Earl Lessons by Valerie Bowman

Chapter Twenty-Three

Annabelle couldn’t sleep. She slipped out of bed, pulled on a dressing gown, and hurried over to the window where she stared down into the darkened gardens behind the town house.

It was unseasonably warm—she told herself—that’s why she couldn’t sleep. But she knew it was a lie. She couldn’t sleep because every time she closed her eyes, memories of David’s kiss hurtled through her mind. She’d been like this for days, ever since he’d kissed her. It was all she could think about, all she could remember. She’d practically been a ghost walking through the paces of her life these last few days.

Why couldn’t she stop thinking about it? Why couldn’t she stop remembering it? Imagining it? And why, oh why, had she allowed Lord Murdock to blackmail her into inviting him to the house party? He’d threatened her again, of course, while they’d been on their ride in the park. He’d threatened her and thrown in a new threat against Beau and Marianne, claiming he’d ruin her brother’s wedding if Annabelle didn’t see to it that he was allowed in as a guest.

She’d done a bad job of explaining it to Marianne this morning. Annabelle had decided that it would be less upsetting to her future sister-in-law if she simply claimed to have invited the man because of her interest in him as a suitor. But Marianne had apparently already spoken to Julianna and had learned from that lady that Lord Murdock was a complete snake. Annabelle had been forced to pay poor Julianna a visit this afternoon. The betrothed woman took the news of her former fiancé’s invitation to her wedding better than Annabelle had expected, given Marianne’s worry earlier in the day. Annabelle decided to tell Julianna the truth. Without revealing the details, she essentially imparted the news that the man had forced her to provide him with an invitation. Julianna, having seen firsthand the atrocious behavior Lord Murdock was capable of, had no problem believing Annabelle’s story. In fact, Julianna had ultimately decided it was better to keep her enemy close than wonder what sort of schemes Lord Murdock would get up to while she was marrying Lord Worthington if the man wasn’t invited.

Julianna’s father and Murdock had apparently agreed to keep everything cordial for Society’s sake, but Lady Julianna told Annabelle about some truly outrageous behavior Lord Murdock had displayed when she’d called off their wedding. It reminded Annabelle why she’d never cared much for Lord Murdock in the first place. Even before the blackguard had threatened her.

She’d only ever agreed to dance with the marquess at the Talbots’ ball that first time to show silly Lady Elspeth that she wasn’t too old to garner the attention of one of the most sought-after bachelors of the Season. That, and, if she were being honest, she’d done it to possibly make David the slightest bit jealous after his dance with Lady Heloise. Which was petty and stupid and wrong, in retrospect. But if Annabelle had had any idea the marquess would have taken their one dance as an invitation to follow her and an opening to blackmail her, she would have happily remained on the sidelines alone the entire evening. Oh, this was why she never wanted to marry to begin with. Men were manipulative, self-serving asses, and Murdock reminded her of her father. A man who’d left nothing but sadness and destruction in his path, and only cared about his own needs and wants.

And spending time with him these last few days had only confirmed Murdock was as self-obsessed a bore as ever. He’d proved that on their second dance at the Milfords’ house. He’d reminded her what a catch he was and even went so far as to tell her that even if the Earl of Elmwood became popular, the title of earl wasn’t as prestigious as the title of marquess and never would be. As if she cared about that.

She would have to find a way out of her predicament, of course. But there would be time enough after Beau’s wedding to figure out how to handle Lord Murdock. He was a blowhard but even he wouldn’t be crass enough to ask her to marry him at her brother’s wedding. No. He’d wait until they returned to London for that ridiculousness. And there was no possible way she’d say yes.

In the meantime, she’d be forced to spend more time with him at the wedding. God help her. Julianna had agreed to allow him to come and had promised to convince Lord Worthington to allow it as well. At least that was settled. All Annabelle needed to do now was get through the four days of the house party and weddings and get out of there. Then she would work out how to remove the odious Lord Murdock from her company forever, with or without causing a scandal.

Expelling her breath, Annabelle traced the letter A on the window the same way she’d done when she was a little girl and wanted to calm herself. Why was her heart beating so fast now? In the middle of the night? Alone in her room?

Because even now, she was remembering her kiss with David.

David.

Today David had asked to end his lessons. Annabelle could guess why. Because ever since their kiss, she’d treated him as if he shouldn’t come within twenty paces of her. She’d acted formally in front of him, erasing all the comradery they’d shared during their first lessons. She’d been as skittish as an untrained foal about to bolt every time she’d seen him. Today she’d even nearly toppled off the side of the settee trying to sit as far from him as possible. And why? Because she felt something for him. Something she could not allow herself to feel. And she was truly frightened. Because if any man was, David was marriage material.

It was for the best that he’d ended the lessons, however. Despite her many attempts at acting normal in the man’s presence since their kiss, she clearly couldn’t manage it. And what better way to announce the fact that she wasn’t normal than acting as ridiculously in his presence as she had these past few days?

David was right to stop the lessons, and she was nothing but thankful for it. She would attend a few of the Season’s parties and dinners before Sunday, and leave for Worthington Manor with Mama and Beau that morning. Then she would devote herself to keeping Lord Murdock preoccupied and away from Lady Julianna and Lord Worthington during the wedding. Nothing in the country needed to be awkward. She would see David, acknowledge him, perhaps even share a few moments of normal conversation with him, and then they’d be back to their own affairs, their own companions.

Lady Elspeth was coming to the wedding, wasn’t she? No doubt the chit would do all she could to keep David occupied. Annabelle had nothing to worry about, and if Lady Elspeth wanted to stake a claim on David, so be it. It was none of Annabelle’s affair if David chose to court and marry Elspeth. She might have seemed cold and calculating when Annabelle spoke to her at the Talbots’ ball. But couldn’t all the ladies of the ton be calculating when it came to making a match? Besides, Annabelle had no say in David’s choice of wife, and if Elspeth truly was a bad choice, no doubt Marianne would see the truth and warn her brother. Yes. Perfect. Annabelle wouldn’t worry about it again. That was that.

She wandered back to her bed and tossed the dressing gown along the bottom of it. Then she climbed beneath the covers again and willed herself to sleep. But as her eyes drifted closed, the memory of David’s scent and the feel of his hot body pressed tightly against hers filled her mind, making her moan.

She balled her hands into fists and pressed them against her closed eyes, willing the thoughts away. This wedding party was certain to be the longest four nights of her life.