“Right. I see. Ridiculous.” Annabelle was definitely missing something, if only she could work out what .
“I understand that maybe you do not quite feel emotionally ready to take a step into adult life.” Wait, did he just accuse her of being childish? Annabelle did not like that at all. Her back straightened and her lips pursed together in a thin line as she tried to keep her temper inside. “But the Lord who has requested your hand in marriage would like it to happen now, and he is a very wealthy, self-made, young man. Absolutely perfect for you .”
Otto liked that aspect of the Lord best of all. Just like him, he had worked hard to make something of himself. Having been in a position where he had to create his own wealth, he understood more than most what a challenge that was. It showed tenacity and determination. With qualities like that, he was sure to give Annabelle the comfortable life that she deserved .
“A Lord has asked for my hand in marriage?” Annabelle gripped tightly onto the material of her skirt. She could feel her skin perspiring fearfully. This was not something that she had to worry about for the foreseeable future, everyone had told her as much .
Were they all wrong ?
“Yes, a Lord who you spoke with at Beatrice’s wedding .”
No, no, no, this was a nightmare. There was only one Lord that Annabelle had spent any time with during the day of her sister’s wedding, and that was Lord Watson Ashdown. She had spent the rest of the time with only her girlfriends, her father had to be talking about him... but how was that possible? Her mother had promised her that his terrible reputation would overshadow anything else. There was no way her father would be willing to ignore that .
Annabelle pinched her leg, certain that she was in the middle of a terrible dream. But the hot pain that burned her skin proved that she was very much awake and this was really happening .
“Who?” Even though she knew the answer, she needed to have it confirmed. She had to hear the words from her father’s mouth before she could truly accept it. “Who has asked for my hand ?”
“His name is Lord Watson Ashdown,” he replied with a bright smile. Otto truly believed that he was doing his daughter a favour, he could not even begin to see that she did not want this .
Annabelle scraped her chair back and she leapt up as if her bottom was on fire. “No, Father, I cannot marry him. Please, do not make me. I simply cannot, you do not understand ...”
“Oh, Annabelle,” Otto rolled his eyes at his daughter’s over the top reaction. He half suspected something like this would happen. At eighteen years of age she still had a bit of growing up to do, but Lord Ashdown was too good an offer to refuse on such a silly basis. “I know this is a big step for you, but he is a nice young man who has a lot of money. You will spend your life being very well looked after .”
“No, Father, you do not understand.” Annabelle tugged desperately on the ends of her hair. Somehow, she had to find a way to make her father see what she did. Lord Ashdown was not the man for her. “He is a brutish man, he... he is bad tempered.” In a state of sheer terror, Annabelle could not remember all the reasons why she did not like Watson. Edith had given her reasons, she simply needed to recall them. “He spends time with courtesans ...”
“And how, may I ask, do you know all of this?” Otto was not about to be swayed so easily by words that did not even sound true .
“Edmund told Edith everything ...”
“And how does Edmund know?” Otto cocked his head and gave Annabelle a knowing look. She needed to understand that he knew best, once she accepted that, everything would be so much easier .
“He worked with him at the bank a few years back, he knows him well. He told his sister that he is bad news .”
“Do you think he might have told Edith that because he wants to marry you himself ?”
That concept struck Annabelle cold, she had not considered that possibility. But then she rapidly realized that it was her father just trying to get his own way as per usual. “Edmund is betrothed to Mary Smith,” She shook her head determinedly. “He is not interested in me .”
“Maybe not, but Lord Ashdown is and he is the perfect man for you .”
Annabelle needed an angle, she had to somehow make her father see her point of view which would be nearly impossible because of his stubborn nature. Once he set his mind to something it was almost impossible to change it. It seemed that even her mother had been unsuccessful with this one... maybe that was why she was too cowardly to show her face at this meeting. She knew that she had let Annabelle down .
“You spend a lot of time being concerned about our reputation, Father, but you do not seem to care that terrible things are being said about the man you want me to marry. How can that be? Why will you not listen to me ?”
“That is because I do not believe anything being said,” Otto shrugged. “I believe what I see, and what I saw was a young man who very politely asked me if he could have your hand in marriage ...”
“But I do not want to marry him.” Annabelle shot back coldly. “I do not like him. I did not even want to dance with him at Beatrice’s wedding reception. That has to tell you something ...”
“I am not a cruel man, Annabelle.” Otto narrowed his eyes as he shut Annabelle down. He did not want to allow her to continue, for fear that she might get hysterical. “I have thought this through, and to ensure that you do like him before your wedding day, I told him that he would have to spend time with you first. I would like it if we all got to know him better as a family. I do not intend to rush into anything .”
“Oh.” Annabelle could not argue too much with that one because it was far more reasonable than she ever expected from her father. It seemed that he actually wanted her opinion on her own life, which was something of a revelation. It would be worth forcing herself to spend more time with Lord Ashdown if everyone else got to see just what she did... that he was not the one for her. “I see .”
Otto nodded, satisfied. “So, we can make a decision for ourselves, based on what we see with our own eyes. Does that not seem like a much more sensible solution than listening to gossip? Can you agree with that ?”
