Two days later, as Anne stood before her mirror, she carefully positioned her sleeve and gloves so that her mother would not see the bruise on her arm. It was not a large bruise, but Anne knew that it was large enough to cause her mother to inquire after it. She had sworn her cousin and his friend Mr. Bingley, as well as Jack, to silence about the joust at Angelo’s, and she had been careful to keep the paper from her mother’s notice both yesterday and today. She knew that her appearance at Angelo’s would not go unmentioned, especially after the display she had put on following her defeat of Alistair. Her cheeks flushed. It was rather exhilarating to behave so brazenly, but it was not something she planned to repeat or publish any further than it had already been circulated.
“Anne Catherine de Bourgh!” Lady Catherine said as she threw open the door to her daughter’s room.
Anne cringed at the tone of her mother’s voice.
“Lady Metcalfe has just made me aware of a rather shocking story.”
Drat! She had forgotten that Alistair’s mother might see the paper and share the story with her mother.
“What were you thinking? Going to a gentleman’s club and behaving like a…” she waved the paper she held in the air as she sought for the right word, though none seemed to come to her.
As Anne stood before her mirror, a smile spread across her face. She could not remember a single time in her life when her mother had been at a loss for words until now. There was a strange feeling of satisfaction that accompanied the knowledge.
“It was inappropriate,” Anne offered. “And I shall not do it again. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a wedding to attend.”
[from Becoming Entangled]
