Anya stood in the shade of a chestnut tree near the entrance to the park, mentally urging her cousin to hurry. It wasn’t just because of the news she had to share. She also wanted to move away from the three young men calling out endearments and dirty suggestions from just outside the gates. Nanny Jean’s glares had done nothing but make them laugh.
Finally a carriage with the duke’s crest on the door rolled up, and Charlotte stepped daintily down onto the path.
One of the men whistled, Charlotte looked them over, then called to the driver. “Jason, be a dear and see those beggars off. Feel free to use the whip, they don’t look terribly intelligent.”
Nanny Jean interposed. “If I may leave Miss Anya in your care for a moment, Your Ladyship. I’d like a quick word with these boys on suitable conduct.”
“If you wish, but you shouldn’t exert yourself on their account.”
Nanny Jean’s pinched smile was nothing short of evil. She advanced on the sniggering trio, voice raised in a scold. The men clearly hadn’t expected the Nanny’s formidable black umbrella to be raised against them as well. Within seconds, all three fled, howling.
Nanny shook out her skirts with a satisfied huff and returned to a smug Anya, and goggle-eyed Charlotte, maid, and driver.
“Thank you, Nanny. You could have left me to sort them out earlier though, I wouldn’t have perished if left unattended for a few minutes.”
“You might be fine, Miss, but your reputation, and mine as your attendant, would have been severely bruised.”
Jason, the driver muttered. “Not as bruised as those lads I’ll wager.”
Lady Charlotte bit her lip on the start of a smile. “Now we’ve had our excitement for the morning, how is your household after last night’s revelations?”
Anya giggled. “Utter confusion. Mother’s alternating between demanding Papa find out the truth, and refusing to believe such things of ‘such a lovely young man’. Papa’s retreated to his club under the guise of investigating, and I escaped to meet you just in time to avoid meeting Lord Bernard on our front steps. He appeared just as we were turning the corner out of the square.”
The DNA of Stories 