did it for you.”
Anne placed the dress on the back of a chair. “I would prefer to spend my day off alone.”
Frustration flared in his chest. “Well, you don’t have much
of a choice. They’ve left you. I’m the only one here now.”
She looked toward the door. “I could catch up to them.
They can’t be far.”
He shook his head, his chin jutting forward. “No.”
“You cannot make me stay.”
“I have no desire to make you do anything. I was hoping
you would choose for yourself.” She opened her mouth, no
doubt to protest, but once again he read her mind. “And don’t
tell me you can’t ride. You said your father taught you.” He
folded his arms across his chest, blocking her only escape.
Anne laughed, the sound shrill with nerves. “You’re mad.”
“Not yet. But I’m getting there. What will it take to get you
to spend the day with me?”
“I just spent the past several days with you,” she reminded him.
14 3
“Ah, but that doesn’t count. I was ill.”
“You were not.”
Being around Anne kept him on his toes. “Technically, I
was for four of those days. But we spent only a few hours in
each other’s company. Today I wish to change that.”
Anne was speechless. He was well aware he’d given her no
way out of his trap. He lifted the dress from the back of the
chair and placed it gently in her arms. “I promise to behave
myself,” he said, reading the tension in her face.
“You’ve confessed to being a liar and a thief. Why should I
believe you, sir?” She stared at him, as if trying to understand why it was so important that they spend the day together.
The problem was, he couldn’t explain it himself. He just
knew he wanted to. “Because I’m telling you the truth.”
“It wouldn’t be proper. Your father has his rules—”
“Bugger the rules. I don’t care if it’s proper or not,” he
growled, determined to get his way. “And my father isn’t home
to find out. I would like to do something for you. Think of this as a reward for nursing me back to health.”
“You gave Mary and Sara the opportunity to do what they
wanted. Why can’t you afford me the same courtesy?”
“Tell me the truth, Anne. Would you rather go into the
city alone to buy yourself something new, or would you rather
spend some time away from here, riding horses and seeing a bit
of the countryside?”
“I would prefer to go to the city.”
14 4
“Fine! I’ll give you more coins after we return from our ride.”
Anne paused for so long that Teach wondered if she had
paid attention.
“If I do this, will you leave me in peace?” she asked.
He hesitated. Ever since he’d set eyes on her, he’d had no
peace. Why should he grant her something that eluded him? “If
after today you find my company so abhorrent, I shall leave you
in peace for the remainder of my days in this house.”
Something in her expression changed. “You give me your
word?”
Teach held his hand up to his chest and bowed slightly at
the waist. “I give you my word.”
Anne nodded and took the red riding habit in her hands.
He had purposefully omitted the words “as a gentleman,”
for he knew she was not foolish enough to believe that.
14 5
C H A P T E R 1 4
Anne
The person in the looking glass was a stranger, although the cap on Anne’s head was recognizable. The bruise from Margery was not as terrible as she’d first thought, although the discoloration was obvious.
Anne could have counted on two hands the number of
times she’d checked her appearance in the past year. During
that time, she’d come to resemble her mother more than ever
before. Gone were the rounded apples of her cheeks. Instead
her face was now framed by high cheekbones, her neck long
and graceful. And the dark circles beneath her eyes were not as
pronounced today as they had been a month ago.
The riding habit was a little longer than she was used to,
the close-fitting jacket made of superior velvet. Anne marveled
at the color. Most of the ones she’d worn when she was younger
had been either blue or green. Teach had told her this had been
14 6
his mother’s riding habit, and Anne admired Mrs. Drummond’s confidence to wear such a vibrant shade of red, like wine fresh from a cask.
Anne told herself she dreaded the upcoming day she was
being forced to spend with Teach, but in reality there was a
light in her eyes and a flush on her face. Carrying the hat in her hands, she went out to the barn, excitement fluttering in her breast at the thought of the excursion.
While the coins were a most welcome addition to her funds,
a ride through the countryside was irreplaceable. She liked to
think Teach had forced her hand. In a way he had. She could
have refused him, but then it would have just been the two of
them alone at the house.
On horseback Anne would have the ability to get away