Marianne and Lady Angelina exchanged a look, while David took Annabelle’s arm and escorted her outside. At least his carriage was on point. His grandfather had been rich, there were no two ways about it. And since David had taken over the title, Bell had helped him by giving him the name of London’s finest coach outfitters. In addition to purchasing the new curricle, he’d had the entire interior of his grandfather’s finest coach redone with deep sapphire velvet upholstery. He’d installed the shining mahogany woodwork himself, but only because he wanted it to be perfect, not to save money. If he wasn’t confident in his actions, manners, and speech while making his debut to theton, at least he could be confident in the quality of his clothing and his belongings.
With the help of the two footmen who’d accompanied the coach, David helped the three ladies to alight before pulling himself up into the conveyance and taking a seat next to Annabelle. Marianne and Lady Angelina had sat together across from them.
“I must say, you two make a gorgeous couple,” Marianne said as the vehicle took off down the street. “All of London will be jealous of the two of you.”
“Yes,” Lady Angelina agreed. “Our little party may start some gossip tonight.”
“What gossip?” David asked, suddenly apprehensive. He knew enough to know that gossip was bad. He wasn’t looking for himself or any of his companions to be the subject gossip tonight.
“Oh, I’m only teasing,” Lady Angelina assured him with a soft smile. “I meant that since Annabelle is unengaged and so are you, some people may wonder if you’re…together.”
David settled back into the seat a little easier. “I would be flattered to start such gossip,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Oh, no, no, no,” Annabelle said, “that wouldn’t do at all. Why, I’ve spent all afternoon planning which ladies to introduce you to this evening. We don’t want them to think you fancyme,of all people.”
“Ladies? Do tell? Who have you decided upon?” Marianne asked, clasping her hands together with obvious glee.
Annabelle gave all three other occupants of the coach a conspiratorial smile. “I’ve decided on Lady Elspeth Morgan, Lady Titiana Homer, and Lady Heloise Maitland.”
One of Lady Angelina’s golden brows shot up. “Lady Elspeth, really? That’s a surprising choice.”
Annabelle frowned. “Not really. Not when you consider she’s already rumored to be the Season’s best catch. I expect Lord Elmwood here to be the most sought-after bachelor, and there’s no better way to make that happen than to pair him with the most sought-after debutante.”
“I thoughtyouwere the most sought-after debutante,” David said, grinning at Annabelle.
“He has you there, Annabelle,” Lady Angelina replied with a knowing smile.
“I may be sought after,” Annabelle replied with a sigh, directing her reply to her mother, “but I’ve been out for five Seasons. Lady Elspeth is the best chance Lord Elmwood has at catching theton’s attention immediately.” She gave David a self-assured smile. “Leave everything to me.”
* * *
Two hours later,Annabelle had introduced David to all three of the young ladies she’d mentioned in the coach. Then she’d been forced to watch while he danced with each of them in turn. Of course, Annabelle had been asked to dance by a half-dozen of her regular suitors, including Lord Murdock, who was particularly officious this evening. But she’d turned them all down to stand with Marianne, drink lukewarm champagne, and watch as her charge, David, made a smashing success of himself at the Talbots’ ball.
He truly was handsome. That was simply fact. Why, he’d nearly taken her breath away tonight when she’d seen him at the bottom of the stairs. He’d been standing there wearing all black and white, his sapphire eyes glowing in the shadows of the foyer. Tall and muscled, his jawline bold, his shoulders square, he’d never looked more alluring. If he was apprehensive, it didn’t show. The man knew precisely how to hide emotion. A skill that would do him well as a member of theton.
Adding to her dismay, Annabelle had hardly been able to take her eyes off him all evening. In addition to his good looks, he was so unlike the other stuffed shirts in the ballroom. Half of them were wearing bright peacock blues or royal-looking purples, for heaven’s sake. They came buzzing around, smirking, preening, and trying to impress her with their golden snuff boxes and jeweled rings. David didn’t wear any rings, and she seriously doubted he owned a snuff box, golden or otherwise.
