Read Online The Darcy Code by Elizabeth Aston - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Aston
Ads: Link
a remark about how hot it was and, with another polite smile pinned to her lips and a nod to Mama, left the shop.
Mama whispered her disapproval into Anna's ear.
"They say her first husband was a French aristocrat, and certainly Mr. Fortescue is well enough, but I think that woman is not what she seems, I find there is something very ill bred in her air."
The fitting completed, Anna and her mother were bowed out by Madame Girot and set off for a milliner a few doors further down the street. Anna wasn't in the mood for hats, and she stood inside the shop, watching the world go by: ladies bent on purchasing finery, servants walking briskly with packages to deliver, wives walking on arms of husbands. Then she saw a familiar figure; good heavens, it was that Mr. Vere again, taller than the others in the street and with an impatience in his vigorous stride. How that man did almost magically appear. Why was he out and about; hadn't her father said he had duties that should have kept him at his desk all day?
Mama concluded her business and beckoned to Anna to come out of the shop. Outside she almost bumped into Mrs. Desmond, and greeted her with cries of delight. Anna knew what would happen now, Mama and Mrs. Desmond would stand on the pavement conversing and gossiping. Oh, no, Mrs. Desmond's carriage was drawing up, and she was inviting Lady Gosforth and Anna to go with her. That meant a tiresome hour or so fidgeting, obliged to listen to a conversation in which she had no interest and played no part.
Mama seemed to understand Anna's reluctance and, spying Mr. Vere, she called out to him. He stopped, looked an enquiry, and came over to them.
Mama wasted no words. "Lord Gosforth said that you were going to call upon him this morning. Might I beg that you would escort my daughter home? I have business elsewhere, and I know it will bore her."
Mr. Vere smiled, bowed and hooked an elbow for Anna to take.
She felt the strength of him beneath the broadcloth, and for the first time was conscious of what an attractive man he was. She stole a look at his countenance, which was quite grave. On impulse she said, "Do you have some serious matter weighing upon you, Mr. Vere? You look as though you are preoccupied."
He looked down at her, with a smile of apology. "Yes, I do have things on my mind just now."
"To do with what is happening in your government department?"
He was surprised. "What do you know about what is going on at any government department, Miss Gosforth?"
The words were out of Anna's mouth before she could stop herself: "I heard you talking to Papa yesterday." Then she bit her lip, furious with herself.
His frowned. "Overheard?"
She flushed. "I was not eavesdropping, at least not deliberately. I was in the library when you and Papa came in, and I did not know how to leave. I was not going to pay any attention, but I could not help overhearing what you said."
Mr. Vere halted and gave her a searching look. "I trust you are discreet, I trust you realize that this was not for your ears, and indeed must not be spread abroad under any circumstances.”
Anna drew herself up and gave him a haughty look in return. "Just because I am a mere female, it does not mean that I do not have as much sense of discretion and honour and duty as my father and my brothers. Of course I shall say nothing. I am aware of how dangerous things are with regard to France and peace. I am not such a fool as you seem to think me, Mr. Vere."
That made him laugh, lightening the annoyance that had showed in his expression. "My apologies, but it is still unfortunate that you should have overheard that conversation."
They walked on, he appeared lost in thought. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. She said, "Mr. Vere, when we parted in the park yesterday and you rode away, I saw you stop and talk to a man, and you handed him what looked like a document of some kind."
"Aha, and you wondered whether perhaps I was the person who had taken the
Mama whispered her disapproval into Anna's ear.
"They say her first husband was a French aristocrat, and certainly Mr. Fortescue is well enough, but I think that woman is not what she seems, I find there is something very ill bred in her air."
The fitting completed, Anna and her mother were bowed out by Madame Girot and set off for a milliner a few doors further down the street. Anna wasn't in the mood for hats, and she stood inside the shop, watching the world go by: ladies bent on purchasing finery, servants walking briskly with packages to deliver, wives walking on arms of husbands. Then she saw a familiar figure; good heavens, it was that Mr. Vere again, taller than the others in the street and with an impatience in his vigorous stride. How that man did almost magically appear. Why was he out and about; hadn't her father said he had duties that should have kept him at his desk all day?
Mama concluded her business and beckoned to Anna to come out of the shop. Outside she almost bumped into Mrs. Desmond, and greeted her with cries of delight. Anna knew what would happen now, Mama and Mrs. Desmond would stand on the pavement conversing and gossiping. Oh, no, Mrs. Desmond's carriage was drawing up, and she was inviting Lady Gosforth and Anna to go with her. That meant a tiresome hour or so fidgeting, obliged to listen to a conversation in which she had no interest and played no part.
Mama seemed to understand Anna's reluctance and, spying Mr. Vere, she called out to him. He stopped, looked an enquiry, and came over to them.
Mama wasted no words. "Lord Gosforth said that you were going to call upon him this morning. Might I beg that you would escort my daughter home? I have business elsewhere, and I know it will bore her."
Mr. Vere smiled, bowed and hooked an elbow for Anna to take.
She felt the strength of him beneath the broadcloth, and for the first time was conscious of what an attractive man he was. She stole a look at his countenance, which was quite grave. On impulse she said, "Do you have some serious matter weighing upon you, Mr. Vere? You look as though you are preoccupied."
He looked down at her, with a smile of apology. "Yes, I do have things on my mind just now."
"To do with what is happening in your government department?"
He was surprised. "What do you know about what is going on at any government department, Miss Gosforth?"
The words were out of Anna's mouth before she could stop herself: "I heard you talking to Papa yesterday." Then she bit her lip, furious with herself.
His frowned. "Overheard?"
She flushed. "I was not eavesdropping, at least not deliberately. I was in the library when you and Papa came in, and I did not know how to leave. I was not going to pay any attention, but I could not help overhearing what you said."
Mr. Vere halted and gave her a searching look. "I trust you are discreet, I trust you realize that this was not for your ears, and indeed must not be spread abroad under any circumstances.”
Anna drew herself up and gave him a haughty look in return. "Just because I am a mere female, it does not mean that I do not have as much sense of discretion and honour and duty as my father and my brothers. Of course I shall say nothing. I am aware of how dangerous things are with regard to France and peace. I am not such a fool as you seem to think me, Mr. Vere."
That made him laugh, lightening the annoyance that had showed in his expression. "My apologies, but it is still unfortunate that you should have overheard that conversation."
They walked on, he appeared lost in thought. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. She said, "Mr. Vere, when we parted in the park yesterday and you rode away, I saw you stop and talk to a man, and you handed him what looked like a document of some kind."
"Aha, and you wondered whether perhaps I was the person who had taken the
Similar Books
