David’s breath caught in his throat. All this time he’d been wanting to return to the army, to the battlefield, to the place he knew best, where life made sense to him, but that would be selfish. If he put himself in harm’s way, Marianne might end up completely alone. She would have Bell, of course, but her family, the family who’d raised her, would be entirely gone. Marianne had saved his life once…with a book. He would never purposely cause his beloved sister that sort of pain.
He twirled her around and around in three-step count, as a wide smile spread across his face. “For the first time, I can honestly say, I’m glad I’m here, too, Marianne.”
His sister returned the smile. “Good, because while I may have been quite preoccupied today, I didn’t fail to notice you’ve looked as if something has been troubling you.”
He sighed. “Nothing I don’t deserve.”
“I doubt that,” Marianne replied. “But after this, do ask Lady Elspeth to dance. She’s been watching you like a dog watches its meal all evening.”
David chuckled. “I will.”
When the dance with Marianne came to an end, David did exactly that. He didn’t have far to look to find Lady Elspeth, who was only too pleased to accept his invitation to dance.
He escorted her to the floor as the musicians struck up another waltz. She began to prattle about the details of the wedding and David did his best to follow along until Murdock and Annabelle twirled past them on the dance floor.
He immediately fell silent, and Lady Elspeth did not fail to notice.
“Are you quite all right, my lord?” she asked, tipping her head to the side to look at him.
“Yes. Yes, of course.” But he couldn’t even manage a fake smile. It drove him mad that Annabelle was dancing with Murdock. She’d told him last night she didn’t even like the man. She’d called him an ass. What was her game now? The woman was maddening.
“It’s Lady Annabelle, isn’t it, my lord?” Lady Elspeth asked next in a resigned voice.
David expelled his breath. It was time to admit the truth. Lady Elspeth deserved better than a man who was in love with another woman. He had no hope of winning Annabelle any longer, but he had no intention of courting Lady Elspeth, either, and he needed to be honest with the young woman. “Yes, Lady Elspeth. It is Lady Annabelle.”
“You fancy her?” Lady Elspeth said, a resigned though disappointed look on her face.
“I’m sorry, Lady Elspeth. I don’t want to give you false hope.”
Lady Elspeth lifted her chin and stared past his shoulder. “I see,” was all she said, her face a mask.
When the music stopped, David escorted Lady Elspeth back to her mother. He thanked her for the dance, and she curtsied to him prettily, while he executed his most formal bow. Then he took his leave, a feeling of relief rushing through him. At least he’d managed to do one thing right at this house party. Set Lady Elspeth free. It was the right thing to do when all he could seem to think about was Annabelle. Inconvenient and fruitless as it was.
Two hours and five more glasses of champagne later, David was propped against a wall in the ballroom standing next to a potted palm. The palm was some of the best company he’d enjoyed all evening. It didn’t speak and it didn’t seem to mind that he didn’t either. He’d made the rounds earlier for Marianne’s sake, but he was quickly wishing he could sneak off to his bedchamber and fall into a blissful, forgetful slumber.
Downing the last bit of champagne in his glass, he pushed away from the wall, intent on doing exactly that.
Chapter Thirty-One
Annabelle couldn’t sleep. She was slumped against the pillows in her bed at Worthington Manor staring into the darkness. She’d watched the most beautiful weddings today. All three couples had declared their undying love for one another. The gowns had been gorgeous. The flowers had been lovely. The grooms had been handsome. The meal had been splendid, and the ball divine. Weddings themselves were always beautiful. It’s what came after that was ugly.
Lord Murdock had sat at her side, his knuckles turning white as he clenched the arms of his chair when Lady Julianna declared herself to Lord Worthington. Lord Murdock obviously didn’t care for Lady Julianna herself. He was simply unhappy because he’d lost her to Worthington. He couldn’t stand to be defeated in the biggest game of the Season. And now Annabelle was his new prey. He didn’t give a whit about her, either. It was obvious in the way he never asked her about herself. All his comments were about himself, his title, his money, and his social standing. None of which impressed Annabelle one whit. And they never would.
She probably shouldn’t have gone to bed with David last night, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to regret it. The man was incredibly handsome, and she’d wanted him fiercely. Only at the end, she’d remembered why men were much safer at arm’s distance. He hadn’t tried to strike her, but for one panic-filled moment, she’d somehow been convinced he was about to. He’d been drinking and he was angry. She hadn’t been able to stop her body’s instinctive response when he’d flung up his arm so near her.
Of course he didn’t understand why she’d been so frightened. She didn’t understand it herself. How could she possibly explain it to him?
She regretted that he’d misunderstood what she’d wanted from him last night. She certainly hadn’t meant to mislead him. She’d assumed he’d be nothing but pleased with the arrangement. No promises made. No future implied. What man wouldn’t be interested in such a convenient proposal? But apparently, she’d grossly underestimated David. She had felt bad about it, of course. Only, the regret was short lived after he’d accused her of being afraid. Her regret had been instantly replaced with white-hot anger.
And now that she’d had all day to think about it, she knew why his comment had bothered her so much.
