Page 56 of Miss Ridley and the Duke

“I was afraid you would say something like that. However, I am the one who should apologize.”

Annabel shook her head in denial. “You did so much for me. I do not blame you for your desire to hurt Richard, and you rescued me from a marriage I did not want.”

“Annabel, that is not what I am apologizing for. First, you make me sound heroic, magnanimous even. My motives were purely selfish, I assure you. But I digress. First, I have news … of your brother.”

Annabel squinted at him in surprise. “Brendan? What does he have to do with us?”

“Your brother was quite pleased to learn of our marriage⁠—”

“He was?”

“Sweet, you will have to stop interrupting so I can tell you my news.”

Annabel shot him a chastened but curious look. She had much she wanted to say to him, but the sudden change in subject to her brother befuddled her thinking. She was unsure what thread of the conversation to concentrate on, so she acquiesced and stayed silent.

“Brendan misses you very much—has missed you very much, and he wrote a missive to you …”

Philip withdrew a folded paper from a pocket in his coat pocket and handed it over. Annabel reached out a trembling hand to grasp it. She felt overcome with emotions and fought back more tears as she gently unfolded the letter. The first she had received from Brendan Ridley in four long years.

My dearest Annabel,

Felicitations on your recent nuptials. Halmesbury seems like a good sort, and I was most pleased to make your new husband’s acquaintance. We discussed the situation with our family, and he has made me see we could and should reunite. I have much to explain and the duke has agreed that he will allow me to make my explanations to you directly, so do not pester him to inform you of the details. I know you will be tempted, but the explanation must come from me, so leave the poor man alone, sis.

I have personal matters to take care of, but the duke has invited me to Avonmead for my birthday on November 25, so I will join you in your new home soon. I know it is some years since we celebrated the holidays together, but I would very much like to resurrect our family traditions this year, if that is acceptable to you. The festive season has been most challenging for me since our parting, and I look forward to spending it with you this year. The duke appears to think you would be highly receptive, if not elated, to do so.

Please know that I did not intend our estrangement to hurt you, and it is not a reflection of my sentiments toward you. I have and always will love you as my most cherished family, and I look forward to reuniting soon.

With all my love,

Brendan

Annabel felt tears streaming down her cheeks at these long-awaited words from her beloved brother. It mortified her to be showing such emotion, and she attempted to mop her face by turning away from the duke to pat the end of her shawl around her throbbing eyes. Her heart, encased in ice for days, unfroze like snow in warm sunlight as she comprehended the news. Brendan was coming. Here to Avonmead. To visit her!

“I—thank you!” she blurted out in gratitude before a horrifying thought occurred to her. “Wait! Are you getting rid of me? Did you orchestrate this meeting with Brendan to ease my exit?”

Philip’s face fell, and he reached out to pull her into a fierce embrace. “Never! Annabel—never!” he repeated as he pressed urgent kisses to the crown of her head. “My darling, I arranged this for you because I wanted to make amends for my behavior. This is my apology to you. And my gratitude. I needed to reconcile with Saunton. It was such a relief to talk with him, to clear up our misunderstanding, that I wanted to do something for you. As I was in London, I felt I could not leave without uncovering the cause of your estrangement with your brother. I just could not believe that he did not want you in his life. Of course he would want to be in your life! You are delightful! I suspected there was an explanation and a resolution for you and Brendan. You helped me reunite with my family, and I … I just wanted to help you reunite with your family so you could experience that relief for yourself.”

“But … but …” Annabel frowned her confusion. “Why do you feel you owe me an apology?”

“I owe you an apology for my cowardice. I could not face my true feelings, and I allowed you to believe that our marriage was a convoluted revenge plot because I did not have the maturity to tell you the truth. To tell you how a bold, vivacious woman entered my study and captivated me from the start. How when she told me she was betrothed, I was horribly disappointed, but then when she told me to whom and that she wanted to break the betrothal, that I was so, so relieved that I had all the justification I needed to take her for my own. So relieved that I immediately proposed rather than lose the opportunity to spend my time with the most beautiful, exciting woman I had ever encountered. How within a few days I was madly in love with this exquisite creature, and that when she told me she loved me, it squeezed my heart with joy, but I was too immature, too callow, too fearful to state my reciprocation of those treasured words out loud.” Philip cleared his throat. “It is time I correct that—I love you, Annabel. Deeply. Passionately. These past few weeks have been the happiest weeks of my entire life. You are my new best friend and my beloved. I am so fortunate that you turned to me for help. I cannot possibly be happy without you at my side.”

Annabel struggled to pull her head back to gape at him. “What?”

Philip chuckled. “I do not think I can repeat all that. I assume you are expressing surprise and not that you failed to hear what I said?”

“What?” Annabel’s wits were dull with shock and happiness. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and then threw herself forward against his broad chest. “You love me? But I lied to you!”

“Not really. You simply withheld some facts, because you were uncertain of what my reception would be. And that, my dear, says more about my recent behavior than it does yours. If I had been more honest, then you would have had more confidence. In my newfound spirit of clarity, I can now honestly inform you that you are the most captivating woman I have ever met.”

Annabel laughed in relief and buried her face against his tanned neck. “I know I promised to never say it again, but … I love you, Philip.”

“Hmm …” He nuzzled her temple before using his hand to tilt her face up.

Annabel leaned back and playfully punched his shoulder with her fist. “You think it is that easy? I have been suffering from a broken heart, and I need to hear it again,” she demanded.

“I love you. I love you! I love you, and I will always love you, Annabel. You complete me. How is that?”

“It is a good start.”