An Earl To Save Her Reputation

‘Perhaps we should abandon the idea.’

‘No. It is the only way to get all of our suspects in one place.’

‘They won’t accept an invitation from me.’

‘But they will from me.’

‘How can you be sure?’

‘I’m an earl, people always accept my invitations. Who should we invite? Who might want to cause you harm?’

‘If we agree to have this party, we should invite my late husband’s three children, Miss Antonia Fortescue, the new Lord Fortescue and Mr Ronald Fortescue. Also probably my late husband’s brother, Mr Lionel Fortescue.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Anyone else dislike me enough to murder my cat?’ Anna asked. ‘No, I don’t think so.’

‘I’ll draw up a guest list, include some old friends to keep it civil, then we can decide on a date.’

‘I haven’t decided whether I want to do this yet or not,’ Anna said.

‘Nonsense, it’s the best way. I’ll organise everything. All you need to do is turn up.’

‘I need more time to think.’

‘There’s nothing to think about. I have it all in hand. This is for the best.’

Anna stiffened, withdrawing her hand from his arm. ‘Do not presume to tell me what is best for me,’ she said icily. ‘You do not know me.’

‘Anna...’ Harry started to say, but Anna held up a hand.

‘I make my own decisions. I do not need any man to make them for me.’

‘I wasn’t trying to make any decisions for you.’

‘And yet that was the end result. I thank you for calling on me today, Lord Edgerton, but perhaps we should end our acquaintance here.’ Before Harry could protest Anna turned and swept away, her heart hammering in her chest. She was inside before he’d moved and safely upstairs before she heard his footsteps in the hallway.

‘Anna...’ she heard him call, followed by the polite, muted tones from the butler. A minute later the door opened and closed as no doubt Harry was shown out. Anna risked a peek through the curtains at her window, drawing back as Harry stood back from the house and looked up directly at her. She was angry. Angry at the presumptive way he’d tried to make such a major decision for her and angry at herself for allowing him to get so close. Independent and single, that was how she would spend the rest of her life, even if the idea of never seeing Harry again hurt more than it should.

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