Chapter 24
As Annabelle tuckedher wedding dress under her bottom while she sat inside the carriage that her father had ordered for her, her heart raced with happiness. She had not expected this to happen and it was the most phenomenal feeling in the whole damnworld.
“Where do you wish to go?” the driver asked Annabelle curiously. “Your father said that it is up toyou.”
Just as Annabelle was about to reel off the address of the home where she had found the most happiness in the world, a voice yelled out her name and stopped her in her tracks. Luckily it was a female voice so she did not have to worry that Watson had come to hunt herdown.
“Catherine?” Her friend raced towards the carriage so quickly that her hair fell out of her chignon. “What are you doinghere?”
“I just heard the news, your father has gone mad.” Annabelle could not help noticing the sun shining in her friend’s eyes. She appeared gleeful at the drama ensuing inside what was supposed to be her wedding day. “He is telling everyone about Lord Ashdown, it is justincredible.”
“Oh.” Annabelle did not know what to say, she could not imagine her father acting in such a way. “What has Lord Ashdownsaid?”
“I have not seen him.” Catherine giggled girlishly. “I think he has run away with shame. It is wonderful. Everyone now knows about him. I bet he will never find a wifenow.”
Annabelle gulped. She did not want any other poor woman to be subjected to the horror of Lord Ashdown, but that sounded a bit too serious for herliking.
“Is my motheralright?”
"She is wonderfully happy, I have never seen such a big smile on her face before." Catherine rubbed her friend's arm gently. "I am sure she is glad that you are getting what you want. She wanted this for you, afterall."
“She did,yes.”
“So, you are really leaving?” There was a hollowness in Catherine’s voice, Annabelle could tell that her friend was going to miss her. “For good this time?Properly?”
“I am.” Annabelle pursed her lips thoughtfully. “But I will send you letters.” That would not be the same, they both knew it. “I will come and visit you once I am settled. You can come and see metoo.”
Catherine nodded slowly. "I did not tell you before because you had so much going on yourself, but my father has found someone that he wishes me to marry, so maybe everything will have changed in my life too, the next time I seeyou."
“Oh wow. As long as it is not Lord Ashdown, I am happy for you.” Annabelle felt guilty, she did not realize that everything had become so much about her. “I am sorry I did not knowbefore.”
“I have met him. He seems like a perfect gentleman so it all looks good at the moment. He is handsometoo.”
“What does he look like?” Annabelle had never known her friend to show interest in a man before. She wanted to know what sheliked.
“He is very tall, he has broad shoulders, he has dark blue eyes and a really nice smile.” Catherine could not stop herself from grinning. Annabelle knew that feeling well, she had a feeling that Catherine was going to have a very happy life. “I do not know his personality too well, but so far I think it will be justfine.”
“That is wonderful news.” Annabelle felt saddened for a moment that she would not be able to meet this man. At least not right away, just because she was leaving now did not mean she could never come back. She would wait until the drama surrounding her non-starting wedding day died down. “That iswonderful.”
“I am sure that Edith and Harriett will have husbands soon, too, which will make them veryhappy.”
“Of course, it will,” Annabelle laughed. “That is what they both so desperately want. They will likely have babies before I see themnext.”
“Yes, Beatricetoo.”
Of course, my niece or nephew.Annabelle did not want to miss out on Beatrice giving birth, but she felt sure that her sister wouldunderstand.
“Yes. A lot of things are going to be very different soon. This is us growingup.”
“That itis.”
The girls paused and stared at one another for a moment. They had spent so long in one another’s company, thinking the future was so far away, that it was something they would never have to worry about... yet here they both were diving head first into new lives without lookingback.
It was a bittersweetmoment.
“I shall miss you. Are you going to find the stable boyagain?”
“Yes, I am,” Annabelle replied with a smile. “He is the only one for me. My father asked me to keep away from him, but I cannot. He is my love, all I want is to be back in his arms. But of course, I shall miss you too," she added, hoping that it did not seem like anafterthought.
