Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

ANNE

I must have misheard him. The knot in my stomach tightened, my vision blurring at the edges. My mouth hung open in shock. I found myself shaking my head. The entire room seemed to be drifting away from me, Mr. Burrowes’s face and congratulatory smile fading farther and farther into the distance.

I gripped the sides of my chair, feeling dangerously close to drifting away with the rest of the room. “Her—her fortune? Me?” My words didn’t make any sense.

Mr. Burrowes chuckled. “It will be yours. Earlier this year, she received grave news from her physician regarding her health and longevity. So she organized her house party with the purpose of finding an heir or heiress in a timely manner. She has no children of her own, and no relatives she had any desire to bestow the honor upon.”

My mind reeled. “But—I hardly know her. I’m still not even certain why I was invited to her party.”

“She has a tender place in her heart for widows like yourself. She understands how fortunate she has been to remain unmarried, to have wealth to sustain her. She was open to the possibility of any of her guests obtaining her fortune, but I do believe she always hoped one of the widows would solve her riddles first.”

I stared blankly at him. I could hardly comprehend what was happening. It couldn’t have possibly been true. Fifty-thousand pounds was a much larger fortune than I had even imagined Lady Tottenham possessed. Was this all a sham? Could it have been a test of some sort?

“Would you like a glass of water?” Mr. Burrowes’s amused smile brought me back to my senses.

“No, that is all right.” I blinked fast. “I am overwhelmed. I don’t know what to think.” I exhaled slowly in an attempt to relax the turmoil inside my chest.

“Well then, I will tell you what you should think.” He leaned forward with a gentle smile. “You should be overjoyed. Your life is forever changed.” He picked up a quill and wrote my name in one of the blank spaces near the top of the will.

I sat back against my chair. My emotions were numb, suppressed by an overwhelming feeling of raw astonishment.

Mr. Burrowes tucked the will back into the cabinet, locking the door behind it. “I would suggest you address any further questions to Lady Tottenham as soon as possible. She will confirm what I have explained to you. You are soon to be one of the wealthiest women in all of England.”

Birch House was quiet when I stepped into the vestibule. I stopped on the first row of checkered tiles. I was still in a daze. I took in the ceiling, the walls, all the furnishings and grandeur. Would it really be all mine one day? My stomach fluttered with disbelief. How could it be possible? I needed to speak with Lady Tottenham to ensure it wasn’t a trick of some sort—another element to her many games. My lack of trust in her sense of reality was completely plausible.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, feeling suddenly ill. Was Lady Tottenham truly dying? All those days during the house party that she had felt unwell and kept to her room made sense now. Her coughing fits, her pale skin and excessive rouge, even the bowl of leeches. The other man I had seen frequently visiting the house must have been her physician. The pieces fit together in my mind like yet another puzzle. Her complete lack of regard for propriety must have been due to the lack of time she had left to live. She had nothing to lose, and everything to give away.

The list of questions I had for Lady Tottenham grew longer by the second. Besides all my questions about her will, I needed to know why she had sent Alexander away from Birch House. So much had occurred in one morning, I could hardly keep track of it all.

I had almost reached the base of the staircase when I heard my name.

“Anne?”

A jolt of shock shot through me. I looked toward the top of the stairs. “Alexander?” My voice was a weak whisper. I remained planted where I stood in complete bafflement as he walked down the stairs toward me. He stopped on the checkered tiles just a few feet away. His brown irises looked lighter than usual as he took me in. “Did you sleep well in the hexagon room? I haven’t seen you all day.”

My voice was buried under a massive pile of emotions. I managed to dig it out after a few seconds. “Where have you been?” I snapped. “I have spent the entire day thinking Lady Tottenham sent you away.” I searched his face with concern. His cheekbone was red with hints of purple, and it was swelling. “What happened to you?” I asked amid a gasp.

A muscle jumped in his jaw. He shook his head. “It’s nothing.” He smiled, as if that would excuse the fact that he had been injured.

“Did you fight Lord Kirkham? Or—or one of the other men that Lady Tottenham banished from the house?”

His eyebrows lifted. “They’re gone? It seems I’ve missed a great deal of news this morning.”

