Chapter Five

 

Annabel had certainly thought Lord Lockwood handsome, but no words existed to describe the man who entered the ballroom at that moment. Tall with dark hair and complexion, he stood out from the rest with his good looks, not to mention his choice of clothing. Rather than the expected attire, he wore a deep black coat with no tails, no waistcoat, and a crisp blue shirt beneath.

Yet, this was not what made him different from the other men, for he wore a red sash that ran across his chest from shoulder to waist, several gold medals splayed on it.

She was not the only person staring. In fact, it seemed that all conversation had come to a halt upon the man’s appearance; either that or she had become so focused on him that she no longer heard those around her.

Lord Thrup hurried over to the man. He must have been an important person indeed to have Caroline’s father rushing anywhere.

Annabel could not take her eyes off the newcomer. “Aunt Eleanor?” she asked in a whisper. “That man’s sash. I have never seen anything like it before.”

“It appears to be military, but I suspect it may be foreign.”

“Do you know who he is? I have never seen him before.”

“I am afraid there are many people I do not know. Perhaps the man will introduce himself to you.”

Annabel giggled at the thought. “That would be wonderful, but I do not see a man of such importance speaking to the likes of me.” Her aunt narrowed her eyes, and Annabel sighed. “Oh, very well. It would be an honor if he spoke to me.”

“That is better,” Aunt Eleanor said with a smile. “Now, I believe we should…”

“Is it you?”

Annabel looked up and was surprised to see the very man she had been admiring standing directly before her, and she had to force her knees to keep still.

“The rumors are true! You are here in England!” The man gave a diffident bow, and Annabel could do nothing more than stare at him in shock. He was all the more handsome up close with a strong jaw and rich brown eyes. His mysterious accent was like silk, and it sent a tingling down her spine.

“I am…me,” she managed to whisper, although the words sounded silly when she heard them. Yet, for some odd reasons, she had lost the ability to speak.

Her aunt put her hand forward. “I am Lady Eleanor Lambert and this is my niece Miss Annabel Lambert. Have we met?”

The man brought his hand to his forehead and then dipped his head. He certainly was a dramatic one! “Forgive me for my outburst,” he said in that wonderful accent. “It is most unbecoming of a marquis…ah, you say marquess here in England. My apologies.” He stiffened his posture once again.

So, he was a marquess as well as handsome! And of all the women in attendance, he was speaking to her!

“My name is Don Ricardo Sánchez Ramírez, former chief adviser to Charles the Fourth of Spain, and I am at your service.”

He bowed again, and Annabel somehow managed a perfect curtsy. Thank goodness her aunt had insisted on her attending Mrs. Downs School for Young Girls or she would never have produced little more than a light bob! What she could not manage to do was to remove the wide smile from her face.

The man did not seem to notice. “You must understand that I have not served my king in many years, but it was just this past week that rumors of his daughter, Princess Sofia, was in England. So often I have heard men speak of her beauty with wonder, and although I have never laid eyes on her, I assumed that you were she.”

Annabel felt as though someone had set fire to her cheeks. This man, an adviser to a king, thought she was a princess? How she wished Juliet had witnessed this encounter, for her cousin had bragged often about just such occurrences!

“I am but a lady,” Annabel whispered. Then she felt foolish. “What I mean to say, my lord, is that I am no princess.”

The marquess smiled and turned to her aunt. “Forgive my forwardness, Lady Lambert,” he said. “It is customary in my country to acknowledge those women of great beauty publicly. I forget that different rules of etiquette are in effect here. I beg your forgiveness.” He bowed again and then kissed the back of her aunt’s hand.

“I understand, my lord,” Aunt Eleanor replied. She did not appear to be as affected by this man as Annabel, for Annabel could barely breathe. “Have you been in England long?”

“A year only,” the marquess replied. “I have been searching for the right area in which to buy a home, and I believe Rumsbury may be the place.”

He gave Annabel a quick smile, and Annabel pulled her hand away from the strand of hair she had been twisting around her finger. What was wrong with her? She was never one to simper over a man! Then her aunt reached over and grasped her wrist. She had been smoothing her skirts!

