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His eyes darkened with something other than anger. “Nay, and I wouldna mind it now if we were alone either.”
She felt her skin heat with more than embarrassment. Ceddy’s voice came as welcome relief. “I say, Annabelle, you look all the crack tonight.”
Turning to her old friend, she smiled at the compliment. “Thank you, Ceddy. You appear to be the only one who appreciates my appearance.” Ceddy looked properly shocked. “Never say so. A gentleman would have to blind to not see your loveliness, eh what?”
Ian’s gaze swept over her once again, causing the strangest sensation in her innermost places. “Aye, blind indeed.”
An unaccustomed feeling robbed Annabelle of breath and she concentrated on not swaying. Ian must have noticed her discomfort because he raised his brow in silent query.
She wanted nothing more than to smile coolly and shrug, but could not summon the necessary insouciance. How could she when her entire body felt like it had caught fire?
Her eyes were locked with Ian’s and no amount of self-will on her part could make them break contact.
“Hello, Lady Annabelle.” Vivian Graves’ soft voice finally broke Annabelle’s paralysis.
She turned gratefully to her friend. “Miss Graves, I have not seen you since our little contretemps. I hope you are completely recovered.” Vivian smiled. “Quite recovered, thank you. Lord Finchley has been most assiduous in his attentions.”
Surprised, Annabelle turned to her old friend. “That is wonderfully gallant of you, Ceddy.”
His cheeks turned a delightful shade of red and the dandy twisted his neck as if his shirt points had suddenly become too tight. “Was nothing, don’t you know?” Annabelle couldn’t help smiling. She again met Ian’s gaze and he winked. So the wind was blowing in that direction, was it? She couldn’t be happier. Vivian certainly deserved better than her life of uncertain means with her wastrel of a brother.
As they spoke, Annabelle and her companions had been edging their way toward the drawing room. With relief, she realized that they had made it to a relatively uncrowded corner. Diana and Robert stood nearby conversing with an elderly military man.
Annabelle waited until he moved on to gain their attention.
Diana fanned herself forcefully. “I declare the crush in here is any hostess’s dream.” Ian frowned. “I canna imagine why. ’Tis much too crowded and warm for her guests’ comfort.”
Annabelle laughed at his naiveté. “That is not the point at all, Ian. A guest’s comfort has very little consideration for the successful hostess, but the crush in her drawing room is another thing altogether.”
When both Vivian and Diana nodded in unison, Ian shook his head in disbelief. “It makes no sense, that.”
“It’s all a matter of making the right impression on the polite world,” explained Vivian.
“I care not at all for all this folderol. If taking my place in the ton requires me to entertain my guests by crushing them to death, I’ll forego the pleasure.”
“What of your future wife?” asked Annabelle mischievously, “She will certainly expect you to maintain your place in the ton and provide her with reflected social glory?”
“You canna be serious. Once we are married, I’ve no intention of returning to London.”
His casual assumption of their impending marriage annoyed Annabelle, but his comment about foregoing the Season caused real consternation.
“Were I to marry, I would not be willing to forego the season on my husband’s whim,” she informed him.
“You canna be serious, Belle.”
“Oh, but she is.” Vivian’s voice rang with conviction.
Annabelle smiled at her friend’s support. She and Vivian attended the Season for much the same reason, to further the cause of women’s rights. In addition, it gave Annabelle an opportunity to stay connected with her friends and family that were scattered across the breadth of England.
When she said as much Ian shrugged. “If ye wish to visit your family and friends, then invite them to stay at Graenfrae.”
Not wanting to argue in such a public forum, Annabelle sought to change the subject.
“Did you notice Miss Caruthers practically cut you, Ian?” He looked unconcerned. “I canna say that I did.” Ceddy looked up from his conversation with Vivian. “It’s to be expected after the theater, don’t you know?”
Diana nodded sagely. “Yes, I imagine the beauty was not pleased to be deserted by her escort.”
Ceddy agreed. “She was furious. She refused to allow me to conduct her home in MacKay’s stead.”
Vivian inclined her head. “You must have been terribly disappointed to have been deprived of her company. She is an acknowledged Diamond of the First Water.” Ceddy frowned. “Never say so. I prefer the company of truly gentle women to spoiled beauties.”
He spoke so earnestly that none of the ladies present demurred. Ceddy was well and truly caught. Annabelle hoped Vivian returned his feelings. If her look of pleased confusion was any indication, she did.
“’Tis a sight too warm in here.” Ian’s complaint brought another smile to Annabelle’s lips. He sounded cranky.
“Perhaps the garden would be cooler,” Robert suggested.
It wasn’t easy, but their entire party managed to make it to the open doors leading to the garden. Once they were outside, Ian maneuvered them so that he and Annabelle were separated from the rest of the group. She slid a curious glance toward him and sucked in her breath at the expression on his face. He looked angry.
/> She tried to edge away from him, back toward the others but his grip on her arm prevented it. “I believe it is time you explained yourself.” She did not like the peremptory tone of his voice. “I’m not sure what you mean.” He pulled her behind a large shrubbery. “What were you doing today that made you break your promise to meet with me?”
She had been mistaken. Ian wasn’t just angry, he was furious. She could hardly tell him the truth. She had been too busy meeting with a blackmailer. She would not lie to him. She stalled. “Didn’t Creswell tell you? Something came up.” If anything, Ian looked more incensed. “Aye, your butler told me. What came up?” She sought desperately for something to say that would not give Diana away, but was not a lie. “I was helping a friend.”
Ian’s frown grew fiercer. “I followed you.”
Fear that Diana’s secret had been discovered gave an edge to her voice. “You followed me?”
“Dinna sound so offended. I was not about to let you get away with avoiding our talk this afternoon.”
He thought she had been avoiding their discussion? “What kind of caper-witted fool do you take me for? I will admit that I did not relish the thought of rehashing the same ground, but I am not such a ninny that I would have left just to avoid it.”
“Nay, you are merely foolish enough to meet with some sharp and give him money.” Annabelle went cold inside. Ian knew about the money. Then he must know about the blackmail. A niggling sense of satisfaction edged her conscience. At least now she could share Diana’s problem with someone who wouldn’t go into hysterics.
“Belle, you canna continue pursuing your cause with such disregard for your own safety.”
“What?”
“How do you even know that the money you gave that blackguard went toward your cause? You are too bloody trusting.” Rather than sounding angry, Ian voice now had a resigned edge to it.
“Too trusting? My cause?” Annabelle’s brain scrambled to make sense of Ian’s words. “You think I met with that man and gave him money to support my efforts on behalf of women’s rights?”
