“Very well,” Annabelle finally said to Elspeth. What could the debutante possibly want to say to her? Perhaps she’d ask for some advice about how to handle the bevy of suitors the girl obviously was already acquiring. A group of gentlemen had formed near Lady Elspeth’s mother and were staring over at them pensively as if disappointed that the lady had chosen to leave them.
Smiling obsequiously, Lady Elspeth hooked her arm through Annabelle’s, and they began to walk together around the perimeter of the ballroom.
“You look quite lovely this evening,” Annabelle began. “Your gown is beautiful. The green brings out the color of your eyes.”
“Thank you,” Elspeth said. They’d barely got out of hearing distance from Marianne and Mama when the smile dropped from Elspeth’s face. “I have a question for you, Lady Annabelle.”
The girl clearly wasn’t one to waste time on pleasantries. “What’s that?” Annabelle asked, trying to maintain her own smile.
“Is Lord Elmwood courting you?”
Annabelle was so taken aback that she nearly stopped walking. Never had anyone been so blunt with her about such a topic, especially not a younger unmarried woman.
“The Season has just begun,” she started to say, trying to think of the best way to casually sidestep the overly familiar question.
“Everyone knows you’ve been the belle of the Season every year.Until this year,” Elspeth said, a sly smile popping to her lips.
Annabelle arched a brow. “Becauseyou’rehere now?”
Elspeth’s smile widened. “Precisely.”
“And you’re hoping Lord Elmwood courts you?” Annabelle ventured, frowning.
Elspeth lifted her chin. “The papers are already hinting he may be the catch of the Season. If that’s true, I want him.”
Annabelle’s nostrils flared. If she’d had any idea how calculating and cold this young woman was, she wouldn’t have introduced her to David in the first place. “I hate to be the one to inform you, dear, but perhaps your mama has been remiss. Gentlemen ask theladiesif they are interested in courting, not the other way around. It’s not a particularly fair arrangement, but’s it’s the way of theton.”
Elspeth stopped and pulled her arm away from Annabelle’s. “I’m quite certain you don’t miss my meaning. Lord Elmwood is the Season’s catch as far as bachelors go, and I am the Season’s catch of debutantes. We’re clearly meant to be together.”
Annabelle had to struggle to keep her face blank. The chit was mad. It was as if she was trying to claim David. As if such a thing were possible.
“Besides,” Elspeth continued. “Everyone knows you’ve been dead set for years now on becoming a spinster. You cannot possibly mean to finally go husband-hunting this Season.”
Annabelle’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her palms tingled. She’d like nothing better than to slap the impertinent young woman—but that would be unseemly. And Annabelle was not new to the intrigues of the marriage mart, even if they weren’t usually quite this egregious. No. The best way to handle a schemer like Elspeth was to make her worry.
“Perhaps the choice of gentlemen in the other Seasons wasn’t to my liking,” Annabelle said, ensuring a sly smile spread acrossherface this time.
“Fine.” One of Elspeth’s golden-brown eyebrows shot up. “Then the game is on. I do hope you’re not toooldto handle it.”
This time, Annabelle couldn’t help herself. Her jaw dropped momentarily and her face heated. “You should hurry back to your mother, child. She might be looking for you.”
Elspeth turned to look over her shoulder at her mother and the gentlemen who were patiently waiting for her. “Yes, along with half the eligibles in London. I do hope you’ve enjoyed your years as the most coveted debutante, Lady Annabelle. They’ve come to an end.”
Annabelle glanced back at her own group, which David had just rejoined. “Good night, Lady Elspeth. I’ll be certain to tell Lord Elmwood you sent your regards.”
Elspeth narrowed her eyes on her, while Annabelle turned on her heel and walked away.
Chapter Fifteen
David watched as Annabelle came walking back toward where he stood with Marianne and Lady Angelina. He’d just finished dancing with the last of the three ladies they’d introduced to him. Annabelle was right. All three ladies were lovely and seemed clever and well-mannered. Of course, he would need to spend more time with each before deciding if he was truly interested in courting any of them.
Lady Heloise seemed kind and guileless. Lady Titiana was more reserved, but poised and witty. Lady Elspeth had seemed particularly eager to meet him, and appeared to know the most about him. She’d asked him more than one question about Brighton. She was probably the prettiest and most talkative of the lot, though her beauty didn’t compare to Annabelle’s.
“Did you enjoy your dances?” Annabelle asked him the moment she returned to his side.
David bowed to her slightly. “I did indeed. Were you dancing too?”
Annabelle poked a finger in her coiffure. “No, actually. I was taking a walk around the room…with Lady Elspeth.”
