After a moment, Sir Phineas raised his brows. “Ah! I see. Cry off from your engagement then.”

“I cannot,” Anthony said shortly, jamming his hands back into his pockets. “As much as I wish it, I cannot do anything so dishonorable.”

“The St. John pride makes itself felt.” Sir Phineas sighed. “This is a quandary.”

Silence rested between them. Sir Phineas seemed lost in thought, staring down at his feet. After a moment he looked up. “It’s unfortunate that society has decreed that men cannot cry off from an engagement, but women can. Bloody unfair, if you ask me, but there’s precious little we can do about it.”

“I cannot be dishonest.”

“Then disenchant her by being too honest. Women always get in a taking over the most ridiculous things. I daresay you’ll think of something, Greyley. For what it’s worth, you have my blessings.”

“Sir Phineas, do you know what this would mean?”

A smile touched the old man’s face. “I hope it means that someone we both care about will be made very happy. Someone who deserves the very best.”

Anthony’s throat tightened painfully. “There is the possibility that she loves another.” The words burned his tongue.

Sir Phineas thought the turmoil on Greyley’s face showed a good deal of promise. His one worry had been that the earl would not truly care for Anna, but apparently that fear was unfounded. “What makes you think Anna loves anyone? Damned secretive, that girl. Not one to wear her heart on her sleeve.”

“My cousin Rupert seems to think she—” The earl stopped, white lines appearing at either side of his mouth.

“Ah, the young Mr. Elliot. He seems an impetuous sort. And not always correct in his assumptions.”

A light gleamed in Greyley’s gaze. “Perhaps you are right. It’s just that Anna seems to seek him out, while she avoids me.”

“Daresay she’s afraid she’ll reveal too much.” Sir Phineas picked up his book and stood. “She’s a proud woman, my Anna. But trust me, my boy, there’s always hope. And when that fails, there’s guile and wile.”

“There are times when I see a bit of your granddaughter in you.”

“I daresay there’s more than a little.” Sir Phineas flashed a brief smile. “But before you approach Anna, I believe you have something else to see to.”

Anthony nodded briefly. “I’ll take care of it this very afternoon. Whatever occurs, I cannot follow that path.”

“Excellent,” Phineas said, hobbling to the door, the thick carpet muffling the thump of his cane. “If you need any help, you know where to find me.”

Sir Phineas gave the earl a reassuring wink and then left, content that things were progressing very satisfactorily indeed. Whistling merrily, Phineas made his way back to the nursery.

Lady Putney waited until the thumping of his cane faded into the silence before she stepped from behind the suit of armor by the library door. Though it had been closed, she’d been able to hear enough of the conversation to know what Greyley was about.