He tossed a hand in the air, and the rest of the drink down his throat. He set the glass back on the sideboard with a thud. “Oh, that’s right, you won’t fall at the feet ofanyman who comes courting! You just want to collect them all around your skirts.”
The moment the words passed his lips, he regretted them. But it was too late, and he was too angry to take them back.
“How dare you!” She leaned over and scooped her gown from the floor, pulling it over her head.
David came around the bed and towered over her. He was still incensed, but he didn’t want her to leave her like this, and there was still the issue of her getting back to her own bedchamber without being seen. He had to put aside his anger and help her dress at least. “Damn it, Annabelle,” he ground out as he flung up his arm to retrieve her errant stocking from the canopy.
A small cry issued from her throat and Annabelle ducked and crouched into a low ball on the floor.
David’s eyes went wide. He lowered his arm and stared down at her in disbelief. “Oh, God, Annabelle. You didn’t think—” He quickly crouched beside her, studying her face. “Please tell me you didn’t think I was going to strike you.”
“No.” Her voice shook. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “No, of course not.” She pushed herself to her feet again and took the stocking from him. He watched helplessly as she pulled on the rest of her clothing the best she could. The last few seconds played over and over in his mind. She’d denied it, but it was too late. He’d seen the look of terror in her eyes when she’d ducked. Shehadthought he was going to strike her. He was certain of it. He was horrified.
“Annabelle.” He reached for her, but she quickly moved away from him toward the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” She couldn’t leave like this. He’d never be able to live with himself. He’d scared her. He’d truly scared her. He’d seen the fear in her eyes.
Her clothes were askew. Her hair was a mess. Her gown wasn’t buttoned, and her sash wasn’t tied. But apparently, she intended to sneak back to her own room that way.
She opened the door a crack and peeked out.
“Annabelle, wait—” David called, in a last desperate attempt to get her to talk to him.
“Good-bye,” she whispered, before slipping out the door.
Chapter Thirty
The weddings were lovely. Three brides. Three grooms. Three sets of vows and three couples promising to love each other for all eternity. As the bishop performed the ceremony the next morning, David couldn’t help but glance toward Annabelle. He’d glanced at her a hundred times already and she’d never once been glancing back.
Annabelle sat between her mother and Lord Murdock, who wore an obviously false grin on his face, especially during the parts of the ceremony when Lady Julianna declared her love for Lord Worthington. Annabelle’s countenance didn’t change, however, as she watched the couples declare themselves. She sat ramrod straight in her chair and stared directly ahead with a perfectly proper look on her face.
When it was Beau and Marianne’s turn to recite their vows, David was convinced he’d got something in his eye. He was beyond happy for his sister, who looked gorgeous on her special day. Marianne wore a lacy white gown, a white veil, and she carried a bouquet of lilies. She’d never looked lovelier. If their parents and Frederick were still alive, they would all be as proud as David was.
After the ceremony, a large breakfast was served in the great hall. After that, most of the guests retired to their rooms to rest and prepare for the night’s grand wedding ball.
David didn’t even attempt to rest. Instead, he took a walk through the nearby woods, picking up sticks and evaluating them on their merits for whittling projects. But he had no interest in keeping any of them. Instead, he tossed them each back onto the ground with a curse.
Last night had been both the best and the worst night of his life. Making love to Annabelle had been perfect. He’d loved every moment of it. But afterward, the dream had turned into a nightmare.
David scrubbed a hand through his hair and flung another stick away. Why? Why was Annabelle so set on remaining a spinster? Therehadto be a reason. Did she want to retain control of her life? He had no intention of telling her what to do. Was she frightened of childbirth? It was true that many women died while giving birth, but her own mother had had two successful births. There was every reason to believe Annabelle could, too.
It certainly wasn’t that she was unattracted to men. He knew that for certain. She hadn’t mentioned any grand desire to study a subject, or travel the world.Whatwas it that made her intent upon remaining a spinster?
The image of her crouching beside the bed last night haunted him. He winced every time he thought about it. Annabelle had been frightened. Of him. She’d truly thought he was going to strike her. But why? He certainly had never done so before—to any woman—or given her any reason to believe he might.
Damn it. There were no answers. Only more questions.
He grudgingly made his way back to the house. He had a book to study.
* * *
The grand ballroomof Worthington Manor was filled with flowers, candles, and over five hundred wedding guests all celebrating the marriages of three of the most handsome and eligible bachelors of theton, to three of the most beautiful and accomplished ladies.
David made the rounds as Marianne’s only living family member. He greeted people, spoke to them, asked after their health, and even made plans to meet some of them again in London. He downed glass after glass of champagne to stave off his nerves, but he forced himself to speak to most the ballroom’s occupants. He’d spent the afternoon studying that damnedDebrett’sso he wouldn’t embarrass himself or Marianne on this night.
He danced with Lady Julianna and Lady Frances, wishing them well on their nuptials, and finally, he escorted his sister to the floor.
“You look beautiful, Marianne,” he said as they twirled around in a waltz. “Mama, Papa, and Frederick would be proud.”
Tears glistened in Marianne’s bright blue eyes. “Oh, I hope so, David. I’m so thankful thatyou’rehere. I nearly lost you, too. There’s nothing more comforting to me than knowing you are no longer in harm’s way. I’m not certain I could live without myentirefamily.”
