Annabelle returned her friend’s smile. “Honestly, it’s the least I could do after the atrocious start Lord Elmwood and I got off to the other night.”
Marianne winced much like her brother often did. “Yes, I was afraid to ask you about that yesterday. You said David wasn’t smoking, but—”
Annabelle reached out and patted Marianne’s hand. “Don’t worry one bit. I assure you I was the rude one, not your brother.”
Marianne gave her a look that clearly indicated she didn’t believe a word Annabelle had just said. “I find that difficult to believe, but I do appreciate your assistance in helping him. I’m certain Lady Courtney, Julianna, and Frances have been at their wits’ end teaching me.”
“Nonsense,” Annabelle squeezed her hand. “You’ve been perfectly behaved in every situation I’ve seen you in.”
Marianne gave her a wry smile. “That’s good of you to say, but the Season has barely begun. I’m as nervous as tailor with no thread.”
Annabelle laughed. “There’s absolutely nothing to be nervous about. You and Lord Elmwood will both do fine.”
Marianne nodded. “It certainly helps that I’m already betrothed. I cannot imagine the nerves I’d have if I had to brave the events of the Season in hopes of finding a husband. That’s why I’m surprised David spoke to you about it.”
Annabelle tilted her head from side to side. “Well, to be precise, he said he realized that he’d need to find a wife…eventually. And that’s why I’ve come. I could ask him myself, of course, but I happen to know that if you want to know the truth about a man, you ask his younger sister.”
Marianne laughed. “I suppose you did share with me quite a few delicious secrets about Beau.”
Annabelle nodded. “Tell me, what sort of a lady would make a good match for your brother?”
Marianne straightened her shoulders and smoothed her skirts again. Clearly warming to the topic, she turned to face Annabelle directly. “Well, she must be kind, patient, and quick to laugh.” Marianne ticked off the qualities on her fingers. “Clever, honest, and understanding.”
“Those sound reasonable to me,” Annabelle replied, mentally cataloging the lot of them. “But is there something else you can tell me, something that will really make me understand how your brother sees the world?”
Marianne thoughtfully tapped her cheek for a few moments before snapping her fingers. “Oh, yes, here’s something. It’s been ages since I’ve thought of this.”
Annabelle nodded and eagerly leaned in to hear more.
“When we were children,” Marianne began, “David felt responsible for Frederick and me. He was the eldest, after all.”
“Yes,” Annabelle replied, swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in her throat as she thought of how Beau had felt responsible for both her and their mother.
“Being older, David was always better at everything than Frederick,” Marianne continued. “He ran faster, swam farther, and jumped higher. It made poor Frederick terribly frustrated.”
“Go on,” Annabelle said. She and Beau had been the only children in their family, but she could well imagine how difficult it would be for a younger brother to always find himself falling short.
“Well, David knew that Frederick was unhappy because he never won in any physical competition between the two of them. One day, our town hosted a race for the boys. It was meant to be fun, but the winner would win a prize pie from the baker’s shop.”
Annabelle nodded.
“David was the strongest, fastest boy in town and he could have easily won the competition, but he knew that Frederick wanted to impress a young girl he fancied. The girl was watching from the finish line of the race.”
Annabelle held her breath. “Oh, dear. What happened?”
“David made certain he and Frederick were far ahead of the pack of boys in the final race to the finish line. They’d both turned the corner around Mr. Hodges’ house and were headed to the tree behind the church.”
“And?” Annabelle prompted. She was nearly on the edge of her seat.
“David slowed enough to allow Frederick to pull ahead of him and win, right in front of the girl he fancied.” Tears pooled in Marianne’s eyes. “Frederick proudly picked out the pie and shared it with the girl…and with David and me, of course, later.”
Annabelle sighed. “David let him win?” she breathed. “In front of the whole town.”
“He didn’t just let him win.” Marianne smiled through the tears. “After the race, the girl whoDavidfancied at the time asked him if he’d purposely lost.”
“What did he say?” Annabelle asked, holding her breath again.
Marianne’s face was full of pride. “David said no, and the girl told him she didn’t want to spend another moment in the company of a loser.”