“Yes,” Annabelle felt like a chastened child. Her head hung low, she could not even bring herself to meet his eyes. “Thank you, Father .”
"I am pleased that we have managed to sort this out because I do know what is best for you, I hope that you understand that .”
Annabelle bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself from doing something stupid like bursting into tears. “Yes, Father .”
"I am sure that your sister will arrive soon if you would like to go and meet with her ."
Annabelle knew that spelled the end of the conversation. Once her father dismissed her like that, he did not wish for any more debate on the subject at hand. For once, Annabelle did what he wanted and she left his office without another word. She did not have anything to say to him now. She just needed to be alone to have some time to think... and to plan. She hoped that Lord Ashdown would reveal his true nature to her parents himself, but if not, she needed to make sure her father saw the truth one way or another .
“Annabelle!” She did not even manage to make it to her bedroom before she heard Beatrice’s gleeful sounding voice. Her sister’s arrival allowed her to forget about the storm brewing in her chest for just a moment. “I am here .”
As Annabelle turned rapidly with excitement, the first thing she noticed was the happy glow surrounding her sister. Beatrice had the brightest smile on her face that she had ever seen. She certainly looked happier than she did on her wedding day .
“Oh my goodness, Beatrice you look wonderful,” she gasped. “It is so lovely to have you home .”
The sisters embraced like it was the most natural thing in the world. It was not something that they ever really did beforehand, but the time apart had caused them to miss one another terribly. Annabelle’s eyes even welled up as she realized just how much she enjoyed having her sister back, even i
f it would only be temporary .
“So,” Annabelle choked out, trying to distract herself before emotion got the better of her. “I hear you have some news ?”
“I do, actually.” Beatrice glanced around to check that the girls were alone. “I was going to tell everyone all together, but I think I would rather tell you first.” She paused dramatically for a second, pumping up the tension. Annabelle could practically hear her heart thumping in her ears. “I am having a baby .”
“You... you are?” Annabelle was left speechless as she glanced down at her sister’s flat belly, which gave nothing away. “You are having a baby ?”
Annabelle knew a little bit about how that had happened, she was not completely naïve to how the world worked, but what she could not work out was how that happened with her sister and the older man she married, the one she did not look impressed with at all at the ceremony. Had they actually ...?
“Yes,” Beatrice smiled again, looking more serene and blissful than Annabelle had ever seen her in a deep emerald coloured dress that she had never worn before. It must have been a gift from her new husband. “Is that not wonderful news ?”
“Yes, of course. I guess...” Annabelle did not even know how to form her question, but she needed to find out somehow . “I did not know you wanted to have children.” It was not the best way to find out how Beatrice had ended up pregnant, but it was the best Annabelle could come up with .
“Of course.” Beatrice rubbed her stomach delicately. “That is what happens after a marriage .”
Following the rules until the bitter end, that was so much like Beatrice it actually made Annabelle smile. "Well, then I am very happy for you. It is wonderful news ."
“Thank you so much, it means a lot to me that you are excited to become an auntie. I am going to tell mother and father about the baby in a moment, do you want to come with me ?”
Annabelle did not want to see her father’s face again, not today. Plus, the need to plan had become even more prominent now. Thinking about what happened after marriage caused an involuntary shiver to tear up and down her spine. She would not be creating any babies with a man who spent time with courtesans, that was for certain .
“I will let you tell them your good news alone,” she said while clinging onto her sister’s hands. “But we should spend some more time together afterwards. You can tell me more about your new life... Mrs Urwin .”
Beatrice looked blissful, not at all disgusted by her husband’s name anymore. A whole lot had changed in the last few weeks and Annabelle could not wait to find out more .
“I will, Annabelle, that sounds lovely .”
Want to know how the story ends? Tap on the link below to read the rest of the story .
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Thank you very much
Also by Hanna Hamilton
T hank you for reading Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke !
I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? It would mean the world to me. Reviews are very important and allow me to keep writing the books that you love to read !
S ome other best sellers of mine :
Annabelle Enchants the Rejected Earl
The Governess Who Stole My Heart
The Lady and the Duke
The Duke of My Heart
A lso, if you liked this book, you can also check out my full Amazon Book Catalogue HERE .
T hank you for allowing me to keep doing what I love !
H anna Hamilton
About the Author
H anna Hamilton has been fascinated with the regency era ever since she was a young teen, first discovering historical romance novels by famous authors such as Jane Austen and Lisa Kleypas. She believes that love was just so much more magical back then, more like a fairy tale. She always daydreamed about finding love herself that way, but since that is impossible in the twenty first century, she decided to write about it instead !
Born in Texas, Hanna Hamilton obtained a degree in Creative Writing, and has worked as a literature teacher before becoming a novelist. When she isn’t writing, Hanna likes to explore the countryside with her husband and two children, gaining inspiration from the natural world around her .
So, come on a journey into love, confusion, and redemption all within the regency era. Hanna hopes that you will enjoy immersing yourself into her novels, and that you too will find a love for old fashioned romance, just as she has .
Let’s connect
hannahamilton.com
[email protected]
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