“Rumsbury, though small, is a lovely area,” Aunt Eleanor said. “You will find wonderful rolling hills in all directions. And if you are interested in how those of the nobility entertain themselves, you will find that the aristocracy hosts the most marvelous parties that rival those in London during the season.”

“Lord Thrup said as much,” the marquess replied. “It is a lovely area, and I wish to become better acquainted with it.”

With a gentle tap on her elbow from her aunt, Annabel attempted to focus on her words. “Oh, yes,” she said, praying the confidence she needed would emerge. “I know of several parties that are forthcoming, and if you desire, I will see that my friends invite you to them.”

“I would be honored, Miss Lambert,” he said with a smile that took her breath away. “And may I say that your name matches in meaning with the name of my country. Beautiful.”

Annabel could make no sound, but as luck would have it, her aunt said, “That is kind of you to say.”

Unfortunately, Annabel stood staring at the man in awe, wishing for him to compliment her further. And with a voice like honey, the words sounded all the sweeter. She had never heard a Spanish gentleman speak, but she could listen to him all day.

“Do you plan to remain in England for an extended time or will you return to Spain in the near future?” Thank heavens Aunt Eleanor kept her head about her!

“I will remain,” the marquess replied. “Although Spain is my home, it will always reside in my heart.” He put his hand on his chest as emphasis, and Annabel sighed. “I have come to find myself loving this land. I have never seen so much green everywhere. And the wonderful arts that can be found in London! Does not everyone wish to be there?”

Handsome, confident, and a lover of the arts. This man was a gentleman unlike any other Annabel had ever met.

“Miss Lambert, do you enjoy the arts? Or perhaps the theater?”

“I have been to the theater once,” she said. She tried to bring moisture to her mouth. How she wished she had a glass of punch at that moment. Then again, she would more than likely spill it on herself her hand was shaking so. Or worse, all over the marquess. “I enjoyed it and hope to attend during the season. This will be my first, you see.”

The man smiled and then turned to her aunt. “Lady Lambert, may I ask permission to call on your niece? I have never met a woman with such intelligence, and I would find it an honor to converse more with such a wonderful lady.”

Her aunt seemed to hesitate, and Annabel felt her heart drop. After all the woman had said about speaking to a gentleman, she could not deny her now!

The marquess bowed his head. “My apologies. I believe I have embarrassed myself and my country twice this night. Please, do not think poorly of Spain based on my actions. Forgive me.”

Annabel’s heart went out to the man. She could not imagine traveling to Spain and worrying about disrespecting the people there with her lack of knowledge for the culture. And the poor man had done nothing wrong.

“There is no need for embarrassment,” her aunt said, giving Annabel a glimmer of hope. “You represent your country with honor. Concerning Annabel, she would welcome a calling from you.”

Annabel had to keep herself from jumping for joy like a child on Christmas morning. Now that would have been an embarrassment!

“Then I will send a card with my request to call,” he said with another bow. “If you will excuse me, I must speak to Lord Thrup.”

When he was gone, Annabel could not contain her excitement any longer. “Oh, Aunt Eleanor,” she said in a hushed squeal, “two gentlemen have spoken to me this evening! And one even said I am beautiful. And he is a marquess!”

Although Annabel was pleased, her aunt did not seem as delighted. “Did I embarrass you?” Annabel asked. Aunt Eleanor was the only person who loved her, besides her cousins, of course, and she feared she had disappointed her as she always seemed to disappoint her parents.

“No, of course you did not embarrass me,” her aunt said with a smile that seemed forced. “In fact, I am proud of you and overcome with joy that you have received requests from two gentlemen to call on you.”

“Then why do you look sad?”

Her aunt sighed. “I suppose I am being selfish. I know that tonight was the first step to you finding happiness. Though I wish nothing more for you, besides Nathanial, I will have no one else to look after once you are gone.”

Overcome with love, Annabel threw her arms around the woman. “I will always come to you whenever I need someone with whom to share my heart. I have always needed you in my life, and nothing will end that.”

“That makes me feel much better. Now, we had best go speak to a few friends. Perhaps someone else will come our way.”

