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Authors: Samantha Kane
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with a sidelong glance at Mr. Howard. “If His Grace is going to eat it all, then he should pay for it.”
Anne was speechless at the woman’s rudeness, but Freddy just agreed.
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Samantha Kane
“Absolutely, my dear Mrs. Northcott.” He put the mirror down decisively and held out his arm to Anne. “Shall we move along, Miss Goode?” He spared another glance for Mr. Howard. “Perhaps you should double that order, and have those items delivered to the Goode cottage, if you would, Mr. Howard.” He bowed at Mrs. Northcott and Esme, and then at Mr. Howard. “Good day.”
“Oh,” Anne said, as indecisive as Freddy was decisive. “I suppose so, Your Grace.”
She put her hand on his arm and let Freddy lead her out of the store, but she glanced back with a grimace at Mr. Howard, who was smiling in triumph, as was Mrs.
Northcott. Then she looked helplessly at Brett.
Brett smiled inwardly. Oh yes, Freddy knew just how to play this game. The man was a genius.
“Good day,” he said quietly as he put his hat back on. Both Mr. Howard and Mrs.
Northcott looked startled. They’d clearly forgotten he was there. Brett mentally shrugged. Freddy had that effect on people.
And so it went at every shop they visited that afternoon. At the millinery, the butcher, the bakery—the proprietors would look nervous and slightly guilty as Anne introduced them, but they were unfailingly polite, even affectionate to Anne. She had, after all, known most of them her entire life. Freddy would make charming small talk, and Brett would smile and stand solemnly and make appropriate polite conversation.
Then as they were leaving Freddy would inquire whether or not Anne needed anything at that particular shop. She would say no, the proprietors would remember something and Freddy would find some excuse as to why it should go on his account. Anne protested in each shop to no avail. After the first few times she stopped protesting and resorted to sarcasm. That did not deter Freddy either.
The glovers was different. As soon as they entered, Brett took Anne’s arm and walked her over to the counter. He had her try on all their best ladies gloves, and he picked a beautiful pair to replace the old worn ones he had ruined. He tucked the old gloves in his pocket while she tried on the new pair, the softest kid gloves she had ever felt, in a beautiful shade the exact color of thick cream. They fit her exquisitely.
“I shouldn’t,” she said softly, petting the back of one glove with her bare fingers after Brett told the shop girl they’d take the gloves. “I really shouldn’t accept such a gift.” When she raised her eyes to Brett the look he gave her was achingly tender.
“Please, Anne.” His voice was quiet but moved through her like thunder. She trembled at the need those two words awoke in her. She nodded, biting her lower lip to keep from saying what was in her heart. The girl put the gloves in a box and handed them to Brett.
Freddy had been uncharacteristically quiet during the whole exchange. Anne turned to leave and found him standing next to the door, watching them.
Freddy presented his arm to her. “They are beautiful gloves, Anne. Brett has exquisite taste.”
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Retreat From Love
Anne wasn’t sure what to make of his remark. There seemed to be more to it than met the eye. She cautiously placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she murmured self-consciously. As her hand came to rest on Freddy’s arm she felt the lean muscles beneath her palm tense. Brett had walked up and was staring at her hand on Freddy’s arm while Freddy stared at Brett.
Freddy broke the strange tension with a sunny smile. “Is everyone hungry? I vow I am famished from all this shopping.” He turned and opened the door to the shop, ushering Anne out. “You ladies certainly do love nattering about in the shops, Anne.”
Anne sputtered in indignation. “Me? You are the one who has dragged me to every shop in the village, Your
Anne was speechless at the woman’s rudeness, but Freddy just agreed.
37
Samantha Kane
“Absolutely, my dear Mrs. Northcott.” He put the mirror down decisively and held out his arm to Anne. “Shall we move along, Miss Goode?” He spared another glance for Mr. Howard. “Perhaps you should double that order, and have those items delivered to the Goode cottage, if you would, Mr. Howard.” He bowed at Mrs. Northcott and Esme, and then at Mr. Howard. “Good day.”
“Oh,” Anne said, as indecisive as Freddy was decisive. “I suppose so, Your Grace.”
She put her hand on his arm and let Freddy lead her out of the store, but she glanced back with a grimace at Mr. Howard, who was smiling in triumph, as was Mrs.
Northcott. Then she looked helplessly at Brett.
Brett smiled inwardly. Oh yes, Freddy knew just how to play this game. The man was a genius.
“Good day,” he said quietly as he put his hat back on. Both Mr. Howard and Mrs.
Northcott looked startled. They’d clearly forgotten he was there. Brett mentally shrugged. Freddy had that effect on people.
And so it went at every shop they visited that afternoon. At the millinery, the butcher, the bakery—the proprietors would look nervous and slightly guilty as Anne introduced them, but they were unfailingly polite, even affectionate to Anne. She had, after all, known most of them her entire life. Freddy would make charming small talk, and Brett would smile and stand solemnly and make appropriate polite conversation.
Then as they were leaving Freddy would inquire whether or not Anne needed anything at that particular shop. She would say no, the proprietors would remember something and Freddy would find some excuse as to why it should go on his account. Anne protested in each shop to no avail. After the first few times she stopped protesting and resorted to sarcasm. That did not deter Freddy either.
The glovers was different. As soon as they entered, Brett took Anne’s arm and walked her over to the counter. He had her try on all their best ladies gloves, and he picked a beautiful pair to replace the old worn ones he had ruined. He tucked the old gloves in his pocket while she tried on the new pair, the softest kid gloves she had ever felt, in a beautiful shade the exact color of thick cream. They fit her exquisitely.
“I shouldn’t,” she said softly, petting the back of one glove with her bare fingers after Brett told the shop girl they’d take the gloves. “I really shouldn’t accept such a gift.” When she raised her eyes to Brett the look he gave her was achingly tender.
“Please, Anne.” His voice was quiet but moved through her like thunder. She trembled at the need those two words awoke in her. She nodded, biting her lower lip to keep from saying what was in her heart. The girl put the gloves in a box and handed them to Brett.
Freddy had been uncharacteristically quiet during the whole exchange. Anne turned to leave and found him standing next to the door, watching them.
Freddy presented his arm to her. “They are beautiful gloves, Anne. Brett has exquisite taste.”
38
Retreat From Love
Anne wasn’t sure what to make of his remark. There seemed to be more to it than met the eye. She cautiously placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she murmured self-consciously. As her hand came to rest on Freddy’s arm she felt the lean muscles beneath her palm tense. Brett had walked up and was staring at her hand on Freddy’s arm while Freddy stared at Brett.
Freddy broke the strange tension with a sunny smile. “Is everyone hungry? I vow I am famished from all this shopping.” He turned and opened the door to the shop, ushering Anne out. “You ladies certainly do love nattering about in the shops, Anne.”
Anne sputtered in indignation. “Me? You are the one who has dragged me to every shop in the village, Your
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