“Evaline,” Greyley said sternly. “You are not to stuff the children with candy before dinner. We have already discussed this.”

“Yes, but the children—”

“—do not need to have their dinner spoiled every time you visit the village.”

Lady Putney clasped her hands together. “You don’t care about the children, do you? You just want them under your control, just as you wish to control everything around you!” She placed a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder and pulled the plump child against her. “Do not fear, my darlings. Grandmama is here to help you.”

Anna felt as if she’d stumbled into a very poorly written play. Apparently Greyley thought the same, for he said in a heavy tone, “That’s quite enough, Evaline.”

“I just want the children to have some candy,” Lady Putney said softly, her bottom lip quivering. “Would you forbid them even this one small pleasure?”

The children turned questioning eyes on the earl.

“I said no,” he snapped.

His voice seemed harsh after Lady Putney’s sugared tones, and Anna grimaced. Heavens, but she had her work cut out for her. The children fixed sullen gazes on the earl while Lady Putney just looked pathetic.

Anna cleared her throat. “Lord Greyley, as I was saying prior to meeting Lady Putney, perhaps the children could go for a ride with me this afternoon. Would you mind?”

Greyley’s gaze swung Anna’s way. “The children—”

“I’d like to ride,” Elizabeth said, breaking from Lady Putney’s side. The child’s face brightened. “More than anything.”

“Me, too,” Marian said, stepping forward.

Greyley’s brow lowered. Anna placed her hand on his arm and leaned forward to say quietly, “It will do them good to get out of the house.”

“But the schedule,” he said stiffly.

Heavens, when had the man become so stern and unyielding? She remembered some of the tales Sara had told her about Greyley’s youth, and Anna had to fight a sudden giggle. “My lord, I’m surprised you are so attached to the concept of a schedule. There was a time when you were more impulsive.”

“Me?” he asked, apparently insulted by the thought.

“When you were thirteen…maybe fourteen.”

“You didn’t know me when I was thirteen or fourteen.”

“No, but your sister did, and she told some very interesting stories.”

“Stories?” Selena’s blue eyes brightened. “I like stories.”

“So do I,” Elizabeth said.

Maid Marian wiped her nose on her sleeve, her brown eyes hopeful. “Are they funny stories?”

“Some of them are most amusing,” Anna said in a sun-drenched voice, noting how the earl’s eyes had darkened to black.

“I wager they’re boring,” Desford said, wrinkling his nose.

“No one wants to hear any stories about me,” Greyley stated in an implacable tone.

“Not even about…oh, what was her name?” Anna tapped her chin, frowning. “What was—ah! Matilda.”

His face darkened, a slow touch of red climbing his cheeks. “Sara did not tell you about Matilda.”

“Oh, but she did,” Anna said gently. “She even brought some of the sonnets you wrote. We even memorized some of the more humorous passages.”