Because she was afraid.
She was a coward, and always had been. She’d never been able to muster the courage to stand up to her father the way Beau had. And now not only did she not have the courage to take a husband, she didn’t even have the courage to tell the man why. David deserved better than that. He deserved a woman he could love and who would love him back. Precisely as he’d said during their first lesson. Annabelle had no right to take such happiness away from him.
The rap at her bedchamber door made her sit up straight. Was she imagining it or had someone truly just knocked? She scrambled out of bed and wrapped her dressing gown around her before hurrying to the door and opening it a crack.
David was standing there looking so handsome she wanted to sigh. Tall, dark, fashionable. He was still wearing the fine black evening attire he’d worn to the ball tonight. He’d looked so dashing, she had barely been able to keep her eyes off him. When he didn’t know she was looking, of course. Now his hair was slightly mussed, and he had a drink in his hand.
“May I come in, my lady?” he asked, bowing to her in an overblown fashion. “I swear I come bearing apologies.”
Was he in his cups? “You don’t owe me any apology, David.”
“Yes, I do!” He announced loudly, bowing to her once again. Annabelle quickly decided it would behoove her to let him in before he caused such a commotion in the corridor that other guests began peeking out to see what was the matter. It would not do for them to be seen together like this.
She darted her head into the corridor to ensure no one was watching before she grabbed his wrist and tugged him inside.
She closed the door behind him. “Shh,” she admonished.
He bowed again, and lowered his voice. “Would you care for a drink?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“Neither would I.” A grin spread across his face.
She had to smile. He’d clearly had a drink too many, but he was being entertaining, slightly silly, not angry. That was…different.
“First, I would like to apologize for frightening you last night,” he said, bowing a third time.
She nodded. “David, you don’t—”
�
��Second, I want to ask you a question,” he said, interrupting her and pointing his finger in the air again.
She eyed him warily. A question. That sounded ominous. She didn’t want this to end in another argument. “What question?”
“Has…my apologies, my lady, but there’s no easy way to say this. Has anyone ever struck you before?”
The blood drained from Annabelle’s face. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. How did he know? Did David know the terror she’d lived in as a child? Was it obvious? Or had he simply guessed because of her reaction last night?
“I don’t know what you mean,” she insisted, shaking her head, and glancing down at her bare feet. She needed to get him out of her bedchamber as quickly as possible.
He narrowed his eyes on her. “I think you do. I’m asking if anyone has ever struck you. A man, I mean.”
Swallowing the huge lump in her throat, she shook her head but couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “No. No one.” But even she didn’t believe herself. Her voice had cracked. Oh, God. She was the worst kind of coward. She couldn’t even tell the truth when faced with someone who’d guessed her past.
David turned away from her and cursed under his breath. His voice was low, nearly a whisper. “You still won’t open up to me. After all this time.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she breathed. She had to get him out of here. He might not be violent or angry, but the drinking was making him far too honest. He was asking too many questions she had no intention of answering.
Reminding herself that it was better for David if she sent him away, she made her way to the door and opened it a crack. “Please leave,” she said, pointing into the corridor.
David’s jaw went rock hard. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to talk about this.” She clenched her jaw and stared at the wall, still unable to meet his gaze.
“Is it the reason why you won’t marry?” he asked. Sadness and regret sounded in his tone.
Annabelle expelled her breath and hung her head. She couldn’t take this. She couldn’t take his pity and she couldn’t answer his questions. She wouldn’t answer them. She wrenched the door open wide. “Please leave.” But this time it was more of a plea.
Hurt and rejection flickered across his drawn face as David strode past her directly into the corridor.
“Oh, dear,” a lady’s voice sounded.
Fear gripped Annabelle tightly as her gaze swung into the hall to see Lady Elspeth and her mother standing not two paces from David. He’d obviously nearly run into them.
Lady Elspeth’s mother’s eyes were wide as carriage wheels when she saw Annabelle standing in the doorway in her night rail.
“Oh, my goodness!” Lady Elspeth cried, glancing back and forth between David and Annabelle, just before she swooned into a dead faint.
Chapter Thirty-Two
David was sitting in a chair next to the fireplace in his room the next morning, nursing both a sick head and a memory full of regrets. The previous night had ended after Lady Elspeth’s scream had brought half the occupants of the floor running toward Annabelle’s bedchamber—including Beau and Marianne.
They’d all eventually gone back to their rooms, but not before the damage had been done. Half of the ton had seen David standing outside Annabelle’s bedchamber while Annabelle was undressed, and the other half of the ton seemed to have heard about it by morning. Lady Elspeth and her mother wasted no time spreading the news that David had come directly out of Annabelle’s room in the middle of the night.
There was no use denying it. The truth was the truth, and he’d be nothing but a scoundrel if he called Lady Elspeth and her mother liars. But that didn’t make the fallout any better. He’d made his share of bad decisions in his time, but none of them compared to his getting jug-bitten at his sister’s wedding and going to Annabelle’s bedchamber last night. He and Annabelle had managed to be together the night before without any consequences. Chance wasn’t that forgiving. He’d been a complete fool to have attempted it a second time.
