her next book to be a success.
Annabelle filled her plate, hoping the conversation would shift to something else.
“Who has taken over the publishing business with the earl’s passing?” Margaret asked.
Annabelle would’ve kicked her under the table if she’d sat closer. Instead, she gave her sister another glare.
Margaret frowned in confusion, obviously not understanding Annabelle’s wish to change the subject.
“Yes, who is in charge now?” their mother asked.
“I believe Thomas is involved,” she said at last, unwilling to lie.
“He’s the bounder.” Her father straightened in his chair. “I don’t want you to have anything to do with him, Annabelle.”
“Father—” she began, only to be interrupted.
“Do as your father says.” Her mother sent her a stern look.
“Yes, Mother.” She lowered her gaze to her plate, hating the fact that she wasn’t going to keep her word. Yet what choice did she have? She’d already signed the contract.
Thomas might have the reputation of a rogue, but there was more to him than that. She wondered at the cause of his troubled childhood and poor relationship with his father. The earl had seemed a gruff man the few times she’d met him, so different from her own father. Or rather, the man he used to be.
Suddenly, she wasn’t hungry anymore. The joy and satisfaction she’d felt at having finished her story faded. First, the murder that so closely matched her book and now this. How had the situation become so complicated? Should she discuss it with Caroline to gain her insight?
The meal soon ended, and Annabelle escaped to her room to pace the floor, wondering what to do. In reality, she didn’t think she had any choice. She needed to deliver the manuscript to fulfill the terms of the contract. She donned her shawl and picked up the bound pages.
“Where are you going?” Margaret asked from the doorway.
“Out.” She was still annoyed with her sister for not reading her thoughts at luncheon. Never mind that was impossible.
“What has you in such a ruffle?” Margaret folded her arms across her chest and shifted to block the open door as if determined to make her answer.
“You know I prefer not to discuss publishing in front of Mother,” she said with a scowl.
“Then you shouldn’t have mentioned that you finished the book.”
“You’re right. Forgive me. I just wish Mother better understood my writing.”
Margaret unfolded her arms as she stepped into the room. “I think it’s difficult for her to imagine that you want something so different than she did at your age. Marriage and a family are the extent of most young ladies’ goals. Their one and only purpose in life.”
“That’s not what I want. Not now at any rate,” she added to soften the words. “Is it your purpose? What you want?” Though Annabelle knew how much Margaret enjoyed designing gowns, that didn’t mean she wanted to spend the rest of her life doing so.
“I don’t know.” Margaret moved to where Annabelle had set the manuscript to trail a finger over the stack. “I suppose I would enjoy marriage to the right man, but I’m certainly in no hurry for it. I wouldn’t want to leave Mother to care for Father alone.”
“I understand, but I intend to be here to help.” Annabelle didn’t want that to keep Margaret from doing what she wanted. “Next year, you’ll enjoy the Season and attend balls where you can meet others, including handsome young men.”
“You have and that hasn’t changed your mind.”
“No.” Annabelle closed her eyes briefly as Thomas filled her mind. Not that he’d changed her mind. It was just this infernal reaction she had to him that bothered her.
“What is it?” Margaret asked. “Have you met someone?” The excitement and curiosity in her tone nearly made Annabelle grimace.
“Not at all.” She looked into her sister’s eyes, so like her own. “I don’t want love to change me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t help but look at Mother and Aunt Felton and see how much it changed them.”
“What about Caroline? I think love has had a wonderful effect on her.” Margaret smiled wistfully.
“For now. I hope that continues. And I wish the same for Louisa.”
“Love can be both a burden and a gift, I suppose. Perhaps at the same time.”
“You are so wise for your age.” Annabelle reached out to hug her. “Whatever you decide, I want you to be happy.”
“If you’ll promise the same.” Margaret drew back to look into her eyes. “Keep your heart open. You never know what the coming days will bring.”
Annabelle smiled, though she couldn’t