Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(59)

Andrew Barrett had left her a fortune. Three thousand

pounds, to be exact. Mr. Cogswell had apologized for not

knowing sooner about Anne’s predicament and had confirmed

that Henry Barrett had lied to him as well.

“Not that it’s any of your business” she said after an inter—

minable moment, “but I would take it . . . and . . . travel—”

“You can’t leave! Where would you go? What would you do?”

“I would take the opportunity to start my own life somewhere, find some of my mother’s people—”

Teach laughed out loud, a hint of desperation in his voice.

“But you can’t. You can’t leave. You won’t receive the money

until you turn eighteen.”

Anne’s own voice rose. “So you mean to tell me I have no

choice but to stay here?”

“Would it be so terrible?”

“For someone who doesn’t feel like I truly belong, yes. What

do you see when you look at me?” Anne asked.

A myriad of words flowed through his mind at her question. Strength. Intelligence. Beauty. Compassion. “I see you.”

Anne’s expression softened somewhat. “Because you’ve

taken the time to speak with me. And to listen. But most people see only how different I am.”

“It doesn’t mean you have to leave.”





2 0 9


Anne caught her lip between her teeth, but made no response.

Her silence frightened him. “Please, Anne. I know I cannot

begin to understand how you must feel. I’m sorry you had to

go through what you did. I’m sorry Henry Barrett lied to you.

If I could, I would kill him with my own hands if I thought it

would make a difference. I still might. But right now my father is in charge of—”

Anne held up her hand. “Yes, and you heard Mr. Cogswell.

Your father plans to move my inheritance into his account. His

account, not mine! As my guardian, he controls my life as much

as he controls yours, except I have even fewer liberties than you.”

“But that’s only until you’re eighteen.”

“Which feels like a lifetime away. I must speak with Master

Drummond and see if he will release the money sooner.”

“But your own father wanted you to wait.” I want you to wait.

“I refuse to be a burden to anyone. I simply wish to live my

life as I choose, to go where I choose. What is so hard to understand?” Anne asked.

“You were born in this country, Anne. You have no idea

what life is truly anywhere else. I’ve been to the islands and

have seen the way people live. It’s a hard existence. You can’t go alone. It’s far too dangerous.”

“I want to at least be given the chance.”

The air in the carriage seemed to shrink, charged with

oppressed tension. It reminded Teach of an uneasy calm before

a storm.





2 1 0


Anne’s breathing wasn’t quite steady, her agitation obvious.

“I do not mean to sound ungrateful, but I’m tired of others

directing my life. I’m ready to take charge of it and see where my choices lead me.”

Teach sat back, his unease sharpening into something else.

He could not argue with Anne, for he was all too familiar with

her hopes. How often had he longed to tell his father the exact same thing?

But Teach knew Drummond, better than anyone else,

and as much as Teach understood Anne’s feelings, he sincerely

hoped that his father would be able to change her mind.





2 11


C H A P T E R 2 0

Anne

The library was Anne’s favorite room. The wide windows

usually let in long slanting rectangles of light, warming the

otherwise cold house. And there were, of course, the books to

linger over, innumerable titles containing wonderful details of adventure.

At the moment, however, a stormy sky outside cast ominous shadows over the library’s carpeted floor and obscured

Drummond’s expression. Anne hesitated in the doorway,

unsure if she should follow Teach in, or . . .

“Father—”

“I see that trouble has again darkened our door,” Drummond

said, swirling a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

Anne stopped short, exchanging a questioning glance with

Teach. Was it possible Drummond knew what she was about to

ask him?





2 12


Teach continued a few more paces and stopped beside his father’s chair. “Sir?”

“None of this would have happened if you had simply done

as I asked,” Drummond said, his mouth hardening as he looked

up at his son.

“What’s wrong?’ Teach asked.

Drummond tipped back his head and downed the rest of

his drink before he answered. “This will ruin everything. Everything that I’ve worked so hard to accomplish.”

“What?”