“Lord Kirkham, Mr. Barnwall, and Mr. St. Vincent were all sent home. I thought you were too. Lady Tottenham has been ill in her room all day and hasn’t confirmed the rumors, so I assumed you were among the guests banished from the house.” My voice trailed off as my gaze found his bruises again. I released an anxious breath. “Who did this?” I reached up and skimmed my fingertips over his swelling cheekbone. He flinched, but didn’t pull away. His heavy eyes connected with mine. He was silent for several seconds.

“I’ll explain later.” He caught my fingertips in his hand as I lowered it from his face.

I scowled. “You can’t walk through the door with a bruise on your face and expect me to disregard it.”

“Please.” He leaned down to look in my eyes. “Trust me.”

“If it was Lord Kirkham who hurt you, I will go fight him myself.” I widened my eyes with sincerity.

Alexander laughed.

“You’re staying for the remainder of the house party, then?” I asked.

“I assure you, I haven’t been banished. I’m not leaving. I told you I wouldn’t.”

I gave a quick nod, all my panic from the day slowly deflating from my back and shoulders. I practically forgot about the life-changing piece of news I had received from Mr. Burrowes. All I could think about was the smile creeping over Alexander’s lips. “Were you that worried?” he asked—with far too much satisfaction.

My defenses rose instinctively. “I just—I didn’t think it would be fair if you were sent away. You did nothing wrong. I disagreed with the… justice of the situation.” I cringed.

Alexander’s smile only grew wider. “You would make an excellent barrister.”

I exhaled in a failed attempt at a laugh, putting one hand to my forehead with embarrassment. “I confess I was quite distraught, actually. I didn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye. I wouldn’t like it if our parting was so sudden.”

“I wouldn’t either.”

My stomach gave a violent flutter when he met my eyes. I fought the confusion that raged in my chest. My mind was alert, but my heart was muddled. Alexander still held onto my fingers, which didn’t help my sense of clarity.

The front door opened behind us, and I quickly tugged my hand away from Alexander’s, stepping away from him. Mrs. Pike stood in the doorway, eyes round. If we had been acting, I would have happily clung to Alexander’s hand in front of Mrs. Pike. Instead we had jumped apart like we had been caught committing a crime.

“Mr. Holland?” Mrs. Pike pressed a hand to her bosom. “What happened to your face?”

He hesitated before addressing her with a smile. “A disagreement was settled…perhaps not in the most cordial way.”

Mrs. Pike was obviously brimming with as many questions as I was. She made no move to exit the vestibule. I couldn’t finish my conversation with Alexander with Mrs. Pike hovering nearby. I hadn’t even had the chance to tell him what had happened that morning. Perhaps it wasn’t wise to spread the news yet. He could have his secrets, and I could have mine.

Mrs. Pike’s gaze darted between Alexander and me. The door opened again. Victoria, Mr. Hatcher, and Octavia stepped inside, their loud voices and laughter echoing.

Alexander gave a bow in Mrs. Pike’s direction. “Please excuse me.” He met my gaze before starting up the stairs again.

I wanted to stop him, but he turned around too quickly. I watched his back as he disappeared around the corner and his footfalls faded into the distance. I glared in his direction. Why wouldn’t he tell me what had happened? He was being far too mysterious. My relief at seeing him again hadn’t lasted long. Now I was worried for other reasons.

“Lady Daventry, would you like to join us in the drawing room for a game of whist?” Victoria’s voice came from behind me. “Mrs. Pike doesn’t wish to play, and I need a partner.”

What I truly wanted to do was run to my room and hide under my blankets. I could still feel the weight of the locket in my reticule. I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything until I spoke with Lady Tottenham face to face.

“I don’t feel well. I’m sorry.” I cast Victoria an apologetic glance before starting up the stairs. I held tight to the bannister. My heart pounded as I walked up to the first floor and turned right. All the guest bedchambers were on the left. I had never had a reason to turn toward Lady Tottenham’s wing of the house.

I was likely forbidden to do so.

