her godfather’s arm and went with him into the temple. There, he directed everyone to the coaches and promised blankets and towels when they arrived at the house.
“Ah, there’s Sir Algernon.” He began to steer her toward the knight, who was perhaps fifteen years her senior—suddenly, Rafe seemed quite young.
She tried to dig the heels of her half-boots into the stone. Having already bowed to the wishes of her parents—with disastrous results—Anne resisted doing so again. She wanted to make her own choices, dammit. “I am not ready for courtship. It’s too soon.”
“Oh, come now. It’s not at all too soon. You’ve wallowed long enough, and you must show Society that you are made of the strongest stuff, that you are above the nonsense that went on.”
If he referred to the shameful scandal of her former betrothed and his criminal behavior as “nonsense” one more time, Anne feared what she might do. For now, she pursed her lips, which he either didn’t notice or ignored.
“Will you at least meet him?” the earl asked with a bit of a plaintive tone. At least he was asking and not demanding as her father would have done. “This entire event is to support you.”
“Here I thought it was also to celebrate Sandon’s homecoming,” she said drily. “I’ve already met Sir Algernon. But to appease you, I will accompany you to speak with him.”
“And ride to the house with him,” the earl said with a smile.
“Alone? I think not.” It was one thing to spend time alone with Rafe—which she would eagerly do—but she had no desire to risk what remained of her reputation with Sir Algernon. Actually, that wasn’t the issue. Her reputation was quite spoiled due to Gilbert. She simply didn’t want to be alone with Sir Algernon.
“Oh, here you are, Anne.” Jane touched Anne’s shoulder from behind.
Anne wanted to hug her with relief. “Yes.” She gave Jane a pleading look and darted her eyes toward her godfather.
A befuddled shadow swept across Jane’s brow, but then she gave an infinitesimal nod. “Shall we go to the house before it rains again?”
“Indeed.” Anne gave the earl an apologetic smile and accompanied her sister and Anthony to the coach. “Thank you,” she said as soon as they were out of Stone’s earshot.
“Where were you during the downpour?” Jane asked. “I couldn’t find you in the temple. I was worried.”
“There is a room beneath one of the staircases. I took shelter there.”
“With Mr. Bowles?” Jane asked.
“And my godfather.” Eventually. She didn’t want to discuss what had really happened—that she’d briefly been alone with Rafe—at least not in front of Anthony.
“Well, I’m glad you were able to stay mostly dry. Anthony and I wondered if we should just return to London. We both got a bit damp.”
Anne wasn’t ready to leave. She’d barely spent any time with Rafe, and she hadn’t yet convinced him they should continue their friendship. They’d been able to sneak away together for four blissful afternoons. Surely they could do so again, particularly when the Season ended. “Can we please stay?”
Jane looked to Anthony who shrugged and said, “I have no preference.”
“Then we’ll stay,” Jane said. “But let’s get to the house before we’re drenched once more.”
Anne smiled, eager to find Rafe and convince him they really could be friends.
Chapter 4
The coaches arrived en masse in the drive, and guests hurried inside as another dark cloud approached. Except Rafe. He hung back, his gaze fixed on the façade. Crafted of light stone with a tall, imposing Palladian entry, the house loomed large, making his skin prick with awareness.
He was one of the last to move inside, having lost sight of his sister and Harry. Not that he minded. Seeing the folly had provoked a feeling of familiarity that was even more intense here. He supposed that made sense because he would have certainly visited the house since he’d been to the folly.
It was more than that, however. He knew this house. When he walked inside, the entry hall would be round, and if he walked straight through it, he’d find himself in a grand hall with a staircase climbing the left side up to a gallery divided by arches from the space looking down at the hall below.
Taking a shallow breath, he walked up the steps to the open door and moved inside. His movements felt stilted and uncertain, as if he wasn’t entirely in command of himself.
Get hold of yourself.
But then he froze. The entry hall was precisely as he’d imagined