Anna’s face was not angry but was surprisingly serene. “Harry… I know you meant no harm. And I thank you, even. I too am both numb and agitated at the same time. When all of this happened, I knew that only you and Maria could comfort me. However, as much as I love our dear Maria, I am glad it was you who came to me… us.”
Harry was still flustered. He ran both of his hands through his hair, and with a stricken look on his face, he turned from her to pace again.
“I should not have kissed you. I am sorry.”
“But I am not,” she said so softly she was not certain he had heard her correctly.
“You are not?” he asked turning to her.
“It surprised me but did not displease me.”
“Then you…?” he started to ask, but she interrupted him.
“I was at that moment thinking of all the people I needed to inform about father’s passing. Percy had just come to mind.”
That statement jolted Harry and he realized—of course, that would be her first thought.
“But first I need to make some arrangements with the parish church. There must be some sort of service. Will you help me with that?”
“Whatever I can do to help, just ask.”
At that moment Warrick came in, his face a mask of pain. “Miss Anna, your sister just told me the terrible news. I am completely devastated. What can I do?”
“The staff needs to be informed. Can you do that, or do you think that is something I should do?”
“I can do that, if you wish. But if, at some point, you could meet with them, it would mean a great deal. I know they will want to express their personal condolences.”
“Yes.”
“I know this is going to be a difficult time, so please let us know how we can best serve you.”
“I will. Perhaps you might send for my dressmaker, Mrs. Thompson. Both Dorothy and I will need appropriate mourning clothing.”
“I will send for her and I shall make certain that black armbands are made for the staff.”
“Thank you, Warrick.”
After he left, she turned back to Harry, looked at him and shook her head. “I am in a daze. Please tell me what to do.” She went over and put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. He then embraced her, his heart fluttering, and once again, passion rose within him. However, he did not act upon that passion but held her in his arms with tenderness.
“I know Maria will want to see you,” he said withdrawing from her. “I will tell her as soon as I can find her. But first I shall go to the church and speak to the vicar.” He then had a disturbing thought. “I assume there are no remains?” Anna nodded. “Then when would you like to have a service?”
“We have a number of people we need to notify. Many do not live close by. I think it should be at least two or three weeks from now.”
“I will speak with the vicar and let you know what he can arrange. I expect he will want to come and visit you, and you can settle the details at that time.”
Anna went over to Harry and put her arms around him again. “Thank you, dearest friend. I do not know what I would have done without you.”
He let her hold him before he said, “I did not know your father all that well. He was away in India so often and for so long. But I know you and Dorothy loved him greatly. I know you will miss him. But always know that Maria and I will be here for you whenever you need us. After all, we are family.”
Anna looked up at Harry and gave him a wan but sweet smile.
“Yes, we know that.”
* * *
As Harry rode back toward the Manor, he could not free himself from his feelings of passion for Anna. This was no time for such feelings, he reminded himself, but there seemed to be no escape. And what continued to unsettle his mind was that Anna had been responsive to him and did not seem to mind that he had kissed her. Might there be any chance that she had feelings for him? But as much as he needed to dwell on his immediate tasks at hand, he could not get his feelings for her out of his mind.
He rode first to the quarantine pen, but both the vet and Christopher were already gone. He did stop to inspect the quarantined animals and he could tell there was improvement, so the treatment must be working.