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?”
He nodded toward the package. “Open it.”
She pulled off the string and unwrapped it. “It’s…” She glanced up at him. Tears shimmered in her ice-blue eyes. “A book.”
“Not justanybook,” he said, biting his bottom lip and closely watching her face for her reaction.
Her hand gently caressed the book’s cover. “It’sPride and Prejudice, the one I said I wanted. Where did you find it?”
David tipped his head to the side. “I went to a bookstore in London just before coming here.”
“Thank you,” she breathed, hugging the book to her chest. “No one has ever given me something so thoughtful.” She tilted back her head to meet his gaze.
He hadn’t been mistaken about the tears. She was even now blinking them away.
“Better than flowers or bon bons?” he prompted.
A smile touched her lips. She nodded. “So much better.”
He reached out and tapped the top of the book. “Curious that the book you wanted is about a young lady who has no intent to marry until the right man comes along.”
Her eyes were wide, and her mouth formed an O. “You read it?”
“Indeed, I did. Quite enjoyable,” he replied. “Lizzie reminded me of you.”
“She did?” Annabelle breathed.
“Certainly. Clever, determined, refuses to be told what to do,” he replied, handing her the cigar once more. “Magnificent. Just like you,” he said, and with that, he turned on his heel and strode back through the French doors.
On the way back to the dining room, David smiled to himself. He’d surprised her with the book and the fact that he’d read it. The look on her face had been pure wonder. That had been lovely. But a frown quickly took the place of his smile, because he realized he was in a great deal of trouble. There had been a funny feeling in his middle the entire time he’d been in Annabelle’s presence. And now he missed it.
