“You may remember my cousin, Michael Kensworth, Duke of Graymare? He has been residing in Brussels for some time now, but has visited several times.”
Anna held her hand out to the visiting Duke. “Good afternoon, my lord. I believe I may have seen you some years ago with your wife?”
“You may call me Michael, Lady Anna. How lovely to meet you again. Yes, it’s been a few years.”
“And how are your wife and young children?”
“My wife has died, my lady, but do not fret. We were barely friends at the end. I am sorry her children will not experience more time with their mother, but life does continue on, despite these types of tragedies. You may not recall, but I have done business with your family. Your estate was one of the properties that we were looking to buy earlier this year.”
Anna’s eyebrows shot up and she looked at Jonathan with surprise on her face. “Oh? I was not made aware of this.”
Michael shook his head. “I would think you would not have known about it, Lady Anna. Your brother proposed the deal to the board and I declined it.”
“May I ask why?”
Michael hesitated, looking like he wasn’t sure if he should answer with the truth. “I am not sure how much you are aware of, Lady Anna, but your brother is known as a shady character. Very few people are willing to bind themselves into a business contract with him.”
Anna nodded. “I’m afraid that does not surprise me in the least. I know that Stephen is a dishonest man and it saddens me. If he had been my brother in truth instead of by adoption, I would not believe such a thing could happen. But though he was raised by my father, he did not retain his honest methods.”
“I have to agree with you and I am sorry for that.”
“I’m glad you declined to buy my estate, as it was not up for sale to begin with.”
Michael nodded. “I had thought not.” He took a step back and made a show of looking her up and down. “So this is the dress you have purchased for the ball this Friday?”
“Yes, what do you think?” Anna spun in a slow circle.
“I approve. Yes, very much, I approve.”
Anna giggled. “I’m happy to hear that. And you like it, too, Jonathan?”
Jonathan laughed. “Oh yes, Anna. You have made a wise choice.”
When she looked at him, Jonathan thought he saw something new in her gaze, something that made him feel a bit awkward.
“I’m terribly glad you like it, Jonathan.” She smiled at him.
Michael looked from Anna to Jonathan and couldn’t help laughing softly. If he was a man with low self-esteem, he might have been a tad upset that Jonathan had brought him to meet a woman he was so clearly fond of, who seemed to return the sentiment. Were they both blind to each other? Jonathan had inadvertently complimented him. He felt held in high regard by his second cousin, who would so easily consider him a viable suitor for a woman Jonathan so obviously loved.
“May I offer you a drink, my lady?” he said, turning to the bar. “I believe I will have a glass of brandy.”
“Thank you, no, my lord. I would much rather have some tea, if you would be so kind.”
“I will have tea brought in immediately,” Jonathan said. “Would you care for some biscuits as well? I want to compliment your cook, by the way. The berry-filled biscuits I had this morning were tremendous!”
“Thank you, Jonathan. I will mention it to her. I would love a biscuit or two. However they are made.”
Jonathan laughed, moving swiftly to the door and disappearing behind it.
“May I ask you a question, Lady Anna?” Michael asked, filling a glass halfway with brandy.
“Certainly, Michael.”
“Have you given any thought to…well, it is clear to me that Jonathan holds you in high regard. He is a great admirer.”
“As I am of him.”
“Well, does it not stand to reason that you two should perhaps…?” He lifted his glass in the air and smiled at her.
Anna laughed. “I am an admirer, but I don’t believe he feels that way about me, Michael. Would he not mention it if he were interested in courting me?” Inside, Anna’s stomach was fluttering. This was what Elizabeth had said as well. Were their friends seeing something that the two of them were not?
Michael shrugged. “I am not sure that he would. He is a noble man. I think he would presume himself beneath you.”
Anna looked shocked. “Beneath me? I should say not, Michael. He is very upstanding.”
“You might want to keep him in your sights then, my lady. I think Jonathan would be an excellent husband and father for any children he might have.”
Anna pressed her lips together, dropping herself into a nearby chair, sitting all the way forward so that she was not seated on the large bow on the back of her floor-length red gown. “I agree with you,” she said softly. “And so does the Duchess of Fairbanks.”
“You have spoken to Elizabeth about this?”
She looked up. “You know Elizabeth and Shawn?”
Michael laughed. “Who does not know the Duke and Duchess of our land?”
“That is true, my lord.”
“Then you will think about it? Surely you trust the instincts of the Duchess?”
“I can do nothing unless he offers himself.”
“Dance with him at the ball.”
“I cannot unless he places his name on my card.”
Michael laughed. “I will attend the ball with him. I will make sure that he secures a dance with you.”
Anna looked down at her folded hands, blushing. Her uncertainty made her feel confused and when Jonathan came back in, she tried to keep from blushing and stumbling over her words. He just thought she was being funny. The three of them spent several jovial hours together that evening, discussing other members of the ton and laughing uproariously late into the evening.
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“I kept a few places open. I have been waiting for you.”
