Restoring Lady Anna by Em Taylor

Author:Em Taylor
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2014-04-27T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

James glanced at Anna, and warmth spread through him when he caught her gaze and a blush crept up her cheeks. She had become coy when they were in company and it delighted him to see the glimpses of the girl she had been when he had known her in London. For eight hours they had travelled in his comfortable coach, Peter and Agnes on one seat, while Viola sat between her parents on the other.

Peter had been excited about travelling in the coach and watched avidly out of the window for much of the journey. He napped for a while and when they stopped for luncheon, he had begged to be allowed to sit up on the box with the driver. Anna had thought it unwise as he may jump off without a moment’s notice and James tended to agree with her. Luckily Peter’s temper tantrum took place in a private parlour which James had paid for when they arrived at the coaching inn. Agnes ushered Viola outside while Anna attempted to calm him. He had yelled at Anna, grabbing her waist, then her breast and making lewd suggestions to her. Anna merely rolled her eyes and told him to sit down. Just as James had been about to intervene, something she had prevented him from doing with simply a look until that point, Peter yawned. A great big soul-deep yawn, and Anna had smiled.

“What did you do?”

“I noticed he was becoming restless in the carriage. I put laudanum in his tea to settle him. We must hurry and get him into the carriage while he is awake. He will sleep for at least part of the journey.” Behind Peter’s back, James had pressed a soft kiss on Anna’s lips, forcing himself to keep it chaste and to keep his hand off her person. He could not trust himself to leave it at one kiss otherwise.

Now they were passing through Anncote, a small village in Leicestershire, close to the estate his father had passed to him on his twenty first birthday. He leaned over Viola, pointing out the blacksmith through the window on her mother’s side of the carriage. The little girl’s eyes widened and her mouth made a delightful ‘o’ shape. His hand brushed Anna’s hip and she glanced at him again. He bit his lip, keeping his body in check. It had not been so out of control since he had been a spotty youth.

It was another ten minutes before the carriage rattled through the gates of Anncote Park and up the long drive.

“Look at the big house, James,” said Viola, her voice low with awe. “ ‘S like a castle for a princess.”

James chuckled. “Well maybe not quite a castle, but it is big. It is more like a big house for a viscount. Do you like it?” Viola nodded her head vigorously. “Well then we are all going to stay here—for a while at least.” He lifted his gaze, expecting to see censure in Anna’s eyes but she was too busy looking at the house to which they drew near.

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