The silence in the corridor was eerie. My spine tingled with fear. Was it wise to intrude on her solitude? I could wait until she joined the party again, but I doubted I would keep my sanity in the process. My curiosity raged inside me, forcing my feet forward. I didn’t even know which room was hers. I almost turned around when a maid stepped out of the first door to my left.

Her dark brown eyes widened when she saw me. She carried a bowl of water, and it sloshed over one of her arms.

“I’m sorry!” I reached forward to steady it. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She curtsied, holding the bowl tight against her body.

“Is this Lady Tottenham’s bedchamber? I heard she was unwell today and thought I might pay her a visit.”

“Indeed, ma’am. She just awoke.” She curtsied again before passing to my right, leaving me alone in the corridor.

I pressed down my nervousness, taking a shaky breath. And then I knocked on the door. “My lady?” I spoke in a loud, clear voice. “This is Lady Daventry. May I enter?”

“You may.” Her raspy voice sent my heart pounding. I had never been as intimidated by her as I was now. I opened the door. The curtains were partially closed, so my eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness. The four poster bed looked tiny compared to the vastness of the room. The furnishings showcased her wealth just as heartily as the other rooms of the house. Lady Tottenham’s ginger curls spilled out over her white pillows, her eyes no less sharp than usual as she watched me step into the room.

I gave a deep curtsy. “I am very sorry to intrude, my lady. I heard you were unwell.”

“I have had better days.” She sat up against her headboard with a groan. The ruffles of her night dress consumed her entire neck. “I suspect your day has been a bit more riveting than mine.” She raised one eyebrow.

I reached inside my reticule and withdrew the locket. “Are you referring to this?” I cast her a nervous look.

Her wrinkles deepened with a gleeful smile. “I knew you were clever enough to find it. You were my first choice from the beginning. Octavia showed promise, but she ultimately failed.” In a matter of seconds, Lady Tottenham had transformed away from the feeble woman I had seen lying in the bed. She grinned. “I am most eager to hear your thoughts on the matter. I trust you spoke with Mr. Burrowes?”

I moved to stand by her bedside, searching for the right words. “I did—but, my lady, I find it difficult to accept such an undeserved inheritance. All I did was solve a riddle.”

“You may not like games, my dear, but you are good at them.” Her eyes gleamed with delight. “You did more than solve a riddle. You showed a determined spirit, wit, and independence. I have watched your heart open during the course of my party. Nothing has brought me greater entertainment than watching you fall in love with Mr. Holland despite your initial resistance. I told you there would be many different opportunities to secure your future comfort.”

I felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t know the courtship had been fake. Accepting her inheritance would haunt me forever if she didn’t know the truth. I lowered my gaze to the floor. “My lady, you are too generous. I must confess something.” I took a deep breath. “When you arranged the midnight parlor game between Mr. Holland and me, his victory in our chess game led us to the agreement that we would pretend to form an attachment in order to prevent the attentions of the other guests—Lord Kirkham and Octavia in particular.” My words rushed out. “We are not actually courting.”

Lady Tottenham’s expression didn’t falter. “I knew that. I’m not as easily fooled as the others. I have a keen sense for truth and falsehood.” She shrugged. “Besides that, my footman heard your conversation that night and relayed it to me.”

“You knew all along?” My face burned.

“Yes, but that is no matter. As the days have gone on, I have seen your attachment become real. I will not retract my words from before, in fact, I will reaffirm them. It has been a joy watching you fall in love with Mr. Alexander Holland.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I wasn’t in love with Alexander—he was my friend. He was only my friend. I repeated the words in my mind. I had told myself that exact thing countless times, yet it was becoming difficult to believe. I thought of him more than I thought of anyone else…even Miles. It vexed me. My chest flooded with frustration.

Lady Tottenham continued speaking. “I admit that I was wrong to try to match you with Lord Kirkham. If I had known he was such a bother to you, I would have sent him away much sooner.”

I gathered my thoughts. “Why did you send him away?” I needed to discover if he had been the cause of Alexander’s injuries. Had they argued? Had Lord Kirkham challenged him to fisticuffs? It wouldn’t have been surprising.

