Ten Things I Love About You

―What are you doing here?" He walked swiftly across the room, his brow knitted with concern.

―Is something wrong?"

Annabel shook her head, unable to speak. She‘d thought she had herself under control. She‘d been laughing with Olivia, for heaven‘s sake. But one look at Mr. Grey and everything she‘d been trying so hard to keep down rose right back up, pressing behind her eyes, clenching at her throat.

―Annabel?" he asked, kneeling down in front of her.

She burst into tears.

Chapter Seventeen

Sebastian had seen Annabel only once the previous evening after her dance with his uncle. Her eyes had been shuttered and she had seemed subdued, but there had been nothing that might have predicted this . She was sobbing as if the world were about to crash on her shoulders.

Seb felt as if he‘d been punched in the stomach.

―Good God," he said, turning to Olivia. ―What happened to her?"

Olivia pursed her lips and didn‘t say anything. She just tilted her head toward Annabel. Seb had the impression he had just been scolded.

―It‘s nothing," Annabel sobbed.

―It‘s not nothing," he said. He looked at Olivia again, giving her an urgent—and annoyed—

expression.

―It‘s not nothing," Olivia confirmed.

Seb swore under his breath. ―What did Newbury do?"

―Nothing," Annabel said, shaking her head. ―He didn‘t do anything…because…because…"

Sebastian swallowed, not liking the queasy feeling building in his belly. His uncle did not have a reputation for baseness or cruelty, but nor had any woman ever had cause to call him gentle.

Newbury was the sort who inflicted pain through carelessness, or more accurately, selfishness.

He took what he wanted because he thought he deserved it. If his needs conflicted with someone else‘s, frankly, he didn‘t much care.

―Annabel," he said, ―you have to tell me what happened."

But she was still crying, gulping down big huge breaths, and her nose…

He handed her his handkerchief.

―Thank you," she got out, and used it. Twice.

―Olivia," he snapped, whipping around to face her, ―will you tell me what the hell is going on?"

Olivia walked over and crossed her arms, looking righteous as only a woman could. ―Miss Winslow believes that your uncle is about to propose marriage."

He let out a long breath. He was not surprised. Annabel was everything his uncle wanted in a bride, more so now that he thought Sebastian wanted her, too.

―Here now," he said, trying to be comforting. He took one of her hands and squeezed. ―It‘ll all work out. I‘d be crying, too, if he asked me to marry him."

She looked as if she might laugh, but then she just cried again.

―Can‘t you say no?" he asked. ―Can‘t she say no?" he asked Olivia.

Olivia crossed her arms. ―What do you think?"

―If I‘d known what to think, I‘d hardly have asked, would I?" he bit off, coming to his feet.

―She is the oldest of eight, Sebastian. Eight!"

―For the love of God," he exploded, ―will you just say what you mean?"

Annabel looked up, momentarily silenced.

―I now understand your feelings precisely," he told her.

―There is no money left," Annabel said in a small voice. ―My sisters have no governess. My brothers are going to be sent home from school."

―What about your grandparents?" Surely Lord Vickers had enough money to pay a few tuition bills.

―My grandfather hasn‘t spoken to my mother for twenty years. He never forgave her for marrying my father." She paused for a moment, taking a shaky breath and then using the handkerchief. ―He only took me in because my grandmother insisted upon it. And she only did so because…well, I don‘t know why. I think she thought it would be amusing."

Seb looked over at Olivia. She was still standing there with her arms crossed, looking rather like a warrior mother hen. ―Excuse me," he said to Annabel, and then he grabbed Olivia‘s wrist and dragged her across the room. ―What would you have me do?" he hissed.

―I don‘t know what you‘re talking about."

―Stop playing games. You‘ve been glowering at me since I arrived."

―She‘s upset!"

―I can see that," he snapped.

She poked him in the chest. ―Well, then, do something."

―It isn‘t my fault!" And it wasn‘t. Newbury had wanted Annabel long before Sebastian had become embroiled in the affair. She‘d likely be in the exact same position if Seb had never met her.

―She needs to marry, Sebastian."

Oh, for the love of God. ―Are you suggesting that I propose to her?" he asked, knowing damn well that was what she was suggesting. ―I have known her barely a week."

She stared at him as if he were a complete cad. Hell, he felt like one. Annabel was sitting across the room, whimpering into his handkerchief. A man would have to have a heart of stone not to want to help her.

But marriage? What sort of man married a woman he‘d known for—how long had it been?—

eight days? Society might think him foolish and flighty, but that was only because he liked it that way. He cultivated that image because…because…well, hell, he wasn‘t sure why he did it.

Maybe just because it amused him, too.

But he‘d thought Olivia knew him better.

―I like Miss Winslow," he whispered. ―I do. And I regret that she is in this ghastly situation.

Lord knows, I know more than anyone what a miserable existence it must be to live with Newbury. But it is not my doing. Nor is it my problem."