Diamonds Fall (17 page)

She returned with a simple black dress like the one the maids all wore, along with a pair of black trousers and a shirt for Billy. Bathing quickly, complimenting every one of Annabel's many possessions, they got changed behind the screen. Seeing them stood there in the household uniform Annabel was a little embarrassed at her own finery, glad she'd done up her hair simply and worn the cotton dress. She slid the fancy hair comb that Patsy had returned to her in the village, now polished back to its former glory, into Patsy's hair which the maid had arranged into a series of braids, twisted into a high bun with a few strands falling around her face to frame it perfectly.

"No Anna, I can't take that!"

"You found it, please take it."

"But it's yours."

Annabel laughed without humour.

"Patsy, I have a sickening amount of possessions, please take this one."

Patsy stared at herself in the mirror, even in the simple dress she looked awed at her reflection, gasping as Annabel draped a heavily embroidered shawl around her shoulders and fastened it with a solid gold brooch.

"There," she whispered. "I'm sorry it's not much but it's better than that thing." She glanced at the balled up brown dress Patsy had been wearing, just as the maid scooped it into her arms, holding it as far from her body as possible.

"Not much? Anna it's beautiful!" She twirled around, watching as her skirt ballooned around her ankles revealing the leather boots laced on her small feet.

"We'll have to visit my dress maker so you can get some dresses properly fitted."

Patsy practically shone with happiness.

"I wish Daniel could see this." Her face suddenly fell.

"Me too," Annabel whispered as a beautiful image of Daniel in tails flittered into her mind. She closed her eyes to stop the image fading but inevitably it did. She drew in a deep breath for courage and smiled at Patsy's reflection as Billy came back in, fiddling with the braces on his shoulders.

"You look handsome Billy," she said.

He stopped fidgeting and smiled.

"I know it's not as comfortable but you look really good."

He stood tall and proud, kissing her on the cheek and blushing at the compliment. He caught himself in the mirror and smiled wider, pointing at himself. They had fun bathing Genevieve next. She gurgled in happiness as the warm water soothed her tiny body, washing away the last traces of illness from her silken skin. With the right medicine and nutrition Annabel felt certain she'd be a healthy child. They fashioned undergarments for her and then wrapped her in a woollen shawl. Her pink face practically glowed. Annabel took a shawl for herself. Securing it around her shoulders, she led them back out of her room and down the labyrinth of corridors. Just before they reached the servant's quarters they found an empty corridor of rooms, less grand than the rest of the house but still expensive looking and somewhere her parents were unlikely to mind being used. They walked up to a door identical to all the others in the lengthy hall. Feeling for the cold door knob, Annabel swung it open.

"This will have to do for the moment, I'm sorry but I'll have fresh sheets brought in and we'll do it up as soon as possible."

The look of joy that crossed over the two faces standing before her, just at the sight of a guest suite, broke Annabel's fragile heart, making her realise how ridiculously over the top the rest of the house was. The suite had a small living room containing one large, cosy looking sofa, set before a tiled fireplace. Three doors led off of it into an adjoining bedroom, dressing room and another much smaller room of no apparent purpose.

"I'll have some proper furniture put in tomorrow and some more food brought up soon." She whispered. "I'll come and see you as often as I can. Please don't leave. I feel sick offering you this after you saw my room."

"Don't Anna. It's the best home we've ever had."

"But it's still not enough," she glanced up at them. "You deserve all the riches in the world."

She kissed each of their foreheads carefully and walked over to the sofa. Patsy took a seat beside her and clasped Annabel's hand in her own. It was hot and clammy.

"Thank you."

Annabel closed her eyes and squeezed back Patsy's hand.

"You all mean the world to me, truly."

None of them heard the door open at first, nor the soft footfalls of the doctor, until he was stood in front of the sofa.

"Miss Annabel, you were instructed to stay in bed."