Annabel smiled as she followed her aunt through the crowd. She searched the room until she found Lord Lockwood and the Spanish marquess speaking to one another. Would the two men fight for her? It was a silly thought that made her giggle. They were gentlemen and therefore would do no such thing. However, the best part of all of this was that the choice would be Annabel's as to which man she allowed to court her.

***

Monday seemed an eternity away, but soon it arrived, and Annabel found herself pacing the drawing room floor as she waited for the arrival of Lord Lockwood. He was the first gentleman caller she had ever had—at least one close to her own age—and she thought it a grand occasion.

She had taken special care in dressing—a yellow dress with white ribbons just below the bosom and threaded at the hem of the short sleeves. She had pinched her cheeks to bring out a natural blush and added the lightest of color to her lips, and by all outward appearances, she was prepared. Minus her pacing, of course. And her hand wringing. Oh, very well. She was not as calm on the outside as she could have been.

Inside, her stomach was aflutter as every horrible scenario that could possibly happen ran through her mind. What if she said something wrong? Or she embarrassed herself by slurping her tea? She was not one to slurp her tea, but would this not be the most opportune, or rather the least opportune, moment to have it happen?

“Annabel,” her aunt said, “the floors are quite thick and take much weight, but I fear you may wear the tiles down to the stone if you continue this pacing.”

Annabel sighed. “I am afraid I am quite nervous. I am not as strong as you. Forgive me.” She looked down at her hands. The man had yet to arrive and she was already making a fool of herself.

Her aunt rose from the sofa where she had been sitting and took Annabel by the hand. “There is no need for you to apologize. It is perfectly normal for a young lady to be nervous about a gentleman caller. You are a lady who knows how to conduct herself, and therefore, everything will go well.”

“Thank you. It is just that I remember when Lord Agar…” She clamped her mouth shut, regretting bringing attention to the man’s name.

“It is all right,” Aunt Eleanor said in a soothing tone. “What was it you were going to say?”

Annabel sighed again. “On my birthday, Father and Mother told me I had a gentleman caller. It was he. I do not know why my parents allowed that man to be alone with me, but he kissed me, and I did not want him to.”

Her aunt’s eyes flashed. “Did he do the same when he walked with you in the gardens here?”

Annabel nodded, the shame overwhelming. “I hope you do not think ill of me. I did not wish it, nor did I request it.”

“My dear Annabel,” her aunt said as she wrapped her arms around her. “I know I should not speak ill of your parents, but what they have done to you angers me to a degree I can never explain. Through all of this, I think better of you, not less.”

“Do you?” Annabel asked in surprise.

“Of course. Despite what you have been through, you have not allowed any of it to keep you from allowing other suitors to call. As to Lord Agar, the man can only wish to have a bride as beautiful as you. I can assure you that wish will never be granted as long as I have a say.”

Annabel went to speak, but the door opened and Forbes entered the room. “Lord Richard Lockwood, Earl of Favorsharm, has arrived.”

Her aunt nodded. “See him in.”

Forbes moved aside, and Lord Lockwood entered, as handsome as he had been the night of the Thrup party. His blue coat sported black buttons and he wore a perfectly tied cravat about his neck. His ready smile added to the handsomeness of his face.

“Lady Lambert,” he said with a bow. “Miss Annabel.” He bowed again. “Thank you for allowing me the privilege of calling on you.”

“The privilege is all ours,” her aunt said. “Please, have a seat. I believe you will find the chair most comfortable.” She gave Annabel a nod, and Annabel sat on the sofa. “Forbes, please have a tray sent up. Tea and a few cakes, Lord Lockwood?”

“Yes, please,” the man replied.

Forbes bowed and left the room.

Lord Lockwood waited for Annabel’s aunt to sit before taking the seat across from them. Despite his handsomely good looks, Annabel could not help but compare him to the marquess, whose elegance surpassed this man by leagues.

How unfair of her to compare two men so different from one another! Lord Lockwood certainly had many good qualities that rivaled those of the marquess. Now if she could reason out which ones…

“Miss Annabel,” the earl said, “in speaking with Lord Thrup, I came to understand that you and his daughter are close friends.”

