“Done.”

Selena hopped out of Anna’s lap. “I think I’ll go play Catch the Cat,” she announced, then held out her hand.

Face grim, Anthony dug into a pocket and produced two shillings.

The little girl examined the coins carefully before placing them in her pocket. Then she turned to Anna. “If you need me, yell loud. I’ll find a big stick.”

“Thank you,” Anna said, touched by this show of loyalty.

Selena sent a dark look at the earl, then marched off.

“Greyley, there was no need for you to be so rude. The children are—”

His hand clamped about her wrist and he hauled her to her feet. Anna was instantly aware of the heat of his grasp. “Release me at once.”

“You can either come with me now, or I’ll pick you up and toss you over my shoulder. You and I have something to discuss.”

Anna yanked her arm free. A welter of emotions stirred inside her, upsetting her peace and sending hot sparks through her. “I will not be threatened in such a manner. If you wish to speak to me, you will ask me nicely or—”

One moment she was standing in front of him, her feet on solid ground, and then she was upside down as Greyley marched across the lawn, Anna hanging over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

She beat on his back with her fists and tried to kick, but all that won her was his hand placed more firmly on her bottom, and his low growl of displeasure.

“Damn you, Greyley! Release me now!”

“No.” He continued to march on, unaffected by the stares of the children.

“Lily!” Anna called.

“Yes, miss?” came the tentative answer.

“Take the children back to the nursery and see that they get their dinner.”

“Yes, miss!”

Anna tried to shake the hair from her eyes. Marian and Elizabeth had their hands clasped before them, a beatific expression on their faces as if they were witnessing the dramatic close of a romantic play. Selena was sucking on her finger and shaking her head, as if chastising them for their improper behavior. Desford and Richard wore huge grins.

“This is absurd, Greyley,” Anna hissed. “Everyone can see.”

“I don’t care about everyone,” he returned, striding across the terrace as if she weren’t hanging over his shoulder. “We’re going to talk and there’s not a damned thing you can do about it.”

“If you’ll put me down, I’ll gladly meet you in the library!”

He opened the door and entered the house. “And be interrupted by your grandfather? Or Rupert? Or Lady Putney? Or one of those blasted children? Every time I try to have a word with you, someone interrupts us. I’m not having any more of it.”

He was mounting the stairs again and she closed her eyes and prayed that he did not drop her. “Greyley, please let me down.”

“No,” he said, reaching the top of the stairs and striding down a long hallway. “Not yet.” He reached a doorway and kicked it open, then carried Anna across a dark room. Suddenly, she was flying through the air. She landed on her back with a startled “oof” on something soft. Greyley left her to lock the door. Then he began opening curtains.