Considering her brother’s words for a few moments, Annabelle took a shaky breath and then blew it out. When she spoke, her voice shook too. “I think I already do.”
Beau knocked his shoulder against hers. “Good, because I mentioned to Elmwood that our father was an abusive drunk and I think he loves you more now than he did before.”
Annabelle smiled through her tears. “I don’t know that he loves me, but I intend to find out.”
Beau regarded her from the sides of his eyes. “It takes courage to lead a full and happy life, you know.”
She nodded, taking another shaky breath. “Yes.”
“And you’veneverbeen a coward, Annabelle.”
She nodded again before standing and lifting her chin. “I certainly don’t intend to be one now.” Raising her skirts, she rushed away.
Chapter Thirty-Six
David was sitting on a long leather sofa in Worthington’s library. He’d come into the room to look for a copy ofDebrett’s again. He needed to do better, to be better at all the things pertaining to Society. If he were going to be married to Annabelle, he would die before embarrassing her and her family any more than he already had.
The door to the grand room opened and David glanced up to see Annabelle step inside, a tentative smile on her face. Had she spoken to Bell? How hadthatgone?
“What are you doing?” she asked, coming to stand next to him.
“ReadingDebrett’s,” he offered, watching her carefully. Was she still angry? She didn’tlookangry. She didn’tsoundangry. But he couldn’t be certain.
“Are you serious?” she asked, a smile on her face.
All right. He was fairly certain shewasn’tangry. But why? What had Bell said to change her mood? “Yes, I’m serious,” he replied. “I need to learn everyone’s titles and family histories.”
“No, you don’t.” She laughed.
He narrowed his eyes on her. “Why not?”
She lowered herself to the sofa beside him. “May I tell you a secret?”
“Please do.”
“I don’t know everyone’s titles and family histories.”
David gave her a skeptical glance. “I don’t believe you.”
She laughed again. “It’s true. I paid some attention in finishing school, but I don’t have it all memorized.”
He lifted both brows. “You don’t?”
“No. In fact, I’ve learned you can usually tell a person’s title based on how the person closest to them is behaving. And if that doesn’t work, just smile and nod until someone mentions it.”
He blinked at her. “You must be jesting.”
“Not at all. It works. Try it.”
“So, there are people who meet me and have no idea I’m an earl?” he said with a laugh.
“Of course. Like when I met you.”
David nodded. “That’s true. I had nearly forgotten about that.”
She leaned over and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “May I tell you something else?”
He leaned toward her too. Their lips were inches apart. “Of course.”
