Earl Lessons by Valerie Bowman
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 was 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.
“I’m not certain Mama’s words are true any longer,” David added with a sigh.
“Whyever not?” Marianne asked, scrunching her brow.
David couldn’t bring himself to tell his sister that he’d ruined Annabelle’s life. That she’d never intended to marry anyone. That wasn’t his secret to tell.
After Marianne left, David leaned back in his chair and expelled a deep breath. He’d really gone and done it this time, hadn’t he? He was entirely to blame for last night. He’d arrived at Annabelle’s doorstep foxed and demanding answers from her again, like the arse he was. He never should have gone to her bedchamber last night and now he was about to ruin her life with his ill-mannered, cloddish behavior. The truth was, he didn’t deserve a woman as fine as Annabelle and he wouldn’t blame her if she hated him forever.