Chapter 23
“Annie, at last! I thought your mother would never let you attend an event again.”
“I think she was sorely tempted to commit to such a resolution,” Annie said rather miserably as she walked into the tea party on Peggy’s arm. In front of them was Peggy’s cousin, the Earl of Bedford, striding ahead and barely acknowledging them, though he was their escort for the day. “Had your cousin not been escorting us, I do not think she would have permitted me to attend this event.”
“Will you tell me why that is today?” Peggy asked as they stepped off the garden path and headed across the lawn. Lord and Lady Shrewsbury were holding a tea party for all their friends, something Annie had been thrilled to be invited to. When her mother could no longer attend thanks to a headache, her excitement had grown all the more.
I can see Luke again!
Yet she equally did not know what to do when she saw him. She had thought so much of all that had passed that night at the ball over the last week, she was uncertain what to say or feel. Could she really leave Luke in order to save her name? Or was she willing to risk it all for the sake of another stolen moment with him?
“Annie? Can you hear me?” Peggy said with a laugh as she elbowed Annie in the side.
“Ow!”
“I barely touched you, but it certainly worked to get your attention. Your mind seems to be in another place entirely. You might need to bring it back here if you are to enjoy this tea party.”
“Yes, you are right.” Annie nodded and brought a false smile to her lips, now so practised at such a thing that it almost felt natural to her.
“Miss Storey, Miss Grove, I am so pleased you could come.” Lady Shrewsbury was quick to greet them. The Earl of Bedford did not dally long enough to greet Lady Shrewsbury but turned his attention straight to her husband instead, an action that was noticed by the three ladies, who exchanged nervous glances.
Annie and Peggy knew well enough the pride the Earl had. He would not associate with someone like Lady Shrewsbury, who had fallen from grace, but at least he had swallowed his pride enough to accept an invitation to the house.
“Thank you for inviting us, my lady,” Annie said eagerly, trying to distract Lady Shrewsbury from the snub. The distraction worked, and conversation flowed easily until the maids arrived with the pots of tea. Annie and Peggy were quickly ushered to one of the tables laid out on the lawn, where they sat down together, and Lady Shrewsbury turned to invite her other guests.
“Now, no more interruptions.” Peggy took Annie’s arm as she spoke, capturing her attention. “Tell me, please, why has your mother practically kept you a prisoner in your own house this last week? Every time I called, I was refused entry, even for a cup of tea!”
“I know.” Annie grimaced, despising how her mother had controlled her life so much over the last week. “It is all because my mother believes me to have committed a great transgression.” Annie glanced around the lawn, checking no one was close enough to hear them. So far, no one had joined them at their table, leaving them in silence as Peggy poured their tea and a bumblebee fluttered around their ears, trying to figure out if their perfume came from flowers or from their skin.
“What transgression is that?” Peggy asked. Annie drew in a sharp breath, deciding it was time to come clean to her friend. She needed advice at this time, and she felt that Peggy was the only one who could give it.
“Seeing Lord Yeatman in private without a chaperone.”
“What!?” Peggy said a little loudly for comfort as the teapot slipped in her grasp. Hot tea spilt on the table and a little on Annie’s hand behind the cup. The two of them hurried to clean up the mess and smiled at the guests from the other tables, who looked their way in alarm at the sudden sound.
People soon returned to their own conversations, leaving Peggy to look to Annie with wide eyes as Annie took the teapot to finish pouring their tea. “Annie, did you truly do such a thing? Or is this just an accusation from your mother?”
Annie didn’t answer, pretending far too much interest in the tea as she poured a little milk into their cups.
“You did do it,” Peggy summarised, plainly reading Annie’s manner without having to be told. “Good lord, Annie, that is unlike you.”
“Oh, Peggy, it is not as simple as that.”
“Believe me, I know.” Peggy looked away across the lawn, angling her head as if seeking someone out. Annie saw the glance and paused with the milk jug, beginning to realise just who Peggy was searching for.
“Are we expecting Mr Barton to be here today?” she asked. Peggy abruptly turned back and fussed with slices of cake, serving them both for Annie and herself.
“Perhaps you are not the only one to transgress by being in a gentleman’s company alone, unchaperoned,” Peggy whispered and shook her head as if she had done the most abominable thing.
“Then you know it is not an easy thing to resist?”
“I do.” Peggy prodded her cake with her fork so sharply that Annie jumped.
“Does that thought make you angry?”
“Let us say Mr Barton and I were nearly caught. The prospect that we may have been caught has terrified him, to the point that he has approached my cousin to ask to court me.”
“Peggy, is this not a wonderful thing?”