“Forty-two,” Marian said. Richard nodded.

Anna straightened. “You must be teasing.” She sent a questioning glance at Anthony.

He shrugged. “That sounds about right.”

“I would have never thought it, but you, sir, are a dandy.”

Anthony didn’t know how to respond. He’d been called arrogant, and thoughtless, and intractable. But never had anyone dared call him a dandy. “I am not a dandy. In fact, I am as far from being a dandy as it is possible to be.”

“Then why do you have so many shoes?”

He frowned, incredulous that she would even ask such a question. “Because they not only threw my shoes into the water, but all of my boots as well. They even tossed in my dress slippers.” He glared down at his feet and said grimly, “All except these.”

She bit her lip. “It is a pity they forgot those. I daresay they would look a good deal better in the pond.”

Anthony stiffened. “Just what do you mean by that?”

She didn’t appear the least put out by his harsh tone. In fact, there was a decided quiver to her lips, as if she were struggling to contain a giggle. “I’ve never thought of you as a tassel sort of man. But then one never knows, does one?”

Anthony promptly forgot that he had always hated the slippers. In fact, he’d been tempted to toss them into the fireplace when he’d first gotten them, but the realization that Aunt Delphi might someday visit made him think better of it. So he’d hidden them in his closet and forgotten about them until today. “You are supposed to get those children under control, Miss Thraxton.”

“We cannot make angels out of them overnight,” she replied easily. “After we have retrieved your shoes, we will discuss what is to be done with the children. Rest assured that they will pay for this escapade.” She turned and walked toward the pond, never checking to see if Anthony followed or not.

He was tempted to stay right where he was. After all, since the children were under her care, she was in part responsible for this latest debacle. “They are already ruined,” he said loudly.

“Perhaps. And perhaps not,” came the reply, floating across her shoulder. She walked with long, purposeful strides, and Anthony couldn’t help but admire the sway of her hips as she went.

Anthony glanced to where the children sat watching with curious gazes. “We will discuss this further once I’ve retrieved my shoes.”

Selena took her finger out of her mouth. “I can throw very far.”

“Can you?” he asked grimly.

“Farther than Richard.”

The boy looked sullenly at his sister, and for an instant Anthony thought the child might actually say something. But the moment passed, and Richard hunched his shoulders and turned to stare at the banks of the pond where Miss Thraxton was now standing.

Anthony raked a hand through his hair. The way things were going this morning, he wouldn’t be surprised to discover that his shoes were in the deepest part of that damned pond. Without another word, he turned and followed Anna to the water’s edge.