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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ONE DANCE
The party was in full swing. Jonathan and Michael arrived after the ball had begun and were announced between dances. Much to his disappointment, Michael had been unable to convince Jonathan that he was best suited for Anna. It was especially difficult for him when Jonathan was trying to convince him that he was, in fact, the suitable partner for the distinguished lady in question.
They were talking about it as they entered the enormous ballroom, keeping their voices as low as possible, despite the volume of the orchestra and the chattering of the crowd around them.
“The woman is a fine catch, my friend. You should seriously consider it.” Michael picked up two glasses from the tray of a passing server and handed one to his companion.
“Thank you.” Jonathan took the glass. “I have told you my reasons, cousin. I am at a loss as to why I cannot convince you of her merits.”
“Her merits are quite obvious for everyone to see. But she is not interested in anyone. You are the closest thing she considers to a friend. I’ve hardly seen her conversing even with ladies, much less the gentlemen that surround her on a regular basis.”
“She does not attend enough parties for it to be considered a regular basis,” Jonathan countered.
Michael chuckled, taking a drink from his glass. “True enough. However, when she does attend them, she is sought after like few others.”
“I am sure you know why.”
“I do.”
“Her beauty.” Both men said the two words at the same time.
Jonathan smiled at his cousin. “What do you say? Are you going to dance with her?”
“I will only put my name on her card if you will do the same.”
Jonathan shook his head. “All right, Michael. I’ll dance with her. Will that satisfy you? But I tell you, the woman is like a sister to me.”
“I’ve never seen a brother re
act to their sister like you did when Lady Anna came into the room yesterday.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “I was only reacting to the dress.”
“Nonsense.”
“You must admit there is no brother that would not react that way to seeing his sister as beautiful as she looked and, I’m sure, looks tonight.”
“Ah yes, there she is. And she is radiant, isn’t she?” Michael lifted his glass, indicating Anna on the dance floor. She did look radiant. She looked as stunning as she had the day she had shown the dress to Jonathan and Michael in the library.
When he saw her, his heart skipped a beat. He smiled wide. She was a very beautiful woman. He didn’t see any need for his help in winning the heart of a husband for her.
“You are a fool if you do not take this opportunity to woo and wed such a beauty,” Jonathan said in a soft voice. Michael looked down at him.
“Cousin, it is you who is the fool in this case. Allow me to explain something to you that I have not mentioned as of yet.”
Jonathan looked at him with raised eyebrows, peering over the rim of his glass as he took a drink. His eyes were drawn back to the lovely Anna as his cousin spoke.
“I am still in mourning. Although my wife and I were not the best of friends or lovers, I am not yet willing to jump into another relationship and marriage.”
“No?” This was surprising information. “Is it that you are in mourning or you are terrified that another woman will behave the way your Meredith did?”
“It has only been two weeks since her passing, Jonathan. I am still feeling the effects today. I am unsure of when these feelings will pass.”
“But it isn’t because you are sad, is it?”
“I never rejoice at the death of another person, Jonathan. This you well know.”
Michael had specifically avoided serving in honor of Her Majesty the Queen because the sight of blood and death turned his stomach. Jonathan nodded. “I am aware, my cousin. I apologize for my callousness.”
“I encourage you to put yourself on the table for Lady Anna. I do believe she would be willing to consider you as a viable option.”
“I cannot. She is my friend. It will destroy our relationship.”
“I disagree. It will cause it to blossom. Surely you have spoken to Duke Worthington about this. He is the voice of reason; you know this.”
“I have only spoken to him briefly on this subject. I told him what I am telling you now.”
Michael shook his head. He wondered if he should reveal his conversation with Lady Anna, but felt that it would be a betrayal of her trust to do so. He pressed his lips together.
Jonathan could see that he had frustrated his friend. He wasn’t going to convince Michael that he had only noble intentions for Lady Anna, despite her beauty. He would deny his feelings were more than friendship until the end. “I have agreed to put my name on her dance card, if there is room. Please allow that to satisfy you and we shall end this conversation.” He gave Michael a wide smile so that he would not think Jonathan was instigating an argument.
Anna caught his eye and he lifted his glass to her. Her face beamed with a bright smile. She waved to him, pardoned herself immediately from her partner and hurried through the crowd toward him.
Michael leaned over, chuckling. “Look at her, cousin. Don’t tell me that you don’t see that attraction.”
Jonathan screwed his face up in a half-smile, half-frown. “Will you cease and desist, Michael? She is my friend. She is happy to see me, of course.”
Michael shook his head. “You are…”
“Hush!” Jonathan lifted a hand and pushed his cousin to the side slightly. Michael laughed.
“Jonathan! I am so happy to see you; you’ve come late, you clown!” She threw her arms out wide and they hugged. He gave her a kiss on each cheek and one hand.
“Yes, I was debating whether or not I wanted to come.”
“But since you knew I was going to be here in this dress, you decided to anyway.”
Jonathan laughed. “I suppose so, my dear.”
