Page 79 (1/2)
“Yes, do hurry We ought not be rude,” said Anna, i roo had precluded a private chat before the evening’s activities began And while she was curious to hear about the day, it would have to wait “We can talk about it e retire for the night”
“One of the carriages became stuck in a rut on the way back, and the one I was in stopped to help,” explained Caro “So a nu rooue, she added, “You ought to know before we go down that Colonel Polianov seeall sorts of impertinent questions about you”
“Indeed?” Anna’s attention snapped to full alert Devlin had seen her nocturnal wanderings, so it was possible that Polianov had too “How very odd What sort of questions?”
“Oh, ones concerning your likes and dislikes, your habits That sort of thing I found it exceedingly odd too, especially as he’s been rather rude up until now” Caro’s reflection in the looking glass sharpened to a speculative stare “Yo
u o off alone with him”
“I was siressive sort ofto put an end to the subject Given any encourageination could prove an iation It would take so to keep her off the scent “His behavior was unsettling, but I think I wasRussians are simply…very Russian”
“Lord McClellan’s behavior was evento overhear what Polianov and I were talking about,” muttered Caro
Yet another of Devlin’s priround
Before she could react, her sister asked, “You’ve had more worldly experience with men than we have, Josette What’s your impression of the colonel and the baron?”
“I do not see uests,” replied the ossip The colonel’s valet says he is a cold fish, and the house servants say Lord McClellan can be very moody”
“It’s clear he dislikes the English,” reat deal of intimate information about the people they served Perhaps she could learn soive any reason why?”
“They say he has some very radical views on politics and equality for all men”
“That must earn favor with the servants,” she mused
Josette shrugged “Most people do not like change, mademoiselle”
A very keen observation With her sharp eye and lively intelligence, the maid could be a very helpful ally, if handled with the utmost discretion, decided Anna