Page 22 of Annabelle Enchants the Rejected Earl
“You, nothing. You are only eighteen years of age; you have lived only under my roof. You do not know anything of the world yet. You will have to trust me; I do not want to hear that you do not like my decisions anymore. This is the end of the conversation; do you understand?” Annabelle bit down on her lip and said nothing. “I said do youunderstand?”
She had no choice, Annabelle had to give her father an answer one way or another, even if it was not the answer that she liked. “Yes,Father.”
“Good. I am glad to hear it. Now let us just get on with things, forget this conversation everhappened.”
He stormed back inside the house before Annabelle could even think of a response. She stared at his shadow in shock, wondering what on Earth she was supposed to do now. The more she argued against Lord Ashdown, the more determined he became. Lord Ashdown really had Otto convinced that he was a gentleman and the right Lord for Annabelle. She was not sure that was something that she could doanymore.
She might need to find another wayout...
Annabelle walked in a haze up to her bedroom to get herself some privacy. Once she walked through the door she spotted one of the maids dusting her things, but that did not cause her to stop. She wandered over to her bed and she flopped her body downwards. The maid paused for a second and she watched the Lady confused. Was she supposed to stay orgo?
“You may stay,” Annabelle sighed, sensing the maid’s distress. “If you do not mind me lying here on the bed. I do not want to get in yourway.”
“Oh, erm, no that is fine.” The maid did not know what to do with herself, the Lady had never spoken to her before. It felt strange to interact with her. “Just... pretend I am nothere.”
I wish that I could blend into the background,Annabelle thought sadly. I would enjoy having no one focus onme.
The idea of being free to be who she pleased, to love who she wanted, to have any dream she wanted pleased her greatly. Annabelle assumed that her father was so obsessed with money that he did not see how nice life would be without it. The expectations that came with being wealthy were absolutelystifling.
If Annabelle were free, she decided she would let herself love Floyd. He was the perfect sort of man to have a wonderful love affair with. He was strong, ambitious, pleasant, kind... nothing like Lord Ashdown. Annabelle felt that she could be happy with Floyd forever, with the bond that they had, she thought that connection would last for their whole lives. He would never speak to her in such a way that demeaned her, or he would not touch her in a way that made her uncomfortable. She felt respected with Floyd, treated well. How could her father not see that she would be better off without Lord Ashdown in herlife?
“Erm, is there anything else you would like me to do?” the maid asked Annabelle awkwardly. Normally she would finish with the dusting and she would leave instantly to get on with the next job, but she did not feel comfortable leaving without saying anything. “Lady Hathaway.” She bobbed into abow.
“No, thank you.” Annabelle turned her head to one side and she looked at the maid. “You have done a goodjob.”
The maid waited, she got the impression that Annabelle had something else that she wanted to say, but after a moment of silence, she nodded and moved her feet out of the room. As she walked down the hallway she wondered what was going on with the Lady of the house. All the staff knew her as slightly difficult, not horrible but a little impulsive and occasionally stand-offish. Now, she seemed sweet and vulnerable, and the maid wished that she could knowmore.
Annabelle felt more alone than ever before as her room emptied. She had exhausted all of her avenues, there was no one left to help her, for the first time in her life, Annabelle was truly alone. She would have to rely on herself. Despite the fact that she knew she was a strong person, this was pushing it. Annabelle knew that she would have to dig deep if she wanted tosurvive.
Josephine overheard the interaction between Otto and Annabelle. She did not mean to eavesdrop, it was only a coincidence that she happened to be walking past when it happened. As she listened to the yelling, Josephine stopped to listen in. Of course, a part of her hoped that Otto would change his mind, but she did not hold out too much hope... which was quickly shown as the rightchoice.
Otto was set instone.
Maybe Josephine should have intervened as she heard the argument progressing, maybe she should have said something before her daughter got too upset, but she felt that she could not. It wasn’t that she did not want to defend Annabelle, it was because she had her own agenda. She had her own plan that she was workingon...
Josephine had not worked out the finer details of her idea, which was why she wanted to keep it to herself for the time being, but it was there in the back of her mind. Shewouldhelp Annabelle escape her marriage to Lord Ashdown some way or another. She would not let it happen. Josephine was well aware that it could affect her own marriage, she knew it would risk what she had with Otto, but her daughter needed her. Annabelle had asked for her help and she fully intended to give it. Even if her daughter never found out that it was her, she would still do it. That was her job as amother.
I’m sorry, Annabelle, she thought with her eyes closed. I am doing what I can, I promise. Please, just hold on for a little whilelonger...
