A Selfish Heart by Rose Pearson

Author:Rose Pearson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-09-29T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Are you quite prepared?”

Anna lifted her chin, turned, and gave herself a final glance in the mirror that hung on the wall above the mantlepiece. A calm, somewhat cold expression looked back at her. Her eyes did not sparkle with excitement as they had once done. There was no flush of anticipation in her cheeks. Rather, there was only a quiet expectation that this evening would be just as difficult as any other.

“I am,” she said heavily, turning back to where Lady Hayward stood with Lady Selina. “Let us take our leave.”

Rather than making her way to the door and expecting Anna to follow, Lady Hayward stepped forward and reached to take both of Anna’s gloved hands in her own.

“You will not find as many trials present as before,” she said, her eyes holding a firmness that Anna wanted to secure for herself but found that she could not. “It will be easier, my dear.”

These last five days, Anna had attended every social occasion she had been invited to and had found each one a trial. There had been some who had greeted her, conversed with her, and treated her as though there had never been anything said about her, whereas others gave her the cut direct or turned their faces away whenever she came to join a conversation. One or two had made pointed comments, leaving Anna feeling utterly mortified and not at all welcome.

The only way she had managed to remain had been due to the support given by Lady Hayward, her sister, and, much to her displeasure, Lord Comerfield. He had made certain to stay near to her during such occasions and even though Anna bristled with indignance that society appeared to welcome him without any particular concern over his behavior—for, evidently, such things were expected of a gentleman—she had been forced to silently admit that he had been of help to her. If a comment was made within his hearing, he did not hesitate to come forward and speak directly to the person in question. Over and over, he had stated that she had not been the one at fault, that he had been entirely mistaken and utterly foolish, although whether those within the ton believed him, Anna could not say. It was a very awkward situation, for most who found themselves in such a scenario wed almost immediately so that the scandal was ended and rumors were dismissed, but it was not so for herself and Lord Comerfield.

Each evening, she had found herself very weary upon her return home. Yes, she had placed a smile on her face for the sake of her father and had told him that things were improving just a little when, in truth, she saw no progress whatsoever, but it seemed to keep the duke contented. That being said, he had warned her that there was now only a fortnight before a demand for marriage between herself and Lord Comerfield would be made, should she not be returned to society in much the same way as she had been before.

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