Lily looked perfect as always. Her black hair piled high atop her head, her violet eyes sparkling. Her sister had never appeared better. She had a rosy glow in her cheeks, a jaunty step, and a true smile that Annie hadn’t seen in years. Not since before Lily’s marriage to the old Earl of Merrill. The man had subsequently died, and, despite their marriage contract, had left Lily nearly penniless.
And Lily had gained a bit of weight now that she didn’t have the worries of supporting a household including Annie, Mary, Evans, and the two dogs on practically no income. Her sister glowed with another radiance too, that of being completely in love with her new husband, Lord Colton.
The footmen were hurriedly unloading the trunks from Devon’s coach. The conveyance had pulled to a stop in front of the grand town house. Lily and Devon had just swept through the front doors.
Annie stayed in Lily’s arms and nodded to Devon. “Very good to see you, my lord.” She smiled through her tears of joy.
“Good to see you, Anne,” Devon replied with a wink and a nod.
Aunt Clarissa, bags packed, kissed her nephew and his new wife. “I do hope you’ll forgive my rudeness, dears, but I’m in an awfully large hurry to be home.”
“Not to worry, Aunt Clarissa,” Devon replied. “I’ve already given the coachman orders.”
Lily nodded to the older lady. “Thank you so much for serving as chaperone while I was away, Aunt Clarissa.”
Annie prayed the woman didn’t mention anything about a stay at a certain country house or anything else to do with Jordan Holloway for that matter. “Good-bye, Aunt Clarissa. And thank you,” she said, waving.
“Remember my recommendation, dear,” Aunt Clarissa said, winking at Annie. Annie hid her smile, and thankfully, the older woman was gone without another word. The next thing Annie knew, the dogs, Leopold and Bandit, were rushing around Lily’s feet, distracting her sister from asking what in the world Aunt Clarissa had meant by that last remark.
“I see these two missed you, my dear,” Devon said, gesturing to the dogs and squeezing his wife’s hand. He so obviously adored Lily.
Lily bent down and scooped up both squirming pups into her arms. “My Bandit and my Leo,” she said, burying her face in their fur and letting Bandit, who was known to be a shameless licker, scour her face with little dog kisses.
Annie cleared her throat. She’d decided to wait a bit before introducing her sister to the newest member of their household, Dash.
Evans and Nicholls were beside themselves with glee, obviously pleased to have their master and mistress back in town and enjoying every moment of seeing that their trunks were put to rights by ordering the footmen about.
“Oh, how I’ve missed a good English tea,” Lily breathed.
Devon kissed her on the head. “I must attend to some business right away, but I’ll see you both tonight for dinner,” he said. “Besides, I’m sure you two have quite a lot to talk about.”
Devon winked at Lily and excused himself. He strode off toward his study and Lily watched him go with a wistful smile on her face.
“Tea shall be served momentarily, my lady,” Evans intoned in his most formal butlerlike voice.
Lily nodded. “Thank you, Evans. Very good to see you again. I trust you have been well.”
“Very well, thank you, my lady.” Evans couldn’t suppress the smug smile he tossed at Nicholls.
“Come, come,” Annie said, pulling her sister into the salon. “You must tell me absolutely everything about your holiday.”
While Evans served tea, the sisters settled onto the settee in the salon. Leo and Bandit curled into balls at their feet. Lily pushed her hands down her skirts and smiled. “What would you like to hear about first?”
Annie clapped her hands. “Oh, everything. Which was your favorite city? What food did you enjoy the most? How did you find Paris?”
Lily put up her hands as if to ward off her sister’s barrage of questions. “Just a moment.” She laughed. “One question at a time. Let’s see. I believe Venice was my very favorite.”
Annie snapped her mouth shut. Venice? The city where Jordan met his mistress. Oh, why did she have to remember such a detail at a time like this? She shook her head and focused her attention back on Lily. Her sister had been gone for weeks. She deserved Annie’s full devotion. This had nothing to do with Jordan Holloway.
“What was Venice like?” Annie closed her eyes trying to picture the grandeur of the famous floating Italian city.
One hour later, full of tea and biscuits, Annie had learned to her complete dismay that
everything
apparently had to do with Jordan. The stories of the food in Paris reminded her of the delectable meals at Jordan’s house in the country. They had been prepared by the French chef he employed. The story of a ride through the valleys of Tuscany reminded Annie of their romantic ride to the lake on Jordan’s property. The stories of the fashions in Paris reminded Annie of what a dashing figure Jordan always cut whether he was wearing riding attire or evening attire.
