Sir Phineas glanced across the room at Desford, who was pretending to sword fight with Richard. Well, well, well. Perhaps I’m not alone in this thing, after all.

Feeling better than he had in days, Sir Phineas stayed in the nursery and played with the children until lunch.

Anna lightly ran down the steps to the foyer, her mind already busily engaged in all the home truths she could deliver to Charlotte in the space of an hour.

They rarely had more than that, for Charlotte’s mama was not at all thrilled to see her daughter becoming friends with a mere governess. But the Thraxton name, along with Anna’s intimate knowledge of Greyley House, had kept Lady Melton from preventing the visits. Had the woman any idea what things Anna was teaching Charlotte, Anna was certain the older woman would have done so immediately.

It had taken some doing, but Anna had been able to make Charlotte see the wisdom of keeping dear Mama in the dark about the exciting books and treatises Anna gave her to read.

Anna turned the last corner of the stairs and came to an abrupt halt, her skirts swinging forward to brush her ankles. Anthony stood at the bottom of the steps, leaning against the railing. The intensity of his expression made her heart leap. It was as if only a thin, thin web of civility prevented him from swooping her up and carrying her to his bedchamber to have his way with her.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, his deep voice so warm Anna felt she could touch it. “Where are you going?”

“Riding.”

His gaze flickered over her habit. “With whom?”

“I don’t answer to you for what I do in my spare time.”

“No, you don’t,” he agreed pleasantly enough. He moved around the banister and climbed the steps toward her.

She was struck by the lethal grace that accompanied his every move. Anna took a nervous step back, halting when she realized the landing was right behind her. Somehow it seemed more prudent to stay on the steps. “What do you want?”

He stopped on the step just below her, his face at a level with hers. “You seem to be riding a lot lately.”

“Have you been spying on me?”

A smile lifted the corner of his mouth, his eyes traveling across her face, lingering on her lips. “I wasn’t spying. I was admiring.”

A pleasant trill danced along Anna’s spine. She found herself wishing that his eyes weren’t at a level with her own, but she couldn’t look away without finding herself staring at some other, more dangerous part of him.

“I spoke to Desford last night,” Anthony said unexpectedly. “He and I are going fishing.”

Anna’s heart warmed. He was so capable of giving. “That’s quite a step forward.”

“You can congratulate me if I manage to return without being pushed into the pond. He didn’t look too thrilled with the idea.”

“I’m sure he was overjoyed. He’s just not one to show his excitement.”