have a pirate's conceit and sense of superiority."
"There is nothing conceited about speaking the truth."
Anna folded her arms across her chest. "Then you must show me these marvellous skills of yours. Once at the fair, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to demonstrate your extraordinary strength and agility."
"You mock me, but perhaps I may surprise you. But know I draw the line at wrestling with monkeys and bears."
She sniggered. Mr. Danbury could be very amusing when he wasn't stomping around growling at everyone. "Surely there will be jugglers and fire-eaters there. Let us see how you fare with them."
"I do have quite nimble fingers, and my body is already aflame." His velvety tone made her shiver, and she recognised the glaze of desire in his warm brown eyes. "I fear if I even attempt to eat fire I'll surely combust."
As Madame Labelle, she knew the feigned words of a seducer. As Anna Sinclair, she could not ignore the fluttering sensation in her stomach.
"What a shame the font is empty. A splash of holy water would surely help to douse the flames." She stepped forward. "Come. We shall be here trading quips until nightfall. If you're ready, I shall go and fetch my cape."
He inclined his head. "Give me a moment to find my cutlass and eyeglass and I'll meet you in the stable."
The fair was well under way by the time they rode down into the village. The boisterous laughter, the hawkers hollering their wares, and the singing and merry melody from the instruments of numerous minstrels permeated the air.
Anna scanned the vast sea of heads. They had no hope of spotting Tristan or Selene and Andre amongst the hordes of people packed into the field.
Mr. Danbury climbed down from his horse, paid the groom a sou and came round to help Anna down. She lowered the hood of her cape, and as his hands settled on her waist, she felt the strange frisson of awareness she always felt in his company.
"What would you like to do first?" he asked as he set her down. His large hands lingered there for a moment, and she felt the loss instantly when he stepped away.
"We could wander around. See what's here. I doubt we'll find Tristan."
He did not offer his arm, which suited her well enough. She was not used to being in the company of chivalrous men.
"Listen for the loudest laugh and we're guaranteed to find him," he snorted.
"I've never met anyone as cheerful as Tristan," she said as Mr. Danbury placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her through the crowd. Good Lord. The strange feeling came upon her again: a gurgling in her stomach, an erratic thumping in her chest. Hoping conversation would provide a distraction, she added, "Is he ever grumpy?"
Mr. Danbury pursed his lips as he pondered the question. "Only when he's tired. When I first met him, he rarely smiled. Anger was the only emotion he expressed."
Anna was shocked. "I can't imagine him wearing a permanent scowl. It would ruin his fine features."
"We all have our own way of dealing with pain," he replied, his tone a little strained and she noted a hint of irritation. "Take you, for example. You choose solitude and quiet reflection as a way of coping. You are regimental in your routines, and can be found in the same place at the same time each day. Some would say it stems from a feeling of insecurity."
Anna glanced up at his solemn expression, surprised he had even bothered to notice her daily rituals. Being regimental about things did help her to feel calmer, more secure.
"Step closer." The hawker's cry disturbed her musing. "Step closer and watch his fingers work the willow."
The peddler stood in the middle of the path, guiding people to an area where a man sat weaving the pliant stems into baskets. They followed his direction, hanging back from the crowd as they had no real desire to witness the event.
Indeed, only one thought filled her head: Mr. Danbury had been watching her closely enough to form an accurate opinion of her
"There is nothing conceited about speaking the truth."
Anna folded her arms across her chest. "Then you must show me these marvellous skills of yours. Once at the fair, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to demonstrate your extraordinary strength and agility."
"You mock me, but perhaps I may surprise you. But know I draw the line at wrestling with monkeys and bears."
She sniggered. Mr. Danbury could be very amusing when he wasn't stomping around growling at everyone. "Surely there will be jugglers and fire-eaters there. Let us see how you fare with them."
"I do have quite nimble fingers, and my body is already aflame." His velvety tone made her shiver, and she recognised the glaze of desire in his warm brown eyes. "I fear if I even attempt to eat fire I'll surely combust."
As Madame Labelle, she knew the feigned words of a seducer. As Anna Sinclair, she could not ignore the fluttering sensation in her stomach.
"What a shame the font is empty. A splash of holy water would surely help to douse the flames." She stepped forward. "Come. We shall be here trading quips until nightfall. If you're ready, I shall go and fetch my cape."
He inclined his head. "Give me a moment to find my cutlass and eyeglass and I'll meet you in the stable."
The fair was well under way by the time they rode down into the village. The boisterous laughter, the hawkers hollering their wares, and the singing and merry melody from the instruments of numerous minstrels permeated the air.
Anna scanned the vast sea of heads. They had no hope of spotting Tristan or Selene and Andre amongst the hordes of people packed into the field.
Mr. Danbury climbed down from his horse, paid the groom a sou and came round to help Anna down. She lowered the hood of her cape, and as his hands settled on her waist, she felt the strange frisson of awareness she always felt in his company.
"What would you like to do first?" he asked as he set her down. His large hands lingered there for a moment, and she felt the loss instantly when he stepped away.
"We could wander around. See what's here. I doubt we'll find Tristan."
He did not offer his arm, which suited her well enough. She was not used to being in the company of chivalrous men.
"Listen for the loudest laugh and we're guaranteed to find him," he snorted.
"I've never met anyone as cheerful as Tristan," she said as Mr. Danbury placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her through the crowd. Good Lord. The strange feeling came upon her again: a gurgling in her stomach, an erratic thumping in her chest. Hoping conversation would provide a distraction, she added, "Is he ever grumpy?"
Mr. Danbury pursed his lips as he pondered the question. "Only when he's tired. When I first met him, he rarely smiled. Anger was the only emotion he expressed."
Anna was shocked. "I can't imagine him wearing a permanent scowl. It would ruin his fine features."
"We all have our own way of dealing with pain," he replied, his tone a little strained and she noted a hint of irritation. "Take you, for example. You choose solitude and quiet reflection as a way of coping. You are regimental in your routines, and can be found in the same place at the same time each day. Some would say it stems from a feeling of insecurity."
Anna glanced up at his solemn expression, surprised he had even bothered to notice her daily rituals. Being regimental about things did help her to feel calmer, more secure.
"Step closer." The hawker's cry disturbed her musing. "Step closer and watch his fingers work the willow."
The peddler stood in the middle of the path, guiding people to an area where a man sat weaving the pliant stems into baskets. They followed his direction, hanging back from the crowd as they had no real desire to witness the event.
Indeed, only one thought filled her head: Mr. Danbury had been watching her closely enough to form an accurate opinion of her
Similar Books
