Secrets of a Runaway Bride

by Valerie Bowman

  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.

  Lily swept from the room, the dogs trotting after her. Annie and Mary sat staring at each other. Thank goodness the maid didn’t recall her exploit with Jordan coming to demand her whereabouts when she’d left for Gretna Green again. Annie had sworn Evans to secrecy and Nicholls was far too staid to gossip about his master’s sister-in-law. No, she was safe. Unless of course Jordan himself decided to tell Lily. But he wouldn’t do that, would he?

  Mary cleared her throat. “Ye didn’t tell Miss Lily about our trip ta Surrey and yer stay wit Lord Ashbourne, did ye?”

  Annie gasped. “How did you—”

  “I don’t forget everything, Miss Annie. Besides, I wrote meself a note about all o’ that. ’Ave it right ’ere.” She pulled a piece of paper from her apron pocket and proudly displayed it.

  Annie gently set Dash on the carpet. “What are you doing? Destroy it,” she ordered. “If Lily finds it, I won’t be allowed outside of the house until I’m sixty.”

  Mary shook her head. “Miss Lily wod never read me personal notes. Ye know better than that.”

  Annie expelled her breath. “You’re right. But please promise me you won’t tell her, Mary. I’ve never seen her as happy as she is now and I swear I have no intention of making a fool of myself over Mr. Eggleston ever again. There’s no need for Lily to know any of that.”

  Mary shoved the note back into her pocket and plunked her hands on her hips. “What? Do ye think I ’ave no loyalty? I would never betray yer confidence. It’s Lord Ashbourne ye’d best be worried about, not me.”

  Annie slumped against the pillows and bit her lip. “Believe me, Mary, I am.”

  The maid patted her hair into place. “Don’t worry too much about all o’ it, miss. ’E’ll come
around.”

  Annie looked twice. How and when had Mary become so intuitive? How did she know Annie had feelings for Jordan? “Oh, Mary, tell me, please. What is the secret to making a man who doesn’t seem interested in marriage want to marry you?”

  Mary giggled. “Want ta, miss? Or ’ave ta? Because if it’s ’ave ta, yer very best bet wod be ta get the gentleman in question ta compromise ye.”

  Annie sat up straight and grabbed the arms of the chair. “Compromise me?” She blinked.

  Mary nodded. “Yes … but ye said yerself ye wouldn’t make a fool o’ yerself over Mr. Eggleston again, and I ’ave ta say, if ’e didn’t compromise ye by now, it doesn’t seem ta me that man’s the compromising sort.”

  Annie allowed a slow smile to spread across her face. Ah, so Mary didn’t know she had feelings for Jordan, after all. That was a relief. But the maid was perfectly right. Arthur Eggleston was not the compromising sort.

  But Jordan Holloway was.

  CHAPTER 35

  “So, how’ve things been in London while I’ve been gone, old chap?” Devon clapped Jordan on the back. “I tell you it’s nice to have a proper brandy again.”

  The two were sitting at the club, enjoying their favorite beverage.

  Jordan took a sip and shrugged. For some reason, he’d returned to town today too. He told himself he was just getting back to normal, and it was good to see Colton again, but Jordan was acutely aware that Annie was in town. He downed a larger swallow of his drink. Thank God Devon had agreed to meet him at the club. Could have been deuced awkward if he’d asked him to stop by the town house. It was better this way. Much better.

  “There’s not much to say, really,” Jordan answered. He’d already decided less was more when answering any questions about what had happened over the last month. Especially where Annie was concerned. Devon hadn’t taken a swing at him yet, so that boded well. Obviously, Annie hadn’t mentioned to her new brother-in-law that his best friend had abducted her and taken liberties with her in his conservatory … ahem … and his salon.

  “So, really? Nothing new?” Devon asked again. “No new bets here at the club? No new scandalbroths? Nothing?”

  Jordan shrugged.

  Devon eyed him carefully. “Been keeping busy with Nicoletta?”

  Jordan kept his face blank. “Actually, I … ended things with Nicoletta a fortnight ago.”

  Devon’s eyebrows shot up. “The devil you say! Why?”

  Jordan cleared his throat. “We had a … falling-out.”

  “Bored with her so soon, were you? I must say I didn’t see that coming.”

  Another shrug.

  “And you say you had a country ball?” Devon continued.

  “Yes, Annie was there.” Jordan glanced away, narrowing his eyes into the distance. He’d decided to give Devon just enough information to keep him informed without adding a great many details. He’d had to tell him. Surely someone would inform Devon and Lily that Jordan had hosted a ball. No doubt it would come up in conversation eventually.

  “So I did miss a thing or two while I was out of the country,” Devon said. “Does Anne still have her cap set for that Eggleston fool?”

  Jordan expelled his breath. Now there was a question. One he’d very much like to know the answer to as well. “I believe so,” he answered lamely. “She fancies herself in love.”

  Devon grunted. “Yes, well, we’ll see about that.” Then he snapped his fingers. “That reminds me, Lily would never forgive me if I forgot to mention that we’re having a house party. At Colton House.”

  “A house party?” Jordan replied, taking another sip of brandy. “When?”

  “Next week. To announce our arrival back in the country and to greet our friends.”

  Jordan swallowed hard. “Splendid.”

  The inevitable invitation was coming. Why shouldn’t it? He was always invited to Devon’s parties. It would be odd if he were not. The only thing odd this time was Jordan knowing without a doubt he could not accept. He could not attend and keep his sanity. He could not, could not, see Annie again. Not so soon. Perhaps not ever. His mind raced, hastily attempting to invent some excuse as to why he could not attend.

