Page 25 of You Belong to Me
“I’ll be too busy packing.”
Anna couldn’t miss the bitterness in her tone. “I’m sorry, Alex. I know you’re against this marriage right now, but you must admityour father picked an exceedingly handsome man for you.”
An exceedingly handsome,rottenman, whom she wasn’t going to discuss. “So youdidknow about the betrothal?” Alexandra said instead, as if it weren’t a foregone conclusion, considering how close Anna was to the baron.
Anna winced. “Yes, and your father listened to everything I had to say about it, which was a great deal. He just wouldn’t agree with my opinion.”
“You could have warned me, Anna.”
“I’m your friend, darling, but you know my first loyalty is to your father.”
Alexandra did know it, and she had never resented Anna’s relationship with her father. She even hoped that Anna would give in one day and marry him, which she knew was his hope as well. And she should have known that Anna wouldn’t have approved of something as archaic as a betrothal, that she would have been on her side.
“I believe your father was afraid you would run away if you knew beforehand,” Anna continued.
If Alexandra had known and hadn’t run away, she would be wishing right now that she had, instead of wishing she’d been given that option. But she relaxed her tone and even offered Anna a smile. It certainly wasn’t the older woman’s fault that any of this had come about.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve already acceptedwhat I must do,” Alexandra said truthfully, since she wasn’t referring to getting married. “So take care of my papa.”
“You know I will.”
“You might also prepare him for my return.”
Anna was startled by that remark, but after a moment she laughed. “Now, why don’t I think that you are referring to a visit?”
All of the bitterness Alexandra had been feeling returned abruptly, and with an aching heart she promised, “If Idohave to visit, Papa won’t be forgiven.”
“Oh, Alex.” Anna sighed. “He only wants what’s best for you.”
“Then it’s too bad we couldn’t agree on what that is, isn’t it?”
Anna shook her head sadly. “If you change your mind about dinner—”
“I won’t.”
But Alexandra did; at least she decided to make an appearance when it occurred to her that a little rudeness and a vulgar display or two, made in the presence of both the Cardinian and her father, would give Vasili the perfect excuse to protest this marriage. Of course, she’d do nothing too outrageous, nothing she hadn’t done before, so her father couldn’t claim her behavior was out of the ordinary just for their benefit, even though it would be. And it would also give her father the opportunity to see how Vasili disdained her and that whatever attraction Constantin had deluded himself into thinking Vasili had feltwhen he’d first seen her certainly wouldn’t withstand such disgust and contempt.
She couldn’t have asked for better timing. The lavish dinner that her father had planned in order to impress the Cardinian was well under way, the main course just having been served. Anna had donned her finest gown; Constantin looked grand himself in his formal evening wear. And Count Petroff—she was going to have to keep her eyes off him. One brief glance at that superb body, at that beautiful face, and she nearly forgot what she was doing there.
He was impeccably groomed, of course. She had expected nothing less from the fastidious popinjay. So was his companion, the one with the friendly blue eyes, who happened to be the first to notice her in the doorway. He didn’t appear shocked, merely surprised, that she hadn’t changed for dinner and was still in her work clothes, her hair even more straggly than before since she had purposely pulled loose a few more locks. But then, she wasn’t there to have dinner.
“Don’t mind me. I’ve just come for a bite to eat, since I don’t have time for dinner tonight.”
She hopedsomeonewas embarrassed over that remark, though she didn’t look to find out. She strolled forward and snatched an already buttered slice of hot bread from the blue-eyed Cardinian’s plate. That she hadn’t been introduced to him made it all the worse,but she figured he was the only one there who wouldn’t say anything about her behavior.
A glance down at him showed him more on the shocked side now than surprised. She merely flashed him a smile in exchange for the food, then glanced across the table. Anna had a hand over her mouth. Well, it wouldn’t do to laugh out loud, which she surely was trying to avoid. Constantin’s cheeks had gone red, and not just with embarrassment. Alexandra and her father would really have had a roof-raising argument over this latest unrefined display of hers—if she were around for it. But she wouldn’t be around for any more fights with him…
“Alexandra—” Constantin managed in a choked voice.
She gave him an innocent, inquiring look, which assured him that she was hoping for a display of temper, eager for it, and quite willing to match it. Realizing that, he didn’t oblige and had to swallow his rancor and hope that she wouldn’t further embarrass him.
She would have, except her newest plan backfired on her at that point. Count Petroff, instead of taking advantage of this golden opportunity she was offering him, had risen from the table and was now standing behind her.
“I am delighted you decided to join us, Baroness, however briefly. It allows me to correctan oversight. Will you give me your hand, please?”
She turned to face him, suspicious. Give him her hand? If he thought he was going to slap her hand for pilfering that slice of bread, as if she were some naughty child, she promised herself she’d give him back much worse. But when she hesitantly offered her free hand, he ignored it and took up the one grasping the buttery roll. With two fingers and an inscrutable expression that was surely hiding his disgust, he took the bread from her and set it aside; then, before she could snatch her hand back, he was slipping a ring on her finger.
It didn’t go on easily, probably wouldn’t have gone on at all if her fingers weren’t coated with butter. She stared at the ring for a moment, bemused to find it so lovely. It was an enormous sparkling diamond surrounded by a twinkling array of sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.