Annabel smiled, although she would never consider Caroline a close friend. “Indeed. We have known one another…”

“I believe it is important for a lady to have friends,” he continued as if she had not spoken. “My mother and her friend, Lady Susanna Bulmont, have been friends for nearly forty years. That is an extraordinary length of time, would you not agree?”

“Indeed. In fact…”

“That is nearly half a century. People have been born and died in that amount of time, and yet they remain friends.”

What a rude man! What was this infatuation with the friendship his mother and her friend maintained? And did the man ever allow a woman to speak?

Thankfully, her aunt spoke just as Forbes returned with a tray. “Although long friendships are something of a treasure,” the woman said, “it is the quality of the person with whom one spends his or her time that is important.”

“You are very wise, Lady Lambert. Friendships, partners in business, even marriage is like a fine wine. It must be appreciated at all times.”

That had to be the oddest thing Annabel had ever heard! Fine wine indeed! However, when he smiled at her, she felt her cheeks heat.

As he reached to take the teacup from her aunt, Annabel could not mistake the shake of his hand. Of course! The man was as nervous as she. No wonder he was so talkative and compared relationships to wine. For the first time since his arrival, the worry she had carried was replaced by confidence. She was not alone in her apprehension.

“Many gentlemen of the ton are investing in wine these days,” she said as she stirred sugar into her tea. “Are you doing the same?”

The man beamed and with a quick nod replied, “I am. There are vineyards in France in which I have invested.” When a bit of tea splashed over the rim of his cup, he sighed and returned it to the saucer. “Forgive me. I must admit that I am quite nervous. I have never called on a lady before today.”

Annabel’s eyes widened. The man’s admission made her warm toward him. “Truly? Well, you will be pleased to know that you are the first gentleman to call on me.” She omitted that he was the first young gentleman to call on her.

“Then we are both new to this,” he said with a nervous laugh. “I moved here recently, and I thought my age of one and twenty would be much too old to have any lady allow me to call. I am glad my fears were unjustified.” He smiled at Annabel, and she felt her cheeks heat once again.

They spoke for some time about his arrival to Rumsbury, and before she knew it, he was rising to leave.

“Forbes will see you out,” her aunt said once they gave their farewells.

Annabel gave him a warm smile and glanced at his teacup. The poor man had been so nervous, he had not taken a single sip.

“May I call again?” he asked as he wrung his hands.

“Of course,” her aunt replied. “Annabel’s schedule will be quite busy in the coming months, but we would welcome a card from you.”

He bowed. “I will most definitely send a card,” he said. Then he turned to Annabel. “Thank you for our wonderful conversation today.” He took a step forward, took her hand, and placed his lips to her knuckles. “I have enjoyed it immensely.”

She smiled, but when she detected the faint odor of brandy, she frowned. Who would be drinking so early in the day?

Rather than comment, however, she said, “It was an enjoyable afternoon. Thank you for coming.”

With a polite nod, the man turned and allowed Forbes to lead him from the room.

“What an interesting man,” her aunt said once the door was closed. “What did you think of him?”

“At first I found him quite rude when he continuously spoke over me,” Annabel replied. “Yet, although he continued to dominate the conversation, I believe he did so because he was nervous.” Even as she said this, however, another thought came to mind. If the man had taken a drink to calm his nerves before seeing her, why did he continue to shake?

“I believe you are right,” her aunt said. “We shall wait for another card. And do not forget that in three days the marquess will call, this Don Ricardo Ramirez Sanchez. Or was it Sanchez Ramirez? The Spaniards and their names.” She shook her head.

At the mention of the man’s name, Annabel felt her entire face heat and she studied her teacup to keep from looking at her aunt’s face. “I am interested in speaking to him again. A man from Spain and an adviser to the king who thought I was a princess will be an intrigue to say the least.”

“I believe the man has a good eye,” her aunt said. Annabel giggled and embraced the woman. “Now, we must dress for dinner.”

Annabel made her way to her room and sat at her vanity table. Looking at her reflection, she smiled. For the first time she thought herself beautiful and she had two gentlemen wishing to call on her. Her life was changing, and she saw a wonderful future ahead of her.