Page 55 of The Language of Love

“You mean slaving for your cousins?” Freddie’s beautiful face hardened. “I really wish you’d put aside your pride and come live with me. You can contribute to the household expenses when you get a job.”

Shame flooded her. Here she was lying to her friend, and Freddie was offering her shelter and support.

And still Annis couldn’t make herself tell the other woman the truth.

***

Annis arrived at her uncle’s house just as her aunt and cousins were finishing their late breakfast. Thankfully, none of the servants must have told them she’d gone out, so they merely assumed she’d woken up late as well.

The last thing Annis wanted to do was sit down to breakfast with her cousins and aunt, but she still hadn’t asked about getting a few hours to herself today, and time was running out.

“You’re terribly late,” her aunt scolded when Annis entered the breakfast room. “Don’t expect Coombs to bring you anything else—he’s already taken away most of the food.”

“Of course not, Aunt. I’ll just have a cup of coffee,” she said, pouring herself a cup and then taking a seat to wait for a break in the conversation, which was all about the upcoming ball at Lady Jersey’s.

While her cousins were bickering about a ball gown, her aunt turned to Annis. “I hope you remember that we’ve been invited to Lady Monmouth’s house today.”

“Yes, aunt.”

“Your name was not on the invitation, I’m afraid,” her aunt said, as if she’d have allowed Annis to go even if she had been included.

And then her aunt shocked her, “You may have the rest of the day to yourself as a special treat, Annis.”

“Thank you so much, Aunt.”

“You are welcome.”

The instant Aunt Agnes turned her indulgent gaze on her two daughters, Annis scuttled out of the room as quickly as a mouse, not wishing to linger and draw unwanted attention.

Rather than risk getting dragooned into some chore or other, Annis left immediately for Hookham’s, even if that meant she’d arrive hours early. After all, she could always read while she waited.

But when Annis walked into the lending library a quarter of an hour later, it was to find Henry already there, sitting in a chair facing the door with a book in his hands. His eyes met hers and the loveliest smile she’d ever seen spread across his face.

No, not just a smile, but the slow, lazy grin that transformed him from a severe, slightly menacing stranger into a mischievous co-conspirator.

Annis watched with breathless anticipation as Henry unfolded his tall body from his chair and came toward her, his long-legged stride so elegant and masculine.

How could she have believed he was a clerk? He moved with such confidence and command that he was an aristocrat from the top of his dark, curly head to the tips of his well-worn, but highly polished Hessians.

He opened the door, waiting until they were outside to speak. “I’m glad you came early.”

Annis was too tongue-tied to do anything but smile—probably fatuously.

A notch formed between his eyebrows. “Is aught amiss?”

“No? Why would it be?” she blurted.

“No reason—you just look a bit unsettled.”

“No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just glad I could get away,” she said, which wasn’t a lie.

“I’m glad, too.”

His smile did disruptive things to her heart and lungs.

“Do you feel like a carriage ride?”

“You brought the phaeton?” She glanced around.