Chapter 25
“Gone?”Annabelle gasped while clutching onto her chest as shock tore through her whole body. “What do you mean,gone?”
She had travelled such a long way, with such high hopes. The only thing keeping her going was the thought of reuniting with the love of her life. She had been so excited to see him again, she could not believe it was not going tohappen.
“He left the day you did... did he not come to see you?” Violet asked cautiously. She cocked her head to one side, narrowing her eyes as she examined her friend. “I just assumed that he was on his way to findyou.”
“No.” Moroseness overcame Annabelle again. “When he did not come for me, I assumed that he had stayed here. I thought that he was waiting for me, in case I ever wanted to come back.” Annabelle pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I assumed he loved me. Maybe I waswrong.”
She felt guilty. Not for leaving Watson on their wedding day, that was something that absolutely needed to happen. But she did feel bad for the trouble she had caused. She had created drama, caused rumours that would undoubtedly be discussed for a very long time, and left her family and friends in amess.
All for a man who did not care about her as much as she cared forhim.
For a moment, Annabelle second-guessed everything. Did Floydeverfeel the same way that she did? Had she dragged him along with her against his will? Maybe he felt compelled to be kind to her because they had started on their crazy journey together. Maybe nothing that happened wasreal...
“I have to ask,” Violet interrupted Annabelle’s thoughts. “What are you doing here? Dressed like that? I know you have come for Floyd but... well, what happened toyou?”
“I left my wedding,” Annabelle giggled a little hysterically. It all seemed so crazy now, like something that she would read about in a book rather than experience in real life. “I was supposed to get married today to a man who is horrible.” Violet listened, enraptured. Learning that her friend was a Lady was one thing, but learning about her life was something else. “He is a Lord, so the sort of people I am expected to marry, but he is not agentleman.”
“Plus, you love Floyd... do younot?”
"Oh, I do. Eventually, my father saw that and he set me free. I have left a mess behind me to come here.” Her eyes flickered sadly. “And it seems that it is fornothing.”
"Well, not for nothing." Violet wanted to reassure her friend that everything was not all terrible. “At least you have not got to marry that terribleman.”
“Yes.” Annabelle nodded slowly. “That is true. I just do not know where I am supposed to go now. I did not plan to do the next partalone.”
Violet glanced behind her anxiously. She knew that it would be risky to invite Annabelle inside after how things were left last time, but she could not leave Annabelle standing outside in the cold air, in a dirty wedding dress any longer. It was not right. Her life had been turned upside down too many times for such a shorttime.
“Come inside with me,” she whispered quietly. “I will sneak you to my bedroom. You can stay with me tonight.” She ran her eyes critically over Annabelle. “I will give you something to weartoo.”
“Thank you,” Annabelle gasped gratefully. She really needed to get changed. There was nothing she could do to take her life in any kind of positive direction while dressed in such an extravagant dress. Just because Floyd was not here, did not mean that her life had to stop. “That means a lot to me, Violet. I will stay tonight and I will work out what to do next in the morning. I am too exhausted to thinknow.”
Violet peered inside the door with her heart racing. “It does not look like there is anyone there. Now might be a good time torun.”
“I am not very well hidden, sorry aboutthat.”
Annabelle fixed her eyes on her feet as she moved with speed through the house. She did not want to look up in case she made eye contact with anyone – not that it mattered, anyone would know that she did not belong without seeing her eyes – but also she did not want to look at the home either. It was taking everything that she had to hold herself together as it was. She did not need any more reminders ofFloyd.
“Come on, we are almost there,” Violet reassured Annabelle. “Just down these stairs and we arefree.”
But unfortunately, her confidence was misplaced. As soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they were interrupted from theirmission.
“What is going on?” an angry voice rang out. “Who isthis?”
Annabelle dragged her eyes upwards. She did not even recognize the glare staring right back at her. Green eyes flashed as the gentleman slammed his hands onto his hips. She fell back a little as ice-cold fear struck her heart. She did not want to cause any more trouble, but she also did not want to go either. It was too late for her to go anywhereelse.
I will plead if I need to, I do not have too muchpride.
“What is she doing here?” the man snapped at Violet. “Why have you brought her backhere?”
He knows me... why do I not knowhim?
“She came back for Floyd,” Violet held her head high as she defended her friend. “As you can probably tell, times have not been easy for her. I am just going to help herout.”
“Mr. Brentwood will not behappy...”
“He does not need to findout.”
