Free Allison Lane by A Bird in Hand Page A

mistake in identity remained.
    The butler disappeared through a doorway.  A moment later, Anne emerged from the same room and strode toward him.  She seemed to be in a passionate temper, noticing nothing until she nearly ran him down.
    “Wake up, Anne,” he said, grabbing her to prevent a collision.  This was the last place he had expected to find her.  Was she governess to Fosdale’s daughters or companion to his wife?  Either way, he was obligated.
    “You!” she gasped, recoiling from his touch.  “What are you doing here?  How dare you follow me home?”
    “I didn’t—”
    She ignored his protest.  “I told you to forget about me.  Nothing happened!  I appreciate your assistance, but that is the end of it.  Now get out before Fosdale sees you.  He will destroy you.”
    “I didn’t follow you,” he insisted.  “I had no idea you lived here.  I am looking for Lord Symington.  They said in the village that he was injured.  Do you know how he fares?”
    “You know Symington?”
    “We were traveling together until I stopped to help you.”
    “Dear God, what a mess!”
    He frowned.  “How badly is he hurt?”
    “Broken arm.  Bruises.  Fever, but not serious,” she said absently, then swore.  “Why did you have to be with him?  If you have any sense at all, do not let on that we have met.  Fosdale will try to force us into marriage if he learns about last night.  I won’t destroy my life for an accident.  Nor yours.”
    “What about last night?” demanded a man’s voice.  They had been too engrossed to hear him coming, but this must be Fosdale.  His eyes gleamed with excitement.
    Anne blanched.
    “What are you hiding, Elizabeth?” continued Fosdale.
    Elizabeth?   Randolph glared.  This was Lady Elizabeth?  The girl his grandfather wished him to wed?
    “Nothing.  I met Mr. Randolph briefly when the riverbank collapsed, tumbling me into the water.  He pulled me out.”
    “This was last night?” he thundered.
    She said nothing, but her white face answered for her.
    “Then why did you not return home until this morning?”  His brows drew together in a ferocious frown, yet nothing could hide the gleam burning brighter than ever in his eyes.
    “Should I have walked home through a cold rainstorm wearing clothing that was soaked through?” she demanded sharply.  Then her face twisted into the travesty of a smile.  “What a stupid question.  Catching my death would have removed me from your dependency, so a dutiful daughter would have done so.  My apologies for failing to remove myself from the world.”
    Randolph gasped, but they ignored him.
    “Where did you spend the night?”
    “With Sadie, of course.  Her cottage was the nearest shelter.”
    “And you, sir?” he demanded, turning his eyes on Randolph.  “Did you also seek the nearest shelter?”
    “I had no choice,” he admitted.  “In rescuing Lady Elizabeth, I was injured myself.”
    “Then the banns will be posted immediately.”  He ignored Elizabeth’s gasp.  “How fortunate that Sadie left a week ago.  Her daughter is near term and needs assistance.”
    “Selfish and greedy as ever!” she snapped.  The earl reddened.  “But I won’t condemn anyone to hell merely to lighten the drain on your purse.”
    “You will wed him or watch me shoot him dead for debauching my innocent daughter.”
    She straightened, color staining her face that might have been embarrassment, but was probably fury.  “Is this how you repay the man who saved my life?  By forcing him into a distasteful marriage?  Forget it.  I will trumpet your perfidy to the world if you persist in so dishonorable a plot.”
    “No one will accept the word of a sniveling dowd over a gentleman born.”
    Randolph had no illusions about Fosdale’s opinion.  Since his own garb hardly marked him as a gentleman, the earl had to be referring to himself.
    Elizabeth must have agreed.  She insolently examined her father from head to