The Spy Who Loved Her: Once Upon an Accident, Book 3 by Melissa Schroeder Page A

Adelaide. I will tell my mother it is from the orphanage.”
    She glanced at Daniel one more time and then allowed his mother to hurry her out of the room.
     
    Two days later, Anna listened to her mother complain about her disappearance—again. Anna barely heard her. Since she had left Daniel’s townhouse, her mind had been on him…and those injuries. She desperately wanted to send a note to him but knew that would raise suspicions. She thought it horribly rude that Lady Adelaide at least did not contact her. What on earth had Daniel been doing down there? And just what was with all the men he was with? They were not his friends. Some of them looked much older and definitely much more experienced than he. Stabbed . She still worried that the wound was much worse than she had thought it to be. What if he lost too much blood? Or what if the hit to his head was worse than she had thought?
    “Are you listening to me?”
    She glanced at her mother sitting across the room from her. “I understand you were upset. Did I not go to another musicale last night? Since it featured the Tate twins, I deserve something for that.”
    Her mother offered her a little smile. The Tate twins were notoriously tone deaf. “True. But I want you to understand that your absence was noticed.”
    Anna rolled her eyes. “And I am sure they all know I left because of the orphanage.”
    “Yes. Just the thing you need to be known for, traipsing around the slums in the middle of the night.”
    Anna barely held onto her rapidly fraying temper. Did no one think she had a brain? “I was never in any danger.”
    “True, I understand that. But men do not want a woman who thinks nothing of running off to take care of children that are not his.”
    Anna raised her chin. “Then I do not want a man like that. Why would I? I do not want to be a kept woman with nothing better to do than raise her children then bother them about marrying.”
    Hurt filled her mother’s expression. “I am just trying to help.”
    Regret stirred in Anna’s chest. She should have kept her temper under control. She did not want to hurt her mother, because she knew she wanted what she thought best for Anna. But she could not be that girl anymore. She rose and then seated herself next to her mother. She slipped her hands over Victoria’s.
    “I know, Mother. I know you mean no harm. But I am not sure I can be what any man wants. What I need is to live with my past and create a future I am happy with.”
    Her mother searched Anna’s expression. “Why do you think that cannot include a husband and children?”
    “I am not sure a man would want a wife who feels the need to be involved in my work like I am. It may seem silly to you, but I feel as if I am doing something important at the orphanage. I need to be there.”
    Her mother studied her and then turned her hands over, taking Anna’s between hers. “I need to see you settled.”
    Anna paused, unable to discern her mother’s tone. She had been preoccupied lately. In fact, there were times Lady Victoria had disappeared for hours at a time. But this was different. There was something there she had not heard before, something she could not truly understand. It was as if there was a desperate need beneath those words. What did her mother have to be desperate about?
    She opened her mouth, but Starnes interrupted her.
    “Lord Bridgerton is here to see you, my lady.”
    For a moment, her heart stopped. He was fine. In the next, her whole body heated with the thought of seeing him.
    “My lady?”
    She shook herself out of her stupor. “I will be done in a moment.”
    Everything in her body seemed to shimmer in anticipation. What was she thinking? Was this because she was worried about him?
    She checked herself in the mirror. With a deep breath, she straightened and made her way downstairs. All the way she continued to remind herself to stay calm. This was just Daniel coming by to let her know he was all right.
    She reached the