He stood out not only due to his height and sophisticated fashion, but he was alsodebonair. The man had a mild manner yet a commanding presence that made you want to speak to him. Made you want to stand next to him and be in his company. He didn’t have to be the center of attention in every conversation. She soon learned he made his mark by being affable and steadfast, offering a clever remark or a witty response that was never at the expense of another in the group. He was kind, she realized. Kind and classic. A perfect partner.
Annabelle forced herself to take her eyes off David’s dance with Lady Heloise to scan the ballroom. Lord Murdock was staring at her like she was a prize mare at Tattersall’s. She should have remembered this Season she had Lord Murdock to deal with. The flowers he’d sent were just the start of it. The Marquess of Murdock had been the purported catch of the last few Seasons. He’d finally offered for Lady Julianna Montgomery, who had eventually tossed him over for the Duke of Worthington. Now that Murdock was back on the market, the marquess had apparently taken Annabelle in his sights. He’d been after her during her first Season, but she’d managed to stave him off. The man was handsome with dark-blond hair and dark brown eyes, and he was certainly well-dressed, but every time she spoke to him, he seemed…petulant, self-obsessed. No. She was definitely not interested in the marquess. But he wasn’t one to quietly go away. She would have to fend him off at every turn.
Quickly averting her gaze from Murdock, Annabelle glanced over to see David escort Lady Heloise back to her mother’s side. Lady Heloise was smiling up at him as if David was a Greek god and she, a mere mortal. Good heavens. Annabelle had picked Heloise because she was supposedly demure and well-mannered, but at the moment the lady was making a cake of herself. Annabelle seriously doubted David would be impressed with such a girl. After all, he’d said himself he was interested in true love. Lady Heloise seemed the type who’d declare her undying love after a ten-minute dance. Far too clinging.
Perhaps Lady Titiana would prove to be the best choice. She’d clearly been interested in David. Annabelle noticed the sparkle in the young woman’s eye when she’d been introduced to him by her mother, though she had played it much cooler than Heloise. Lady Titiana nodded and smiled and declared how pleased she was to make David’s acquaintance, but she hadn’t nearly tackled him the way Lady Heloise had. Annabelle hadn’t mistaken the look of obvious interest on Lady Titiana’s face when David had turned away after meeting her. She might well be a viable choice.
Lady Elspeth, however, was already annoying Annabelle. She’d been the first one to be introduced to David, mainly because she and her mother had made straight for the earl and his party the moment they’d entered the ballroom. Lady Elspeth and her mother had swooped upon them, demanding an introduction and staying overly long, as far as Annabelle was concerned. Then Lady Elspeth had proceeded to laugh far too much for far too long at every clever thing David said, and she’d had the unmitigated audacity to reach out andtouch his sleeve. His sleeve, for heaven’s sake! What sort of hoyden was the girl?
As Annabelle had mentioned to David earlier, Lady Elspeth had unofficially been named the Season’s best catch. When she’d made her debut in front of the queen, that esteemed lady had declared her ‘ravishing.’ And she was…with golden brown hair and pretty hazel eyes, Lady Elsbeth was indeed a fine-looking young woman, and she certainly came from a good family. But Annabelle didn’t like how Elspeth kept staring at David over the top of her champagne flute while he danced with the other two ladies. She eyed him with a sort of feral gleam in her eyes, like he was a fox and she the hound. There was nothing subtle about her.
Adding to the complexity, it wasn’t only Lady Elspeth and Lady Titiana who Annabelle had to consider. There were all the other ladies who seemed to descend on David in droves, vying for an introduction. Why, she, Mama, and Marianne had nearly been knocked over by the hordes, for the first hour after their arrival. Thank heavens David had already met most of the young ladies at this party or they might still be fighting them off.
Annabelle had turned to look for David again when Lady Elspeth stepped in front of her. Annabelle instinctively stepped back. “Lady Elspeth, ah, good to see you again. What brings you over?” She did her best to paste a smile on her face as she pressed a glove to her diamond necklace.
Lady Elspeth gave her a narrow-eyed once over.
“Lady Annabelle,” the younger girl began in an overly confident voice. “I was hoping you’d take a turn around the room with me.”
Annabelle gave her mother and Marianne a look that clearly said, ‘save me,’ but there was little they could do. Mama shrugged while Marianne mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
