Anne set her jaw with determination as she entered the house. She would not be pressed into marriage, no matter how persuasive Mr. Fletcher might be. She had not the proper feelings to enter into matrimony and doubted that closer association was going to produce them. Yet, she would be willing to consider him if he would only be patient with her and allow her to be sure,
She handed her bonnet and shawl to Arthur as he announced her guest. “A gentleman, Lord Westerfield, to see you, miss.”
Anne felt her heart skip a beat. All of her mental preparation had been directed toward facing Mr. Fletcher. She felt totally unprepared to greet the dark-eyed man had had the strange effect of making her feel both flustered and exhilarated at the same time.
Anne smoothed her skirts and took a deep breath. She bit her lips to redden them and then stepped into the parlor. She found Lord Westerfield seated upon the rose-patterned satin sofa. He stood when she entered, his entire countenance lifting at the sight of her.
She smiled and said, “Lord Westerfield, how kind of you to call.”
“I could not help myself. I hope you will not be offended if I say that you look lovely, even in mourning.”
“I am not the least offended. Please, do sit down.”
He took a seat on the sofa while Anne settled onto the straight-backed satin-seated chair. Feeling a bit awkward, she began to prattle, “I have just been to see my friend, Mariah Sawyer. You must remember her from the assembly. She lives not far from here at Meadowdown. They have a lovely garden and we went walking. It often raises my spirits to be out of doors.”
She paused to take a breath and decided she could not keep running on. She decided to ask, “How did you like the assembly? Did you have a good time?”
“I did indeed.”
He watched the becoming flush that still colored her cheeks. He did not know when he had ever seen a more charming creature, devoid of the cunning and flirtatious airs that he despised in a female.
He smiled at her and added, “I enjoyed the dancing in particular, especially when a certain young lady was my partner.”
As Anne thought back about the dance, she felt a stab of disappointment. He had danced only a little with her and several dances with Mariah. Surely, the purpose of his visit was to learn more about Mariah. Perhaps he wanted to know if she had a steady suitor.
She hoped her feelings did not show on her face as she said, “I am happy that you had a good time. I suppose you wish to know if the young lady is spoken for. Let me relieve your mind and tell you that she is not and would welcome a call, I am sure.”
He beamed. “That is a great relief. When I saw the blond young man, I assumed there might be a special attachment.”
“No indeed. They are only casually acquainted.”
“That is a relief.”
“I am glad to put your fears at rest.”
“Then I may call again?”
“Have you been already?”
Lord Westerfield looked perplexed. “Why yes. Your state of grief has led you to forget. That is understandable.”
“I am surprised Mariah did not mention it.”
“Why should Mariah mention it?”
Anne flushed, embarrassed to be caught prying when the courting affairs of others were none of her concern. “Indeed, why? Anyway, I am sure she will be most happy to receive you.”
Lord Westerfield’s coal-black brows pulled together in puzzlement. “Why should she receive me?”
“You asked me if it would be proper to call upon her.”
Now Anne felt as thoroughly confused as Lord Westerfield looked.
“I do not wish to call upon Mariah. I wish to call upon you. Is there any reason why I may not do so?”
For a stunned moment, Anne stared at him. Then a blush crept across her cheeks.
“Oh, I have misunderstood.”
His frown eased as he noted her discomfort. “I thought as much. Perhaps I was not clear.”
“No. It was my mistake. Please forgive me. I did not mean to be coy.”
He smiled as he said, “I should not like you so much as I do if I thought that you had. Now pray do not keep me in suspense. May I continue to call upon you?”
In spite of the fact that she had never felt more flustered, Anne began to laugh. “Of course you may call upon me. I shall look forward to it, in fact.”
Lord Westerfield laughed, too. “I see that I shall enjoy making your acquaintance. You are like a breath of fresh air. And since you are so fond of the outdoors, perhaps the next time I call, we might take a stroll in your park. The weather has been uncommonly fine.”
“It has indeed. We shall have to hope that it lasts. If it is raining, we shall have tea indoors.”
He smiled at Anne. “A perfect solution.”
He wondered if she had any idea how appealing she looked, perched like a graceful bird upon the chair, her dark hair glimmering and her blue eyes shining. He would have been content to stay and study her lovely face. Yet he knew Father was expecting him to return and go over their accounts.
He slapped his thigh. “I must go. Yet, I cannot leave without inquiring how you and your brother are withstanding the loss of your grandfather. Are you feeling any more cheered?”
She wanted to reply that his company had done wonders for her spirits. Instead, she said, “The wound is not so fresh anymore. However, I think Jeremy feels it most keenly. He and Grandfather were great friends. They spent a lot of time playing games together, especially once Grandfather was confined to bed.”
“Perhaps you and Jeremy would like to come out and see our new litter of pups. They will become fine hunting dogs one day.”
“What a wonderful idea. I am sure it would cheer him.”
“Then you may tell him that I shall call upon you both and transport you to Westerfield. Would tomorrow afternoon be convenient?”
“It would be lovely.”
“Then I shall call at three o’clock.”
“I shall tell Jeremy.”
Lord Westerfield rose.
“I shall bid you good-day until tomorrow.”
He bowed gracefully, a lock of black hair falling boyishly across his forehead. Anne curtsied, admiring both the man and his straightforward manner.
When Arthur had fetched Lord Westerfield’s hat and bid him good-day, Anne went up to find Jeremy, sure that he would be thrilled by the opportunity to see the puppies.
Not to her surprise, Jeremy came more alive than she had seen him in days. The prospect of playing with the pups filled him with excitement. “Do you suppose we could buy one? I have wanted a dog ever so long.”
Anne started to say they would ask Grandfather and then closed her lips tightly. She blinked back sudden tears that pricked at her lids. When she felt more composed, she looked into his small hopeful face and said, “We will see, dear. I do not know that Lord Westerfield wishes to sell them.”
If he did indeed plan to sell some of the puppies, she would have to stall Jeremy for time. Since she did not want to prejudice him against his new guardian, she did not tell him the gentleman might have an opinion about the matter. If the puppies were for sale, they would cross that bridge when they came to it.