Annabelle's Courtship by Lucy Monroe Page B

“Sorry to hear that, don’t you know?” Yes, she did know, but she could not help it. Annabelle still smarted from some of the things Robert had said earlier. He had accused her of not caring about him or the family name. His final words of thankfulness that she was all right had done little to assuage the pain in her heart at his allegations. She sighed heavily.
    Ceddy looked at her with alarm. “Feeling quite the thing?”
    “I’m fine.” Her hand still pained her, but she wasn’t about to admit it. “Ceddy, I do appreciate you and Ian showing up when you did yesterday.” He leaned his head to one side. “Thought you weren’t too happy when MacKay went for the doctor.”

    Annabelle grimaced. “No. I was left with a great deal of explaining to do to Aunt Griselda. She was terribly upset to discover I had attended the lecture. That was nothing compared to Robert’s reaction when he found out.”
    “Regret that, don’t you know?”
    She nodded. It was no use staying angry with Ceddy. “Apology accepted.” He had not been the one to insist on telling her aunt anyway. “Where is Ian tonight?” She hadn’t meant to ask that.
    Ceddy tugged on his ear and harrumphed a couple of times. “He’s about, I’m sure.” His gaze slid to a box opposite theirs.
    Annabelle’s eyes followed his and her heart constricted. Ian, the blackguard, was sitting for the entire polite world to see, next to Miss Caruthers. Annabelle wanted to say something pithy, but could not speak past the lump in her throat. So, he was not interested in beautiful women? She wanted to look away, but could not make herself.
    Ian chose that moment to look her way. He inclined his head in acknowledgement.
    She ignored him and finally managed to turn away. She stared toward the stage, her eyes unfocused while her heart cracked into a million little pieces.
    It was Freddy Jenkins all over again. Only this time it hurt, bone deep. Freddy had courted her for an entire Season before discovering that his heart belonged to the beautiful Miss Potts. The only thing injured that season had been Annabelle’s pride. As Diana had reminded her, she had been able to laugh. She didn’t feel like laughing now.
    “I say, Annabelle, are you all right?” Ceddy’s worried tones penetrated the fog of pain surrounding her.
    “Yes, of course.” She flicked the moisture from her eyes with her gloved fingertip.
    “I’m just impatient for the play to start. Do you suppose it is as funny as everyone says it is?”
    Ceddy didn’t look as if he believed her, but mercifully the curtain went up on the first act of As You Like It . Annabelle forced herself to laugh when those around her laughed. By the time intermission came, she had better control of her emotions.
    Diana touched Annabelle’s arm. “My hem caught on the carriage when we arrived.
    Won’t you come to the ladies’ retiring room with me to fix it?” Annabelle latched on to the excuse to leave the box. Ian might come during intermission to chat with Robert. If he could pull himself away from Miss Caruthers, that is. “Certainly.”

    When Robert made noises about escorting them, Annabelle looked imploringly at Ceddy. Her friend understood immediately.
    “I’m hankering for a cup of punch, myself. I’ll escort them.” Annabelle stifled a sigh of relief when Robert agreed. She and Diana followed Ceddy out of the box.
    “Is anything the matter, Annabelle? Was not the first act exceedingly amusing?” asked Diana.
    Annabelle forced a smile. “It was too funny by half.”
    “Annabelle, I know that Robert rang a peal over you earlier, but you must realize that he did not mean to injure your feelings. He was scared for you and when your brother gets frightened he can act like a fool.”
    Diana’s fervent words brought a genuine smile to Annabelle’s lips. “A fool, Diana?”
    “Yes, a fool. And you may tell him I said so. Though I doubt it will do any good.
    I’ve already told him