She Fled Her Wedding — Then Found the Duke Escaping on the Same Train
Chapter 7
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"Put it away, please," she said. Then, when Nelly's face fell, she added, "Not the work you did. That was lovely. The dress has merely had a difficult morning."Downstairs, Piers was speaking to her father alone. She heard their voices through the study door and stopped despite herself."She would have made you a good wife," Mr. Bramwell said."I believe she would.""You have made her look a fool."A pause. Piers said, "I should have spoken before today."Annora opened the door. "So should I, Papa. I won't have him punished because you cannot bear to be angry with me."Her father turned away. On his desk lay the order of service, the names printed together beneath the date. "I don't know what you want," he said. The helplessness in his voice hurt more than anger would have done."Neither do I," she answered. "I thought that meant I ought to accept what was offered."Piers left before the guests sat down to eat. He had other explanations to make at his own house, other people to disappoint. At the door, he gave Annora her small bag and the folded veil. She took them."Thank you for coming back.""I had help.""You could have stayed on the train.""So could you."She studied him. Without the terrible necessity of becoming his wife that afternoon, she found she could look at his face properly. There was a shallow scar beside his eyebrow, almost concealed by the shape of it. She had never noticed it before."Did you truly mean to go to Lynmouth?""Yes.""I hope you don't.""Not yet. I think I should like to be the only runaway at my sister's breakfast table.""Of course."He hesitated, then bowed. It was the bow he had given her after every carefully managed visit. She almost asked him not to do it; then he was gone, and she had missed another opportunity to say what she meant.Her father did not speak to her at supper. That evening, she found him in the garden, still wearing his wedding waistcoat, smoking a cigar he had allowed to go out. Annora sat beside him."I liked him," he said eventually."So did I.""You were never to be sold, you know.""I know.""I would have let you refuse."She looked at the dark end of his cigar. "I did refuse. It has not been easy for you to let me."He flinched, then nodded. They sat without speaking until the evening grew cold. When she rose, he caught her wrist as gently as he had when she was small."Tell your sister not to keep you at the seaside forever."