  “And between you and me…” Devon continued, pulling Jordan from his thoughts, “Lily hopes to invite as many eligible chaps as possible in the hope that Anne will choose one and forget about Eggleston.”

  Jordan expelled his breath in a rush. “Excellent,” he said, perhaps too emphatically. “I mean, that sounds like an excellent plan, but unfortunately, I cannot attend.”

  Devon’s brow furrowed. “Cannot attend? Why not?”

  “I have … er … plans next week.”

  “What plans? Cancel them. You can’t take care of them the week after?”

  “No, I … There’s a great deal happening at Ashbourne Manor, and I must see to it.” As excuses go, it was particularly weak but Jordan couldn’t think of anything else. He’d never declined an invitation to a good friend’s party before. In fact, he was usually the one bringing the extra bottles of brandy and the stacks of playing cards.

  “Ashbourne Manor? Why, it’s only an hour away from Colton House. You can come to the party and steal off to do your business if you must. But you cannot say no. I’m inviting Charlie, Tim, and Michael as well. You must come. Justin will want to see his uncle, and Lily will be beside herself. She wanted to especially thank you for watching out for Anne while we were gone.”

  Jordan choked on his brandy. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he eyed Devon cautiously. “I deserve no thanks.” It was the truest statement he’d made since he’d sat down with his friend.

  Devon quirked a brow. “As to that, how did it go while we were gone? Did Anne cause you any trouble?”

  Jordan tugged at his cravat. The thing was strangling him today. “She, uh…”

  “I know it was a lot to ask you to watch out for her, Ashbourne. I do appreciate it.”

  “No trouble whatsoever,” Jordan replied.

  “Glad to hear it.” Devon laughed. “I joked to Lily while we were in Italy that Anne might even get it into her head to return to Gretna Green. She’s so set on that blasted Eggleston chap.”

  Jordan narrowed his eyes and silently made a show of staring out the window.

  “I’m glad to see she’s thought better of it,” Devon continued. “And we can only hope she takes a fancy to someone else at the house party.”

  “A solid plan,” Jordan replied noncommittally.

  “So you’ll be there?” Devon took a long last swallow from his brandy glass, emptying it.

  Jordan clenched his jaw. His excuse had been pitiful and surely Devon would suspect something was amiss if he continued to decline.

  Jordan nodded once. “I’ll be there.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Annie walked right into it. Well, cantered really. Just give her the championship prize for largest fool of the day.

  She’d been out on the grounds of Colton House riding the new mount Devon had purchased for her use. As long as she stayed away from the house all morning she was sure to miss Jordan’s arrival, she’d reasoned.

  No. Such. Luck.

  In fact, she’d managed to jaunt up the drive at the precise moment his familiar dark blue coach was pulling up in front of the manor house. In a panic, she tried to turn her mount to ride away but Lily emerged from the front doors just then, Justin at her side, and waved to her.

  “Anne, look. It’s Jordan.”

  Annie sighed. She couldn’t very well gallop off now. “My hair must look a fright,” she mumbled to Annabelle the horse. She didn’t miss the irony of the fact that she’d never before cared how her hair looked. Straightening her shoulders, she patted her coiffure into place under her hat as best she could with one hand holding the crop, and she nudged Annabelle’s flank to move toward the drive. Sweat beaded on her brow. She held her breath.

  Jordan emerged from the coach looking as handsome and dashing as ever, wear
ing skintight buckskin breeches, a dark green waistcoat, and a snowy-white cravat. His hair was slightly mussed and his gray eyes shone like silver in the morning light.

  Lily held out both hands to him. “Jordan, there you are. I’m so glad you’ve come. Devon told me you tried to decline our invitation. I never would have forgiven you.”

  Annie reluctantly moved closer but she was sure he hadn’t seen her yet. So, he’d tried to decline the invitation?

  Jordan smiled at her sister. “Thank you for having me, Lily. It’s good to see you.”

  “Uncle Jordan,” Justin cried, running up and jumping into Jordan’s arms.

  Very well, Annie had to admit, that was adorable. The child obviously loved him.

  Lily glanced up. “Anne, look. It’s Jordan.”

  Annie nudged her mount forward but couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. “Lord Ash … Ashbourne.” His name barely slipped past the lump in her throat.

  Setting Justin down on the gravel drive, Jordan bowed. “Miss Andrews. Good to see you again.”

  Was it her imagination or did his voice hold no emotion?

  Lily glanced between them. “Funny. I’d have thought the two of you would be on a first-name basis by now.”

  Annie tugged at the tight neck of her midnight-blue riding habit.

  Jordan shifted on his feet. He kicked at the dirt with his top boot. “Yes, well…”

  Justin tugged on Lily’s skirts. “May I go get my bow and arrow, please?” he asked. “Uncle Jordan promised he’d continue our lessons when he came.”

  Lily glanced up at Jordan to confirm the appointment.

  “That’s absolutely right,” he said with a wide grin. “And I expect that you’ve been practicing, lad.”

  “Every day,” Justin replied with a devilish look on his young face. “I intend to be better than you one day, Uncle Jordan.”

  “Go ahead, darling,” Lily said to the boy, nodding toward the door. After Justin had scampered off, she shook her head. “Watch out, Jordan. That look on his face is just like his father’s when he gets something in his head.”