Chapter 49
When she returned to the living room, Harrison was still there, and Logan was speaking to him quietly.
Without realizing it, Anastasia quickened her pace and ran over.
“Back already?” Harrison gestured for Logan to pause and looked up at her, his deep, enigmatic eyes reflecting her small, fluttering figure as she approached.
“Mm-hmm!” Anastasia’s lips curved in a gentle smile. She hadn’t expected that just a casual request would make Harrison agree to deliver the medicine himself, without the usual remarks about how Lady already had plenty of doctors around her and didn’t need her help.
Thinking of how he had stood up for her twice that evening, a warm sweetness unfurled inside her. She sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched, and teased, “Darling, were you worried Grandma might misunderstand me just now? Is that why you spoke up for me?” Thá´‡ link to the origɪn of this information rá´‡sts ɪn.net
Harrison’s expression remained unchanged. “You did nothing wrong. There’s no reason for Grandma to get the wrong idea about you.”
Anastasia was touched but said softly, “Next time, you don’t need to defend me in front of her. I don’t want Grandma thinking you’ve forgotten her now that you’re married. You and she are so close—I’d hate for there to be any rift between you because of me. I can handle it myself.”
Memories from her past life stung her. Back then, she’d been reckless and selfish, and Harrison’s efforts to protect her had more than once wounded Lady’s heart. The guilt still lingered.
When she first told him not to stand up for her, Harrison thought she might be upset. But as she went on, he understood.
He paused, then said, “Don’t worry. Grandma isn’t that petty.”
His voice was noticeably warmer than usual.
Logan couldn’t help but marvel-what a sweetheart his new lady was! No wonder Mr. Lancaster treated her so differently. The previous women had always looked terrified just to speak to him, let alone care about his feelings. Who could fall for someone like that?
Just then, Alice entered the room. She saw Anastasia sitting close to Mr. Lancaster, chatting with him in a way that, for him, bordered on affectionate. What shocked her even more was that he didn’t look the slightest bit annoyed. In fact, if you looked closely, there was even a hint of indulgence in his gaze.
Jealousy twisted inside her, mixed with a growing sense of panic.
Damn that Anastasia. What was she saying to Mr. Lancaster? Hadn’t she just glanced her way? Would she really keep her promise not to play that recording for him?
Alice’s gaze darkened. No, she couldn’t trust that woman. She had to destroy that recording, and somehow, she needed to get the forty thousand from May as well…
Grinding her teeth, she slipped quietly off to her room.
Anastasia had no idea that a casual glance would set off such a storm of suspicion. She hadn’t even mentioned Alice; instead, she was talking to Harrison about something else entirely-the upcoming party hosted by the Fairhaven branch of the Lancaster family.
The Lancasters were split into the main family in Riverton and a satellite branch in Fairhaven. Harrison was the sole heir of the main house, while Aaron’s family was just one of several offshoots in Fairhaven.
This time, it was their turn to host the family gathering.
That morning, Penelope had sent her a message, insisting she had to attend. Anastasia still couldn’t figure out what she was up to.
She was surprised when Harrison brought it up as well.
He nodded, his handsome features as composed as ever, his voice even. “They heard about our wedding and invited me to bring my new wife. The host is Barry Lancaster, my uncle’s illegitimate son, and his son Aaron-apparently, he’s a student at Kingsbridge University too. Maybe you know him.”
Aaron?
The sudden mention of his name made Anastasia’s heart skip a beat.
She met Harrison’s fathomless gaze, feeling a wave of nervousness. She couldn’t
tell if he knew about her past with Aaron, or if he was trying to test her…
Harrison looked at her. “Would you like to go?”