by Abby Ayles
“I knew of nothing else to do, my Lord,” Duke Colbourn replied.
“Take her shoes off, Julia,” Duke Cartwright instructed. Julia quickly slipped the shoes from Annabelle’s feet, providing instant relief.
“You do not need to carry me, father,” Annabelle said. “I can walk without my shoes on.”
He gave her a look of doubt. “I will not allow you to cut the bottom of your feet on the ground, Annabelle,” he said.
“I do hope that when we go home, you will dispose of those shoes.”
“I will give them to Julia. You want them, Julia?”
Julia grinned. “Yes, I think they are my size.”
Annabelle grinned at her father. “There, you see? The problem is solved.’
Duke Cartwright laughed as the five of them walked over the lawn to where the carriages were waiting for their owners.
“I should go in and apologize for our sudden disappearance,” Julia said. She thrust the shoes in Annabelle’s direction.
“I will be at the carriage shortly.”
“What will you tell them, Julia?” Annabelle asked.
“I will think of something.”
“You do not want to lie. Tell them my feet hurt. It is the truth without embarrassment. I do not mind being thought of as sensitive.”
Julia laughed. “You are not thought of as sensitive, Annabelle. You know that. This will not be a blight on your reputation. I will also fetch the driver.”
“I am glad to have you, Julia.” Annabelle turned to face the carriage as her father gently lowered her to her feet. Duke Colbourn was by her side at an instant, holding out his hand to help her into the carriage.
“May I help you, my Lady?”
Annabelle noticed when her father took a step back, his eyes on Duke Colbourn.
She wondered what her father was thinking at that moment. Was he angry? He did not look angry.
She smiled at Duke Colbourn. “Thank you, your Grace.”
She grasped his hand and used it to launch herself into the carriage with only two steps on her aching feet. She turned as she sat and watched as Julia held her skirts with her hands and hurried back to the foyer.
“There you go, Miss Cartwright.” He got up into the carriage behind
Cecilia and their father followed behind them. He sat next to her on the opposite side of the carriage. Julia would sit between them or Cecilia, depending on where Duke Cartwright wanted them to sit.
He did not seem to mind that Duke Colbourn had taken the same side as his daughter.
“Thank you, your Grace. I do appreciate your help.” Her feet were pounding, burning and now she was beginning to get a headache. She lifted one hand and pressed it against her forehead.
“You are looking pained. Your head is hurting?”
“It is, yes. I hope to go home and put a cold compress on my eyes. I will feel better in the morning, I am sure.”
“You must remember to get a new pair of shoes.” He dropped his eyes to the slippers in her hand. “You do not need to be wearing shoes that are constricting your feet. It can cause you problems in the future.”
“I believe you are right.” Annabelle smiled at him.
“I will not wear these shoes again. I have given them to Julia and she is now the rightful owner.”
“I hope they were not a favorite pair of yours.”
She laughed. “Not at all. They were sitting in a convenient spot, so I picked them up.”
Julia was soon at the carriage. She had stopped by the servant’s quarters and brought their driver along. Julia sat in between Duke Colbourn and Annabelle, which was expected.
The ride back to the mansion was quiet.
Annabelle had a hard time not thinking about her aching feet and the pain that was pulsing through her head. The others in the carriage spoke infrequently and in low tones, respectful of her pain.
Duke Colbourn looked through the window at the starry night, admiring their charm and beauty without looking at them.
They both needed to be painted into a portrait of beauty.
He thought that would be a good name for the painting. Portrait of Beauty. It had a nice ring to it. He would have to suggest it to Duke Cartwright.
Half an hour later, Duke Colbourn was helping Julia down from the carriage. When Annabelle stepped out onto the small ledge below the door, he stepped back and her father held out his arms for her.
“Oh father, please let me walk.” The first time was humiliating enough. Now he wanted to carry her inside the house.
He shook his head. “At least to the front door, daughter. You cannot walk around without shoes. Your stockings will tear along with your feet. You care about your stockings, do you not?”
Annabelle had to laugh. “Oh, all right.” She put out her arms and let him pick her up the way he had before.
Duke Colbourn hung back, watching, wishing he had the opportunity to pick the lovely woman up.
He was afraid if Duke Cartwright knew what he was thinking, he would not sell him the Vecelli painting.
It also might negate any chance that he could capture Annabelle’s heart in the future. So he kept his mouth shut and walked with them into the house.
The Duke carried his daughter inside and lowered her to the floor. “Will you be all right going up the stairs to your room?” he asked, seeing the look of pain cover her face again when she stood up on her feet.
She regretted it, but she did not think she really could make it up the stairs.
She wished Duke Colbourn could carry her but her father would never allow such a thing. She held out her arms again, as if she was two years old and her father smiled.
“All right. Come along.” He put his arms under her and picked her up, taking her up to her room.
Duke Colbourn stood outside the door watching as the Duke put his daughter on the bed, sitting up.
“I will need to change if I am to be bedridden.” Annabelle said, looking up at her father.