Blast it. The man was in her head. She’d so been hoping that a bit of time and distance, seeing Lily and returning to her old routine, would make everything all right again, but as Lily chattered on about her wedding expedition, all Annie could think about was Jordan Holloway.
“Aren’t you going to answer me?”
Annie turned to meet her sister’s gaze. “What was that?”
Apparently, her tales had come to an end and Lily had discovered Annie daydreaming. “I asked what happened here while I was away?”
Annie gulped. “Oh, not so very much,” she demurred, occupying herself with refilling her teacup. “More tea?”
Lily narrowed her eyes on her sister, but she nodded at the mention of the tea. “Come now, we’ve been gone for a month, surely
something
interesting happened here during that time.”
Annie tapped her finger against her cheek for a moment. “Yes, why yes, it did.”
Lily leaned in closer. “Tell me.”
“I rescued a fox.”
Lily scrunched up her nose and tilted her head to the side. “A fox?”
“Yes. His name is Dash and he had a wounded paw. I found him in Hyde Park of all places. Can you believe it?”
“And you brought him home?”
“He’s just a kit, Lily. I couldn’t leave him there to limp around the park. Now, I’ve every reason to suspect
you
shall allow me to keep him, but we must concoct a plan to convince Devon that he can stay.”
Lily smiled. “Hmm.” This time she tapped her finger against her cheek. “Let me think on it, but in the meantime, go get Dash. I must see him.”
Annie rang for Evans. “Evans, be a dear and ask Mary to come. She’ll want to see Lily. Ask her to bring Dash with her.”
Evans nodded and hurried off to do Annie’s bidding.
Lily turned her attention back to her sister. “Now, tell me, Anne. How did
you
get on while we were away?”
Uh-oh. She should have been the one to go get Dash. Annie put the back of her hand to her forehead in a feigned expression of long suffering. “Oh, it was difficult, to be sure, but somehow I managed.”
Lily pushed Annie’s shoulder lightly. “Did you allow Aunt Clarissa and Mary to escort you when you left the house?”
“Sometimes.”
Lily gave her a disapproving look. “And did Jordan pay you a visit every now and then to see how you were getting on? He promised me he would, you know,” she said with a sly smile.
Annie pulled at the throat of her day dress. Was it hot in the salon of a sudden? “I … why … yes … I … encountered Lord Ashbourne … from time to time.” She took a shaky sip of tea.
Lily nodded. “Glad to hear it.”
Annie breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God her sister appeared to be finished with the topic. But Lily’s next question nearly stopped Annie’s heart. “And no more mischief with Mr. Eggleston?”
Annie’s teacup clattered to the saucer. “Mischief? What
are
you implying?”
Lily folded her hands in her lap. Anyone other than Annie wouldn’t have noticed the small gesture. But their mother had always folded her hands in her lap when she was displeased yet wanted to remain in perfect control.
Here it came.
“I think you know what I mean, Anne.” Lily arched her brow in that older-sister way of hers.
Annie bit her lip. “I did see Mr. Eggleston upon occasion, if that’s what you’re asking, but it’s not as if I married him.”
Annie fought against the urge to jump away from her spot on the settee, afraid lightning might strike her. She’d deserve it.
“Besides, I’m quite through with my infatuation with Mr. Eggleston.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“I must say, I’m glad to hear it.” Her older sister’s eyebrow settled back into place. And guilt flooded Annie. She remembered the discussion that day at Jordan’s house about the responsibility thrust upon the oldest sibling. Lily had more responsibility than most. She’d been forced to take in Annie five years ago, after their parents had died. Recently widowed, Lily had had to be an older sister and a mother, putting her own needs behind Annie’s. Why, Lily had nearly spent her last shilling ensuring that Annie had a proper debut and this was how Annie repaid her sister’s kindness? With disobedience and mischief? Oh, she was the worst younger sister in the kingdom. The worst.
“Oh, Lily, I’m so sorry.” She set down her teacup and pulled her sister into her embrace.
Lily hugged her and patted her back. “Why? Whatever for?”
“For being a fool for so long.” She let go of Lily and her sister’s wide-eyed look restored a bit of Annie’s sanity. Lily obviously didn’t know what Annie meant.