Lady Tottenham’s upper lip pursed with distaste. “When he declined my invitation to the midnight game yesterday evening, I was forced to retract my hospitality. Mr. Barnwall and Mr. St. Vincent ignored my invitations as well. It vexed me greatly.” Her nostrils flared. “With little time left to live, I no longer have any reason to endure company I don’t enjoy.”

I had been guilty of not enjoying Lady Tottenham’s company on multiple occasions, but looking at her now, I admired her. She had been dealt a difficult hand of cards in life. She didn’t seem to care for her money nearly as much as she cared for her late husband. I would wager that she would have traded it all at any moment for one more day with him. She didn’t care what anyone thought of her, yet she still formed a strong opinion of everyone else. Somehow, she liked me. She liked me enough to leave me with fifty thousand pounds. A grim feeling enveloped my heart.

“I was very sorry to hear of the state of your health,” I said.

She smirked. “Oh, posh. The sooner I die, the sooner you become rich.”

I gasped. “My lady?—”

She gave a hooting laugh. It turned into a cough. “My physician says I have a month or two left, but I intend on living at least another year,” she said in a raspy voice. “I will have plenty of time to prepare you for the role you will undertake as mistress of Birch House. I will make an announcement to all the guests at breakfast tomorrow morning that you have won my prize and will be my heiress. I will use my connections to ensure the news is spread amongst the ton . I will also send invitations to my closest friends in town to attend a ball in your honor tomorrow evening. The arrangements have already been underway.”

I felt the color drain from my face. “Is it truly necessary to inform so many people at once? I feel as though most of Town doesn’t even know who I am.”

“But they will.” She smiled. “You, Lady Daventry, are about to be quite famous.”

I pressed my lips together, a mixture of fear and excitement battling inside me. My financial worries were dormant, saved by this unexpected stroke of good fortune. I no longer had to wonder if I would have a place to live, or a future beyond my dreams of marrying Miles. I was not trapped anymore. If Miles failed to return to London and keep his promise to me, I would not be forced to find a husband elsewhere. For the first time, I had a choice. I had power of my own in a society that made me feel helpless.

“I would ask you not to reveal anything to the other guests here until after I make my announcement tomorrow. I should like to be the one to introduce you as my heiress.”

“Of course.” I swallowed hard.

She slumped down onto her pillows again with a dramatic sigh, closing her eyes. “Let us hope I have the strength to leave my bed tomorrow. Now go. I am tired.”

“Thank you,” I blurted. “That doesn’t feel like enough to say, but thank you for the opportunity you have given me. My gratitude is truly beyond words.”

One of her eyes opened. She stared at me with her left eye, her expression frozen in a perpetual wink. “Thank you for playing my game so well.”

A second pang of guilt forced another confession out of my mouth. “There is another incident for which I must apologize. One of the rabbits in the hexagon room?—”

Her other eye opened. “I will be more inclined to forgive the charring of that poor creature’s face if I see an engagement transpire between you and Mr. Holland. I have done all I can to help you recognize the passionate love you have for one another, and I am growing impatient.”

My ears tingled with heat. How did she know about the rabbit already? Her servants must have reported everything to her. I wrung my hands together. “My lady, I think you have mistook the nature of our relationship. Mr. Holland and I are friends.”

“I have seen the way he looks at you, child. That is not how a man looks at his friend.” Her eyelids drooped, but she still grinned. “He has marriage on his mind, to be sure.”

My stomach flopped. His words from the night before came rushing back to my mind, about how he might have proposed had he thought the answer would be favorable. A question had been prying at my mind all day, and now it finally slipped through the cracks: If I had never known Miles, what would my answer be? I pushed the thought from my mind, a sickening feeling spreading in my stomach. Developing feelings for Alexander would complicate everything. It would be a disaster.

But was it too late?

Now was not the time to argue with Lady Tottenham, so I gave a submissive nod. She could still change her mind about making me her heiress. I half-expected her to at any moment. I needed to ensure she still enjoyed my company, or I would be cast out to the streets just like Lord Kirkham.

“Leave me now. I must rest.” Her eyes closed, ending the conversation in an instant.

“Good day, my lady. I hope you feel better soon.”

She grunted in response.

I walked out of the room, my steps burdened with the heavy secret I carried on my back.