“It was a party for artists.” Anna shrugged, her tone dismissive. “I needed to look the part so as not to arouse suspicion. I didn’t expect you to intercept me at the doors.”
Philip laughed at her candor, clearing his throat when George shot him an accusatory look.
“No one saw me except for the hackney driver, your footman, and George’s butler,” Anna continued, looking at her cousins defiantly. “And I didn’t tell the footman or the driver my name. So, unless your man intends to rat me out to my father?—”
George sighed. “He will not.”
“Then there is no reason for you to be so worried. My life has all but ended anyway. Even if my father learned I had come here, it would change nothing about my circumstances.” Anna dropped her gaze to the ground, wringing her gloved hands. “My father… Tonight, he announced that I am to be married to a man I have scarcely met. I refuse to go through with it, and I need your help.”
A pin could have dropped in the room and they would have heard it, even above the ruckus from the apartment proper.
It was not uncommon for women to be forced into marriages—Philip knew this. But it seemed impossibly cruel that someone as brilliant, beautiful, and clever as Anna would be reduced to a pawn in some other man’s ambitions.
There was little in the world that moved Philip. But injustice? He would not tolerate injustice. Especially since he frequently found himself thinking about her.
“Who is it?” George asked after a while, slowly shaking his head. “The man in question—have we heard of him?”
“Lord Ashwicken. My mother assured me that he was a friend of my father’s, though I had never heard the name in my life and I believe they were lying. Oh, but his identity hardly matters now, does it? He could be a Prince of England and I would still feel the same.”
Anna’s gaze flitted between her cousins before landing momentarily on Philip. Her face flamed, and he wished he hadn’t come looking for George, forcing her to expose her pain to him.
“I won’t marry him,” she added quietly. “I refuse.”
“What choice do you have?” Alicia interjected, surprising Philip. “We both know Magnus will not negotiate the matter with you. If he has made up his mind, then there is nothing more that can be done.”
“You of all people are saying this?” George scoffed, stepping away from her. “You were the first to shake off the yoke, disobeying your father. Why should Anna not be allowed to choose a new life for herself as well?”
Alicia squeezed her eyes shut and paused for a moment. “Because Anna is not like me. She does not have what it takes to survive on her own. I say this only out of love for her. If she renounces her father, she will never recover. I would not see her ruin herself, her life, to follow foolishly in my footsteps.”
“She has us,” George countered. “She has me.”
“You will provide her safe harbor, then? Care for her for the rest of your life and become a pariah in the process? Magnus will shun you, and then good luck to you finding a wife after the scandal breaks out. There is no recourse for Anna. I am sorry to say that is the truth.”
“Don’t speak of me as though I’m not here!” Anna shouted, quieting her cousins immediately. “I am not asking you whether you think I should or should not marry Lord Ashwicken. I am telling you that I will not and asking you to support my decision. If you cannot…” Her brow creased, and she looked toward the door. “Then I will do what must be done.”
George reached a hand out to her. “Anna, you’re being silly now?—”
The gesture seemed to enrage Alicia. She threw her hands up in the air and shook her head. “I can’t hear another word of this. And I cannot remain here a moment more. Someone will come looking for me, and then we will all be compromised. If you must speak, do so elsewhere. But Anna, for the love of God, don’t throw your life away like this.”
Anna tried to call her cousin back, but Alicia forced her way past Philip and returned to the party.
Philip felt betrayed on Anna’s behalf—surprised, like George, that Alicia of all people had suggested that Anna accept her fate without putting up a fight.
“I think I’m quite done with this party,” George sighed deeply. “Let me take you home before Magnus notices your absence. We’ll discuss our next move on the way.”
“Allow me to join you,” Philip spoke up, already stepping toward the coat rack. “I had been wanting to leave even before you arrived, Lady Anna. And you will be better hidden if we both leave with you.”
It was a weak excuse to leave with them, but it didn’t seem right to abandon Anna in her hour of need. They had already evaded one scandal together, what was one more?
They left Gwash’s flat without saying their goodbyes.
The three of them descended the stairs in silence until they reached the building’s lobby. Philip kept a close eye on Anna from behind, surprised by how collected she appeared despite being all but forsaken by her parents, and now Alicia.
Her long dark pelisse hung heavily on her shoulders. His eyes lingered a moment on their gentle slope, anger rising within him at the thought of her being sold to the highest bidder. If his father had tried to condemn Elinor like the Earl of Bristol was condemning Anna, he would not have survived long enough for the French pox to take him.
“Oh, hell and damnation,” George swore as they stepped out onto the pavement. “I rode here. I completely forgot.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “You’ll have to return in that cab, Anna. I’m so sorry.”
Philip stepped between them. “Your cousin can ride home with me,” he suggested before he could think better of it. “A cab is not suitable. Who knows what could come upon her, alone? The longer we stand here discussing matters, the more chance someone notices her and reports to the earl.”