“We will leave you to it, then.” The Duke turned and went back to the door, stepping out into the hallway with Duke Colbourn and closing the door behind him. The Duke’s eyes met Annabelle’s before the door closed and she looked away quickly.
“I apologize for interrupting your evening, Duke Colbourn,” she called out quickly. Her father pushed the door back open and Duke Colbourn looked in at her.
“Enough with the apologies, my Lady. You had a very good reason to leave the ball. I was happy to help you out. I am sorry that your feet are hurting you so. It is not a pleasant thing, considering you have to walk on those feet.” Duke Colbourn looked at Duke Cartwright, nodding. The older man closed the door.
Annabelle wanted Duke Colbourn to come back. She wanted it desperately. But she had not yet talked to her father about him and did not know his feelings about the Duke.
She had to know that before she made any decisions or let her heart dictate her actions. She did not want to fall for this handsome man and then have her heart broken when he rejected her or her father told her to give up any idea of courting him.
“I will probably be asleep soon.” She whispered to herself. She did not tell Duke Colbourn that the moment he left the room, she was going to pull both her legs up and rub her feet for at least a half hour. She felt like a fool, having worn those small shoes.
Her mother had warned her, Cecilia had warned her, even her father told her to buy a new pair of slippers. The last time she made the mistake of wearing them, she was left with bruises on her heels and blisters on her toes.
Duke Colbourn was disappointed. He would have liked to spend a little more time with the lovely lady. Both young ladies were good company. But it was not to be, at least not tonight.
“I will take my leave then.” He bowed to Duke Cartwrigh. If you need me for anything… anything at all, please do not hesitate to send Mary to fetch me.”
“Thank you for your assistance tonight, Duke Colbourn. You are a true gentleman. You did not need to
leave the ball. In fact, it will not be over for another two hours. Would you like to return? You can take our carriage or one of the horses, if you like.”
Duke Colbourn shook his head. He did not want to be at the ball if Annabelle was not there. “I am feeling a bit tired. I believe I will retire to my room. Thank you for the accommodations and for a lovely evening, my Lord.”
He turned on his heel and left the older man with a curious look on his face.
Julia went to Annabelle’s bed and sat on the edge. Annabelle turned her back to her friend so Julia could untie the straps on the back of her dress.
“He is a handsome man, is he not?” Annabelle asked, holding her double braid up. Julia untied the straps quickly and loosened Annabelle’s corset.
Annabelle felt a sudden rush of relief in her midsection. Her corset was always so tight, it was difficult to breathe. Sometimes it made her faint of breath. She never actually fainted but it made her light-headed at times.
“He is,” Julia answered, breathlessly. “I would not mind if he turned his eyes to me. But that will not happen. He has his eyes set on you, Annabelle.”
“Is that what you believe?” Annabelle turned back and Julia helped her pulled the dress down.
Annabelle picked herself up from the bed with both hands and Julia slid the gown below her waist and kicked it off.
Julia caught it and took it to hang on the rack where it belonged. She looked back at her friend.
“I do. How can I not? Do you not see how he looks at you?”
Annabelle thought about it for a moment, reviewing the day in her mind. She’d noticed the way he looked at her. And she had instinctual feelings for him, as well.
It would all come down to what her father thought. If she had his approval, she would allow her feelings for the handsome Duke to grow. If not, she would squash them and push the Duke in Julia’s direction, if she could.
She did not want to. But she would, if her father directed her to.
Chapter 6
The weekend passed quickly and Annabelle was feeling much better by the time Monday came around.
On a typical Monday, Annabelle, as her father affectionately called her, spent her mornings in the library, where her mother always hosted a children’s paint day.
The local women brought their children and Miss Berry, the only woman in town who could paint masterpieces in her sleep, would show them how to simply paint something beautiful.
This had been an ongoing event since Annabelle was just eight years old. She never missed it and did not plan to now that she was older.
Julia visited infrequently, not enjoying the recreation as much as Annabelle. She was there that morning, though, and happy to see her friend.
She sat next to her on a child sized stool, pulling it up under her skirt and lowering herself gently to it. A small easel was in front of her, not as small as some of the children were using but smaller than an adult sized one.
The pictures Miss Berry had the children paint were generally not complicated or big. She glanced at Annabelle with a smile on her pretty lips.
“What are we painting today, Annabelle? An elephant with a hat on?”
Annabelle laughed. “It could be, Julia. We shall see. How has your morning been so far?”
Julia lifted her eyebrows slightly. “Oh, it has been a satisfying day. Breakfast was delicious. I do believe our new cook is going to work out very well.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
They chatted during the hour-long session. Annabelle would have stayed for the other classes but she knew Julia was uncomfortable on the little chair and did not enjoy painting elephants with hats on.
She beckoned to Julia when the first painting was done, which, much to Julia’s happiness, was of a beach with umbrellas and no people or animals were involved.
“We should go get some tea. I feel like playing a game of backgammon. Would you join me?”
“You cannot play if I do not join,” Julia smiled wide. She much preferred backgammon to painting.
The girls got up and left as quietly as they could. They doubted anyone noticed and no one did.
