Free Rogue Countess by Amy Sandas Page A

dressing in her riding pants to go the short distance from her townhouse to Lord Palmerton’s. She owned several feminine riding habits, but she intended to put the mare through a few paces, and she couldn’t have the heavy divided skirts tangling with her legs. She had already dismounted Henry and handed his reins to a stable boy when Lord Palmerton came rushing out the side door.
    “Oh, Mrs. Locke, Mrs.…, er, I mean, my countess, er, my lady.”
    Anna frowned. News got around fast, she thought. At least the poor man didn’t seem disturbed by the fact that she had been going under an alias. In fact, she realized with narrowed eyes as the older portly gentleman reached her, he looked quite flushed with excitement.
    “Good morning, Lord Palmerton, you are looking well this morning.”
    “Indeed, indeed,” he answered as he took a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today, my lady.”
    Anna cringed. It was going to take a while to get used to the formal address. “No? But I was quite sure our appointment was for this morning. Did I get the date wrong?”
    “Oh, no. It was today. But when Lord Blackbourne came by almost an hour ago, I just assumed you would not find a need to come by as well. He had been quite impressed with the mare. He even paid for her in cash. Very generous, your husband. The horse will be delivered to Silverly tomorrow as promised. I can still take you round to see her if you’d like.”
    Anna was stunned. And furious. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she stared at the man in front of her. After a moment, she realized he was looking at her oddly, waiting for a response.
    “No, my lord. That is fine, really,” she uttered, her jaw aching with the tension of holding back a scream of livid frustration. “I must have been a little confused in regard to Lord Blackbourne’s intentions, that’s all.” She turned back toward Henry, a blood-red cloud starting to form at the edge of her vision. “Thank you for your time, my lord.”
    She leapt into her saddle, barely using the leg up offered by the stable boy.
    He’d stolen her bloody mare. The bastard bought the horse right out from under her. She had no misgivings that this had been an unfortunate coincidence. This was most definitely intentional and hideously devious. And Anna was not about to let him get away with it.
    Rather than turning back toward her townhouse, she headed straight through town to the hotel where Leif had discovered her husband was staying. All she could think about was confronting him and demanding he release the horse to her.
    She walked right in the front doors of the hotel. There were not many guests milling about at that time of day, but there was enough of the hotel staff to stop and stare as she crossed the lobby in a long-legged stride. She went straight to the courtesy desk.
    “I need the room number for Lord Blackbourne.”
    “I, ah, I cannot give out that information, ma’am,” the young attendant replied with wide eyes.
    “Yes, you can,” Anna insisted between gritted teeth. “I am his wife and I need to speak with him. What is the room number?”
    “My lady.” A smiling older man approached her from the side. He was dressed in understated black with an exceptionally crisp white neckcloth. “If you would be so kind as to come to my office, I am sure I can assist you in some manner.” His small eyes scanned the room as he spoke. His concern was obviously with the developing scene she was causing in her riding gear and demanding tone.
    She turned to the man in black and her smile was amiable, though her tone was sharp as steel. “Lord Blackbourne is my husband. I intend to speak with him. Now. And either you will assist me by giving me his room number, or I will knock on every door until I find him.” Her smile widened. “I am sure you can see which would be the better option.”
    “I could also call for my employees to escort you from the