Once she’d organized Greyley House to her liking, it wouldn’t be long before she cast her improving glance his way and started making suggestions to remake him. There was no way he’d even let any woman interfere with his life in such a way. No, his relationship with Thraxton would be no more than employer and employee.

That decided, Anthony sent for Dalmapple and spent several worthy hours engrossed in the business of running his estate.

Chapter 12

One should never ask a man questions about his personal life. He just might answer and then you, my dear, would have to listen.

Lady Clives-Brandley to her friend, Mrs. Fairfax, while walking the maze at Hamilton House

After a hot bath and a short rest, Anna went to the nursery, where she found the children huddled together, whispering.

“Hello, children,” she said brightly. “Planning something fun?”

Elizabeth started up from the table, her face pink. “Miss Thraxton! We were…we were…” She cast a wild glance at Desford.

He scowled and said sullenly, “We were planning on making a fort.”

Elizabeth nodded, coloring even more deeply. “Th-that’s right. A fort. We were going to make a fort.”

“Hm,” Anna said. She walked to the table and pulled out a chair. With the exception of two chairs beside the fireplace, the furnishings in the nursery were made to the children’s size. She settled into the small seat, her knees well over the edge of the table, so she clasped her arms about them. “Perhaps I can help. I used to make all sorts of forts when I was a child.”

Desford leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “If you’ve come to teach us, you are wasting your time.”

Selena copied Desford’s gesture perfectly, her bottom lip thrust forward. “Wasting your time,” she repeated.

Anna hid a smile. “I haven’t come to teach. That’s for tomorrow. For today, I thought we might just have our dinner together.”

“Dinner?” Elizabeth looked around. “You’re going to eat in here? With us?”

“Of course. It will be much more fun in here with you than in the dining room.”

Marian nodded sagely. “We ate in there once. The table came to here.” She held her hand at a level with her chin.

“It was horrible,” Elizabeth said as if suddenly remembering. “And they made us eat duck.” She shuddered.

“With orange sauce,” Marian added. “It made Richard sick.”

The children all regarded Richard with respect. He sat back in his chair with a sudden smile, showing a gap where he’d lost one of his front teeth.

At that moment Mrs. Stibbons bustled in, followed by two footmen and the faithful Lily, all carrying trays of food. Anna noticed that the meal was simply prepared and that the children ate heartily. Even Desford, who let her know he resented her presence with his sullen glances even while he ate with the gusto of a starved horse.

Lily stayed with the children after Mrs. Stibbons left. The maid quietly sat in one corner and did some mending, watching the children as they finished their meal.