Secrets of a Runaway Bride by Valerie Bowman

shook her head. “It’s his sister. I know it. He feels such an obligation to see to her. She’s not well. I have no idea how I’ll ever get him to come up to scratch if she continues to remain unattached.”
    “It certainly seems to be a problem, doesn’t it?” Frances replied, biting her lip. “What can we do?”
    A flash of black slid past, and Annie glanced up to see Jordan Holloway making his way across the room. Frances clutched at Annie’s arm like a crab frantically snapping its pincer.
    “Seems you’ve lost your Mr. Eggleston,” Lord Ashbourne drawled, not breaking his stride.

 
    CHAPTER 6
    It was nearly two hours and four glasses of tepid punch later before Annie was finally able to locate Arthur without his sister at his side. Apparently Miss Eggleston had gone to the ladies’ retiring room.
    “It’s about time,” Annie breathed, handing her glass to Frances. “Please hold this while I go speak with him.”
    “What do you intend to say?” Frances called after her.
    Annie tossed a quick wink in her friend’s direction. “I’ll think of something.”
    She made her way over to Arthur, who stood alone near the sidelines of the dancing, a pleasant look on his face. “Arthur, there you are.”
    Arthur glanced up; his smile did not falter. “Anne. How have you been enjoying the evening? Where is Lord Ashbourne?”
    Ugh. Why did Arthur have to mention that man’s name? “He’s here … somewhere.” She kept the smile pinned to her face. “And I’ve been enjoying the evening very well but would like it ever so much more if I were dancing.”
    Arthur’s face turned into a scowl. “Won’t Lord Ashbourne ask you to dance?”
    Annie ground her teeth. She leaned in closer. “Arthur,” she whispered. “I was hoping you would ask me to dance.”
    A brief flash of surprise registered on Arthur’s smooth face before he replied, “Anne, you know I should like that very much, but I don’t think it would be very prudent.”
    Instinctively, she took a step back. “Why not?”
    He cleared his throat, then lowered his voice. “I had words with Lord Ashbourne earlier and he … he rather implied that you and I shouldn’t … that I…”
    Annie’s face heated. She clenched her teeth. “Arthur,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Lord Ashbourne does not choose my dance partners and I—” Annie caught sight of Miss Eggleston making her way back toward her brother from the retiring room. She didn’t have much time. Only a matter of seconds. “Arthur,” she whispered. “I must speak with you, alone. Meet me downstairs in the gardens. In ten minutes.”
    Arthur started to shake his head but Annie wouldn’t allow him to speak. “I’ll be waiting, please,” she said, just before she flew away. She nodded to Miss Eggleston on her way out the door.
    *   *   *
    Fifteen long minutes passed while Annie waited outside in the gardens. It was easy enough to elude Aunt Clarissa. The woman could barely see beyond five paces in front of her face. If Annie insisted she was off dancing, Aunt Clarissa smiled and nodded and raised another glass of wine.
    Annie wrung her hands. But where was Arthur? She’d nearly convinced herself that he wasn’t coming when the French doors finally opened. Through a shaft of moonlight she could see his handsome face, blond hair, and sky-blue eyes.
    “Anne,” he called softly from the terrace. “Anne.”
    “Over here, Arthur,” she called back from her refuge behind a large, flowering bush.
    Arthur strode toward her and captured her hands when he found her. “I’m sorry I’m late. It was difficult to get away.”
    Annie nodded. “I understand.”
    “I cannot stay long, Anne. What if someone sees us? And I must be getting back to my sister.”
    Annie resisted the urge to shake him. “Arthur, I’ve barely spoken to you all evening. You cannot spare a few moments for me?”
    “Yes, of course,” he said, covering her hand again with his. “I’m