

  Anne shook her head.

  “I knew then that he”—Violet looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear—“that he had feelings for you. The poem was about you.”

  “She knows that now,” Roderick said. He rubbed the back of his neck. It felt like ants were crawling up his skin.

  “Did you ever finish it?” Violet asked.

  “I did.”

  “Well, let us hear it?” she asked with a teasing grin.

  “No.”

  Violet pouted. “I’ve been helping you. Your mother is angry with me for keeping secrets. If it were not for me, this house party wouldn’t have happened.”

  He scowled at her then he nodded. “You’re right. You have been a large part of my ability to win Anne. If I haven’t said it yet, thank you.”

  “I second that, thank you for all your help,” Anne added.

  Violet grinned at Anne and him. “You are both very welcome.”

  Chapter 29

  Roderick stayed by Anne’s side, which kept curious gentlemen away. She didn’t seem to mind, in fact, she was smiling at him most affectionately, but that may be because he repeatedly brought her sweets. They watched her sisters interact with the guests, and Roderick was pleased to see Lady Kirkland treating Anne’s sisters well. Chester came to join them at the table, and Anne offered him a cookie from her full plate.

  “Have you seen Bernie?” he asked.

  “No,” Roderick said. Then a brilliant idea struck. “Shall we go look for her?” he immediately tried to stand.

  Chester waved him down. “Don’t bother. She’s avoiding me.”

  “I didn’t say you had to come,” Roderick muttered.

  “Why is she avoiding you?” Anne asked. “Is she still angry about your offer?”

  He shifted in his seat. “No. We moved passed that.”

  “Please excuse me, I need to find the ladies room,” Anne said.

  “I’ll escort you,” Roderick leapt to his feet.

  Anne frowned at him. “I don’t need an escort. Don’t hover.”

  “The Marsden women don’t like to be hovered over,” Chester said.

  “I’ll hover as I damn please,” Roderick said and stood. He didn’t dog her heels, but he did make it into the drawing room to wait for her, knowing how close the lady’s room was to it. Chester followed him, and like a specter, Lady Kirkland appeared.

  “Oh excellent. Both of you are needed. I cannot find the chaperones for the girls. Come at once,” she said, clearly frazzled.

  Chester and Roderick followed with concern. They went to Lord Kirkland’s study where Lord Kirkland stood, with Bernie and an unknown gentleman siting in the chairs before the desk.

  Roderick halted in the doorway, the sight of Bernie there, shoulders slumped, sending a chill down his spine.

  His hackles rose as he saw the other gentleman holding a bloody handkerchief to his nose.

  “What happened?” Chester spoke before Roderick could.

  “It seems affections got a little out of hand in the fountain maze,” Lord Kirkland said. “I expected the duchess, not you, son.

  “I couldn’t find either the duchess or the duke.” Lady Kirkland wrung her hands.

  “You aren’t needed here, Tiberius. You may go.” Lord Kirkland said to his son.

  Roderick’s hackles rose. “I will take responsibility for Miss Marsden.”

  Lady Kirkland gasped. “You cannot marry her!”

  “I didn’t mean marriage, I meant in place of my brother or my mother or Violet. I am responsible for her wellbeing.”

  Bernie snorted and Roderick glared at her. “What happened?”

  The unknown gentleman began to speak but one glance from Roderick and he quieted.

  Chester squatted before Bernie. “What happened?”

  “He cornered me and tried to kiss me,” Bernie answered.

  “This doesn’t concern you, son,” Lord Kirkland interrupted.

  Chester stood and faced his father. “The wellbeing of my friend doesn’t concern me?”

  “This is delicate, and you are too close to her as it is. Mr. Rupert will do the honorable thing, won’t you?” Lord Kirkland turn toward the young lord.

  “I won’t marry that lout,” Bernie said. “It was an attempted kiss.”

  Mr. Rupert stood. “You can’t make me marry her. Everyone knows she’s a poor country lightskirt.”

  Roderick moved to grab the rogue, but Chester was quicker. He punched him right in the jaw, and the lad fell like a stingless puppet.