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worn beautiful, expensive gowns, much like the one Lady Anna now wore. Her mother had always enjoyed taking her shopping, and she had been allowed to buy what she wanted, when she wanted, withno thought of consequence. But those days were long behind her.
    Shannon glanced at Rory and reached for the bowl of water she’d used to cool him earlier. “If you need anything, my lord, please let me know.”
    “Thank you, Shannon,” he said, his eyes soft.
    Anna’s lips quirked as she watched them.
    Shannon couldn’t get out of the room fast enough, and she felt Rory’s gaze on her the entire way to the door. As she exited, she could swear she heard the other woman laugh beneath her breath.
    What a horrible, mean-spirited woman. If this was the company the young baron kept, then she would be wise to keep a distance from him in the future.
    Cheeks burning, Shannon shut the door slowly, despite the fact she ached to slam it.
    Rory turned to his guest. “So, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
    Anna’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. “I heard that you had been injured, and I wanted to see for myself how you were faring.”
    “As you can see, I am alive.”
    “Thank God for that,” she said in a silky-soft voice. “I had thought I had lost my lover for good.”
    He rolled his eyes and took a seat in the nearest chair, surprised at how tired he was from the bath. The lavender was quite effective.
    “Plus, I have missed you.”
    “Missed me? Come, I’ve heard it on good authority that you are sleeping with a tailor on Bond Street. You couldn’t miss me that much.”
    Her eyes widened. “Where on earth did you hear such a dastardly rumor, and one that could not be farther from the truth?”
    “It’s a lie?”
    She shrugged, which essentially meant she was guilty. “Perhaps, but I did not come here to talk about me. I’ve come to see that you are well, and to tell you the latest.”
    Rory could not help but smile. She was not here because of concern for him, but rather she had gossip that involved him.
    “It seems the newly widowed, thanks to you, Lady Cordland has gone on record that you are not only a scoundrel who seduced her, but a murderer to boot.”
    Rory flinched, shocked by the allegation.
    “First off, she had her hand down my pants within seconds of our first greeting, and as to murder, I didn’t pull the trigger until
after
her husband got a shot off. Unfortunately for him, he missed.”
    Her gaze shifted to his shoulder. “So says the rumor mill, but still, Rory, did you have to kill the man?”
    Her tone was flippant and sarcastic, and Rory didn’t appreciate it. He wasn’t proud of the fact he’d killed anyone, and despite the fact the man had been a letch of the first order, Cordland’s death would haunt him the rest of his days. “Where did you see Lady Cordland?”
    “Actually, I didn’t see her, but the duel was all that anyone could talk about at tea this afternoon. Lady Cordland’s best friend was in attendance, and she is vigorously circulating the news, and naming you as the villain and she the victim.”
    “Let’s face it … I did her a favor. Cordland was humiliating her by taking up with her cousin. Everyone knew it, and now she has license to take up with as many lovers as she chooses.”
    Anna sighed heavily, as though she truly cared. “This will probably ruin her. You know, she did have an excellent reputation before you got a hold of her.”
    “Are you trying to make me feel worse than I already do?”
    Her mouth dropped open. “Of course not. I just wanted to share the news, and let you know what is being said about you. Plus, I missed your company. There is no one else in London who makes me laugh the way you can.” She walked toward him and leaned in, her hands sliding up his thighs. “Not to mention, you are one of the best lovers I’ve ever had.”
    “One
of the best?”
    “All right, the best,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Though I admit,