Christa found she was shivering and forced herself to relax. Of course, he was not for her—she could have had him, on his terms, and had refused. She had no right to complain when he found a companion among his own class.
But did it have to be so quickly?
* * *
It was past three in the morning when the last guests left and the servants could move in and begin the cleanup. Annabelle leaned against the newel post at the bottom of the stairs, almost too tired to stand. Certainly the ball had been a success, but . . . Alex came up to her, having just put the last departing guests into their carriage. Even he looked tired.
“I wish you happy on your coming marriage, Alex,” she said, doing her best to keep both question and reproach from her tone.
Her brother sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I would have warned you about it, Belle, except that it was as much a surprise to me as to you. I’m sorry for stealing some of your thunder on what should have been your night.”
“I don’t mind sharing the limelight,” she said with a tired smile. “I found it is very fatiguing to be the center of attention for a whole night. But . . .” She paused, then said carefully, “I had not realized that you were so attached to Miss Debenham.”
“Events took on a life of their own,” he said dryly. “Will you mislike it, Belle? You and she are friends, aren’t you?”
Annabelle considered before replying. She had never liked Sybil above half, but if Alex wanted to marry her, he should be free to do so without worrying about whether his childish younger sister was going to sulk. “She has always been most friendly and helpful.” She could not quite keep the note of acid out when she added, “She has tried to hint me into a more elegant mode any number of times.”
Alex looked startled. “I think your present style suits you much better than Miss Debenham’s would. She is . . . um . . .” He fumbled for a correct term.
“Unusually dramatic?” Annabelle suggested.
“Exactly.” Alex gestured to the butler, who had just entered the hall. “Morrison, the servants have done a splendid job this evening. Please give everyone a half day off tomorrow.”
“As you wish, my lord. And very generous, I might add.” Morrison executed a half-bow and withdrew to spread the good news.
Christa was waiting for Annabelle and quickly unpinned her hair and brushed it out. “You appear to have had a great success, Miss Annabelle.”
Her mistress smothered a yawn. “So it would seem. Much of that is due to you. You’ve worked harder than anyone. I intend to sleep very late tomorrow, and you have my permission to do the same.” She glanced at Christa’s reflection in the mirror. “Did you hear of my brother’s engagement?”
“Yes, miss.” The reply was colorless.
Annabelle sighed. “I wish I could be more enthusiastic. It is flattering that a beauty like Miss Debenham should choose my brother, but I have always found her to have a sadly commonplace mind.” She stood so Christa could help her out of her gown.
“Men seldom choose wives for their minds, Miss Annabelle.”
“No, I suppose not. But I am not looking forward to sharing a house with her.”
Christa smiled faintly. “They will probably not marry for some months. Perhaps by that time you will have found a suitablepartiof your own.”
Annabelle gave an elaborate shudder. “Never! I think I will retire to a cottage and raise roses. Will you join me, or would the life be too slow for an abigail of your talents?”
Christa chuckled as she turned the bedcovers back. “We shall see, Miss Annabelle. The future is not written yet. Even a cynical, brokenhearted woman of the world like you may learn to love again.”
“On the whole, I would prefer the roses,” Annabelle said sleepily. “At least the thorns are visible.”
Chapter 15
Alex paid a call on Sybil Debenham the day after Annabelle’s ball. He was greeted with a knowing smile by the Debenham butler, who ushered him into a room where Sybil was sitting with her mother. Claudia stood and simpered, “Lord Kingsley—so delightful to see you! I just want to tell you how happy you’ve made me. Sybil is my only baby, and I have prayed for her happiness. I’ll just leave you two lovebirds alone.” She flitted out of the room, leaving Alex with his “fiancée.”
Sybil gazed at him adoringly. Still standing, Alex said, “It seems that circumstances last night created a false conclusion.” To his horror, crystal tears started welling up in the aquamarine eyes.
“You don’t really want to marry me, do you?” she whispered. “I knew it was too beautiful a dream to be true. But when my mother made that mistake, and you didn’t correct her, I hoped . . . that a miracle had taken place, that you returned my feelings.” Sybil turned her head as if to hide her emotions, then looked up at him valiantly. “But it shall be as you wish. I do not mind the scandal. Of course, you would not wish to be tied to me. What have I to offer?”
Fifteen years at sea does not prepare a man for such adroit manipulation. With a rush of weariness, Alex accepted the fait accompli. The engagement might have resulted from a bizarre mistake, but hehadbeen found kissing her, an action somewhat compromising to an unmarried woman. It might have happened on her initiative, but he was still responsible for the possible consequences. They would both be exposed to gossip and censure if he cried off. He wouldn’t have minded for himself, but he had no right to expose Sybil to such unpleasantness. Nor was he eager to crush her feelings for him when she looked so vulnerable. He had been looking for a wife, after all, and it wasn’t as if he had met any lady he preferred to Miss Debenham.There is one you prefer, but she isn’t a lady. Alex repressed the thought.
With one faint hope he said, “Any man would be greatly honored to have you as his wife, but I fear that I will make a poor husband. I have decided to return to sea and should be posted to another ship soon. A captain’s wife is much alone, and you would not receive the attention and cherishing you deserve.”
Sybil’s voice choked a little as she said, “So brave! I will never stand between you and your duty. I will be honored to wait on the shore for as long as you want me to.”
