Free Samantha James by The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell

that moment, something inside just shriveled up.
    “I’m so sorry”—her voice was half strangled—“that it came to this.”
    Something darkened in his eyes. “Do not blame yourself,” he said very quietly.
    Anne lowered her chin. She discovered it was the only way she could let enough air into her lungs to breathe again.
    At length she raised her head. “When?” she asked levelly.
    “I expect as soon as it can be arranged.”
     
    As soon as it can be arranged.
    As it happened, the wedding preparations proceeded smoothly. Despite the swiftness of the upcoming ceremony, the gown she was to wear was very à la mode—of course Mama and Caro saw to that. Over the next week it seemed they dashed headlong from shop to shop, likebees in a frenzy. If Anne could have bowed out, she would have.
    Perhaps the hectic pace was something to be thankful for. It left scarcely a moment to think, and therefore no time to dwell, either happily or unhappily, on something that could not be prevented. And while she could not adopt the pretense of joy at her nuptials, it gave her a measure of pleasure to witness the spirited zeal with which her mother and Caro approached the task.
    So it was that the night before the wedding, Anne was exhausted.
    Shortly after dinner, she withdrew to her room. Just before she was ready to crawl between the sheets, she heard little footsteps running in the hall. The door flew open, and Jack flew inside, naturally followed by Izzie. And just as naturally, Caro trailed after them.
    The little ones could not contain their excitement over being a part of the wedding party. They bobbed about her room, like boats upon the seas. Their laughter was infectious.
    Izzie scrambled onto her lap. “Mama says I shall wear my pretty new frock tomorrow, and I shall look like a princess, just like you.” Her eyes glowed. “Will I be a princess like you, Annie?”
    Anne caught her small body up against her, her heart turning over. There was somethingso precious about this moment, and she was loath to let it go…
    She pressed her cheek against Izzie’s. “Oh, yes, sweeting, the prettiest princess of all.”
    Lizzie’s eyes glowed. “Will Jack be a prince?”
    Anne looked at Caro over the top of Lizzie’s froth of curls. “Ah, yes, a prince. Princess Izzie and Prince Jack.”
    “No!” Jack startled all of them by letting out a vigorous protest. “I shall not be a prince. I shall be king!” And puffing out his chest, he swaggered across the carpet in quite a princely—or rather, kingly—manner indeed.
    Anne bit her lip. Her eyes met Caro’s, who smiled weakly. Jack had vaulted into the middle of the bed. Lizzie squirmed out of Anne’s arms and scrambled after her brother.
    “I shall be king,” Jack boasted lustily, his little voice rising higher and higher until it was more squeal than shout. Both were shrieking at the top of their lungs until Caro lunged after both and caught them mid-bounce.
    Not until Caro had shushed the pair and gave them over to the arms of their nurse did Anne’s laughter begin to subside. Oh, but she needed that. She hadn’t realized just how much until it was over.
    She was still smiling when Caro ventured back a short time later. Barefoot and clad in ahigh-necked nightgown, she looked scarcely old enough to be the mother of two, soon to be three.
    She blinked when Caro proceeded to scuttle into bed beside her.
    “You kept me company the night before I married John,” she announced on seeing Anne’s surprise. “I think it’s only fair that I should return the favor.”
    Anne groaned. “John will miss you.”
    “So he will. But he knows I’ll be back in the morning. After all, it’s only once that my favorite cousin Annie and I get to share the night before her wedding.”
    Anne concealed a wince. And yet, foolish though it was, she was secretly glad that Caro was here.
    Caro squirmed around a bit, settling herself before turning to Anne. “Are you all right?”
    Had