“But I have seen you. At the Countess’s house party, I saw you. Every time you were together, it was like watching a novel brought to life: your quarrels, your teasing of one another, your sneaky glances when both of you thought the other was not looking.” Caroline grinned. “Iwas looking, and though I am new to this realm of society, I know love when I see it. It is another reason I am not as angry as I, perhaps, should be. However, I shall be livid if neither of you fools confesses.”
Anna stared down into her lap. “Then, I am afraid you will be furious.”
“Must I encourage him on your behalf?” Caroline urged.
Feeling a pain in her chest, Anna met her friend’s eager gaze. “It does not matter, Caro, because he does not want me. I am too silly, too combative, too much of a dreamer—the precise opposite of what he asked me to find for him.”
“And I say that you both need to wake up,” Caroline replied. “Goodness, I cannot bear this! It is blatantly obvious that the two of you are besotted, and if neither of you do anything then… then… it shall be the greatest tragedy in recent history!”
Anna forced a smile. “Well then, it is fortunate that I have always favored the novels that make me cry a little.” Her smile faded. “Not everyone is lucky enough to have what my mother and father had, what your mother and father had, what my friends and their husbands have. But you will be one of the lucky ones. I have no qualms about that. With or without The Matchmaker, you will find a love rarer than diamond. I am not often wrong about such things.”
“Just answer me one thing,” Caroline said, with a heavy sigh.
Anna hesitated. “Go on…”
“Do you feel something for him?”
The words would not come, Anna’s throat closing as if she were a debutante once more, standing in front of her first potential suitor.
Caroline pursed her lips. “Let me phrase it this way—if you could be certain of his affections, would you confess yours?”
For what felt like an eternity, Anna imagined every possible scenario. She pictured Percival coming to the garden gate at Greenfield House with a bouquet of orchids, calling out to her that he had loved her all along. She envisioned him rushing into the library at Harewood Court,Pride & Prejudicein hand, declaring his love the way dear Fitzwilliam Darcy had done for Elizabeth Bennet. She imagined him as every hero and her as every heroine she had ever read, and felt the faintest smile tug at the corner of her lips.
“I suppose?—”
An almighty crash exploded from the hallway, close to the drawing room door. The two women were up on their feet in an instant, hurrying toward the sound.
Anna got there ahead of Caroline and wrenched the door open to find a jagged spray of ceramic all across the hallway floor. But that was the least shocking thing about the scene in front of her, as she leaned out to see what on earth had caused it.
“I ought to pummel you for your wicked little rumor!” Percival growled, his hand gripping a fistful of Simon’s collar and cravat. “Did you think I would tolerate such deceit?”
Simon struggled, flailing wildly in Percival’s grasp. “I meant no harm! I… I… Unhand me! Let us speak of this like civilized gentlemen!”
“You lost your right to civility when you threatened the reputation of a most beloved… friend,” Percival spat back. “And do not think I am oblivious to why you did it, you vile coward.”
He shoved Simon backward into the newel post at the bottom of the curving stairwell. Simon’s hands came up to protect his face, but Percival made no move to punch him; he just stared at him as if hewishedto hurt him, breathing hard.
“You wanted to ensure that I had no chance to pursue Lady Caroline, long after I had given up my suit,” Percival snarled. “Was it not enough that you hurt Anna? Was it not enough to lead her a merry dance and then discard her, but you felt you had to add insult by ruining her? Attempted to, I should say, and you are lucky you were not successful, or you would be unconscious on the floor.”
A sharp jab in the ribs made Anna turn away from the surprising scene, to find Caroline grinning like a madwoman.
“Of course that man doesnotwant you,” she whispered, rolling her eyes. “Any gentleman would do that for a lady he does not care a whit about.”
A yelp from Simon snapped Anna’s attention back.
“If you would but let me explain,” he whimpered. “I did not think it would matter. I saw no harm in it.”
Percival glowered at Simon and tightened his grip, as if he reallywasabout to pummel him. “How dare you,” he seethed. “How dare you decide who and what matters. Indeed, if you saw no harm in that, perhaps you will see no harm in this.”
Anna darted out, leaping across broken shards of what appeared to be a vase, running toward Percival before he did something foolish.
The moment he saw her, his hand relaxed on Simon’s collar, though not enough to let the Earl of Luminport escape his pinned position against the newel post.
“Let him go,” Anna urged, slowing to a walk. “Indeed, I should like a word with him before we continue on our journey.”
Percival was still panting, a glimmer of confusion flashing in his eyes. “You want tospeakto this toad?”
“For a moment, yes,” Anna replied, placing her hand gently on Percival’s forearm. “Small and elfin as I am, I think this is one battle that I can fight on my own. Indeed, I should hate to spill any blood upon the beautiful parquet.”