“You’re not a fool, Anne,” Lily said, squeezing her hand. “Far from it.”
“Yes I am. And I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath. “May I ask you a question, Lily?”
“Of course.”
Annie took another deep breath. “Did you feel very burdened when you were young? I mean, did you feel as if you had all the responsibility and I had none?”
Lily’s brow furrowed. “No. No, of course not, Anne. I love you. I always wanted you to be happy, carefree.”
Annie smiled and glanced down at her hands. “Thank you, Lily, for being the oldest, for doing all the things I didn’t have to.”
Lily laughed and shook her head. “Like what?”
“Like marrying the Earl of Merrill.” Annie’s voice was quiet.
The smile vanished from Lily’s face and she squeezed Annie’s hand even tighter. “I’d do anything for you,” she said softly. “I hope you know that, Anne.”
Another wave of guilt crashed over her. Yes, Lily would do anything for her and she’d repaid her sister’s generosity by being churlish and foolish. What a charming combination.
“Now.” Lily shook her head and pasted a bright smile on her face. “Let’s talk of more pleasant things, shall we?”
The door to the salon opened just then and Mary came hurtling through it with an orange ball of fur in her arms. She squealed as soon as she saw Lily and rushed over to the settee. She deposited Dash upon Annie’s lap and grabbed Lily into her arms.
“Oh, me lady, I’m so glad ta see ye back. Lord, if Miss Annie told me ye were coming today, I surely forgot.”
The two sisters exchanged knowing glances.
Annie snuggled Dash under her chin.
Lily laughed. “I was just telling Anne about my honeymoon, Mary. And I very much wanted to meet the newest member of our household.”
She held out her arms and Annie handed Dash to her. Lily lifted up the little fox and looked him in the eye. “My, but you are a cute one, aren’t you?” she cooed, before wrapping the baby in her arms and cuddling him against her chest. “Don’t worry. Now that I’ve seen him I couldn’t possibly let him go. Just let me handle explaining him to Devon.” Lily winked at Annie and Annie winked back.
“He’s quite taken to living in a town house, really,” Annie explained. “We feed him bits from the cupboard and warm milk. I’m convinced he thinks he’s one of the dogs.”
“’E’s a rascal, that Dash,” Mary said, settling on the settee next to the two sisters. “Now, Miss Lily, do tell all about yer ’oneymoon journey. I’ve been waiting and waiting ta ’ear.” She cleared her throat. “Hear.”
Lily laughed. “What do you want to know?”
Annie waggled her eyebrows. “I want to know exactly what happens on a honeymoon. Behind closed doors. Tell me, Lily, what were the secrets of your wedding night?”
Mary giggled with wide eyes and Lily leaned over and play-slapped her sister’s leg. “I will tell you no such thing, miss.”
Annie pointed a triumphant finger in the air. “I’ve got it. You should write a pamphlet about it. I shall alert Lord Medford.”
“Ooh, yes, it’s sure ta be a top seller, me lady,” Mary agreed with a smile.
Lily shook her head. “You two think you’re quite funny, don’t you?” She delivered Dash back into Annie’s outstretched arms. Then she stood and brushed out her skirts.
“Where are you off to?” Annie asked, snuggling Dash under her chin again.
Lily’s face wore a sly smile. “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen my husband. I’m just going to pop into his study for a bit.”
This time, Mary and Annie exchanged knowing glances. “Ummm-hmmm.”
Lily crossed over to the door, Bandit and Leo close on her heels. “Oh, before I forget. Anne, you and Mary will need to pack your bags tonight. We’re leaving for Colton House in the morning.”
Annie nodded. “Yes, I thought as much. I’m sure Lord Colton is eager to see Justin.”
Lily opened the door and glanced back over her shoulder. “Yes, very eager. And we’re having a house party next week and inviting all our friends so we can tell them about our holiday. I must prepare. Thank goodness Mrs. Applebee will be there to help, but I’ll need you two as well.”
Annie nearly dropped Dash into her lap. “House party?” she squeaked. “For all of your friends?” She clutched the little ball of fur to her chest.
Lily stopped and turned back around. Leo and Bandit stopped too. “Yes. It will be such fun. I cannot wait to see everyone. Don’t worry. It won’t be a huge crush. Just our closest friends.”
Annie gulped. That’s what she’d been afraid of. Closest friends. Like Devon’s closest friend, Jordan Holloway.