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Long Gallery. After his holiday guests left he had had the other wings closed, and they would be bitterly cold, he elucidated. Anne and Melissa did not miss the closed wings but were quite overwhelmed with what they did see. Anne had never been in such a great country house, and Melissa confided that the ones she had seen could not compare to the grandeur of Longworth.
    The white walls were all elaborately ornamented with the sculpted and gilt decorations Anne had noticed in the red drawing room. Colour was provided in the carpets and the bright upholstery of the lavishly carved and heavily gilded furniture. Lord Stanton also had an immense collection of paintings that lined the walls of almost every room. He brought another Fragonard to Anne’s attention.
    This Fragonard was not in the style of the one she had seen in the red drawing room, and she looked at the portrait of a young girl closely, marvelling that the same artist could produce paintings of such different types.
    “I do have two other Fragonards in the style of the first one you saw, Miss Southwell,” Lord Stanton said wickedly, as he and Melissa joined Anne before the portrait. “However, they are in the wings that are presently closed. Since you are such an admirer of his works, you must come again in the summer when those wings will be opened.”
    Anne was going to ignore his remarks, but realised she could not in the presence of Melissa without appearing unaccountably rude.
    “Thank you, Lord Stanton,” she accepted. “Perhaps I shall stop on my way back to Medford this summer.”
    “I had hoped you would make a longer stay,” he replied, his meaning evident to Anne, who could not prevent another blush.
    Melissa looked at them oddly, and Anne quickly turned the conversation by asking Lord Stanton about an unusual ebony clock she noticed upon the mantelpiece. Her ploy was successful, and the rest of the tour unexceptionable.
    That evening, as Lord Stanton again entertained them with amusing stories of London and the haut ton, Anne began to wonder if Lord Stanton had really been serious about the wager. There were times that day when he had seemed to tease her about it, but he had given no indication that he had meant it seriously. Perhaps, she mused, he had just been amusing himself at her expense, as Charlie and his friends had often done. Men did appear to have a different sense of humour than women did, she reflected. When Lord Stanton made no attempt that evening to prevent Anne from retiring early with Melissa, she became convinced that the wager had been some kind of jest. Although, just to be on the safe side, she would be sure she won.
    * * * *
    The next morning dawned clear and cold, and Lord Stanton assured his guests they would be able to get through the roads with no difficulty.
    “I have taken the liberty of having your coachman and groom return to Medford this morning with the squire’s carriage,” he added. “One of my unmarked carriages is being prepared to take you to London.”
    “Thank you, Lord Stanton,” Anne said genuinely, accepting that the precaution was for the best.
    They made a good breakfast of kidneys, steak and eggs and then returned to their chambers to dress for their journey.
    When it was time for them to depart, Anne felt oddly reluctant. She had enjoyed the short stay at Longworth, particularly the masculine company. It had been restful, too, despite Lord Stanton’s teasing. Once in London, she would be overwhelmed with responsibilities.
    Lord Stanton bade them good-bye in the hall as they waited for hot bricks to be placed in the carriage to keep their feet warm. Anne and Melissa thanked him once more for the shelter he had given them, while Sanders looked on in silence. Then, as Sanders adjusted the hood of Melissa’s cloak about her curls, Lord Stanton leaned forward and spoke only for Anne’s ears, “Until July, my dear Anne.”
     

Chapter Four
     
    “Melissa, can you think of no relatives at all, no