―I haven‘t agreed to anything yet," Annabel practically cried. ―Please, may we justgo ?"
―We have to wait for my aunt," Louisa said, frowning. ―Did you see where she went?"
―Louisa."
―What is wrong with you?"
Annabel looked down. Her hands were shaking. She couldn‘t do this. Not yet. She couldn‘t face the man she‘d kissed who happened to be the heir to the man she didn‘t want to kiss but whom she probably was going to marry. Oh yes, and she could not forget that if she did marry the man she didn‘t want to kiss, she was likely to provide him with a new heir, thus cutting off the man she did want to kiss.
Oh, he was really going to like her.
She was going to have to be introduced to Mr. Grey eventually, there was no avoiding it. But did it have to be now? Surely she deserved a little time to prepare.
She hadn‘t thought she was such a coward. No, she wasn‘t a coward. Any sane person would flee in such a situation, and probably half of the mad ones, as well.
―Annabel," Louisa said, her voice sounding exasperated. ―Why is it so important that we leave?"
Annabel tried to think of a reason. She really did. But there was only the truth, which she was not prepared to share, so instead she stood there dumbly, wondering how on earth she was going to get out of this fix.
But alas, that particular moment of panic was brief. To be replaced by a far, far more horrific moment of panic. Because it soon became apparent that she wasn‘t going to get out of the fix.
The lady on Mr. Grey‘s arm appeared to have recognized Louisa, and Louisa had already waved in greeting.
―Louisa," Annabel hissed.
―I can‘t ignore her," Louisa whispered back. ―It‘s Lady Olivia Valentine. Her father is the Earl of Rudland. Mr. Grey‘s cousin married her last year."
Annabel groaned.
―I thought she was out of town," Louisa said with a frown. ―She must have just got back." Then she turned to Annabel with an earnest expression. ―Don‘t be fooled by her appearance. She‘s very kind."
Annabel didn‘t know whether to be horrified or confused. Don‘t be fooled by her appearance?
What was that supposed to mean?
―She‘s quite beautiful," Louisa explained.
―What does—"
―No, I mean—" Louisa cut herself off, clearly dissatisfied with her ability to convey the extent of Lady Valentine‘s charms. ―You‘ll have to see for yourself."
Thankfully, the staggeringly beautiful Lady Olivia didn‘t appear to be walking very quickly.
Still Annabel judged that she had no more than fifteen seconds before the two parties intersected.
She grabbed Louisa‘s arm. ―Don‘t tell them about Lord Newbury," she hissed.
Louisa‘s eyes widened with astonishment. ―Don‘t you think they‘ll already know?"
―I don‘t know. Maybe not. I don‘t think everybody knows yet."
―Of course not, but if anyone does, don‘t you think it would be Mr. Grey?"
―Maybe not by name. Everyone refers to me as ‗that Vickers girl.‘"
It was true. Annabel was being brought out by Lord and Lady Vickers, and no one had ever heard of her father‘s family, which, her grandfather was quick to point out, was how it should be.
In his opinion, his daughter would have been far better off if she‘d never become a Winslow.
Louisa frowned nervously. ―I‘m sure they know that I‘m a Vickers grandchild as well."
Annabel grasped Louisa‘s hand in full panic. ―Then don‘t tell them I‘m your cousin."
―I can‘t do that!"
―Why not?"
Louisa blinked. ―I don‘t know. But it can‘t possibly be proper."
―Hang proper. Just do this for me, please."
―Very well. But I still think you‘ve gone a bit strange."
Annabel could not argue. She‘d gone quite a few things in the last day, and really,strange was the least of it.
Chapter Seven
Five minutes earlier
It‘s really too bad you married my cousin," Sebastian murmured, steering Olivia away from an enormous pile of horse dung that someone had failed to clean up. ―I think you might be the perfect woman."
Olivia glanced over at him with a perfectly arched eyebrow. ―Because I allow you to eat breakfast at my house every morning?"
―Ah, you couldn‘t have put an end to that," Seb replied, giving her a twist of a smile. ―The habit was far too entrenched before you entered the scene."
―Because I didn‘t scold you for the three dozen dart holes on the back of the guest-bedroom door?"
―All Edward‘s fault. I have perfect aim."
―Still, Sebastian, it‘s a leased house."
―I know, I know. Odd that you kept it this year. Don‘t you want to be a bit farther from your parents?"
When Olivia had married Sebastian‘s cousin Harry, she had moved into his home, which was directly next door to her family‘s London house. They had conducted half of their courtship through their windows. Sebastian found the story rather charming.
―I like my parents," Olivia said.
Sebastian shook his head. ―A concept so alien I think it must be unpatriotic."
Olivia turned to him with some surprise. ―I know that Harry‘s parents were—" She gave her head a little shake. ―Well, never mind. But I hadn‘t thought that yours were so dreadful."
―They‘re not. But I wouldn‘t choose to spend time with them." Sebastian considered this.
―Especially my father. As he‘s dead."