The rest of the week passed in a sedated blur with Annabel believed too mentally unstable to be awake for longer than it took to eat. On the Saturday morning, when Annabel had awoken to a strange, unfamiliar sense of clarity, only to be confronted by two butlers clearly working as her prison guards, Annabel found her mother seated at the foot of her bed.

"Why are you here?" Annabel demanded, shifting so she was out of the woman's reach.

Her mother simply looked up at the ceiling in exasperation.

"Today you are to meet Theodore, remember? Put your ring on. The engagement is to be announced in the paper today. A much less lavish announcement than I had planned but the first ball was ruined."

"No! But-"

"There are no buts Annabel, you are going to marry him and now the entire world knows it."

"Then you are going to be sorely disappointed Mother for I shall not. Not after the way you have treated all the people who had a hand at saving my life!"

"They only needed to do, whatever it was they did, because you wondered off in the first place Annabel."

Annabel chose to ignore that statement. So someone had seen her leave the park after all. "Where are Billy and Patsy? What have you done with them?"

"The peasant and the idiot?" her mother scoffed.

Annabel leapt up with a surprising amount of agility and seized the woman's shoulders in a vice like grip. Her mother looked on, startled.

"Don't EVER call them that again! Those people have more courage, more intelligence and more love than anyone I have ever met. How dare you degrade them with such titles?"

"Get off me Annabel. They are working in the house. The male is our new stable hand, the girl in the kitchen. They are still staying in the rooms you put them in, in direct disobedience of your father's orders I may add. And whilst you're telling me how to behave in my own house, I don't want to see you fraternising with the staff, you understand? I catch you with them just once and they will no longer be able to call this their home. Don't forget, we could always extend Daniel's sentence. I don't think he would think too kindly of you if he had to stay in prison forever now would he?"

Annabel let go of her mother quickly, disgusted by the mere sight of her. The elder woman stood up, smoothing down her skirts as if the conversation that had passed between them was one of the utmost civility.

"Theodore Brogan shall be here for an early dinner this evening. I'll send some maids in so you look somewhat like your old self." The woman sighed. "One half of me wishes you had not been found, you have changed so unrecognisably."

That stung Annabel more than anything else and she sat back down on her crumpled bed covers, lacking the energy or will to even move.

The maids came in, as expected, as soon as Lady Hoddington left the room to prepare their mistress to meet the man everyone wanted her to marry, whilst she couldn't remove the image of the one man she wanted.

For the dinner that night she chose a dress as close to mourning colour as she could get away with. It was a deep silvery grey, embellished with white ostrich feathers at the hem which flowed into a sweeping train. The sleeves puffed out at the shoulders and fit snug just above her elbows, where they were met with long white opera gloves. In her ears hung a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings, a matching necklace rested just above her chest. She looked simply perfect; no one who caught sight of her could deny that fact. Slipping her feet into a pair of beaded, high heeled slippers she tried to swallow the huge swell of grief, guilt and betrayal that threatened to swamp her. Taking a deep breath and composing her face into a hard, emotionless mask, she made her way down the stairs; placing herself to catch the light just perfectly in such a vain manner it had her clutching her stomach in a sudden burst of nausea.

Once in sight of the most elaborate of the parlours, her mother rose to her feet, dressed in a fitted red velvet gown that complimented her dark hair, swept up in a more carefully constructed version of her usual tight bun. Her throat, ears, wrists and hair shone with diamonds every time she moved.

Lord Hoddington stood by the large fire that could be a room in itself, wearing an expensively tailored suit and tails in a deep black, a red cravat secured with a diamond pin at his throat to match his wife. This parlour had an ornately painted, high ceiling dripping with crystal chandeliers fit for royalty. The carvings on the fireplace depicted angels and cherubs to match the ceiling. Every piece of the expensive furniture had been specifically placed to show off the family's wealth to the best possible advantage. There were paintings done by the most famous artists in the world covering almost every inch of the walls. Three floor to ceiling windows across the left hand wall overlooked both the drive and the best section of the grounds. A portrait of the three current Hoddingon's hung above the fire, reflecting them in all their splendour. A large set of double doors off to the right led to the main dining room dressed with equal splendour.

