Chapter 41

She’d changed into a fresh outfit—a pale blue dress that set off her long, slender legs. Her eyes sparkled with liveliness, and she stood tall and graceful, a picture of youthful elegance.
Harrison paused for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Come in and get it yourself,” he said.
Anastasia stepped inside, and within a few steps, the bouquet she’d been hiding behind her back was revealed.
Harrison looked momentarily surprised. “You still have that?”
Anastasia felt a little embarrassed-the flowers were nearly wilted, yet she’d still kept them.
But when she met his slightly astonished gaze, she mustered up the courage to say, “You gave them to me. How could I throw them away? I’m going to keep them pressed in my book for safekeeping!”
Harrison was silent, his eyes growing a shade deeper as he looked at her.
That evening, they had dinner together.
Anastasia had thought he’d only agreed to join her that one time, but now it seemed he intended to eat with her regularly. The thought delighted her, though she kept her happiness to herself.
After dinner, as she was about to leave the table, Harrison’s phone suddenly rang. It was Elder Mrs. Lancaster calling.
Standing nearby, Anastasia could vaguely hear the elderly woman’s voice on the line, talking about how she’d visited a church to pray for him and had picked up a blessed pendant. She’d be bringing it over tomorrow and insisted he wear it for safety and good fortune.
Harrison responded gently, “Alright.”
Then Mrs. Lancaster’s tone turned probing. “That young lady from the Sterling family has moved into Rosewood Manor, hasn’t she? How is she?”
Harrison paused, glancing to the side. His features softened, almost unconsciously. “She’s wonderful.”
It was the first time Anastasia had ever heard him offer a positive opinion. In the past, he’d always sounded indifferent or even displeased whenever anyone brought up a potential match.
Mrs. Lancaster was overjoyed, her excitement bubbling through the phone. “Good, good! I’m so glad to hear that. You two should get along well!”
At the end, she couldn’t help but add, “If only you could give me a great- grandchild soon, that would be perfect!”
Anastasia hadn’t been deliberately eavesdropping, but she caught that last remark. Her cheeks burned instantly, and she turned her head aside, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.
Harrison turned slightly, his gaze lingering on her flushed ears, his eyes
unreadable. He didn’t answer Mrs. Lancaster’s wish directly-just offered a couple
of polite responses before ending the call.
“Weren’t you going to finish those bookmarks?” he asked. “Go on, then.”
She still had half of her bookmark project to finish from earlier in the day.
“Oh… okay!” Anastasia dashed upstairs.
At the corner of the landing, she glanced back down, her hand instinctively going to her ear.
Even as embarrassment lingered, she found herself thinking of Mrs. Lancaster, astonished by the woman’s warmth. She hadn’t expected so much kindness from someone she’d never even met.
By contrast, in her previous life, the lady of the house had never once shown her a kind face. To call it dislike would have been an understatement-her coldness bordered on outright hostility.
But that, she supposed, was understandable. Back then, she’d run away from the engagement, been sent back to Rosewood Manor in disgrace, and never once shown Harrison the slightest warmth. She’d ignored his efforts, and more than once, she’d even stolen his secrets to pass along to Aaron…
With all that, how could Mrs. Lancaster have possibly liked her? The fact that she’d survived at all was probably only thanks to Harrison.
The next afternoon, someone from Mrs. Lancaster’s household arrived. As luck would have it, Harrison had left Rosewood Manor only half an hour before on urgent business.
The visitor carefully cradled a small, ornate box, opening it to check the contents before handing it to a maid with a warning— Thıs text ıs hosted at.net
“This is a blessed pendant Mrs. Lancaster personally requested for Mr.
Lancaster’s protection. Be careful-don’t drop it!”
May’s eyes flickered as she stepped forward. “Let me take it. I’ll make sure the
lady of the house passes it on to Mr. Lancaster.”