“First, that I will put every resource into uncovering your sister. I’m certain she must be trying to get back to us. I’ll send for you father and Juliana. They’ve probably only just reached Gretna Green and they need to be on the lookout for her if she’s trying to go home by road. Hell, I’ll go to Scotland myself if I must, and knock door to door on every path that might lead Anne to us.”

“You would do that for the woman who left you almost at the altar?”

He glanced down at her. “No, for the woman who met me there instead.”

She turned her face to his and brushed her mouth to his cheek. “And what is the second thing?”

“That once we clear all these interlopers out, once we start all my resources onto the task of finding Anne, I plan to take you upstairs and prove my love to you. Without words. For as many hours as we can both stand.”

They had reached the top of the hill now, and he was correct that the drive teemed with strangers and servants all talking at once. Looking for a leader. Looking for her husband.

“I cannot wait,” she whispered as they moved toward them. “And to prove the same to you.”

Chapter 27

Two Days Later

Thomasina looked up from the brimming plate of breakfast delights and smiled as her husband entered the room. An expression that fell when she saw his long face.

“What is it?” she asked. “Word from Reynolds?”

“No,” he said, and set a slim folded sheet of paper before her. “From Anne.”

She yelped out a cry and jumped to her feet, tearing open the seal. She scanned the words and then read them out loud:

My dearest Thomasina, Juliana and Father,

I must start by saying I am unharmed. I made a foolish mistake in believing the words of a charlatan, but I have been punished for it, I promise you. I am safe now and will be returning to Lord Harcourt’s estate by Tuesday. I hope I will be welcomed. I love you all so much.

Your Foolish Anne.

She handed the letter over to Jasper as she clutched her hands to her heart in relief and joy. “She is coming home!” she burst out. “My sister is unharmed and she is coming home!”

Jasper frowned as he folded the letter. “And it seems she has a tale to tell. There is no direction on the envelope, so I cannot take you to intercept her. But Tuesday is tomorrow—we will see her soon, assuming she will be on time.”

“And Juliana and my father will be here this afternoon, so we will all be here to greet her.” She blinked at tears. “I cannot wait to touch her and know she is real and whole.”

He reached out and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “I understand entirely.”

She stepped into his arms and held him as her joy overflowed within her. Joy that Anne would be home safely soon. Joy that she had found so much love in the midst of chaos and helplessness.