“He wouldn’t have gone at all except that Elizabeth jumped up and said she’d go if Desford didn’t want to. He wasn’t about to give up his place to a mere girl.”

“It’s still a beginning.” A huge one, considering the fact that Greyley had sought out the child himself. It was gratifying to know that she had managed to help him at least a little. Anna would write Sara a letter this very afternoon and explain how Greyley was improving before her very eyes. Sara would also want all of the details about her brother’s betrothed.

The thought of Charlotte made Anna aware of the time. The girl would be waiting and they had important work to do. “I really must go.”

He leaned his hand on the banister beside Anna, the movement bringing his shoulder within inches of her chest. “You look very fetching in blue. The color enhances the whiteness of your skin.”

She tried to inch away, but couldn’t. “Mr. Elliot will be waiting on me.”

Anthony’s mouth thinned. “Rupert is going with you?”

“I invited him to accompany me and he—” Anna gasped as Anthony hauled her against him. Her hat tumbled down the stairs and rolled into the center of the foyer, where it came to rest at the feet of one of Greyley’s suits of armor. “I paid a lot of money for that hat.”

“I’ve never liked it,” Anthony growled, aware of a malevolent heat burning in his throat. “I don’t like you riding with Rupert. He is a bounder and worse.”

Her eyes blazed with disdain. “Oh, you fear he might show me some sort of disrespect? Like asking me to become his mistress, perhaps? The way you did?”

“Damn it, Anna! You don’t know him as I do.”

“I know that he is more of a gentleman than you. He has never offered me any insult, while you—” She snapped her mouth closed, her contempt clear for him to see.

“Anna, don’t,” he said, his chest aflame with the agony of thinking of her with another man. He splayed his hands over her back, molding her closer. “You are so beautiful.”

A flush of color touched her cheekbones. “No, I’m not. I’m too tall, my nose is huge, and I have large feet.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “You are the perfect height for me, your nose is adorable, and your feet are lovely. I promise to kiss every one of your toes the second I get you into my bed.”

To his surprise, she didn’t move away. “I’m not going to bed with you.”

Was there just the tiniest hint of regret in her voice? “I want to kiss you.”

She looked down, her lashes resting on the crest of her cheeks.

Anthony cupped her face and kissed a trail along her cheek, to her neck. She tasted like spring and cinnamon and forbidden heat. His body reacted immediately.

“Greyley…” She pushed him away, her breath loud in the silence. “My hat is on the floor.”