The Darcy Code Read Online Free PDF Page B

betray our country, they would be branded as traitors."
    "Treason is a strong word, Miss Gosforth."
    Mr. Vere escorted her back to the ballroom, and then with a polite bow, requested her hand for the next dance and led her into the set. He danced well, but was not a chatty partner. Mr. Standish was only a little way further down the line, and Anna had to force herself not to let her eyes fly to him at every turn and step of the dance.
    She was still bewildered and anguished, and beginning to become angry. She must talk to him, find out why he was behaving like this.
    Her chance came a little later, when finally, after she had given up all hope, he came towards her, bowed and led her out on to the floor. He wasn't at all his usual self; there was no flirtatiousness, no admiration in his glance. He was formal, as though he were dancing for the first time with a stranger. He made polite remarks about the dance and the music and the company, complimented her on her light-footedness, but it was as though all that had passed between them these last weeks had never happened.
    She longed to ask him, What have I done, how have I offended you, what has changed you so?" But how could she, in such a public place as a ballroom? No, she must dance and hold her head high and pretend that nothing was the matter.
     
    When they met the next morning, to discuss the ball as they always did, Henrietta found Anna in low spirits. She was fractious, said the chocolate at breakfast had disagreed with her, and Henrietta, after one glance at her face, diagnosed a sleepless and a tearful night. Anna denied this, saying it was merely that she had the headache, and was out of sorts. Mama had told her to stay in bed, but she didn't want to; it was hot and uncomfortable in bed and she preferred to be up and doing.
    Henrietta said shrewdly, "You are distressed because Mr. Standish behaved so coldly towards you last night. I noticed it, everybody did; it was most conspicuous after all the attention he has been paying you. And it was also conspicuous how much attention he paid to Lady Flavia Gibson. He danced with her twice, you know, and took her into supper."
    Anna said nothing; did Henrietta imagine she wasn't aware of this? Or that she wanted to be reminded of it?
    "Have you quarrelled?" Henrietta asked, her face alight with curiosity. "That was what I told everybody who asked, that you had had a tiff."
    Anna could only be grateful to Henrietta. Mr. Standish's coldness was one thing, and inexplicable. But for the world to think it was a lover's tiff, that would put a much better aspect on it. At least as far as her pride was concerned.
    "However, I do not think that is the truth. There are rumours flying about that he intends to offer for Lady Flavia. It would be a good match for him, they say, because she is so clever and related to everyone in the Party. Everyone says she is bound to become a great political hostess."
    "That is a horrid ambition for any woman to have." Anna couldn't comprehend it. Mr. Standish had been attracted to her, she could tell. So how, if he was attracted by someone like her, could he contemplate marrying someone as serious as Lady Flavia? She seemed to Anna to have no sense of humour, no liveliness about her at all.
    "Of course she is beautiful," Henrietta said, "and she has a large fortune, they say she is worth at least thirty thousand pounds."
    "Oh, please let us not talk about Mr. Standish any more," Anna said, sounding distinctly peevish. "I told you my head hurts, and I think maybe I have caught a cold." She gave a little cough as though to add verisimilitude to this statement.
    "I dare say you may very well have caught a cold, it was so stuffy last night in that ballroom. Yet I wouldn't have missed it for anything, it was a delightful ball, I enjoyed myself hugely."
    Good for you, thought Anna; so did not I.
    "I called to ask if you will accompany me to the library. However if your mama says that you are to stay indoors