Mastering the Marquess by Vanessa Kelly

small stitches, Lord Silverton looked up to meet Meredith’s gaze. His eyes flashed with mischief, and the brief dazzle of his smile left her breathless. But he immediately returned his attention to Miss Noyes, leaving Meredith to wonder if she had imagined his teasing glance.
    She sighed, irritated by her foolishly overactive imagination. Turning back to Annabel, Meredith was pleased to see the young girl drying her eyes, allowing herself to be comforted by Lady Stanton’s gentle embrace. Robert carefully sat down on a spindly cane chair next to the marquess, and Miss Noyes, encouraged by the two men, proceeded to embark on a detailed description of her methods for teaching female students.
    Meredith thought it was the strangest afternoon she had ever spent in her life.
    With a rattle of dishes, Agatha hurried through the door with the refreshments. The sturdy maid hoisted a large tray across the room and plunked it with a loud clatter on an ancient gate-leg table by the sofa.
    â€œWill there be anything else, ma’am?” Agatha barely glanced at Miss Noyes before turning her gaze to Lord Silverton, clearly transfixed by his masculine splendor. His eyebrows moved up a notch when he noticed the maid’s admiring stare.
    Meredith winced. “No, Agatha,” she interjected before Miss Noyes had a chance to respond. “That will be all.”
    â€œYes, miss.”
    The girl smiled broadly at Lord Silverton as she retreated from the room. Meredith caught the amused look on his face and resigned herself to a day of apparently endless humiliations. She hurried to the tea table, eager now to get on with the business of settling Annabel’s living situation. The sooner her sister could move to Stanton House, the better. Meredith would miss her terribly, but there was no help for that.
    â€œYour ladyship,” Meredith said, once she had served everyone a cup of tea, “please forgive me for being forward, but I would like to discuss Annabel’s living arrangements.”
    â€œNot at all, my dear. It is why we are here.”
    All at once, the atmosphere in the sitting room became very serious. Annabel sat up straight, staring anxiously at her grandmother. Lord Silverton looked enigmatic, while Robert stared avidly at Annabel.
    Meredith frowned, startled by the young man’s demeanor. Now that she thought about it, Robert had been gazing at Annabel with just such a look of fervent admiration ever since he had entered the room.
    â€œPlease continue, my dear,” prompted Lady Stanton.
    Meredith yanked her attention back to the older woman, trying to collect her scattered wits. “Forgive me, your ladyship. I will get right to the point. I have given the matter a great deal of thought, and I believe it would be best for Annabel to move into Stanton House with you and the general.”
    Lady Stanton and Lord Silverton glanced at each other, their expressions similarly inscrutable. Robert jerked his head away from his contemplation of Annabel and gave a startled snort.
    â€œOh, I say! Bad idea, that.”
    â€œRobert,” Lady Stanton admonished, “please mind your manners.”
    The young man flushed and ducked his head. “Sorry, Grandmamma.” He grinned sheepishly at Annabel, who surprised Meredith by giggling back at him. Meredith stared at her sister for a moment before switching her gaze back to Lady Stanton.
    â€œI’m sorry, your ladyship,” she continued, puzzled by the lack of enthusiasm for her suggestion. “Is this not what you would advise? She would be safe from our uncle at Stanton House, and it is the logical place from which she could make her debut.”
    â€œAnd where would you stay, Miss Burnley?” inquired her ladyship.
    â€œHere with Miss Noyes, of course.”
    Annabel squirmed, pulling herself from Lady Stanton’s embrace. “No, Meredith! I won’t leave you.”
    â€œDarling, it would be for the