The Unclaimed Duchess Read Online Free PDF Page A

flash pity and sorrow.
    It took all of Anne’s strength not to burst into tears right then and there.
    â€œGood afternoon, Your Grace,” Lillian said as she entered the room and shut the door behind her.“I didn’t expect you today, but I’m pleased to see you.”
    Anne drew in a shuddering breath. She had long been raised to be polite, ladylike, and those lessons were difficult to forget. She smiled as brightly as she could manage.
    â€œI-I do apologize for coming unannounced, Lillian,” she choked past dry lips. “But I’m afraid I have a matter of great import on my mind.”
    Lillian hesitated, staring at her before she motioned to two chairs beside the fire. Anne ignored her offer.
    â€œYou do seem troubled,” Lillian said softly. “Is there something I can do?”
    â€œNot you, unfortunately. I came to see Simon,” Anne whispered, her gaze flitting to the door. “In fact, I’m certain it was he I asked for when I inquired as to your residence to your servant. Please, is he home?”
    Lillian stepped closer, but it was a wary movement. In that moment Anne could only imagine how she looked, eyes wild, face pale. Her anger, her fear, her utter confusion clawed at her at present. She felt those emotions throbbing as powerfully as she felt her own heartbeat.
    She dragged in a gasping breath and clenched her fists at her sides. She had to control these feelings. Shedidn’t want to show them to Lillian or to Simon or to anyone else. Hadn’t she been humiliated enough?
    â€œAnne,” Lillian said softly.
    â€œI…want…to see…Simon,” Anne gasped out. Blood heated her face at the raised, broken tone of her voice, but her patience and propriety had finally reached its frayed end. “I need to see him, immediately!”
    Almost as if on cue the door to the parlor opened and Simon himself entered the room. His face was bright with a welcoming smile as his gaze fell on her, but it was less than a moment before it vanished. He rushed to her in three long strides and caught her hand.
    â€œGreat God, Anne, are you well?”
    She wrenched her fingers from his, unable to bear his touch in her current state. It felt like sandpaper on her skin when all she wanted was the truth, not some empty show of comfort.
    â€œYou should know,” she whispered. “ You saw him last. Where is he? What did you do? What did you say?”
    Lillian and Simon exchanged a brief, confused, and concerned look before Simon returned his attention to her.
    â€œI’m sorry, Anne, I don’t understand your question. Please, be seated, calm yourself and let us talk aboutwhat is troubling you. I want to help, but—”
    â€œHelp? How can you help me? You did this. You—you did this,” Anne repeated, but now she did sit down. Collapsed was more like it. The entire situation was like a weight, constantly crushing down upon her. She couldn’t breathe, she could hardly think.
    Simon sucked in a sudden breath and sank down into his own chair. Lillian moved behind him and pressed a hand to his shoulder in a gesture of support and love. Anne flinched away from it, from the closeness she had never had and was beginning to believe was no longer possible in her own young marriage.
    â€œAnne, tell me what has happened and I’ll do my best to assist you any way I can,” Simon said, his tone low and soothing.
    She clenched her fists in her lap and stared at him evenly. Simon did seem genuinely confused, and who could blame him? She was ranting and raving in the middle of his parlor. Clearly she hadn’t explained herself well enough. With much effort, she took a deep breath and started over, determined to make Simon understand and then obtain the answers she required.
    â€œThree days past you came to my home. What did you say to my husband?”
    In an unguarded reaction, Simon physically recoiled from her before he