Love's Misadventure (The Mason Siblings Series Book 1) (29 page)

He nodded with a grin. “Do you recall our last game of chess?”

“As I recall, I trounced you.” She laughed.

“You did. I also promised you a prize.” He looked pointedly at the ring. “I had it especially made with our favourite spot in mind. Now you can enjoy the blossoms even when they are not in bloom.”

“Oh, Lane…”

She moved to kiss him once more, but he halted her. “If you wouldn’t mind, Anna,” he grimaced, “I would prefer to keep our engagement clandestine until I have the opportunity to speak with your father.”

Her chest swelled with joy as she smiled into his concerned gaze. “Of course, Lane.”

His expression cleared and he swooped in for a kiss. It began slow, but built ever more passionately, until he had lowered her back onto the bed.

* * *

Lane awoke sometime later as the predawn light lent a milky glow to Anna’s bedchamber. Memories of the night flashed through his mind’s eye.

Anna’s pretty blushes, her sighs and moans of delight. The first time had been fast, hard, and powerful. Perfect to slake their lust. But the second…the second time had been slow, leisurely. He’d taken his time tasting every inch of her, bringing her to peak with his lips and tongue. It had been an utterly arousing experience, and one he would never forget.

Anna’s mantle clock ticked loudly, forcing Lane to recognize the danger of tarrying any longer. The household staff would rouse soon, and he daren’t be caught.

He willed his body to calm as he turned to look at Anna. Her eyes were closed in slumber, her eyelashes dark crescents on her flushed cheeks. He could scarcely believe his good fortune.

I am engaged to be married! To Anna!
A smile cracked his lips, and his heart skipped several beats.

He would send Mr. Bradley a missive after the Parliament meetings to request an audience with him. But for now, he must return home.

It took mere minutes for him to gather his clothes, dress, and slink from the room.

Chapter 35

Anna gazed at her reflection in the looking glass above her dressing table as Marie styled her hair. She’d hidden the beautiful ring Lane had given her among her jewellery, to be worn only when out of sight from her family. She could scarcely believe Lane had proposed! What a wondrous feeling!

She had slept remarkably well after the…
activities
of last evening. Lane had done something with his tongue, that… She fought a blush as Marie tugged on a lock of hair. Goodness, she should not think of such things, enjoyable though they were.

She took a deep breath to calm her suddenly racing heart. They should wait until they were wed before they continued to enjoy the delights of the bedchamber, but Anna could not resist the pull of desire to be with the man. What more could possibly occur? She was already
enceinte
, for pity’s sake.

The sound of birds chirping happily floated in through the window, and Anna grinned. It was a bright, sun-filled day, and she intended to enjoy it fully.

“There you are, Miss Bradley. Pretty as a picture, as always.” Marie smiled at her as Anna stood to examine her reflection in the tall mirror.

She wore her pale-pink morning dress, which brightened the colour in her cheeks, and her hair was fashionably styled with coils and ringlets bouncing about. Her body appeared smaller than her ordinarily plump shape, which was distressing. Her nausea, and constant fear while being engaged to Lord Boxton, had caused her to lose the soft edges to her frame. She rather missed them.

She turned with a smile, while her stomach ached with hunger pangs. “Thank you, Marie.”

Anna hurried down to the morning room, but paused before she opened the door. The rumble of her father’s and Charles’ voices and the higher lilts of her mother’s came from the other side. Nervousness gripped her. Since learning of her increasing state, Papa had been both disapproving and frequently absent. Anna knew not which he disliked more, her refusal to reveal the father of her baby or the simple fact that she was no longer a maiden.

Mama had been surprisingly compassionate and understanding, however, about which Anna was supremely relieved.

She rolled her shoulders, took a deep breath, and pushed open the morning room door.

“Anna, dear!” Mama beamed from her seat to the right of the table’s head. “Good morning!”

Anna smiled hesitantly. “Good morning, Mama. Papa.”

Her father scarcely glanced at her over his morning paper.

A little disheartened, Anna turned to Charles who sat on the other side of Papa. “Good morning, Charles.”

