Hero, Come Back Read Free Page B

events Hugh, Imogen, and Thomas would attend. Anne would not attend any such affair by choice; if she hadn’t appeared, he would have concluded that Hugh had acted swiftly and the family had assured Benjamin’s future in some acceptable way.
    He now knew that hadn’t happened. Yet. He had a deeper appreciation than she of the difficulties Hugh would face in raising the matter and seeing it appropriately dealt with. However, he was also acquainted with the Ashford temperament—none of them was patient.
    What scheme Anne was hatching he didn’t know—he just knew there would be one.
    Reaching the chaise, he bowed to Minerva; she was one of his mother’s closest friends. Lady Farwell and Mrs. Pickering sat beside her; while uttering the usual greetings and platitudes, he wondered what Minerva made of her daughter’s presence. She would know there had to be a reason, yet she was probably glad of any circumstance that brought Anne out, into the ton.
    Eventually drawing back from the older ladies, he turned to Anne, standing beside the chaise. Her curtsy, his bow dispensed with, he offered his arm. “Would you care to stroll?”
    Her smile was quick, illuminating her face. “Please.”
    Minerva inclined her head graciously as he met her eye. Anne’s hand on his sleeve, he steered her into the crowd; it quickly closed about them. Leaning closer, he inquired, “Just what are you planning?”
    She looked up, searched his eyes.
    He felt his expression harden. “You needn’t imagine I’ll swallow any tale that you were suddenly visited by an unquenchable urge to reacquaint yourself with the gadding throng. Given you’re here, you’re here for a reason.” He held her gaze. “What?”
    Her lips thinned, but her decision to include him in her confidence flowed across her eyes. The sight was unexpectedly satisfying.
    “Lord Elderby hasn’t contacted us. Doubtless he’s imagining the matter will simply disappear if he ignores it.” She looked ahead, head rising, and started to scan the faces. “I decided it was time to speak to at least one other member of the family. Both Thomas and Imogen will most likely be here.”
    Reggie drew in a breath—through his teeth. His features had set, but he was too wise in the ways of determined women to simply say no. He clung to impassivity. “Imogen should be last on your list. While she would most likely make no bones about a mistake of Thomas’s, if Benjamin is Hugh’s, or worse, Portsmouth’s, then she might well see him as a threat. Her eldest son must be only a few months younger than Benjamin.”
    Anne frowned, but after a moment nodded. “It’ll have to be Lord Thomas, then.”
    If he’d mentally goggled at the notion of her bearding Elderby with the existence of a family by-blow, he reeled at the thought of her approaching Lord Thomas Caverlock with the same news. “No!”
    She turned her head and stared at him. “No? What do you mean—no? Of course I’m going to speak to him—”
    “No. You’re not.” Her hand slid from his sleeve; Reggie gripped her elbow and had no intention of letting go. “You are not going to march up to a rake like Caverlock and blithely inform him you happen to have stumbled on a child of either his, his brother’s, or his father’s that the family has apparently misplaced, and demand he take responsibility.”
    “Why not?” Anne drew herself up. “I managed perfectly well with Elderby.”
    “That was different! This is not the time or place—”
    “Are you suggesting I make an appointment to meet with Lord Thomas privately?”
    “Of course not!” He glared at her.
    She glared back. “I’ve come here tonight for the sole purpose of speaking with either Imogen or Thomas. I am not going to let the Caverlocks simply forget about Benjy. You have no idea how many other children are in similar straits—forgotten, when the families are more than wealthy enough to provide for them.”
    She held his gaze fiercely—and