An Unconventional Countess (Regency Belles of Bath 1)

‘But the scandal with my father...?’

‘That was a quarter of a century ago. I believe that my grandmother intends to make a public show of accepting her and woe betide anyone who gets in the way.’

‘Meaning me?’

‘I hope not.’ He gave her a searching look. ‘No doubt she’ll tell you herself at breakfast, but I wanted to forewarn you. If your mother accepts, then it’s likely that word will get back to her—your—family, including the Dowager Duchess. From what I understand, she was never happy about the estrangement.’

‘I see.’ She swallowed, feeling as though all of her muscles were stiffening with tension. ‘You mean you think that it might lead to a reconciliation?’

‘It’s a possibility. Although, considering that your mother accepted my grandmother’s invitation to tea yesterday, it might be what she wants.’

‘If it is, then I’ll be happy for her.’ Even to her own ears, the words sounded insincere.

‘I’m sure your relatives would like to meet you, too.’ His voice softened. ‘You just said that estrangement was a terrible thing. Maybe it’s a chance for you all to be reconciled.’

‘Never!’ she shot back before she could stop herself. ‘They’re aristocrats. I told you I don’t want anything to do with any of them!’

‘You already are one of them. You’re more aristocratic than I am.’ His eyes took on a hard gleam. ‘As far as I’m aware, there are no dukes in my lineage.’

‘How dare you?’

‘You know, if you’d been paying attention, Miss Fortini, then you’d understand that I have about as much interest in being a part of the aristocracy as you do.’ He spoke over her as she started to splutter. ‘Unlike you, however, I don’t choose to dismiss a whole group of people out of stubbornness and prejudice.’ He strode back to the mare, throwing the words over his shoulder as he walked away. ‘Tell my grandmother I won’t be joining you for coffee after all. As it turns out, I have better things to do.’

Chapter Ten

It wasn’t that she resented her mother, Anna told herself, repeatedly and at great length, over the course of the following two weeks. She was glad to see her looking happy again, happier than she’d looked in years, in fact. Now she wondered if perhaps her mother had been lonely and she’d simply been too busy in the shop to notice. The change in her demeanour was striking. Elizabeth Fortini seemed like a whole new woman, a physically stiffer, but mentally refreshed version of her old self. She visited the Pump Rooms with the Baroness most days, took tea with her every afternoon and had even dined at the Circus on several occasions.

Anna had chosen not to accompany them. Firstly, because she had a business to run. Secondly, because she had a point to prove, even if it was hard to prove anything to a man she hadn’t seen since he’d announced he had ‘better things to do’ and then abandoned her on his grandmother’s doorstep. He hadn’t visited the shop or given her any more lessons since, though as she hadn’t gone back to the mews either she supposed she could hardly blame him for that.

It was as if he’d simply forgotten her existence. Which was exactly what she ought to do in return, Anna thought bitterly, except that her mind seemed to be working against her. Much as she hated to admit it, she already thought about him far too often for comfort. It was bad enough at night when her dreams were haunted by the image of a man with auburn hair and silvery eyes, but every time she sold a big tin or caught a glimpse of a naval uniform outside the shop window she found herself feeling alarmingly nostalgic.

It didn’t help that her mother mentioned him quite so frequently, making it obvious that she was seeing him. Such a kind gentleman, so dashing and thoughtful and polite, and such a hero, too! Had she heard the story of his daring manoeuvre at Trafalgar? And what a bizarre situation to find himself in, especially when he yearned to go back to sea! But surely he’d make a very competent earl if it came to it... Anna listened with every outward appearance of composure, secretly thinking that if she heard the name Captain Samuel Delaney one more time, she would scream.

‘Lady Jarrow intends to throw an evening party next week,’ her mother finally announced one morning in the kitchen.

‘Does she?’ Anna paused in the act of spearing bread on to a toasting fork.

‘Yes.’ There was a telling pause. ‘We’re both invited.’

‘Oh.’

‘She’s rather domineering, I admit, but her heart’s in the right place.’

‘Mmm...’ Anna murmured non-committally. She hadn’t seen the Baroness since that first breakfast when, still shaking with anger over Captain Delaney’s accusations, she’d announced that she’d had enough of horses for ever. To her surprise, instead of delivering a dressing-down, Lady Jarrow had simply told her to come back when she was ready.

‘I’m grateful for all the attention that she’s shown me over the past couple of weeks,’ her mother continued. ‘I’d like to attend.’

‘Then you should.’

‘With you.’

‘Mama...’

‘Just wait a moment.’ Her mother lifted a hand. ‘I know what you think of the aristocracy. You have a lot of ideas about who you are and where you belong. It’s hardly surprising given our family’s circumstances, but I’m afraid you may have become overly prejudiced, my dear.’

Anna lowered the toasting fork slowly. Prejudiced. It was what Captain Delaney had called her before he’d stormed away... She’d resented the accusation then and it still rankled. Not because it wasn’t true, but because nobody, not even her mother, knew the real reasons behind it. As much as she resented the way her parents had been treated by society, she hadn’t always detested the aristocracy, but eight years ago she’d learnt better than to trust them...

‘If I am, then they deserve it.’ She answered stubbornly.