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 Goddamnit, you know damn 
A knock sounded at the library door. Edward cut himself off and straightened, running
his hand impatiently through his hair and dislodging his queue.  What?
Mr. Hopple peered around the door. He blinked when he saw the earl s state of undress
but stuttered into speech nevertheless.  B-begging your pardon, my lord, but John
Coachman says one of the rear carriage wheels is still being repaired by the blacksmith.
Edward scowled at the steward and snatched up his shirt.
Anna took the opportunity to surreptitiously swipe at her wet cheeks.
 He assures me it will take only a day more, Mr. Hopple continued.  Two at the most.
 I haven t that amount of time, man. Edward had finished re-dressing and now swung
around and began rummaging in his desk, knocking papers to the floor as he did so.
 We ll take the phaeton, and the servants can follow behind when the carriage is
repaired.
Anna looked up suspiciously. This was the first she d heard of a trip. Surely, he wouldn t
dare?
Mr. Hopple frowned.  We, my lord? I wasn t aware 
 My secretary will accompany me to London, of course. I ll be in need of her services, if
I am to finish the manuscript.
The steward s eyes widened in horror, but Edward missed the reaction. He was staring at
Anna challengingly.
She drew in a quick breath, mute.
 B-but, my lord! Mr. Hopple stuttered, apparently scandalized.
 I ll need to finish the manuscript. Edward addressed his reasons to her, his eyes
burning with a black fire.  My secretary will take notes at the Agrarian s meeting. I ll
have to deal with various business matters pertaining to my other estates. Yes, I do
believe it is essential that my secretary travel with me, he finished in a lower, more
intimate tone.
Mr. Hopple lurched into speech.  But she s a-a well! A female. An unmarried female,
pardon my candor, Mrs. Wren. It isn t at all proper for her to be traveling 
 Quite. Quite, Edward interrupted.  We ll have a chaperone. Be sure and bring one with
you tomorrow, Mrs. Wren. We leave just before daybreak. I shall expect you in the
courtyard. And he stomped out of the room.
Mr. Hopple trailed after, muttering ineffectual objections.
Anna truly didn t know whether to laugh or cry. She felt a rough, wet tongue on her palm
and looked down to see Jock panting by her side.
 Whatever am I to do?
But the dog only sighed and rolled onto his back so that his paws waved in the air
absurdly, which hardly answered her question.
Chapter Nineteen
Aurea wept for all that she had lost, alone there in the endless desert. But after a while,
she realized that her only hope was to find her vanished husband and redeem both herself
and him. So she set out to search for the Raven Prince. The first year, she hunted for him
in the lands to the east. There, strange animals and stranger people lived, but no one had
heard of the Raven Prince. The second year, she traveled the lands to the north. There,
freezing winds ruled the people from dawn to dusk, but no one had heard of the Raven
Prince. The third year, she explored the western lands. There, opulent palaces rose to the
sky, but no one had heard of the Raven Prince. The fourth year, she sailed to the farthest
south. There, the sun burned too close to the earth, but no one had heard of the Raven
Prince. . . .
 from The Raven Prince
 I m very sorry, dear. Mother Wren wrung her hands that evening as she watched Anna
pack.  But you know how open carriages make my tummy do loops. Just the thought, in
fact, is almost enough t-to . . .
Anna looked up swiftly. Her mother-in-law had turned a delicate shade of green.
She pushed the older woman into a chair.  Sit down and breathe. Would you like some
water? Anna tried to open the only window in the room, but it was stuck.
Mother Wren pressed a handkerchief to her mouth and closed her eyes.  I ll be all right
in a moment.
Anna poured some water from a pitcher on the dresser and pressed the glass into her hand.
The older woman sipped it, and the color began to return to her cheeks.
 It s just too bad Coral left so suddenly. Mother Wren had repeated the sentiment with
variations all day.
Anna flattened her mouth.
Fanny had roused them that morning after finding a note in the kitchen. In the note, Coral
had simply thanked them for their care. Anna had run upstairs to look in the room where
Coral had been sleeping, but it was empty and the bed already made. There she
discovered another note pinned to the pillow. Coral asked that Pearl be allowed to stay a
while longer, and she d included gold coins that clinked to the floor when Anna unfolded
the note.
Anna had tried to give the money to Pearl, but the other woman had shaken her head and
backed away.  No, ma am. That there money is for you and Mrs. Wren. You ve been the
best friends me and Coral have ever had.
 But you ll need it.
 You and Mrs. Wren need it, too. Besides, I have a position I ll be starting soon. She [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]