"Well done Annabel, you look almost perfect," her mother said approaching her. "Although you could have chosen a brighter colour."

Annabel gave her no recognition and simply walked past her to sit in a high backed chair by the window.

"No, sit here," her mother gestured to a chair closer to the door. "That way you'll be the first thing he sees."

She did as she was told, obediently waiting for Theodore to arrive in silence, her hands folded demurely in her lap whilst her mind wandered to the night spent with Daniel touching every inch of her skin. Slightly flushed she stood as Cuthbert came in to the room. Reflexively she smoothed her skirt so it fell down her legs in a perfect sweep of silk, the feathers swaying slightly.

"Mister Theodore Brogan," Cuddy announced, bowing as Theodore came into view.

He was a few inches taller than Daniel, probably just over six feet, his cheekbones and jaw sharp, as if carved from marble. His hair, combed back off his face, was a rich, chocolate brown whilst his bright eyes matched the shade exactly. He was perfectly handsome in every way, as if made from textbook instructions. His smile revealed a set of straight, pearly white teeth as he strode confidently up to her, placing Annabel's gloved hand to his lips. She dipped into a curtsey.

"A pleasure to meet you, Sir."

"Likewise Miss, you are simply radiant."

She smiled but it did not touch her eyes.

"I hope you are well following your ordeal." His voice was as smooth as silk, educated to the highest degree.

"I am flattered by your concern Sir yet you find me quite recovered."

"Please Miss Hoddington, do call me Teddy."

He smiled at her again and she noticed how good that smile would have made her feel just a few weeks ago. It illuminated his entire face, making his dark eyes sparkle, yet she couldn't help comparing him to Daniel.

Teddy's fingers were thinner, making them look almost feminine. His face was so flawless in comparison to Daniel's freckled, scarred features that she knew he had seen little of the real world outside of fancy ballrooms and manor houses. Moving to the side, still smiling, he approached her mother, kissing her hand as well.

"Always lovely to see you Lady Hoddington."

She flushed slightly, still affected by his beauty despite him being half her age. Her father clapped him on the back.

"Grayson," Teddy greeted, shaking his hand. "A pleasure."

"Was your journey pleasant Mister Brogan?"

"Quite as pleasant as can be expected Lord Hoddington, yes."

Teddy kept his hands clasped behind his back, his spine as straight as a board. Annabel watched him converse with her parents. Even the slightest movements of his face were exactly as they should have been. His dark eyebrows raised themselves only a fraction when Annabel's mother reluctantly began telling her daughter's tale.

"Oh, do not fuss Mister Brogan. It has all been rather exaggerated in the papers as I am sure you can understand."

Teddy glanced across at Annabel, his mouth opening ever so slightly as if to ask the younger woman a question, however Annabel's mother continued.

"Indeed Annabel was taken from the park on the day of her birthday, by men who wished to acquire her fortunes."

"I am sorry to hear that Miss-"

"Don't be sorry dear boy, my daughter is very well. She was not gone from us long and certainly wasn't mistreated in any way."

Theodore nodded, giving Annabel a small smile. She saw a flicker of kindness in his chocolate eyes just as a butler emerged to announce dinner. Teddy offered his arm which Annabel took, although she tried to avoid touching him as much as possible. Annabel was helped into her chair, just as Teddy's tutor had no doubt taught him. Her heart hurt, it would have been so much easier to disappoint him if he was horrible. He deserved so much more than her. She felt as if she were already married, she was in every way beside the law. This evening felt like adultery, betrayal of the highest order. Teddy could not have been more perfect if she had designed him herself but he wasn't Daniel.

Following dinner they made their way back to the parlour to be served champagne for the women and brandy for the gentlemen, making some more idle chit chat that seemed incredibly pointless to Annabel. Once darkness had descended Annabel's father stood up.

"Theodore, we must retire to the smoking room and leave the women to their sewing." He laughed and Teddy stood up.

