Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(81)

Anne had no wish to say good-bye, for she’d grown genuinely

fond of Sara.

Following the maid out the door, Anne heard the sound of

voices in the entryway below them.

“I still don’t understand why she has to come,” Patience hissed.

“What does it matter?” Lord Hervey replied. “They simply

wish to announce her coming out.”

The baroness, who had arrived the evening before, spoke





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up. “I knew this would happen. If you want your daughter’s evening to be ruined—”

Teach’s terse voice interrupted her. “Nobody’s evening will

be ruined.”

“It will be if your father doesn’t return soon,” Lady Hervey

said sharply. “His obsession with that ship is disturbing. You’d think he cares more for it than for his own son.”

“My father regrets being called away, but it’s early yet. He

will still be able to make the ball later in the evening. We will not announce the wedding date until he is present.”

A sad smile touched Anne’s lips as she descended the stairs.

Teach would fight this wedding until the bitter end. “Good

evening,” she murmured. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”

The four individuals in the entryway turned to look. Both

Patience and Lady Hervey glared at Anne. Lord Hervey’s mouth

dropped open. Teach stared openly, looking splendid in a crisp white shirt and black coat with breeches. The yearning in his

eyes reached across the space between them.

He helped Anne with her matching ivory cloak, the color a

perfect foil for her skin. His fingers brushed her collarbone as he clasped it for her.

Patience quickly grabbed Teach’s sleeve, pulling him closer

to her. As they exited the house, Teach allowed the Herveys to precede him, his eyes skimming Anne from head to toe once

more as he helped her into the carriage.

Anne sat next to the baron, as his wife and daughter had





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taken the other side. She expected Teach to sit between the two women, but their dresses took up too much space. Instead Teach settled himself beside Anne.

It was a tight fit. Miss Patience and her mother glowered at

Anne the entire way. Beside her, Anne felt Teach’s thigh pressed against her own, the heat reaching through the layers between them. His nearness stole the breath from her lungs, and she

was painfully aware of every move he made. She stared out the

window in an attempt to distract her thoughts.

It was no use.

By the time they pulled up in front of the Cardwell estate,

Anne was dizzy. Torches lit the stairs leading up to the grand entrance. The house itself was aflame with lights, the windows full of people milling about in the interior.

The baron and his wife exited first, followed by Patience.

Clutching the arm Teach offered, Anne lifted her skirts and

stepped forward, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. Her initial reaction to the invitation had been correct. She should have stayed alone at the Drummond house.

Anne hadn’t even accompanied her own father when he’d

been entertained elsewhere. Instead she and her mother had

stayed at home, content to read or sew by the fire.

This would be her first real social gathering, and she felt ill equipped to manage it.

Patience grabbed Teach’s arm and attempted once more to





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disengage him from Anne’s side, but Teach held back. “It would be in poor taste to let Anne enter alone. My father is her guardian, and he asked me to look after her tonight.”

“But . . . but,” Patience sputtered. “We are to wed.”

“Your father is waiting,” Teach said.

Patience gave Anne a look of pure venom before joining her

parents.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Anne said, although

inwardly she was pleased. She was quite sure no one had ever

put Patience in her place like that.

“She deserved it. She acts as if we’re already married,” Teach muttered. “Which we never shall be.”

Not daring to think about their secret departure, Anne took

in her surroundings, trying not to gape at the luxurious setting.

The air was heavy with the scent of hothouse flowers. Inside the grand manor, women floated along in their beautiful dresses.

The men all wore breeches and waistcoats, their shirt collars

starched and standing at attention.

At the entrance to the ballroom, their names were

announced. Teach paused, glancing around until he saw the

Duke and Duchess of Cardwell. He advanced, giving Anne a

gentle tug when she held back.

“Come along now,” he said briskly. “Let me introduce you

to our hosts.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” she replied beneath her breath.





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“Nonsense. It would be rude not to acknowledge their hos-pitality.”

“But what if William has said something to them about me?”