Page 17 of Annabelle Enchants the Rejected Earl
Chapter 8
“Oh, Watson, you are amusing!”Otto boomed, full of mirth as Lord Ashdown did what he could to charm Annabelle’s parents. “You do make me laugh. He is so funny, Annabelle, you are lucky to hold the interest of such a funnyfellow.”
Otto honestly could not see that there was anything to worry about when it came to Watson. If he had not heard the rumours about the young Lord, then the gossip clearly was not reputation damaging. He prided himself on being a very astute man, and because of that he did not think that Josephine’s words were worth paying any attention to. He truly believed that his wife would soon owe him an apology when things worked exactly as he planned in hismind.
Lord Ashdown had the right name, a suitable wealth, and a very nice personality. What more could Annabelle want? Soon his daughter would understand that Otto always knew best too. As soon as time passed and the wedding was as successful as Beatrice’s then everyone would see. He could be patient when it came to being provenright.
Otto did not fear that Lord Ashdown would cause a rift between him and his daughter, or in his marriage either. In his opinion, he did not always have to agree with his wife. They could have a debate, differ in opinions, and still respect one another wholly. Otto knew many husbands who had absolutely no respect for their significant others. They ensured their wives gave birth to their offspring, then they set about ignoring them and chose to spend time with street girls instead. He saw it all the time, and he always felt safe in the knowledge that at least his marriage had never become that. Otto prided himself on the success that he’d made of himself and his life. He held no fear that Watson would get in the way ofthat.
“Hmmm.” When Annabelle did not give much of a response, Otto felt annoyed at her. It was actually his daughter who was being rude and acting like she was not marriage material, not this Lord. He narrowed his eyes angrily at Annabelle, but she simply flickered her gaze downwards, not caving to the silent pressure he was givingher.
Josephine was certainly right about one thing; his two daughters wereverydifferent people. Beatrice did as she was told without any complaint, she might not have agreed with his decision to marry her to Abraham, but she never complained once. Annabelle was never going to be that way, her free spirit and determination would always win out. Luckily for her, it did not seem to put Watson off. He had not made any comments that he wished Annabelle shouldchange.
Otto, however, was starting to think that there were a lot of things that his daughter needed to workon.
Annabelle did not see the point in being polite to a man that she had no intention of marrying, however many glares her father gave her. After what had happened the last time her betrothed was in the house, she knew that she would not allow it to happen no matter what. She had not quite worked out how to ensure that yet, but there was stilltime.
She still clutched onto the idea that her father might eventually see what this horrible man waslike.
“You know, maybe it would be nice for you two to spend some time together getting to know each other alone.” Otto needed to find a way to build a connection between these two if he did not want Annabelle to cause him any trouble. “Maybe you should go for a walk in thegardens.”
Unbridled terror spiked within Annabelle, why was her father so determined to force this upon her? She could not go outside with Lord Ashdown, not while Floyd was working. She could not allow her two terrible issues to meet, that would make them that much more challenging to dealwith.
Everything was challenging enough as itwas.
She could not imagine how awful it would be for Floyd to see her with Lord Ashdown, and she also was not sure that she could hide her attraction to the stable boy in front of the Lord. Much as she did not want to marry Watson, she also did not want to give him any reason to ruin her. She still had enough respect for her father to not allow that tohappen.
“No,” she jumped in a little too loudly before she could catch hold of herself. A pink blush tinged her cheeks as everyone twisted to look at her in shock. Even for Annabelle, it was unlike her to have such a loud outburst in front of other people. Otto could feel his blood starting to boil while his daughter stumbled over her next words. “Erm, I mean... I do not think that we need to walk outside. We can simply walk through the house, can we not? Maybe... maybe it would be nice to show Lord Ashdown where welive.”
“Oh yes, I would like to see the rooms you grew upin.”
As Watson sent her a suggestive grin, Annabelle felt the heat consume her entire body. Did he honestly think that she would let him anywhere near herbedroom?
Unfortunately, no one else seemed to pick up on his undertone. Annabelle felt gobsmacked that no one else could seeit.
“I suppose it is rather cloudy,” her father agreed coldly. He was not happy about being disobeyed, but he did not want to make more of a scene. “Maybe you should stay inside to avoid any potential rain.” He stood up and gave Annabelle a tight-lipped smile. He wanted to look happy, but he also needed her to heed the warning there. "Come on, Josephine, let us leave the young ones toit."
Annabelle spotted a split second of hesitation on her mother's face, which gave her a little spike of hope. Maybe her mother had finally seen what Annabelle already knew and she was now on her side about everything. If she could just get one parent on board, even if it was not the one who made all the important decisions, then maybe everything would bealright.
Annabelle vowed to herself that she would at least try and speak with her mother again before the day was out. Everyone knew that Josephine was the only one who could ever turn Ottoaround.
“So, where is it you would like to take me?” Watson asked, keeping the charm rolling until her parents were fully out of earshot. “You have such a lovely home, I would like to see all ofit.”
Annabelle rolled her eyes. She did not feel the same obligation to be nice. “Do not bother keeping up the act, no one is listening to younow.”
Watson’s face fell. For a second Annabelle could see that he did not like her sarcastic tone. Probably because it stripped him of his power. If Annabelle did not care enough to be upset by his words, then what did he really have? She actually enjoyed the idea that she could derail him, if only for amoment.
But he very rapidly regained himself, much to her disgust. “That is wonderful news, I have been waiting to speak to you again without anyone listening to us. I thought it was fun last time, and I believe you didtoo.”
Annabelle’s nose screwed up in disgust. “You might as well leave now, Lord Ashdown. I do not have anything to say to you. What you think is fun is not to me. I would much prefer you toleave.”
Watson reached out and he ran his fingers down Annabelle’s hand. The sensation caused her to flinch and snatch herself backwards. She refused to give him any control over her a second time. He shocked her before, she would not allow that to happen again. “Oh, but your father will be so disappointed. You do not want to be a disappointment to him and the rest of your family, doyou?”
“I already am.” Annabelle kept an air of nonchalance as she spoke. “So, I hardly believe it matters. The way you spoke to me the last time you were here was utterly unacceptable, and not the way my future husband will talk tome.”
Watson laughed nastily at that remark. “Oh, Annabelle, it is you who is the funny one. The way you speak as if you have any control over your own destiny is wonderful. Especially when it has already beendecided.”
Annabelle gripped onto her skirts as her head throbbed under the awful weight of that statement. She did not like the way they affected her at all, it was almost as if Watson had tied a noose around her neck with his words, and he was choking the life out ofher.
