“You know, if you’re having any doubts about this wedding, we can turn around and be in Brighton by nightfall,” David offered, with a smile.
Marianne glanced at him, before smiling too and shaking your head. “No doubts whatsoever. You know what Mama always used to say…marry for love and you’ll never regret it.”
David nodded. “She did say that, didn’t she?” He stared at his sister who’d already begun reading her book again. Marianne was someone who’d fallen in love. Real love, apparently. Perhaps she knew something that could help him sort out his true feelings. Although he wasn’t about to admit to his sister that he was likely smitten with a woman who didn’t want him.
“Marianne,” he ventured, leaning forward and clasping his hands together between his knees.
His sister looked up from her book again. She wrapped a red curl around her finger. “Yes?”
“How did you know that Bell was right for you? The right man, I mean. How did you know it for certain?”
Marianne smiled and continued to play with her hair. “The truth is, at first I could barely countenance him. And I thought he was a valet named Nicholas Baxter, but that’s beside the point.” She wrapped the curl around her finger in silence before she added, “I suppose I knew for certain when I got a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach every time he was in the same room with me.”
David frowned. “A funny feeling? Like what?”
Marianne released the curl and it sprung away from her finger. “I’m not entirely certain how to describe it. But it made me feel excited and a bit ill at the same time. Like I was about to ride a wild horse or go on an adventure or something.”
“So, you felt funny every time he was in the room?” David asked to be certain he had it correctly.
“Yes,” Marianne nodded, and a sly smile popped to her lips, “and when he wasn’t in the room, I began to miss that feeling. That’s when I knew.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
After arriving at Worthington’s estate, David managed to keep busy the remainder of the day. He found Bell and the other gentlemen in Worthington’s study, and they all went for a ride across the duke’s vast property. David returned in time to clean up, change clothing, and make his way downstairs to the dinner party in the large dining room. Both the room and the table were enormous, but he spotted Annabelle sitting next to Murdock on the far end of the space. David refrained from shaking his head.
David was seated next to Lady Elspeth, his sister’s planning obviously at work. Lady Elspeth was her usual talkative self, and for once, he was glad for the distraction. He answered her questions and inquired after her sisters and mother and generally kept his attention fixed upon the young woman. He refused to look toward Annabelle.
David made it nearly halfway through dinner before he could no longer stand the small talk. He had to get some fresh air. A cigar wouldn’t be unwelcomed, either.
Excusing himself from the table, he made his way out of the dining room, down the corridor, and into the huge foyer. He glanced around the marble-filled space realizing he had no idea how to make it to the gardens. He tracked down a footman and asked how he might get outside.
The footman provided him directions to a patio off the library and David made his way there posthaste. He peered through the French doors to ensure the space was empty before stepping out into the cool breeze. He breathed it in and closed his eyes. It felt good to be alone and in complete silence for a few moments. The pleasantries in the dining room were wearing on him. Would he ever get used to exchanging such inane banter with people he barely knew?
He strode over to the edge of the stone patio near a hedgerow and pulled a cigar from his inside coat pocket. He would quit smoking. He would. For Marianne’s sake. But at the moment, he needed something familiar. He pulled a flint from his pocket and lit the cigar. Then he pulled it into his mouth and inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and letting the comfortable feeling wash over him. If he stayed like this for a few moments, he might be able to believe he was back on the Continent, standing near his tent, his compatriots sleeping on mats around him. He might feel as if he had turned back time. Only, the scent of flowers instead of a dirty battlefield was on the air tonight. An unmistakable difference.
David had taken several more drags when a quiet sound behind him caught his attention. He turned to see Annabelle step onto the patio. The soft evening wind blew the curls at her cheeks. The skirts of the light-green gown she was wearing fluttered in the breeze. She looked so beautiful, he felt it in his gut.
“There you are, David.” His name came from her lips like a whisper.
He furrowed his brow. “Come to tell me it was rude of me to leave the dining table? Believe me, I’d already guessed.”
“I left, too.” She pointed out. “May I?” She stepped toward him and gestured to the cigar.
David arched a brow. “By all means.” He handed it to her.
She took a deep pull and blew the smoke in the opposite direction. “This reminds me of the night we met.”
The hint of a smile touched his lips. “Yes, but this time you followed me outside.”
“Guilty,” she breathed, taking another pull.
David scratched the back of his neck. “Why did you come?”
She handed him the cigar again. “I wanted to see if you were all right.”
David bowed his head and kicked at the stones beneath his boots. “I needed some fresh air. Some quiet.”
She nodded. “I understand. I’ll go–”
“No.” He reached for her but let his hand drop before he touched her. “Stay, please.”
Annabelle turned back and studied his face. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. I’m certain.” He blew out the smoke he’d inhaled and returned the cigar to her.
“Very well.” Annabelle took another long drag. “So. Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in days. You weren’t at the Merriweathers’ dinner party three nights ago and I haven’t seen you riding in the park.”
“I’ve been staying at home.” He pulled the cigar from her fingers and took another drag.
“Yes, well. I suppose the last thing I said to you was that I’d see you at the wedding, and here we are.”
“I find I don’t like attending many of the social affairs of the Season,” David replied.
“But the social affairs were the reason I gave you lessons. Aren’t you looking for a wife?”
David paced away from her and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I should be. Are you looking for a husband?”
“I should be.” Her voice was small.
“I have something for you, Annabelle.” He turned back and moved toward her again.
A puzzled expression played across her face. “Something…for me?”
“Yes, something to say ‘thank you’ for all the help you’ve given me.” Handing her the cigar, he pulled open his coat and took out a small parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string. He handed it to her, taking back the cigar.
Annabelle accepted the parcel and turned it over in her hands. “What is it?”