Once Antonio left the partnership, Chase was home more often. He had to work harder than ever to keep the business afloat, to repair the damage done over the past months. He spent many long nights poring over figures to determine exactly how much money he had lost during the partnership.
Chase had been in his study for a long time. Anna retired to the parlor after dining alone. Chase didn’t want to eat but Mrs. Weathers informed her Chase had consumed most of a large decanter of bourbon. Anna knew it would be safer to remain quietly in the parlor.
Mrs. Weathers answered a knock at the front door. Presently, she came to the parlor door. "Mr. Waring, madam," she announced. Justin Waring entered the parlor after he handed his overcoat to Mrs. Weathers.
Anna was reminded of how young and striking he was, with his dark hair and expressive ice blue eyes. His eyes resembled mirrors that reflected a summer sky set in the handsome complexion of his chiseled face. Lean and muscular, he stood not more than four inches taller than she.
"Mr. Waring." Anna stood. "Chase is in his study."
"Don't disturb him just yet, Mrs. Trent. How are you this evening?"
"Fine. Thank you for asking. Could I offer some refreshment?"
"No, nothing, thank you." Hearing this, Mrs. Weathers left the room.
Justin gestured for Anna to sit, then took a place at a respectable distance beside her on the sofa.
"How is business since Mr. Paulo left the partnership?" Mr. Waring wore a searching expression.
"I don't think it is going very well," Anna confided. "I don't know much about business, but I do know Chase has been in his study many nights going over books and drinking. More than usual on both counts."
"Too bad." A sly smile crept across his lips. "If I had such a lovely lady adorning my parlor I would certainly be beside her instead of soaking my liver in bourbon."
"Chase has a lot on his mind with keeping the business going. As much as he would hate to admit it, he does not want to disappoint his father."
"He doesn't seem to mind disappointing his beautiful wife." The compliment came as a statement.
"Mr. Waring, thank you, but I don't really mind. It gives me a chance to read, to enjoy a quiet evening," she lied, and then added, "now and then."
"If you don't mind my saying, Mrs. Trent, I believe by the look in your eyes it is too often you are alone." He had a devilish look, and his eyes sparkled with excitement. "We should run away together." He spoke in a whisper as he searched the room with his eyes to be sure he was not overheard.
"Mr. Waring." Anna was shocked at his sudden suggestion. "You can't mean it." Shock notwithstanding, she found herself, just for a few heartbeats, excited at the prospect. He was young and adventurous, much like Chase in the early days.
"Oh, but I do." All pretense of levity melted from his face. Anna laughed in her nervousness. Justin moved closer, and reached for her hand. "Think about it, won't you?"
Anna couldn't decide if he played a game or was truly serious. He lightly kissed her fingertips and allowed her hand to slip from his grasp. Their eyes met as she tried to assess his degree of seriousness. He still had a look of mischief about him. Surely this young man would not desire a married woman such as she. He had his whole life ahead of him and could doubtless have any woman he chose. Anna decided he must be merely amusing her, and she laughed again.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Waring," Anna said with great flair. "We should run away together. What is there to stand in our way?"
Justin's eyes reflected the flames in the hearth. Fire in ice crystals. "I shall hold you to it, then," Justin said with a bright smile. "As soon as I may arrange it, I'll send you word." He was most serious.
"Mr. Waring—"
"Justin," he interrupted. "You must call me Justin."
"Mr. Waring," Anna persisted, panicked as the reality of his request invaded her. "I am a married woman. How could I leave with you?" She stood and moved to the hearth to watch the fire to hide her sudden fear. She could hear him move and stiffened when she felt his presence close behind her. Anna turned to look up into his eyes. The flames flickered more intently in them now.
"Anna." Another surge of excitement swelled deep within her as he spoke her name. "I mean what I say. Please, consider it?" His face was not six inches from hers.
Anna could not look away from his young face. All mischief was replaced by a mature realism. She brushed against him to return to the sofa. As she sat, he watched her with hope in his eyes. She was not sure what to say.
Anna finally found her voice. "Do you not fear Mr. Trent?"
