“As he was taught. He was a St. John, you know.”

“Where he learned his principles.”

“And no one is quite so stubborn as a St. John.”

“Except an Elliot?”

“We aren’t nearly as stubborn as we are selfish, disloyal, and spendthrift.”

“Lovely qualities for an entire family.”

“You cannot change the way you were born,” Rupert said with a shrug.

“Nonsense,” she said briskly. “You are what you decide to become, Rupert.”

“So Anthony tells me. He’s becoming impossibly dictatorial.”

Anna sighed. “I know. I’ve done what I can. But it’s going to be up to Charlotte—” She broke off.

“Charlotte?” Rupert asked. “Ah, yes. Charlotte Melton. I’ve been escorting you to her house every morning.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t know her.”

“I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I’d heard—” He shrugged. “I know far more than you realize.”

“I didn’t realize you knew of the engagement. I would have introduced you, but—” She looked at him.

Rupert gave a rueful grin. “I’m not a proper man for a Miss Melton, eh?”

“She’s a very gentle creature, almost half his age, and painfully shy. Makes me positively ill to think of what living with a man like Greyley could do to a gently raised child like that.”

“I see,” Rupert said. He watched Anna for a moment, noting the way the sunlight lit the deep auburn lights of her hair to the richest red. She was a beautiful woman, he realized with some surprise. Even with that bold nose. Strange he’d never noticed it before, but something about her manner made one shy away from really looking at her.

But perhaps it was no wonder. Any normal man would cringe from the directness of her opinions, the forthright way she had of speaking, and the annoying way she had of looking at one as if she could see right through you. All told, she was a formidable package. To everyone but a man like Greyley.

And perhaps to a man like Rupert. He leaned forward and smiled. “You have lovely hair.”

She sent him a flat look. “Pray do not start that nonsense with me. I have a very low tolerance for drivel.”

Rupert’s pride was piqued. No wonder Greyley was so determined to have her. “Are you ready to go for a ride?”

“Only if you will promise not to make a cake of yourself. I’m quite immune, you know. And I rather like you—I’d hate to have to avoid you for the rest of your stay.”

“Oh, very well, wretch,” he said, feeling unaccountably cheered. He offered her his arm. “Shall we go?”

“I need to change. Can you meet me in front of the house in ten minutes?”

“No woman can change her clothes in ten minutes.”

“I can,” she said. “Lily, will you and Mrs. Stibbons watch the children? I’m going for a ride.”

Lily beamed her agreement and Rupert watched as Anna walked from the room. He made his farewells to the children and went downstairs to wait. A scant ten minutes passed before she sailed down the steps, her habit neatly buttoned as she pinned her hat to her curls.