David read the same sentence for a fourth time before closing the book he’d been pretending to read, and tossing it onto his bed. He wasn’t precisely hiding in his bedchamber, but he wasn’t anxious to leave it either, not until he’d had a chance to speak to his sister and assess the damage. He’d already met with Lady Angelina and Beau last night. It was amazing how quickly one could become sober when one was faced with a scandal. He’d promised Annabelle’s mother and brother he’d do the right thing by marrying her. He’d further promised to agree to any marriage contract terms they deemed fit. He would not ruin her reputation and walk away.
His assurances and willingness to extend his hand appeased both Beau and Lady Angelina, but it wasn’t their opinions David was worried about. It was Annabelle’s. Hers was truly all that mattered.
He wasn’t about to go traipsing back to Annabelle’s room to ask to speak with her, however. For all he knew, she’d take a pistol to him. He needed someone else to tell him how she was acting. To that end, he’d sent a note to his sister requesting a visit.
A few moments later, a soft knock sounded at the door and Marianne opened it and slipped inside. “There you are,” she breathed, looking relieved.
David couldn’t muster a smile. “Where else would I be?”
Marianne came sauntering up to him, her arms crossed over her chest. “I don’t know, out playing pall mall on the lawn with the ladies and their mothers, perhaps.”
“You are terribly amusing,” he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest, too, and slumping down in his chair. He pushed his booted feet out in front of him.
“I am, aren’t I?” Marianne replied, smiling brightly.
David took a deep breath. This was not the time for jests. He needed to take responsibility for his poor choices and his reckless actions. “I’m sorry for ruining your wedding, Marianne.”
Marianne’s red brows shot up. “Nonsense. The wedding was over, and besides, everyone will be talking about it for years to come. I’d say it was a rousing success. The ton adores gossip, you know. Frances is thrilled, by the by. She thinks this may replace her father’s arrest at the top of the list of recent scandals.”
David shook his head and then grabbed it. He shouldn’t have done that. He’d had far too much to drink last night for head-shaking this morning. “I’m glad you can see the humor in this situation,” he continued, “but I feel it necessary to point out that I doubt this will end well for either our family or Bell’s. Scandals aren’t good. I know enough to know that.”
Marianne stepped closer and put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t care what the ton thinks. I care how my brother is feeling about a marriage he’s going to be forced into.”
David frowned. “Forced into? Lady Annabelle would make anyone a fine wife.”
Marianne searched his face. “But do you love her, David?”
Not meeting his sister’s eyes, he rubbed his jaw that was rough with day-old stubble. “I’ve been around the Beau Monde long enough to know that love isn’t necessary for marriage.”
Marianne crossed her arms over her chest again and stared down at him. “Papa obviously thought it was. He gave up everything he knew for love, including his title.”
David nodded. “Indeed, he did.” Why did she have to remind him about their father at a time like this?
“And I love Beau with all my heart, and I know Julianna and Rhys, and Frances and Lucas love each other, too,” Marianne continued.
David nodded again. “Yes, but Annabelle has made it clear to me time and time again that she is wholly uninterested in marriage.”
“Forgive me, but at this point in the conversation, I feel compelled to ask. What were you doing in her bedchamber, David?”
David scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Would you believe me if I told you I was being a drunken idiot?”
Marianne arched a brow and shrugged. “I suppose I must.”
“Fine. Then I w
as being a drunken idiot. Absolutely nothing untoward happened last night.” There. That was true at least.
“That may be,” Marianne replied, “but the ton doesn’t care about the truth. They care about the salacious details, and unfortunately, Lady Elspeth and her mother seem all too eager to share those details.”
“How is Lady Elspeth?” David asked.
“The poor girl needed a half a bottle of smelling salts last night. Thank heavens you caught her before she hit her head on the floor.”
David winced. “Is she suffering any lingering ill-effects?”
Marianne shrugged. “She seemed right as rain when she was leaving this morning. In fact, she seemed pleased with the turn of events.”
“Pleased?” David frowned. Was Lady Elspeth such a gossip that she was pleased to have stumbled upon a scandal?
Marianne nodded. “Yes, she was nearly giddy when she told Lord Murdock what she’d seen.”
David groaned.
“Speaking of Lord Murdock,” Marianne continued, “at least you saved Annabelle from that awful man. He left here ranting about how unstable women are. Until Lady Elspeth calmed him down.”
“I’m not sure Annabelle would characterize what I did as ‘saving’ her,” he replied.
“Honestly, I love you both, and I don’t want to see either one of you do something you’ll regret.” Marianne leaned over and squeezed David’s shoulder. “Just please promise me you’ll remember what Mama said.”
“Marry for love and you’ll never regret it,” David breathed. Why did she have to remind him about their mother at a time like this? He scratched his chin again and contemplated the words. Love? He loved Annabelle. He knew it. That was the funny feeling that spread through his middle every time she was near. He certainly was missing it now. But it didn’t matter that he loved her. The problem was, she didn’t love him.
Earl Lessons: The Footmen’s Club Series Page 20