Chapter 20
The day startedoff like any other, Annabelle did not notice even a strange tension in the air. Maybe if she had been looking harder, she would have seen that something dramatic was coming, but she was too focused on her work to think about anythingelse.
Even when Violet raced into Mr. Brentwood’s office and she told him that there was a man that really needed to see him, Annabelle saw nothing. Even when her friend gave her a desperate look, she did not read too much into it. Exhaustion was all of her, blinding her to anythingelse.
It was not until Mr. Brentwood moved back into his office with a shadow looming behind him, giving Annabelle a chilling sensation in her chest, that she started to sense that maybe everything was not quiteright.
“Is... everything alright?” she asked Mr. Brentwood cautiously. “Is there something that I need todo?”
He had told her that he had clients coming in all day long, but she thought she had prepared for all of those meetings. Clearly somewhere she had forgotten something. Her heart pounded loudly against her rib cage, her breath balled up in her airways, her hands shookanxiously.
"There is someone here to see you," Mr. Brentwood replied mysteriously. “I think I shall leave the two of youalone.”
“What...?” Annabelle did not get visitors, she had not been aware of any of the staff members having people visiting. This was overwhelming, ithadto be badnews...
And then Mr. Brentwood stepped away, and she became very aware of how terrible things were. “Father?” she gasped in shock. “What are you doinghere?”
Otto said nothing, not until Mr. Brentwood stepped away from the room leaving him alone with his daughter, he had been searching for his youngest child for weeks, he had thrown a lot of money at a very extended search party, all to make this moment happen. When he had heard from one of his investigators posing as a client to see Mr. Brentwood based on rumours that he had a lady in his staff and confirmed that Annabelle was working in his house, he had started hisjourney.
This was his chance, he needed to get itright.
“Why am I here?” he growled once they were alone. “Why do you think I might behere?”
“Father.” Annabelle pushed her chair back and she leapt into a standing position. She should have planned for this moment but she had become so convinced that it was not coming so she did not bother. Now, panic spun through her brain too quickly for her to form a coherent answer. “Father, I am so sorry. I did not want it to get likethis...”
“You have left me, your family, to come and work for someone else?” He screwed his nose up in disgust. “This is utterly unbelievable. Do you understand how embarrassing this is for me? Do you know what you have done to your family? To me and your mother? To your sister and herhusband.”
Tears welled up in the corners of Annabelle’s eyes. She knew that she had affected everyone, it was the only thing that made her hesitate before she left, but it was something she had not wanted to think about as she started on with her newlife.
“I am sorry, I did not want it to get tothis.”
“So, why did it?” Otto was not in the mood to listen to Annabelle’s excuses. “Why are we standing in this office right now, talking aboutthis?”
Annabelle breathed deeply. She knew that she needed to have the same conversation again. It had not made a difference every other time she had discussed it, but hopefully this time her father would understand just how important that was toher.
“Because of Lord Ashdown, I cannot marryhim...”
Otto threw his hands frustrated in the air. “Are you serious, Annabelle? Do you understand how childish this is? You have run away from home because you are unhappy with a decision I have made foryou.”
“I have my reasons,” Annabelle pouted angrily. She could not believe that she was still being accused of acting like a baby when she had started a life of her own. She was much more grown up now, surely? “He was inappropriate withme.”
“Right, of course. You have said this before. You do not like the things he said. So, you would rather be here, far away from home, in the middle of nowhere,working.”
“Yes, Iwould.”
Otto shook his head. This was taking defiance to a brand new level. “You came here with the stable boy,” he said in a matter of fact tone of voice. He did not need to ask, it was obvious. “But you are leavingalone.”
"I am not leaving." Annabelle reached behind her to grab onto the desk in a white-knuckled grip. If her father could not drag her out, then he would have to leave her there. "I wish to remain here. I am happyhere."
Otto rolled his eyes and blew out a frustrated breath. “Annabelle, I am not hearing this, I am not giving you an option. You have run away, you have proven your point, now it is time to comehome.”
“I will not. I do not want to comehome.”
With her eyebrows knitted together and her eyes flashing angrily, Otto knew that she was determined, but that meant nothing tohim.
“Stop being silly and get your things together. Your mother is at home waiting foryou.”
“M...mother?”
