“Please, Warrick, let me see Anna for just a short moment. I feel certain she will want to see me if she knows I have called.”
Warrick hesitated but said, “I will enquire if she will receive you. Come in.”
Percy waited in the entryway while the butler went to find Anna. He seemed to be gone a long while, but eventually returned.
“She will see you. Please wait in here,” and Warrick led Percy to the small drawing room.
Presently Anna appeared wearing a black shawl over a dark dress.
“You must excuse me, Mr. Percy, but my sister and I are being measured for our mourning clothes. I was not expecting any visitors. We were not aware our tragedy had become public knowledge already.”
“I am truly sorry to intrude at this devastating time, but I could not keep away. I feel your loss as gravely as you do.”
Anna studied Percy with a very faint smile. “I appreciate your concern. Thank you. But how did you learn of our misfortune?”
“I went to visit Harry, and because he knows of my great regard for you and your sister, he felt he should tell me.”
“I see,” Anna said. She held out her hand and indicated Percy might sit.
“Is there any way I can be of any assistance?” he asked with the utmost delicate solicitation.
Anna hung her head and was silent for a moment. “I can think of nothing at the moment. Harry is helping me organize the service.”
“And what about legal or financial help? I imagine your father handled all those matters.”
“Not at all. He was gone so often and for so long, he taught me all that I needed to know, and he put the family’s affairs in my hands.”
“I see,” he said quietly, thwarted for the moment from finding out what he wanted to know. “How is your sister bearing up?”
“Well enough. Mr. Stewart has been most attentive to her leading up to the tragedy and she finds comfort in him.”
“And you? Where do you find your comfort?”
Anna looked up at him and he thought he could detect the flicker of a smile. “My sister and I find our comfort in each other.”
But Percy could not help but feel he might be able to break through to her. “Miss Anna, I know this is not the proper moment, but I want you to understand that I have intense feelings toward you.”
That seemed to startle her. “You have never expressed such feelings to me before.”
He had to scramble, then said, “That is because of my shyness, Miss Anna. But that does not mean I have not held these feelings for some time.”
She smiled fully. “I was completely unaware. But now…”
“I know this is not the time, but now that I have been able to express my feelings to you, I hope, with all my heart, that you might be able to find similar feelings for me.”
“As you say, this is not the time. But I am happy to have your expression of affection. I will hold that and take comfort from that knowledge.”
Now Percy believed he had broken through to her, but he still did not have the information he needed. Were the daughters blessed with a fortune from their father or not? He needed to know whether to pursue her further or whether it was a waste of time. However, without that information, he was stalled. And he knew it would be totally inappropriate to push any farther at this moment.
His best source of information would be Harry, for as a close family friend, he believed Anna told him everything. Eventually, he would secure the information he needed.
Percy stood, went over to her, and took her hands. “I shall keep you no longer. Please pass my deepest sympathy along to your sister. And remember, if there is any way I may be of help, please let me know. I shall keep you forever in my heart.”
“Thank you for your visit and your offer. It means a great deal to me.”
* * *
Soon after Percy left, Maria appeared at Repington Hall and was immediately admitted. She had decided she did not want to wait to go with Christopher after lunch.
