An Unconventional Countess (Regency Belles of Bath 1)

‘I’m sorry, Mama, I’m just feeling...tired.’ She found her voice finally. ‘The shop was very busy today.’

‘Oh...’ Despite a valiant attempt to hide it, her mother looked embarrassed. ‘I suppose we ought to be taking our leave anyway.’

‘Well!’ Lady Jarrow’s voice conveyed exactly what she thought of her behaviour. ‘You must come again, Elizabeth.’

‘I’d be delighted, my lady, and thank you for the invitation. I’ve enjoyed our talk very much.’

Anna watched, horrified, as her mother bent to kiss the older lady on the cheek. Meanwhile, she was acutely aware of Captain Delaney standing beside her. He’d risen to his feet at the same moment she had, though she’d kept her gaze studiously averted. Even without looking, however, she could tell that he appeared sombre. Strange that just a few moments ago she’d been almost enjoying his company again, enough to agree to a parley. Despite all her anger and humiliation, she’d found herself noticing little details about him, too, the fact that one of his eyes was subtly darker in colour to the other, the way he tapped his foot on the carpet as he talked, as if he were full of excess energy, and the scent of his cologne, light and citrusy, with a hint of salt that made her think of the sea. Or was she just imagining that? Now she felt as though she’d been tricked yet again, as if every time she found herself relenting towards him he revealed something else detestable...

‘It’s been charming to see you again, my dear.’ The Baron stood and made a polite bow, causing her a sharp pang of guilt, then Captain Delaney himself stepped into her line of vision and she felt another pang of something more like regret, not for her behaviour, but for what she’d just learned about him. If it hadn’t been for that...

She refused to complete the thought. If it hadn’t been for that, then nothing. They belonged in different worlds. No matter who her mother was, or had been, she was a shopkeeper and she ought never to have agreed to come here. She might have known it would only lead to trouble.

‘Miss Fortini.’ His voice was even graver than his expression, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. ‘I believe this is goodbye.’

‘Yes.’ For some reason, she had difficulty uttering the word. It sounded so final, yet it had to be final, didn’t it?

‘Thank you for coming.’

‘It was my pleasure,’ she lied, so obviously and blatantly that his lips actually twitched upwards.

‘I think not.’

‘My mother’s, then, Capt—’ She corrected herself. ‘My lord.’

‘Not yet.’ His smile reverted to a frown instantly. ‘And perhaps never. Whether I inherit the earldom at all remains to be seen. There’s still one significant matter to be decided.’

‘Oh?’ She tried not to sound too hopeful. ‘What’s that?’

He quirked an eyebrow, as if he were surprised by the question. Even for her, she was aware it was too direct. Impertinent, even. Whatever the matter was it was absolutely none of her business and it wasn’t as if it would make any difference to her anyway. Yet for some reason she still wanted to know.

‘Such as the gender of the former Earl’s unborn child. I’m the Earl presumptive, but since the estate is entailed it’s being held in abeyance. Nothing can be formally decided until the baby is born. If it’s a boy, he inherits. If it’s a girl...’

‘Then you do?’ She felt genuinely shocked. ‘I didn’t know such a thing was possible.’

‘Neither did I until a few months ago. Frankly, I wish I didn’t know it now, but that’s the law. So, you see, it’s not as simple as just going back to sea. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we didn’t expect or choose, but that we can’t run away from, either. Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Fortini?’

His expression seemed far too pointed suddenly, so much so that she couldn’t think of an answer. Instead, she turned on her heel and fled.

* * *

‘What on earth...?’

‘I know, Mama.’ Anna put her hands up the moment they were outside on the street. ‘You don’t have to say it.’

‘I might not have to, but I’m your parent and I will say it!’ To her surprise, her mother stormed on ahead without taking her arm. ‘Your behaviour was appalling! We were there as their guests! Whatever must they think of me now?’

‘There was nothing the matter with you!’

‘Your behaviour reflects on me. They’ll think I taught you no manners at all!’

‘I never wanted to go there in the first place! You knew that.’

‘That’s still no excuse.’ Her mother whirled around angrily. ‘Your father would have been ashamed of you!’

‘What?’ Anna sucked in a breath of dismay. ‘That’s not true. Father hated the aristocracy!’

‘No, he hated the way my family treated me. He resented all the whispering and gossip from people who came into the shop, too, but he would never have behaved so rudely to anyone and as his daughter you represent him. You just reinforced all the mean-spirited, snobbish comments anyone ever made about us!’