page13 (1/2)

Even if Papa intervened to safeguard her cousin fro into some impropriety, it was likely that A the two This would un to act upon it, her new-minted intention to avoid Mr Anders

Unfortunately, the prospect didn’t alarht to

Which should’ve put her on her guard Not only was she as vulnerable as Althea to having her reputation daentleman, she’d had a potent lesson on the terrace in just how easy it was to fall under his spell Tantalising as she—still, alas—found the notion of kissing hierously easy to be lured into improper behaviour

Intriguing Andersit, she had no intention of throwing away her lifelong drea herself with a landless gentleree, a well- smile

So she would just have to resist him Upon that fir his sherry Beside his chair, sipping a sherry of his own, stood Mr Anders

Another of those annoying thrills rippled through her

Willing it away, she noted he was properly attired in plain black evening dress, with a white-figured waistcoat beneath a modestly intricate cravat With an inward sh his garb was simple, it ell cut and obviously of superior quality—and on hiant simplicity looked splendid

She realised she was staring yet again and jerked her gaze away Just then, the door opened and, in a flurry of apologies for her lateness, Althea hurried in

‘As you see, our guest is finally able to join us this evening,’ Lord Bronning informed them as she bent to kiss his cheek ‘A worthy of the occasion Mr Anders, you’ve hter, Miss Neville Allow me to present h she is not officially out As you see, we don’t stand on forenial smile faded a bit ‘After the events of last summer, we treasure those still left to us’

‘It’s I who a included,’ Mr Anders replied

Bows and curtsies exchanged, Amanda was about to take Anders’s are strolled in She felt a pang of both resenthtened upon realising that his son and heir had deigned to dine with them

Fortunately, she was relieved to note, along with bestowing upon thee taken the trouble to remain sober, don fresh, crisply starched linen and wear proper evening dress, rather than show up still in riding breeches, as he had on several previous occasions

It was Althea who offended propriety, dashing over to seize Mr Anders’s ar to reprih Mr Anders would knoell as she did that, as the highest-ranking lady present, it was her responsibility to escort in their guest— Aritted her teeth and took her father’s arm

Her irritation over Althea’s lapse was ood behaviour Instead of relass, as he had on the handful of other evenings he’d chosen to dine at hoe roused himself to enquire of his father how he had spent his day, then followed up by asking several quite intelligent questions about the state of the fields and cattle Her heart twisted anew to observe how eagerly Papa responded to just the slightest indication of interest from his heir

Poor Papa, who’d worked so tirelessly to exact a good return fro soil, deserved to turn over his acres to sohtness in her chest

Still, the feeble interest George was now displaying was greater than she could re upon any other recent occasion Had her jobation of the other evening provoked some results after all?

Whatever the cause, George had definitely set hi with Papa, he took a few minutes to tease Althea, who couldn’t seem to decide whether to be flattered or annoyed by this unexpected interest, before turning to Mr Anders to politely enquire after his health and add a compliment about his recent naval service

‘You’re to report to the Coastal Brigade station?’ George was asking ‘Will you be working with the revenue cutters based there?’

‘I’h to man a tiller or haul a sail, but once I’ve recovered sufficiently to be of h I understand Lord Engle to obtain h to lendthe local trade’