The Headstrong Ward Read Online Free PDF Page A

you mean you have been up to town?”
    â€œLast week.” Anne continued to speak airily. She sat down again and pretended to be absorbed in untangling the fringe of her wrap.
    â€œYou did not inform me of this.”
    She raised her eyebrows, just as she had practiced doing, and looked at him.
    The viscount frowned. He had emphatically not wanted the responsibility of a schoolgirl ward, but as he had it, he must do his duty. “While you are under my care—” he began wearily.
    â€œYour care !” interrupted Anne in as biting a tone as she could manage.
    The man looked startled for a moment; then his eyes narrowed and he surveyed her. Anne met them squarely; pale gray eyes locked with violet-flecked ones. She concentrated on putting all her dislike of him in that long glance. “Ah,” he said at last. “So that’s the way of it, is it?” And to Anne’s astonishment and chagrin, he smiled. Perhaps he could find some mild amusement in his new burden, he thought to himself. The girl was almost as easy to bait as Edward.
    â€œMr. Laurence,” said Fallow from the doorway, and the Reverend Laurence Debenham walked into the room.
    His brother greeted him cordially. “And here, you see,” he added, “is little Anne back from school.”
    His tone made this introduction almost insulting, and Laurence frowned at him before coming to shake Anne’s hand. “How are you?” he said. “I am very pleased to see you home. And may I say that I am exceedingly sorry I never visited your school. If I had known—”
    â€œAnne does not wish to talk of school,” said Charles. “You are being clumsy, Laurence. You should rather compliment her on her gown. She has been up to London adorning herself for our meeting.”
    This was too close to the mark for comfort. Anne colored a little and looked down. There was no one on earth as abominable as Charles, she decided. She remembered that odiously mocking tone only too well.
    â€œTo…to London?” Laurence seemed at a loss. “Well, ah, to be sure, it is a lovely dress. You look very, er, striking, Anne.”
    â€œFie, Laurence! A sickly compliment. You can do better than that.”
    â€œI know very well I am not pretty,” Anne was goaded into saying. “You needn’t make up compliments for me .”
    â€œNo, you aren’t,” agreed Charles, causing Anne to draw herself up very straight. “But I am surprised to discover that you have a quality worth twice that. Laurence was actually quite right. You are striking. You have a presence.”
    Before Anne could recover from her astonishment, Fallow came in to announce dinner. Lord Wrenley offered his arm, and she took it, still speechless. As they started toward the door, there was a scuffling sound from the corner of the room, and a raucous voice croaked, “For God’s sake, get me a drink!”
    The viscount stopped short and looked around. “What,” he said, “was that ?”
    Anne gazed up at him, her chin high. “My parrot. Augustus.”
    â€œYour…parrot?”
    She nodded.
    â€œDoes he often say such things?” inquired Laurence with concern.
    â€œOh…oh, no.”
    Lord Wrenley did not take his eyes from Anne’s face, and she reddened slightly again under his amused and speculative gaze.
    â€œBecause, you know, it could be dashed embarrassing,” continued Laurence. “And not fit for your ears, besides.”
    â€œDamn your eyes!” exclaimed Augustus.
    â€œHere, now, really. Where did you get that bird, Anne? You must have been grossly deceived. We will dispose of it for you, won’t we, Charles?”
    Before Anne could voice the protest that rose hotly to her lips, the viscount said, “Dispose of Anne’s pet? Whatever can you be thinking of, Laurence?”
    â€œBut…but the thing…Anne can’t have