The Spy Who Loved Her: Once Upon an Accident, Book 3 (17 page)

He climbed the steps trying to think of everyone in attendance. He could get the list from Greenwood, but that would definitely draw attention to them. And who was to say that the older or younger Greenwood wasn’t the one who was indebted to the Viper.

He was more worried about Anna. The question was whether she would forgive him or not? He remembered the pain in her eyes, the coldness of her voice… If she did forgive him, it would not be any time soon.

Anna said nothing for a few minutes. Truly, she could not think of anything to say. She was still trying to comprehend everything that had just come to light.

“Will you truly not tell anyone?”

Jo’s voice held a hint of worry. Anna could understand, but it did not mean she was happy about it.

“You do not know me well, so I will allow for that. I will never tell anyone what any of you do. I am presuming you are one of them?”

She nodded.

“I would never put any of you, especially Daniel, in harm’s way.”

“Thank you.”

She turned around and looked out at the drive once again. It seemed so pleasant, such a brilliant, beautiful day. But at the moment, she felt cold. She could not seem to warm herself. As the silence stretched, she could feel the tension rise. It was not coming from her. She was frozen. But rather the fear was pouring off Lady Joanna in waves.

“I gave you my word. I will not expose you.”

“I believe you.”

Anna turned and looked at the older woman. What would make a woman such as her become entangled in such a mess?

“I married into it.”

Anna flushed and looked away. Lady Joanna laughed but there was little joy in it.

“No. I do not mind.”

Anna looked back to her again. “I just do not understand. Why would you put yourself in jeopardy? You could marry again, have children.”

The smile she offered seemed a little sad. “No. That is not for me. I…tried for years with my late husband. It was not to be.”

“You know, according to my sister-in-law, it is sometimes the man’s fault.”

“I dare say most problems that arise are men’s fault. But in this case it is not. Harold had children with his first and second wives. We were not so lucky.”

“So now you do this.”

“It is what my husband trained me for.”

Anna felt her eyes widen at the statement. “Your husband made you a spy?”

“My husband was a spy. As was Daniel’s father. But…I believe that is something you need to discuss with Daniel.”

“So, there isn’t any…”

“Any?” It took a moment, but Joanna’s expression cleared. “Oh. No. There is nothing going on between Daniel and me, just as I told you last night. There has never been anyone but my husband for me.”

A small sharp jab of envy bit into Anna’s heart at the wealth of love she heard in the other woman’s voice. She had known those relationships existed. She watched her brother and cousin fall in love, marry for it. But it was not for her. The one man she had always loved had just informed her that he had been paying attention to her because she was in danger. That did not speak of undying love or devotion…at least not to her.

Joanna chuckled. “Oh, Daniel is in for a very hard time with you, my lady.”

Anna focused on her for a moment, then looked away. “I said I would not cause you any problems and I mean it. I might not always seem like the brightest one of the bunch, but I am not stupid.”

The older woman cocked her head to one side as she studied her. “I believe that you are far more intelligent than you let on to be.”

Anna opened her mouth to refute it.

“Do not lie to me and insult my intelligence. I am not saying it is a bad thing. But I believe that even Daniel, a man who rarely underestimates anyone, man or woman, might have done so with you.”

“That isn’t that important.”

Lady Joanna said nothing, her expression letting Anna know exactly how she felt.

“Yes. Well.” She ran her hands down the front of her dress. “I guess I need to retire, or something. Or…I don’t know.”

“Act as you normally do. Do not deviate from your normal routines. Just act like everything is normal.”

Anna nodded. “I wish it was.”

“Sometimes not getting what we wished for is a blessing in disguise.”

Anna had nothing to say to that but nod. As she slipped out the door and walked to her room, her mind bubbled with the ramifications of what had just transpired. Daniel was a spy, and not only that, apparently a very powerful one…trained by his father. She barely noticed the people she passed, mostly house staff. Once she reached her room, she shut the door and leaned back against it.

A strange sense of calmness slipped over her. It was decidedly odd that at the moment she had no feelings…she was numb. What had she been thinking? Daniel would never be interested in a woman like her. No good men could. She had proven that with Dewhurst.

She walked to her bed as the memories from three years ago blew to the forefront of her brain. There had been many suitors before him. With her dowry and connections, she was a catch. Oh, she was attractive enough, but she knew those two things sealed the deal, so to speak.

She threw herself on the bed and rolled over onto her back. She closed her eyes and allowed the events of those last few weeks before her cousin’s abduction flitted through her mind. She had been so stupid, so naive. Was it any wonder that Dewhurst had used her so easily? She had been like a lamb to the slaughter.

He had known how badly she needed the attention. He had found her weakness and played with her. Daniel’s escapades had been getting out of control, and having a man who seemingly did not need her fortune, had his choice of women, focus his attention on her… She had fallen for it, ready to throw caution to the wind. If Dewhurst had asked her to run off to Gretna Greene, she would have gone. That carefree feeling had dissolved the moment she found out about his duplicity. She had been duped, used, and very nearly lost her good name. It was something she would not do again. She did not know how to react to this latest development. Daniel had always been a friend, someone to look up to. Someone she loved. She had realized last night that she was still in love with him. It was no longer just a girlhood crush.

What would she do? She did not know. She would never expose him, put him in danger. But other than that…

With a sigh, she picked herself up and decided to get out. She needed time to think and clean, fresh country air always seemed to help with that. After what had happened to Daniel she knew she would have to stay close to the house, but she needed solitude. As she pulled the bell cord, she prayed that it would help this time.

Daniel eased his way through the music room as he tried to ignore the bellowing of one of Lord Tate’s girls. Everyone faced forward, seemingly interested in the untalented chit. Bloody hell, the girl could not sing. In fact, there was a good chance she was strangling a cat.

