The Notorious Flynns Bundle by Jess Michaels

Author:Jess Michaels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sensual romance, spicy romance, Jess Michaels, The Notorious Flynns, historical romance, regency romance
Publisher: Jess Michaels
Published: 2015-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Serafina smiled as Bridget and Deirdre left the parlor together, their arms interlocked and their heads close together.

“It is nice to see their bond,” she said.

Annabelle smiled as well. “I tend to agree, though that bond did rather put me out, didn’t it?”

Serafina’s expression fell. “You are not angry at Deirdre, are you?”

She sighed. “No, I suppose not. She told her sister a secret. They are so close that it should have been expected. And since I am here to do the same, I cannot judge her.”

“A secret?” Serafina tilted her head.

“Yes.” Annabelle swallowed past the lump in her throat. “To a person I very much consider my sister and not just because she married my brother.”

“Oh Annabelle, I think of you as the same in every way. Does that mean you don’t hate me for telling Rafe and your mother about where you were?”

Annabelle moved to sit beside Serafina on the settee. “Hate you? How could I ever hate you? You were put in an untenable position. And in the end...well, perhaps it was best that the truth came out. It highlighted some facts I was hesitant to face.”

Serafina was watching her closely now, her blue eyes reading everything. Annabelle allowed it, wanting her to see.

“Lord Claybrook paid a call on me today,” she whispered. “He asked for my hand in marriage.”

Serafina’s lips parted and for a moment there was a flash of hesitation, disappointment on her face. Then she smiled and it was gone.

“Congratulations!” She moved to hug Annabelle, but Annabelle shook her head.

“I refused him,” she said softly.

Serafina gasped. “But—but isn’t that what you wanted? Wasn’t that the purpose of coming into Society? Claybrook is titled, he has some fortune and he has no blemish on his character.”

“And I thought all that would be enough. But it turned out that it wasn’t.” Annabelle sighed. “I tried to care about him. I tried to just like him, but there was nothing warm or affectionate to our courtship. I don’t even know if he desired me. It seemed to be only a match of good circumstance to him. And he...” She trailed off with a wince as she recalled his words.

“What?” Serafina said, leaning forward.

“He would require me never to see Crispin again if we were to wed,” she whispered.

Serafina collapsed back on the settee and her hands came to cover the swell of her belly. “I see.”

“Yes. I could not picture denying my family for a ‘good match,’ Serafina.”

Serafina’s lips had thinned with upset. “Of course you couldn’t.”

Annabelle shook her head. “I also realized he wanted something more without him saying it. He wanted me to deny myself. And the worst part is that I led him by example. I told him with my actions that I was willing to do just that.”

“What do you mean?” Serafina asked.

Annabelle smiled, and for the first time in a long time her smile felt right. It felt like her own.

“I am a Flynn, like my father, like my brothers. I

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