They walked to the parlor, talking quietly.
“Have you seen Duke Colbourn recently?” Julia asked, her voice so low Annabelle had to strain to hear it. She smiled at her friend.
“He lives here, Julia. Of course I have seen him.”
“But have you had a chance to speak with him?”
Annabelle had to admit she hadn’t and it was a disappointment.
“I do wish to speak to him, mind you,” she said firmly. “I do plan to. But… I am not sure if… it is the right thing to do. Perhaps I should allow him to come to me first.”
“You will not know him if you do not speak to him. He may think your father would not approve.”
“I think the same. I admit it has been holding me back.”
Julia gave her friend a look. “Annabelle! You know your father better than anyone. He listens to you when you speak to him. Ask him if he approves of Duke Colbourn. I cannot imagine he would not approve of such a fine-looking gentleman. Duke Colbourn has said and done nothing objectionable since his arrival, I take it.”
It was not really a question but Annabelle shook her head anyway. “He has been a gentleman from the start.”
“Then your father will have no objection.”
Annabelle thought about how often her father mentioned Julia to Duke Colbourn.
It was like he did not even know he was doing it. And it did not matter whether Annabelle was around or not, she knew he was mentioning Julia randomly whenever he could.
He did not want Duke Colbourn in the family. He did not want Duke Colbourn courting her.
She wondered why.
“I shall have a talk with him about it.”
Julia snorted softly, making Annabelle grin. “I am surprised you have not said anything as of yet. You are not like that.”
“I have been… distracted.”
Julia laughed and patted Annabelle on the arm, pulling it to her so they could curve their elbows around each other.
“Now, Annabelle, there is no better distraction than a good-looking Duke!”
As soon as she said the words, the door opened and their father entered, followed by several other men. He smiled at Julia.
“Did I just hear myself being called a good-looking Duke?”
Julia’s face colored brightly and she covered her mouth with her hand, looking down.
“Oh, your grace! I did not know you would hear me! I was… I was merely…”
Duke Cartwright laughed, coming toward the girls. He held out his hands to Annabelle, grasping her shoulders.
“My daughter, it’s good to see you this morning.” He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on both cheeks. He turned to Julia and did the same.
“My almost-daughter. Let me introduce you to some newcomers to our little city. This is Lord Leonard Harcourt Balfour and his brother, Lord Gilbert Andrew Balfour. They are sons to Lord Daniel Harcourt Balfour, the Earl of Beldingshire. They are residing with the Reverend here. You know Reverend Charles Stovington.”
Annabelle and Julia lowered into a small curtsy with each name they were given, looking at the specified individual under their lashes.
“Of course, how are you, Reverend?” Annabelle said.
“I am well, Miss Cartwright. You are looking very refreshed. But I do believe you have a little paint on your dress.”
Annabelle looked down, shocked that the reverend was right. She colored as deeply as Julia had earlier and covered the small streak with one hand. “Oh dear!”
“It will come out,” Lord Gilbert Balfour said. He had a high-pitched tone that matched his long, hawkish face. His head was topped with a mop of curly brown hair and his eyes were deep brown to match.
It was nearly impossible to tell the black of his pupils from the dark brown color surrounding them. He smiled but it did not seem like a genuine smile and h
is teeth were not well-maintained.
Annabelle moved her eyes to his brother, who was a little more put-together.
His hair was a lighter brown but the same mop of curls his brother sported. His eyes were hazel and his face was more rounded than Lord Gilbert but Lord Leonard was heavier.
He looked stronger and more muscular than his younger brother. When he smiled, she noticed two rows of white, straight teeth.
“I am so embarrassed. Miss Rickman and I were just in with the children, helping them paint. Or rather, we were painting along with them.” She smiled.
When the door opened again and Duke Colbourn came in, her smile widened.
“I am sorry to be late, your Grace,” he said, bowing to Duke Cartwright with his head.
“I lost track of time while exploring this fine little city of yours. You have some amazing characters here. I think Mr. Covington will fit in nicely.”
Duke Cartwright nodded at him. He looked at the reverend. “Allow me to introduce The Duke of Cardinal, Stephen William Colbourn. He is here to purchase some of my paintings. Yes, I am looking forward to meeting Mr. Covington.”
“Mr. Covington?” Annabelle looked at her father.
“His colleague who is coming to assess the value of my paintings.” The way her father said the words gave her the impression he was not terribly happy about the man coming. It made her pause for a moment before she turned back to the men.
“I do agree that we have some terribly odd people in our city,” she said, keeping her voice light. “Is your colleague also an eccentric?”
“I think some might consider him that, yes. He’s very artistic and it makes his movements… quite fluid, you might say.” As he was talking, he was removing his hat and gloves, handing them to Mary, who appeared out of nowhere. The other men were already holding their hats and gloves in their hands. Mary collected them all, taking the Reverend’s cane, as well.
“It is only for show,” he said, smiling at Julia and Annabelle. The girls smiled back.
“Shall we go in the parlor?”
“Father, we were going in to play a game of backgammon. We will be at the card table and will not bother you.”