He smiled a devastating smile. "Why would I?" he asked, the tension now broken. "We could be in London before he even realized we were missing."
The sad part was that what he said was true.
* * * *
Anna didn't give much credence to Justin's offer, but the idea was refreshing. To think she could gain the attention of someone like Justin Waring gave her a new sense of self-esteem. The way Chase ignored her most of the time, it was a wonderful thought that warmed her for the rest of the evening. A fantasy lover, someone who wanted her more than her own husband did. Yes, Antonio had come to call but only for the sake of conquest. Justin was different. Anna wanted to believe that he desired her simply for herself. He was young and exciting, like Chase had been in the early days of their courting. The fact made him extremely attractive.
Anna read for some time after Justin went to the study to offer his help to Chase. She had difficulty concentrating but persisted through one page after another. The clock chimed eleven, and it left her with no idea what she read in the past two hours. Closing her book, she walked through the entry to the door to Chase's study. She heard his voice rise and fall in anger. Justin tried to reason with Chase on some point, his calm voice interjected with the ravings of her husband.
Anna turned to go up the stairs when something banged against the study door and thudded to the floor. Her first thought was Chase had thrown Justin against the door. She was angered by the thought. Not thinking, she barged into the room, something Chase warned her never to do. She found Justin rising up behind one of the wing-backed chairs. He'd avoided the heavy volume Chase had thrown in his anger. Anna found it lying on the floor, picked it up, and placed it on the desk. Chase, red-faced and breathless, stood behind the desk. The room reeked of bourbon. Papers littered the desk and a few had spilled onto the floor.
Chase looked at Anna, venom in his eyes. "What are you doing in here?"
"I heard something fall. I wanted to see if…" she glanced at Justin before continuing. "If you were all right." She placed the book on the desk and scooped up the papers.
"You've been told to stay out, haven't you, woman?" Chase pulled out his chair and fell heavily into it.
"Yes, but I—"
"Well, then get out," he shouted. "Waring, get this woman out of my house if you can't be of more help to me. Take her somewhere out of my way."
The blood drained from Anna 's face as Chase made his request known loud enough for the entire household to hear. She looked at Justin. He leaned on his arms on the back of the chair. Something flickered in his eyes.
"Whatever you say, Chase." Justin picked up his jacket, took Anna by the arm, and guided her out into the hall. He pulled the door closed behind them. Anna glanced at Chase as the door closed. He looked at his papers again, oblivious to the fact he had given her away. She stood in shocked silence, and stared at the closed door as Justin pulled on his jacket. He led her to the parlor to seat her on the sofa.
He sat beside her, rather closer than she thought he needed to. He leaned close, and spoke in a low voice.
"He doesn't know how easy it would be to arrange." He looked on her with sympathy. "Have you ever been to Brighton?"
Anna 's thoughts were in turmoil. She folded her hands in her lap as she tried to maintain an appearance of calm. "He didn't truly mean it." She looked regretfully at her wedding ring.
"What if he did?"
"He did not," she insisted, louder than she intended to. Anna locked her eyes on his. "He couldn't have." She spoke just above a whisper, but her voice threatened to break with emotion. It took a few moments to regain her composure.
Justin sat silent. Anna could not tell if he felt pity or excitement at the prospect. She felt humiliated. Chase excelled in humiliating her but he had never told her to leave before. He couldn't have really wanted her to.
"Mr. Waring, I must apologize for my husband and his outburst. He is under a lot of pressure and has been drinking. He will realize what he said and will be pleased to find me still here."
Justin smiled, and dropped his gaze to the floor. He shook his head slowly.
"You're missing your golden opportunity to leave this prison and with his blessing to do so," he commented. "I’m willing to take you, if you change your mind—Anna."
"This is my home and he is my husband," she stated.
"In name only. He is no husband to you," Justin observed. He was right and they both knew it.
"Even so, I must stay."
"Whatever pleases you, Mrs. Trent." Justin patted her hand before he stood. "The offer stands," he added as he turned to leave. "Anytime."
To Be Continued...
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination, or are fictitiously used. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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© 2008 Jena Galifany/Marge Conrad
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