He skimmed the room for Anna and suppressed a sigh. It seemed that he spent most of his time looking for her these days. She was beginning to become an obsession of his, one that he did not know if he would ever be able to control. She had become his first thought in the morning, his last thought at night, and the woman who refused to let him sleep as she invaded his dreams.

When he could not find her, he located her mother, sitting next to his. Damn. He had to look inconspicuous moving to the other side of the room, but at least it would appear he was approaching his mother.

“Daniel.”

He leaned down to allow his mother to kiss his cheek.

“Mother. Lady Victoria.”

Anna’s mother bowed her head.

“I thought you would be out riding, or doing something manly.” His mother could always make him feel as if he were a lad in leading strings.

A twinge of guilt stabbed his stomach. He had not told his mother of the earlier altercation. Furthermore, he had ordered both Jo and Jack to secrecy. He pushed the feelings aside, knowing that alerting his mother would only make his investigation impossible.

“I went out for a ride this morning and was not in the mood for the hunt they had planned this afternoon.” He glanced around the room. “I take it Lady Anna decided not to attend the music this afternoon?”

Lady Victoria made a face. “No. Anna likes music, but she said she was not in the mood. She took a book outside to read.”

Alarm shifted through him. “Alone?”

The tone of his voice caused Lady Victoria to look at him curiously. “Well, I believe she was going to find a nice bench in the garden and read. She tends to spend a lot of time outdoors when we are in the country. She misses the freedom when we are in town. It is actually warm for this time of year.”

He glanced at his mother and noticed her almost imperceptible nod. She was worried also.

“Well, ladies, I think I shall take a stroll outside.”

With little ceremony, he slipped out the French doors and into the garden. When he could not find Anna in the gardens near the house, his worry turned into panic. Then he saw her sitting close to the front lawn, the book she had brought to read sitting beside her on the bench. He could not see her since her back was to him. As he approached, he took the time to drink in the sight of her.

His need for her had been growing for years. Now he could not seem to control it. Their interactions did little to control his appetite. In truth, he was now ravenous for her. For a man who was used to control, he did not like it. Anything—drink, gambling, women—that made you lose your control was bad for a man. His father had taught him that. It had been one of his earliest lessons.

But now, with the afternoon sun picking up the gold curls peeking out from under her hat, he did not think of that. All he did think of was pulling that hat off her head and watching as those curls fell about her shoulders.

He approached silently, thinking she would not hear his approach. But before he could reach her, she glanced over her shoulder at him, as if she knew he was there.

“I thought you would be out on the hunt.”

There was no condemnation in her voice, or in her expression. It was then that he realized he had expected it.

“After my morning I thought it best to stay close to the house.”

She frowned. “Whatever do you mean?”

Inwardly, he cursed. Lying to Anna was difficult, and he knew at the moment no matter what story he improvised, she would know it. Worse, he didn’t want to lie to her.

He took the last few steps and sat beside her on the bench. “As I said, someone took a shot at me this morning.”

“Of course. You told me to stay close to the house.” She turned around and looked over her shoulder at the house. “As you can see, I am very close.”

“I also did not want to leave you alone.”

Her brow puckered in a frown. “Why ever not?”

“I told you that someone is after you.”

She sighed and looked out over the winter lawn. “Yes, so you and Jo say. I doubt there is much to worry about though. What use would harming me do this Viper person?”

Because it would destroy me
. So spoke his heart, but he could not bring himself to say the words aloud. He did not think she would believe him if he did tell her. At the moment, he knew she thought he had seduced her so that he could stay close to her. She would never believe he had done it because he had to stay close to her. Being in close contact with Anna crumbled any will he had to behave as he should.

“He has little logic. You have thwarted his plans and I am sure he is irritated. He would think it imperative to pay you back.”

She nodded, but said nothing. The silence stretched.

“Anna.” She did not look at him. “Look at me.”

She did then, her expression calm.

“I know I do not have the right to ask, but you will keep this all a secret, yes?”

Something that looked close to disappointment moved over her face before it disappeared. “I gave you my word.”

Then she turned from him. He wanted to grab her, shake her, get some kind of reaction. But at the moment, if he touched her Daniel wasn’t too sure he could control himself.

“I want you to be very careful. Being out here by yourself is not a good idea.”

“There are plenty of people around.”

He nodded in agreement. “But I would rather you stay in groups.”

Another sigh. “Of course.”

“And it would be better if you actually pretend to be in search of a husband.”

With precise movements, she turned to him then. “Indeed? And how would I go about doing that?”

“Stop avoiding the activities. Dance at night. Spend time with eligible bachelors.”

She said nothing in response, her gaze studying him. When she finally answered, he was fighting the urge to fidget like a young boy. “As you wish.”

She rose, and the sense of losing her washed over him. This was not the Anna he knew. Even in her more reserved moments the last few years, she was not this…composed. She had taken her passion for life and delved into the foundling home. He grabbed at her hand as if he needed a lifeline. She stilled but did not look at him.

“Anna?”

“I said I would do as you ask, which means I should return now.”

He nodded and willed himself to release her hand.

“Good day, my lord.”

She said nothing more as she walked toward the house. Her easy grace pulled the attention of several of the men in the area. They watched her, the same lustful longing in their expression that he felt in his gut. But there was something more from him, and he knew it. It scared the bloody hell out of him, but at that moment he did not think there was a way to stop this.

He had spent the last few years denying he was in love with the one woman he could never had. Now he had to do everything to keep her safe, or die trying.

Anna sighed as she approached her door later that night. She had done what Daniel had asked. Of course, she would. Even knowing his interest in her was purely for her safety, even though he had broken her heart, she would do as he asked. She was powerless not to. She knew he had asked it for her safety. Knowing that his life was at stake made her compliance critical.