length.’
‘Yes, I have, but women can make fools of us all. And sometimes circumstances compel us to do things…to
be
things…we would not normally do or be,’ her father said.
Anna shook her head. ‘That may hold true for some men, but
not
Peregrine. He is a good and honest man. I would stake everything I own on that.’
‘Then I would advise you to be careful, my dear. Sometimes what we believe in our hearts is as far from the truth as it is possible to be. And that which we say will
never
happen, happens with alarming regularity.’
‘You’re speaking in generalities,’ Anna said. ‘I’m talking about Peregrine, and I know him a damned sight better than—’
‘Annabelle!’
Anna sighed. ‘A great deal better than does Sir Barrington Parker. Besides, if Lady Yew
is
having an affair, it is only what her husband deserves, cold, unfeeling man that he is.’
‘Nevertheless, she is his wife and it is her duty to remain faithful to him,’ the earl said.
‘Even though he has kept a score of mistresses since the day they were married?’
The earl’s face flushed. ‘You should not be speaking of such things!’
‘Why not? It isn’t as though Lord Yew makes an effort to conceal his activities. He is constantly seen at the theatre with one or other of his mistresses. I’m surprised he hasn’t invited them home to dine—’
‘Enough! I will not hear you speak of such things, Anna,’ the earl said harshly. ‘Go back to the drawing room and continue with your needlework. I shall deal with Peregrine when he comes home and then we will settle this matter once and for all!’
* * *
It was well past midnight by the time Peregrine finally came home. Lying awake in bed, Anna heard the front door open, followed by the sound of muffled conversation. No doubt Milford telling Peregrine that the earl wished to see him. She heard footsteps, the sound of another door opening and closing, and then silence.
How long would the interview take? Would her father givePeregrine a chance to explain himself? Or would he assume, as Sir Barrington had, that Peregrine was guilty and demand that he make amends at once?
It did not make for pleasant contemplation and, irrationally, Anna wished it had been anyone
but
Sir Barrington Parker who had brought forward the accusation. Because despite what she’d said to him tonight, she
was
attracted to him, more than to any man she’d ever met. She felt surprisingly at ease in his company, even though the sight of him set her pulse racing and her thoughts whirling. She enjoyed his sense of humour, admired his intellect and sensed that beneath that cool and controlled exterior beat the heart of a strong and passionate man.
But how could she be attracted to
any
man who wilfully intended to persecute a man whom she considered as practically a member of her family? Their formal introduction had been made as the result of his coming here to investigate Peregrine’s behaviour. An
erroneous
investigation, Anna assured herself. Because if she allowed herself to believe that Peregrine would indulge in such a pastime, it could only mean that she didn’t know him as well as she’d thought—and she liked to believe that being able to read people on an intuitive level was something she did well.
It was what enabled her to offer advice to confused young women who came to her, and to their equally confused mothers. By cutting through the layers of emotion, she was able to see down to the bones of the situation. And yet, was that not the very justification Sir Barrington Parker had used for his conduct tonight?
‘…I deal in facts, Lady Annabelle. Not emotion. One dilutes the other to such a degree that the truth is often unrecognisable…’
Perhaps, but in this case, emotion was all Anna had to go on. Emotion and trust. She had to believe in the integrity ofher family and all they stood for. For where would she be—indeed, where would
any
of them be—if she could not?
* * *
Anna
‘Yes, I have, but women can make fools of us all. And sometimes circumstances compel us to do things…to
be
things…we would not normally do or be,’ her father said.
Anna shook her head. ‘That may hold true for some men, but
not
Peregrine. He is a good and honest man. I would stake everything I own on that.’
‘Then I would advise you to be careful, my dear. Sometimes what we believe in our hearts is as far from the truth as it is possible to be. And that which we say will
never
happen, happens with alarming regularity.’
‘You’re speaking in generalities,’ Anna said. ‘I’m talking about Peregrine, and I know him a damned sight better than—’
‘Annabelle!’
Anna sighed. ‘A great deal better than does Sir Barrington Parker. Besides, if Lady Yew
is
having an affair, it is only what her husband deserves, cold, unfeeling man that he is.’
‘Nevertheless, she is his wife and it is her duty to remain faithful to him,’ the earl said.
‘Even though he has kept a score of mistresses since the day they were married?’
The earl’s face flushed. ‘You should not be speaking of such things!’
‘Why not? It isn’t as though Lord Yew makes an effort to conceal his activities. He is constantly seen at the theatre with one or other of his mistresses. I’m surprised he hasn’t invited them home to dine—’
‘Enough! I will not hear you speak of such things, Anna,’ the earl said harshly. ‘Go back to the drawing room and continue with your needlework. I shall deal with Peregrine when he comes home and then we will settle this matter once and for all!’
* * *
It was well past midnight by the time Peregrine finally came home. Lying awake in bed, Anna heard the front door open, followed by the sound of muffled conversation. No doubt Milford telling Peregrine that the earl wished to see him. She heard footsteps, the sound of another door opening and closing, and then silence.
How long would the interview take? Would her father givePeregrine a chance to explain himself? Or would he assume, as Sir Barrington had, that Peregrine was guilty and demand that he make amends at once?
It did not make for pleasant contemplation and, irrationally, Anna wished it had been anyone
but
Sir Barrington Parker who had brought forward the accusation. Because despite what she’d said to him tonight, she
was
attracted to him, more than to any man she’d ever met. She felt surprisingly at ease in his company, even though the sight of him set her pulse racing and her thoughts whirling. She enjoyed his sense of humour, admired his intellect and sensed that beneath that cool and controlled exterior beat the heart of a strong and passionate man.
But how could she be attracted to
any
man who wilfully intended to persecute a man whom she considered as practically a member of her family? Their formal introduction had been made as the result of his coming here to investigate Peregrine’s behaviour. An
erroneous
investigation, Anna assured herself. Because if she allowed herself to believe that Peregrine would indulge in such a pastime, it could only mean that she didn’t know him as well as she’d thought—and she liked to believe that being able to read people on an intuitive level was something she did well.
It was what enabled her to offer advice to confused young women who came to her, and to their equally confused mothers. By cutting through the layers of emotion, she was able to see down to the bones of the situation. And yet, was that not the very justification Sir Barrington Parker had used for his conduct tonight?
‘…I deal in facts, Lady Annabelle. Not emotion. One dilutes the other to such a degree that the truth is often unrecognisable…’
Perhaps, but in this case, emotion was all Anna had to go on. Emotion and trust. She had to believe in the integrity ofher family and all they stood for. For where would she be—indeed, where would
any
of them be—if she could not?
* * *
Anna
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