He sent her an apologetic smile and a bright “Good morning” as she passed him on her way to the sideboard.

The aroma of the morning meal lightened her disposition. She selected a plate and piled it high with ham, eggs, toast, and fresh fruit. Anna took a deep, appreciative breath as she returned to the table.

“I see that your appetite has returned, Annabel.” Tentative relief flowed through her as Papa eyed the food on her plate.

“Yes,” she admitted. “This morning, I awoke feeling refreshed and quite ravenous.”

“That is wonderful, my dear.” Mama smoothed a silver strand of her hair and patted Anna’s hand, an enthused smile on her wrinkled lips.

“Whatever has you so animated this morning, Mama? Has a new shipment of fans been delivered to—”

The newssheet appeared before her eyes, and her gaze flicked up to Charles, who wore a scowl fit to rival Mama’s exuberance.

Her gaze flicked about the table, worry gnawing at her. “What has happened?
”

“Read this column.” Charles reached across the table and pointed to the opened newspaper before her.

Her heart pounded as she read the article heading. It was a review of the Scarsdales’ ball last evening. She continued reading.

It was an event-filled evening last night at the beautifully bedecked Scarsdale masked ball. The costumes were creative and colourful…

Anna scanned down the column past the dresses and attendance.

By far the most interesting—and
scandalous
—event of the evening was the hasty announcement, by Lord B and Lady J, of their impending nuptials. This came as quite a shock to the members of society, as most were already anticipating the upcoming wedding of Lord B and Miss A. B.

Lady J already has an infamous past filled with shocking, hoydenish behaviour and illicit liaisons, or so gossip has told us. Could this unfortunate circumstance bring Lord B lower on the proverbial social ladder? This columnist believes so.

But we must think of the woman he left behind. It must have been something of a surprise to Miss A. B. as she reportedly fled the ball on the arm of her brother, the strapping Major B, and Lord D, after coming upon the unsightly scene of her intended and Lady J
en flagrante delicto.

* * *

Anna gasped. “How could they have known it was us?”

“I daresay we were difficult to miss upon exiting,” Charles growled. “Or it could have been Lady Freeman. She could very easily have guessed our identities and spread the word around the ballroom of not only what she had seen, but our involvement, as well.”

Fear swiftly replaced the elation she had felt this morning.

“Could this not mean that Lord Boxton will know that we were behind the ill-timed exposure of his depravities and subsequent engagement? Do you not fear that he will take his anger and disappointment out on—” She broke off, unable to voice her fears.

Mama wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Do not worry, my dear. We will keep Charles indoors today as the excitement settles.”

Charles shook his head. “I am afraid that is impossible. I have a luncheon appointment that I cannot miss.” He paused to send a pointed look at Anna. “If your next inquiry is regarding Lane, he will also be unable to remain indoors, as Parliament is in session today.”

Charles had assured her that they would have nothing to fear from Lord Boxton, or his “eyes,” but without learning the details of his plan, Anna could not be certain of its veracity. She must send a missive to Lane.

“Stay safe, Charles.”

He nodded, one cheek puffed with an overlarge mouthful of food.

She cleared her throat, dropping the paper to the table. “I assume that Charles has enlightened you both as to the events of last evening?” She swallowed convulsively. “And the reasoning behind it?”

A shadow of anger covered them.

Papa leaned forward, seemingly incensed. “Yes, Anna. Charles informed us of Lord Boxton’s despicable behaviour. I must say that I am both shocked and appalled. I wish that I had known; I would have refused to allow his courtship of you. The man is a disreputable blackguard, and I am glad to be rid of him.”

“Thank you, Papa.”

“I am greatly displeased that you did not inform me of your attendance at the Scarsdales’ ball last eve. I had not even known that we’d received an invitation until Charles mentioned it this morn.”

Mama took a sip of her tea while Charles and Anna muttered their apologies.

“Was it as beautiful as the columnist implied?” she asked.

Anna swallowed a mouthful of food before replying. “Yes, Mama, it was quite resplendent.”

