Earl Lessons by Valerie Bowman
Chapter Twenty
Annabelle narrowed her eyes on David. He’d seemed out of sorts ever since he’d strode into the salon this morning. Last night at the Milfords’ party, they’d barely spoken. He hadn’t asked her to dance, and today, while she was teaching him the proper way to greet guests in a receiving line, his answers to her questions were short and clipped.
“Are you quite all right?” she finally asked.
He placed his hands on his hips and turned to face her. “Excellent. How are you?”
Annabelle crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at him. “I’m perfectly fine.”
“Glad to hear it,” he replied, blinking at her innocently. “Especially given the quantity of champagne you drank last night.”
“I beg your pardon.” She frowned at him, her mouth slightly open.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “By my count, it was at least five glasses.”
She gave him a smug smile. “It was six. I had one before you arrived.”
His brows shot up. “Six glasses of champagne? Is that seemly for a debutante?”
“I don’t know, my lord, is ten seemly for an earl?”
He scowled. “How do you know I had ten?”
“You’re not the only one who can count. And besides, the Milfords’ are famous for watering down their champagne to make it last longer.”
David shook his head. “Well, that explains quite a bit. But it doesn’t explain why you danced with Lord Murdock again twice last night after you’ve told me more than once you’re not interested in him.”
Annabelle lifted her chin. How dare David say such a thing in an accusing voice? “I’m not interested in him.”
“Then why were you dancing with him?” David shot back.
Annabelle plunked her fists on her hips. “What business is it of yours?” She’d spent the last two nights unable to sleep, trying to decide the best way to handle Lord Murdock’s unwanted advances. She certainly didn’t want the man to spread the gossip that she and David had been kissing on the Talbots’ verandah, but she’d rather be ruined than marry that snake. She’d finally decided that the best course of action would be to play along with the man’s demands at least until after her brother’s wedding. If Murdock made good on his threats to tell everyone she’d kissed David, at least her brother and Marianne would be happily and safely married before Annabelle brought shame upon the family. It was her fault after all—she’d been the one to respond to David’s kiss. If she’d slapped him and left him on the verandah, there wouldn’t be much to gossip about. Instead, she’d provided that scoundrel Lord Murdock with the perfect fodder for a scandal.
David was about to open his mouth to retort when Mama walked into the room. “How’s it going in here?” she asked in a sweet, happy voice.
“Excellent,” they both nearly shouted simultaneously, seeming quite guilty.
Mama narrowed her eyes on them suspiciously, before turning to David. “I’m sorry I haven’t had more time to devote to your lessons, Lord Elmwood. It’s been a quite a job keeping up with all of Annabelle’s gift deliveries.” She laughed. “Though yesterday, I was delayed at the milliner’s.”
David refrained from pointing out that she’d also apparently paid a call on his sister, but he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to say something sardonic about Annabelle’s gifts. “Yes,” he replied, also nodding. “But not to worry, my lady. I expect London will run out of flowers sooner or later.”
Without missing a beat, Mama sighed and said, “Oh, it’s a mess. They’ve begun sending bon bons, which isn’t good for our waistlines. And a handful of them have begun writing poems.” She turned toward Annabelle next, as she tapped her finger against her cheek. “That reminds me, darling. Lord Murdock left his card earlier when you were dressing. He brought two dozen roses and a box of sweets himself, and wanted to ensure you’re still planning to go riding in the park with him this afternoon.”
Annabelle’s face froze and she stared at her mother without blinking. “I, er, yes, Mama. I intend to do exactly that.”
“Excellent, dear,” Mama said, patting Annabelle on the arm. “I’ll tell the maids to prepare your clothing.”
“Thank you, Mama,” Annabelle replied, still refusing to meet David’s eyes. She could feel his accusatory glare. She’d weighed the merits of telling David what Lord Murdock had said to her, but she’d decided against it. David seemed like the sort who might go beat Murdock to a pulp, and while there was a certain pleasure to be had in that thought, she didn’t want to cause David any scandal. She’d promised Marianne he would be the catch of the Season, and keeping Murdock preoccupied for a bit actually served to help in that quarter as well. If Annabelle was seemingly being courted by Murdock, perhaps all the young ladies who’d had their sights set on the marquess would turn their attentions to David instead. At the end of the day, pretending to encourage Murdock seemed like a small price to pay to keep the peace until after Beau’s wedding, at least.
The moment Mama left the room, David stood and turned toward Annabelle with a false smile on his face. His arms were crossed over his chest. “Going for a ride in the park with Lord Murdock later?” He batted his eyelashes at her.
Annabelle lifted her chin. “What if I am?” She hated that David thought she might actually enjoy Murdock’s company, but at the same time a part of her—the defiant part—knew that it was none of David’s business whom she spent time with. He had no right to be so high-handed about it. She was partially doing this to help him, after all, even though he didn’t know it.
David glowered at her. “I seem to remember that a ride in the park was on the list of things you told me a gentleman asks a lady to do when they are courting.”
Annabelle’s nostrils flared. She wanted to stamp her foot. The man was being impossible. “It’s merely a ride in the park, David. Besides, I fail to see why you would care what I do. You accused me of being jealous once. But it sounds as if you’re the jealous one. I’ve found that men always want what they can’t have. Is that the problem, Captain Ellsworth?” She crossed her arms over her chest this time and glared back at him. There. That should silence him on the subject.
“Certainly not,” he nearly growled as he ran a hand through his dark hair and paced away from her. “And I completely understand that a ride in the park is nothing more than a ride in the park. In fact,”—he turned back to face her—“I’ve asked Lady Elspeth to accompany me on just such a ride this afternoon as well.”