"You're right Sir. Miss Annabel is looking slightly fatigued and is quite within reason to be after her ordeal." He smiled at her, his eyes glittering. Annabel stood as he bent to kiss her hand again. "Until next we meet, it has been an honour."

He kissed her mother as well and followed Lord Hoddington into the smoking room, no doubt to discuss Annabel and other successful business ventures. Annabel followed them as far as the east stairs; she could feel her mother glaring at her the entire way.

Once back in the sanctuary of her room she dismissed her maids and finally surrendered to the racking sobs that had been threatening to spill over all evening, clutching Daniel's carving to her chest.

At some point during the night Annabel felt the sharp pain of the sedative being reintroduced to her blood stream and her mind fogged over once more. She realised at that moment that, in her half-conscious state of mind, she had been calling out to Daniel. The sheets were drenched in cold sweat and tangled around her thrashing limbs.

When she came to, the elderly doctor was seated beside her. A thermometer had been pushed into her mouth and he was frowning.

"Ah Miss Annabel, you're awake. How are you feeling today?"

"Like death warmed up Doctor. Why do you insist on sedating me? What do you think it will do?"

"It is by your mother's request my dear and you do seem to be quite over excited of late. Rest will do you some good. But now please answer me. Are there any symptoms you may be feeling that would hint to a diagnosis for you? Are you nauseas at all?"

At that moment Annabel did in fact feel very sick but she bit it back and shook her head.

"Any aches and pains?"

Again she shook her head.

The doctor gave her a look, telling her he wasn't fooled and noted down her temperature.

"Do you know what happened to Daniel? That is the cause of my upset Doctor, to know that he is-"

"Stop worrying Miss. The man has been sentenced to ten years. It was in the papers this morning. Bludgeoned his own father to death, makes you think doesn't it? There was something about the police going to rescue two small boys, the father was found dead in his own bed."

"What? No!"

"Yes, his own brother gave evidence for the crime. Although I must say he fared even worse, apparently he has been abusive for years. Five charges of murder were swinging over his head if you excuse the pun. He is to be hung tomorrow I think. It's all happened very quickly, usually these kinds of trials take months or even years. Someone very powerful must want them out of the way is all I can think of. Are you sure you're quite alright Miss? You've gone rather pale."

Annabel was breathing heavily, her eyes wide. Ten years. So it was official...but then, would ten years be that long to wait? She would be twenty eight...that was still young enough."

The door opened slowly, startling her from her reverie.

"Annabel, good to see you awake finally."

"Get to the point Mother."

The older woman sighed.

"No fooling you is there? Never was. Mister Brogan is waiting to receive you in the main parlour."

"What? I thought he left."

"No, he is staying here until we can decide on a date for the wedding."

"Well he'll be waiting a while."

Looking angry, her mother summoned a maid to fix Annabel's hair so it was pinned in an elegant design and laced her into a pale blue day dress.

"There, that looks better," her mother declared, pinching her daughter's cheeks when she was finally deemed presentable. "Now go, you've kept him waiting long enough and for goodness sake try not to look like you're walking to your execution."

"But I am," Annabel muttered under her breath.

When she entered the parlour Theodore was stood by the fire, wearing a light brown suit, his hat twitching against his knee. He jumped when he caught her looking at him, quickly rearranging his features into a smile.

"Miss Annabel, you're looking as lovely as ever."

"How would you know Mister Brogan? This is the second time you've ever met me."

He laughed, unsure whether she was joking or not. To alleviate the awkwardness Annabel gestured to a pair of arm chairs by the window.

"Take a seat," she muttered.

A small table was placed between them, housing tea and small cakes. Unthinking, Annabel picked one up, immediately stuffing it into her mouth. Teddy pretended not to see, suppressing a smile behind his elegant hand.

"How do you take your tea?" he asked, looking up. "It seems absurd that I can know so much about you but not how you take your tea." He was stiff and formal, afraid of saying the wrong thing.