“Tell me, what did you wear?”

“My emerald evening gown with a black domino.”

Her mother scoffed. “Such a simple costume for such a grand event?”

Anna had thought that it accentuated her generous curves rather well, plain though it was.

Charles dabbed at his lips with a napkin and placed it beside his empty plate. “I fear I must leave you.” He stood and replaced his chair beneath the table, then sketched a bow. “Good day to you all.”

Anna squelched her nervous anxiety and bid Charles a good day as he quit the room. Would Lord Boxton accept his fate with Lady Juliana, or would he attempt to seek retribution by following through with his threats?

She finished her breakfast, not out of a desire for food but for mere distraction, as her mother discussed her latest shopping excursion and teas with her acquaintances. Papa read the paper silently before retreating to the library. Finally, Anna had concluded breaking her fast and excused herself from the table.

In the interest of saving time, Anna sped to her brother’s study. She procured a piece of parchment and a quill and sat at his desk to pen a note to Lane.

Dearest Lane,

I assume that you have read the paper this morning, but in the event that you missed the gossip column, I felt the need to warn you. Our names were revealed in connection to the events of the Scarsdales’ ball last eve, which concerns me greatly. Please be cautious in your activities today, as I fear that Lord Boxton might seek to make good on his threats.

On a more pleasant note, I am
always
pleased to have your company, no matter the hour.

All yours, with love,

Anna

Anna grinned as she blotted and folded the missive. It was so naughty of her to be so forthright in her desire for Lane. Perhaps she was a hoyden, after all. She sealed it with her brother’s wax and seal.

As she was about to stand, a letter on Charles’ desk caught her eye. She ran a finger over the intricate seal at the bottom of the page.
Who in heaven’s name could this be from?
The letter was not signed, and the words on the page were nonsensical. She squinted at the delicate writing for several long moments before she shrugged. Charles had some very peculiar friends, evidently.

She strode from her brother’s study and down the corridor into the foyer. An unfamiliar footman stood by the door, and she smiled at him. “Would you have this delivered to Lord Devon, please?”

“Right away, Miss Bradley.” He sketched a bow and left to do her bidding.

In a mere matter of minutes, Anna was settled on the cushioned window seat in the family parlour with a book in her hands. She had come to sit on this very seat as a young girl during the season. She had never truly enjoyed routs, soirées, balls, fêtes, or teas, but had vastly preferred the company of a good book. Or Lane.

Such was fine with her. She rather enjoyed her life, without Lord Boxton in it.

She settled herself comfortably and began to read.

Anna did not know how much time had elapsed since she began, but all too soon a knock sounded at the door. She looked up as the door crept open and one of their downstairs maids entered.

“I apologize for the interruption, Miss Bradley, but this just came for you.” Henrietta came forward and handed a sealed missive to Anna.

Her heart leapt as she recognized Lane’s handwriting. “Thank you.”

“If I may, miss, luncheon has been prepared. Would you care for a tray?”

“I will take my luncheon in the dining room, if it is not too much trouble.”

“Oh, it is no trouble at all, miss. I will have it set out directly.”

“Thank you, Henrietta.”

The maid bobbed a curtsey and left the room. As the door closed, Anna eagerly tore the seal and opened the missive.

My lovely Annabel,

I appreciate your concern with regards to my safety. I assure you, I remain safe.

As I am sure you are aware, Parliament is in session today, which I shall attend. But you have my word that I shall send you a missive when I return home so you are assured that I am well.

I am delighted that you enjoy my company, as I am rather addicted to yours. I must warn you that I intend to visit more frequently.

All my love,

Lane

Anna’s heart fluttered as she folded the missive. She hadn’t truly thought that he would risk their being caught just to visit her in the night again. A quiver of anticipation rippled through her abdomen at the thought. He must feel for her what she felt for him.

Tonight, she would be ready for him.

Chapter 36

The afternoon moved just as swiftly as the morning. Anna ate a plentiful luncheon, bathed, then sat, inelegantly slumped, in her favoured armchair in her bedchamber.