Editing Lady Byron (section)

==Youth==
She was a gifted child. To cultivate her obvious intelligence, her parents hired as her tutor a former [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] professor by the name of [[William Frend (social reformer)|William Frend]]. Under his direction, her education proceeded much like that of a Cambridge student; her studies involved classical literature, philosophy, science and mathematics, in which she particularly delighted. This fascination led her husband to nickname her his "princess of [[parallelogram]]s".

Annabella developed into a stiff, religious woman with strict morals.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} She was aware of her strong intellect and was not ashamed to demonstrate it in her social realm. Often described as cold and prim, she seemed an unlikely match for the man who would become her ultimate obsession, the dramatically dark and "morally fractured" poet [[Lord Byron]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} Their first meeting occurred in March 1812. She later said to her mother that though she would not venture to introduce herself to Lord Byron, she would certainly accept his introduction if it were offered.

Byron's popularity was soaring following the success of his work ''[[Childe Harold's Pilgrimage]]''. Annabella met him on many social occasions as he began a relationship with [[Lady Caroline Lamb]], the wife of her cousin, [[William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne|William Lamb]]. However, Byron was attracted to her modesty and intellect and in October 1812 he proposed marriage through her aunt, the well-connected political hostess [[Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne]]. In response, she wrote a summary of his character and three days later refused him. However, they were plagued with a persistent interest in each other.

Although well aware of Byron's shortcomings, telling her mother "He is a very bad, very good man", she decided it was her religious obligation to support him and improve his behaviour.<ref name="gordon">{{cite web | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/she-walked-in-beauty-1446842493 | title=She Walked in Beauty|work=The Wall Street Journal | date=7 November 2015 | access-date=6 November 2015 | author=Gordon, Charlotte}} {{subscription required}}</ref> In August 1813, she contacted him in writing for the first time. The letters continued into the next year, some offering reassurance and support during times when public opinion of him was not favorable, others describing the "imperfect attachment" she felt for him. During this time, he accepted an invitation from Sir Ralph Milbanke to visit [[Seaham Hall]], the family home in [[County Durham]].