Annabelle's Courtship Read Online Free PDF

be too free with my client’s information, see?”
    He did see, very well. “How much?”
    “Now, that’s what I like about you toffs. In dun territory, and you still got the blunt to buy an interesting bit of information.”
    “How much?”
    The clerk named a sum that made William swallow. “How do I know it’s worth it?” When the clerk listed the lady in question’s assets, William’s eyes bulged.
    Several hours later Spinks took William’s money. It hadn’t been easy to raise the funds, but William had done it. Gad, it had been worth it too. His golden goose was a bluestocking spinster who hadn’t had a real suitor in three seasons. She would be easy prey. The courting wouldn’t come too expensive either. He had no competition, not for Lady Annabelle.

Chapter Three
    Ian felt a deep sense of anticipation as he drove his curricle toward Lady Beauford’s townhouse. Why had he waited to call until now? He had liked Annabelle from the moment Finchley introduced them. Her quick wit and strong intellect intrigued him. He should have called sooner. The lass clearly expected more courting before she would agree to marry him.
    He could tell she was attracted to him. When they danced, her body reacted to his—
    even when she was angry. She enjoyed their discussions as much as he did. So, why had she been so affronted at his proposal? Surely a woman of her intellectual leaning was not expecting moonlight and roses.
    Love. She said she wanted love. He could more easily give her moonlight and roses.
    He wondered if she liked the blooms he had sent over earlier that morning. He would give her the trappings of courtship, but he could not give her love.
    Drawing up in front of Lady Beauford’s townhouse, he handed the reins to his tiger.
    He waited in the doorway of the drawing room for the butler to announce him. Lady Beauford and Finchley conversed on a sofa that looked too delicate to hold them.
    Annabelle stood near tall windows. The sun filtered through and outlined her body against the bright yellow muslin of her gown. Ian’s body tightened painfully at the sight.
    The thin fabric clung to her small, high breasts and fell gracefully over her hips. He pictured those hips writhing below his and wondered at this unbridled passion. The more time he spent in her company, the stronger this inexplicable reaction to her became.
    During their discussion the previous evening, it had taken all of his self-control not to pull her trim little body flush with his and kiss the glare right off her face.
    She played with a single rose bud from the arrangement he had sent. She sniffed it as she read the card he had sent with his flowers. Her delicate brows drew together in a frown and he wondered what she had found to offend in his compliment.
    The butler announced, “The Earl of Graenfrae.”
    Annabelle whirled to face him. The bud she had been holding slipped from her hand.
    He moved forward to pick it up from the brightly colored carpet. He handed it back to her. “Good morning, lass.”
    She gave him a piercing frown. “Your presumption will not convince me of your suit.”
    “’Tis no insolent to compliment a lady.”
    She came toward him until her nose nearly met his cravat. Giving a significant look to the other occupants of the drawing room, she spoke in a low tone. “It’s not your empty words of praise that I find fault with. It’s the way in which you chose to sign the card. I am not your future wife.”
    The intensity of her denial filled him with unanticipated anger. She belonged with him. Why could she not she see it? His course was mapped. She wanted to be courted. He would court her. More importantly, he would marry her. After which he would receive the money necessary to improve Graenfrae. The stubborn look of determination on Annabelle’s face gave him slight pause. She definitely needed more persuasion.
    “My lord, how nice to see you again. Won’t you come and sit down?” Lady Beauford asked from