They were up on their horses and riding through the woods before Anna smiled at him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I promised Charlotte I’d stop by.” She shot him a hesitant glance. “I hope you won’t tell Greyley that I’ve become acquainted with his betrothed. I don’t think he’d like it.”

Rupert flashed a boyish grin. “Oh, I’ll keep your secrets, if for no other reason than to discomfit Anthony.”

“Excellent! I’ve been lending Charlotte some books.”

“What books?”

“Wollstonecraft, Byron, and some others.”

“Good God,” Rupert said, awe dripping from his words. “Anna, what are you doing?”

“Protecting an innocent girl from future unhappiness.”

“And creating unhappiness for Greyley.”

“Anthony needs a woman who understands her own value. With a few improvements, Charlotte will be perfect.”

Rupert’s grin widened. “Greyley will be furious.”

“Oh, he’s always upset about something.”

“Good God, what I would give to see the first time she opens her mouth to refute him. He’ll be livid.”

Anna sniffed. “No man knows what’s good for him. Look at Greyley—with all the capable, competent women out there, he chooses the most unsuitable child for his bride. Why, one week with your family and she would be torn to shreds and—” She glanced at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to malign your relatives.”

“If she’s an innocent, I daresay you’re right.” He glanced at her curiously. “Why do you care so much about Greyley’s intended?”

“Because Charlotte has no one to help her.”

“You are a kind person, did you know that?” His lips twisted into a self-derisive smile. “The opposite of me.”

“You are what you want to be. And you want to be naughty.”

He grinned but made no further comment, and they rode for a short time without talking.

“Here we are,” Anna said as they pulled up to the garden gate at Melton House. She easily dropped to the ground without waiting for Rupert to dismount. “I’m a bit late. Charlotte will be worried something happened.”

He lightly leaped down from the saddle and came to stand beside her. “Worried? About an Amazon like you?”

“Charlotte doesn’t have my hearty constitution. I daresay a ride in the sun would quite exhaust her.”

“She sounds like a paltry woman.”

“Oh no. Just delicate.” A mischievous grin crossed Anna’s face. “And very pretty.”

Pretty? “Is she?” Rupert managed to say without too much inflection.

“Just wait until you meet her.” Anna looped the reins over the fence and opened the narrow iron gate.

Rupert followed, closing the gate and looking about him with interest. The garden was beautiful—lush and heavily grown, with splashes of color that almost hurt the eye. The lazy sun warmed everything and sent the heavy scent of flowers spilling into the air.

Anna frowned. “Charlotte is usually waiting. Rupert, stay here. I’m going to see if she’s on the other path.” She disappeared down a narrow stone walk.

It was quiet in the little clearing, the heavy drone of a bee the only sound. A faint breeze stirred his hair. The minutes stretched and he sighed, feeling a little sleepy in the heat. He wandered to the rose garden and plucked a large, pink blossom. A sound behind him made him turn.