windows of the drawing room and flung them open, breathing deeply of the air flowing in. She looked across the field behind her family's house. The duke's lands marched with her father's property, along the western line. It would be an advantageous marriage for all concerned, she argued with herself.
A sudden urge to leave the house came over her, to ride Daisy, her mare. Quickly, Annabella ran to her room and changed into her riding dress, and just as quickly ran down to the stables. There she ordered her horse saddled, and as soon as it was ready, she climbed up and galloped away, leaving a protesting groom behind.
She did not know how long she rode—perhaps a quarter of an hour—alternating between a gallop, a canter, and a walk. Finally, she stopped and looked about her. She'd ridden to the east, just a little distance from Wentworth Abbey, the Earl of Grafton's property. While the Wentworths were an old family, older than the Duke of Stratton's, she rarely came here. The Wentworth family's wild ways were well known. Her mother had warned Annabella against letting herself be drawn into their society any more than the usual balls and such, although they were still accepted into the highest strata of the ton.
She knew well enough to stay away from Geoffrey, Lord Grafton; she did not like him, for though he was amusing and handsome, his moods were unpredictable and his words biting. Thankfully, he seemed no more attracted to her than she was to him. She knew Miss Caroline fairly well, for she was Corisande's dear friend, and they had gone to school with her. Caroline was wild and spoiled as well, but had great charm, and it was easy to forgive whatever she did. Caroline had talked of her other brother, older than herself, and Annabella vaguely remembered meeting him once. She shrugged. No doubt he was as wild as the rest.
And yet, here she was, closer to the Wentworth property than she ever had been before. It was never forbidden, of course, but she knew her mother felt more comfortable if Annabella had a groom with her when she ventured in this direction. She shrugged her shoulders, annoyed. If only Papa had not inherited the title and these lands! She had been quite content in their townhouse in London and liked the freedom of the country when they moved here at the end of the Season. But if they had not, she would never have met the duke and would not have to make a decision she did not want to make within the next three months.
Annabella stared into the woods separating her father's property from the Wentworth land. It was dim and thick with trees, even with the sun bright and shining upon it. Only a few flickers of light reflected from the green leaves within. She peered into the darkness as if somehow she could penetrate through the branches and undergrowth. What was life like on the Wentworth side of the world? They were just on the edge of respectability, with only their wealth and lineage to make them acceptable to the ton and country society. Did they live a more adventurous life, being less virtuous? She supposed they must.
She sighed and turned away from the woods. It was no use thinking of such things. Besides, she needed to ready herself for Lady Bowerland's card party. A smile came to Annabella's lips. Lady Bowerland was a terrible gossip, but her gatherings were always enjoyable. Sometimes her card party included dancing, or at least some music, and she always gave her guests the freedom to come and go as they pleased, or roam about their grand house.
Annabella patted Daisy on her neck and started home. But she sighed again and could not help taking one last glance at the Wentworth woods or help the brief flash of envy quickly suppressed.
For one small moment she wished she were not the respectable Annabella Smith, but a wild Wentworth instead.
Chapter 4
"What was the Cavalier like, Lady Bowerland?"
"Was he tall?"
"Was he handsome?"
Lady Bowerland smiled grandly at the ladies gathered
A sudden urge to leave the house came over her, to ride Daisy, her mare. Quickly, Annabella ran to her room and changed into her riding dress, and just as quickly ran down to the stables. There she ordered her horse saddled, and as soon as it was ready, she climbed up and galloped away, leaving a protesting groom behind.
She did not know how long she rode—perhaps a quarter of an hour—alternating between a gallop, a canter, and a walk. Finally, she stopped and looked about her. She'd ridden to the east, just a little distance from Wentworth Abbey, the Earl of Grafton's property. While the Wentworths were an old family, older than the Duke of Stratton's, she rarely came here. The Wentworth family's wild ways were well known. Her mother had warned Annabella against letting herself be drawn into their society any more than the usual balls and such, although they were still accepted into the highest strata of the ton.
She knew well enough to stay away from Geoffrey, Lord Grafton; she did not like him, for though he was amusing and handsome, his moods were unpredictable and his words biting. Thankfully, he seemed no more attracted to her than she was to him. She knew Miss Caroline fairly well, for she was Corisande's dear friend, and they had gone to school with her. Caroline was wild and spoiled as well, but had great charm, and it was easy to forgive whatever she did. Caroline had talked of her other brother, older than herself, and Annabella vaguely remembered meeting him once. She shrugged. No doubt he was as wild as the rest.
And yet, here she was, closer to the Wentworth property than she ever had been before. It was never forbidden, of course, but she knew her mother felt more comfortable if Annabella had a groom with her when she ventured in this direction. She shrugged her shoulders, annoyed. If only Papa had not inherited the title and these lands! She had been quite content in their townhouse in London and liked the freedom of the country when they moved here at the end of the Season. But if they had not, she would never have met the duke and would not have to make a decision she did not want to make within the next three months.
Annabella stared into the woods separating her father's property from the Wentworth land. It was dim and thick with trees, even with the sun bright and shining upon it. Only a few flickers of light reflected from the green leaves within. She peered into the darkness as if somehow she could penetrate through the branches and undergrowth. What was life like on the Wentworth side of the world? They were just on the edge of respectability, with only their wealth and lineage to make them acceptable to the ton and country society. Did they live a more adventurous life, being less virtuous? She supposed they must.
She sighed and turned away from the woods. It was no use thinking of such things. Besides, she needed to ready herself for Lady Bowerland's card party. A smile came to Annabella's lips. Lady Bowerland was a terrible gossip, but her gatherings were always enjoyable. Sometimes her card party included dancing, or at least some music, and she always gave her guests the freedom to come and go as they pleased, or roam about their grand house.
Annabella patted Daisy on her neck and started home. But she sighed again and could not help taking one last glance at the Wentworth woods or help the brief flash of envy quickly suppressed.
For one small moment she wished she were not the respectable Annabella Smith, but a wild Wentworth instead.
Chapter 4
"What was the Cavalier like, Lady Bowerland?"
"Was he tall?"
"Was he handsome?"
Lady Bowerland smiled grandly at the ladies gathered
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