“And you are going to be on my dance card, isn’t that right?”
“If you would like me to.”
Lady Anna laughed. “And you, Mr. Kensworth, you will also?”
Michael bowed deeply. “If you would like me to, my lady. I would be pleased to dance with you. Tell me, how many slots do you have left? There must not be many open dances for you when you look this lovely.”
“I kept a few places open. I have been waiting for you.”
Michael gave Jonathan a direct look.
“I have the next one open, as a matter of fact.” Anna smiled at Jonathan. “Shall we?”
“Wouldn’t you rather dance with Michael?”
Michael shook his head, answering for Anna. “Jonathan, she asked you. Cease your talking and dance with the lady.”
Jonathan laughed, crooking his arm and offering his elbow to Anna. She put her arm through his, beaming up at him. “The last time we went on the dance floor, we were probably in our teenage years, weren’t we, Jonathan?”
Jonathan nodded. “I think you may be right about that, my lady.”
“Many of the men I have danced with so far have been acceptable. I know that is what you are thinking about.”
“How did you know?”
Anna laughed. “It seems that it is all you think about.”
“I would not agree with that, Anna.” Jonathan grinned. “I have been having some business troubles, some financial deals that did not do as well as I was hoping or expecting. My home is falling down and is in need of repair.”
“Much like my own.”
“Your house is in need, but the need is greater on my side of the stream.”
“I didn’t know you even realized there was a stream between our lands.”
Jonathan shook his head. “My dear, how can you say that? We have been living so close to each other for so long now. We played together as children. How could I not know of the stream?”
“You would never come wading with me.”
“You are a lady. I cannot even think of a time when I have seen your ankles.”
“Perhaps if I had gone wading with you and you had an opportunity to see my ankles, you might be uncomfortable?”
Jonathan laughed again. “Yes. Quite uncomfortable.”
“Oh, you. Somehow I doubt that. You are a man. You wouldn’t have been uncomfortable.”
He put his arm around her waist and grasped her hand with the other. “Let’s dance, my dear.”
“Yes, of course.”
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“There is one that you cannot trust, my dear. You must seek her out.”
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TRUTH WILL BE OUT
Two hours later, Jonathan, Michael, Shawn, Anna and Elizabeth were seated at a round table covered by a soft yellow fabric tablecloth. The table was covered with small plates of various edibles, which the group of friends nibbled as they chatted.
“I didn’t know you two planned to show tonight,” Michael was speaking to Shawn, asking the question just before putting a small cracker into his mouth.
“We are being encouraging for Anna,” Shawn replied in a voice that told every man at the table he had been forced to attend by his loving wife. Elizabeth just smiled. She’d heard the tone as well.
“So tell me, Anna, who are you considering as your husband?” Elizabeth teased Anna, turning the topic away from herself and her husband. She leaned toward Anna and gazed directly at her, as if waiting with baited breath.
Anna laughed. “Oh, Lizzie. I couldn’t possibly say.”
“Oh but you must! We will start planning your wedding very soon.”
“I haven’t even chosen a man!”
“It’s better to plan beforehand.” Lizzie winked at her, making her laugh again.
“I think sh
e should definitely tell the gentleman that he is to walk down the aisle before the day arrives,” Michael said.
“Well, tell me who you are considering.” Elizabeth turned her eyes to Michael, who shook his head.
“No, not me,” he said. When Jonathan and Anna both widened their eyes at him, he smiled at her. “I mean no offense, my lady. But with the passing of my wife Meredith less than two full weeks ago, I am still in mourning and looking forward to spending a time of seclusion in my home, only meeting with those who I am associated with through business or blood.”
“That is wise.” Elizabeth nodded. “I would do the same thing, if I ever I was to lose my dear Shawn. It’s somewhat surprising to see you here at a dance so soon.”
“I am here for my cousin, as I would be for Shawn. He is my second cousin, you may know.”
“Yes, of course.” Elizabeth grinned softly, looking at her husband, who was in conversation with a gentleman in the booth behind them.
“He will be having his house renovated in the near future, so I am staying with him for a short time until I find a new home of my own here. I have been in Brussels for some time now. After her death, I immediately returned to my roots.”
“You do not have a house here already?”
“No, I sold it to a lovely family when I left some ten years ago.”
“Where are your children?”
“They are at a boarding school in Naples. It is a fine school. I am looking forward to bringing them home. Now that they are older and require no special care, and with my wife being gone, they will have the freedoms that I had as a child.”
“I must take from this that you were not fond of your wife?” Elizabeth turned her attention to him.
“I was not. But it was a fruitful marriage in lineage, title and finances. I have led a content life and look forward to rebuilding my ego and my life. I will find happiness, I am sure.”
“I’m sure you will,” Elizabeth nodded. “I’m sure you will.”
“When are you having your house renovated?” Anna asked Jonathan.
Regency Romance: More For A Duke (The Fairbanks Series - The Familial Adventures) (CLEAN Historical Romance) Page 11