“So secretive,” he drawled. “I must discover the truth, or I won’t sleep tonight.”
“You are kind to trade a restless night for my peace of mind,” Anna said, bowing when he did. “Thank you, Lord Stockton.”
“Anytime,” he returned. “Shall I escort you back to Georgie?”
Anna knew that was the proper thing to do—to be returned to George if not her father. All the more reason for her to remain by herself.
“I can find my own way back. Enjoy your evening.”
They parted ways, and Anna could feel a chain of concerned looks follow her every move.
She headed for the doors of the terrace, hoping she could hide there for a moment while her father rampaged, trying to find her. He had always encouraged her to dance at soirées, and she had always struggled to find partners. He knew what dancing with Simon that night would mean, and he would not be pleased—especially with Ashwicken as a witness to her disrespect.
The crowd was more tangled by the doors, providing a shield between her and her father. She squeezed her way to freedom, surprised to find the terrace vacant on that mild February night.
It wasn’t that long until March, when spring would commence and announce the beginning of the wedding season. The timing was awful. Anna paused a moment by the balustrade, admiring the gardens behind the Ratley house.
What would become of her if her plan failed? If Ashwicken and her father went through with the betrothal anyway?
She supposed it had been too much to insist on securing a genuine match, like they did in the stories. Maybe it was her fault. She had been too shy. She had waited for too long. She had had too much hope that her life would sort itself out without any intervention on her part.
“This course of action will only end in your downfall,” a voice said from behind her, as though reading her thoughts. “You’re cleverer than this, Anna. Think seriously about your next move.”
CHAPTER13
Anna’s breath hitched. Philip stood in the gloom, shadowed by the light from the ballroom behind them. He walked toward her with his hands clasped behind his back, taking measured, cautious steps.
“And what course of action do you suppose I am taking?” Anna asked. She struggled to remain calm, her body flaring whenever he was near.
“A desperate one,” he said.
He kept a decent distance between them. She ached for him to draw nearer, like he had in the carriage, taking his propriety as evidence that she had upset him in some way.
“You are trying to anger your father so that he cancels your engagement to the viscount.”
“I am trying to prove that we are ill-suited,” Anna corrected, careful about raising her voice. They were flirting with disaster. It was dark. Anyone could be eavesdropping from the shadows. “If this is the only way to achieve that?—”
“Achieve it by openly disgracing yourself like this?” His voice rose, and he stopped himself. He reduced the gap between them with another impassioned step. “Your plan is flawed.”
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion. Idoremember signaling for your help. Thank goodness your friend stepped in when he did.”
“Now you are being unfair,” Philip said. He wasn’t wrong, and his accusation chastened Anna. “I understood your desire to dance. I wanted to dance with you. But I could not. I have… At war… My body is not what it once was.”
Anna took a startled step back, ashamed of herself. He was injured andcouldn’tdance, or feared dancing because it might aggravate an old injury. She thought back to the night of Alicia’s party, when he had told George he couldn’t ride. And in the gardens, when he had walked slowly behind her. How could she have been so blind?
“Oh,” she murmured, thankful that he couldn’t see how mortified she was in the dark. Her hand wrapped around the stone balustrade, grinding against her gloved palm. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“It changes nothing. You should not have come seeking a dance partner, regardless. There will be talk among the guests if it hasn’t started already.”
He tilted his head back with a weary expression, then closed the distance between them. Standing beside him, she could barely discern his features in the dark. What little she saw of him made her want to lean in and touch him.
It was not the first time she had felt like this around him. Like he could be a pocket of safety in a storm. She needed to be afraid—of him, of her circumstances.
“Well, what do you suggest I do?” she asked, quickly checking her feelings. “No, I should not even be asking you that. I have told you before that you owe me nothing, and I meant it. You helped me once as George’s friend, and I was grateful. It was selfish of me to expect you to help me again.”
He ignored the latter part of her reply, his dark lashes flitting over lowered eyes. “I would seek out another match if you cannot remain single.”
“How do you propose I do that?” Anna laughed hopelessly. “My father intends to announce the betrothal tonight.”
