by annie nadine
Baden seemed to keep so much to himself. One moment he would act as if he was on her side then he appeared to erect a partition of arrogance and refuse to let her see who he was. Whoever he was, she was determined to find out.
Annie went and sat on the wooden bench out the front of Antoinette’s store. She was waiting for Garrick to come back for her but she also wanted a moment to bask in the excitement of seeing Baden. She couldn’t help but smile to herself in delight that she had seen him again. Saw what he looked like in the daylight, spoke with him and felt him close to her. Such simple things that brought her so much elation…maybe she was going mad? Being thrilled over ordinary socialising seemed silly to her. But they weren’t just the usual, boring interactions she had with everyone else. They were with Baden and that made it completely different, he made it special.
Baden stood across the street, standing just in the alleyway so he could still see Annie but she couldn’t see him. He watched her as she smiled to herself and before he could stop it, a small smile crept onto his lips. She looked resplendent as she sat in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. Her hair swayed gently in the calm breeze and his heart skipped a beat when he thought she looked in his direction. For a moment he thought she had spotted him but his heart sank when she turned away without noticing. And then he felt foolish, standing there watching her. He looked down at his clothes and almost rolled his eyes at himself. So many years he dressed like a peasant because he simply didn’t care about anyone else’s opinion and now he wore the most expensive clothes that money could buy. All for what…this girl whose soul confounded him? He decided that he should leave, this time for good.
Before he turned to walk away he took one last glance at her, to make sure he would always remember her soul. And with that one glimpse he hesitated and once again doubted who he was.
“Miss Belle,” Garrick said approaching Annie as she sat on the bench. She turned and smiled as best she could, she was still overwhelmed from Baden’s presence. Garrick took her things from her as soon as he was in reach. “It is time for dinner,” he advised.
“Is it that time already?” She asked. She stood, brushing her new dress clean of any dust and looked around in shock at the time.
“Mr. Brighton commonly has his dinner at an earlier hour as he usually is busy in the evenings,” Garrick explained as they walked up to the carriage. Annie became curious as to why Eli was out at night so often. “Are you dressed or would you like to return to the manor? Mr. Brighton will not mind waiting,” Garrick assured.
“No, Garrick. We may go now, I will tousle my hair on the ride to dinner and hope for a creative masterpiece,” she said. He smiled at her fun.
“I am sure you will do a fine job of it, Miss Belle.” He opened the door of the carriage and held his hand out to assist her. She took it appreciatively and stepped into the seat.
“Thank you.” Annie smiled at this friendly man who she liked more each time they talked. He latched the door shut and soon they were on their way to dinner.
CHAPTER 7
Annie sat across from Eli at the table and they ordered straight away. He wore a lovely full suit, complete with all the extravagant, unnecessary trimmings that were obviously made of the finest material. Everything was faultless and he looked the picture of perfection. The restaurant was one of the most expensive in town, its dim lighting and rich feel made it popular amongst the wealthy. It was extremely exclusive, with only a few select tables in the dining room with the settings arranged perfectly. Even the waiters were dressed better than some of the patrons. She felt a little out of place because all she had done was bustle her hair atop her head with some pins. Though it may not have been the neatest hairstyle Eli still found it rather appealing, showing off the porcelain skin of her neck.
“Do you enjoy your status, Eli?” Annie felt free enough to ask. He seemed quite open and straight forward about most things so she didn’t see a problem being the same way with him. He took a sip of wine before he answered.
“I am grateful for the easy lot I have been offered in life. It makes other things I must do more manageable,” he answered.
“And what are the other things you must do?” She wondered aloud trying to act nonchalant. He may be an open person but he was also very mysterious. He watched her from across the table.
“Let us talk about your day, Annie. Tell me, what did you think of Antoinette?” He decidedly changed the subject. She wouldn’t have fallen into the trap but he lowered his gaze to her dress and she became distracted by it.
“She is a charming woman. Controversial name,” Annie commented. She played with the loose, wispy strands of hair around her neck in an effort to try and cover herself better.
“Yes, she relocated here to start anew. I have found her to be quite talented in her chosen profession. Just look at the lovely dress she has made you.” Annie chose to take a sip of wine instead of look at the dress. “Or I believe it is more so the wearer of the dress that makes it so.”
Annie had no idea why she wasn’t responding to how forward Eli was being. She appreciated the compliments and his help but his attention was lost on her. He was handsome, wealthy, enjoyable and intelligent. She trusted him to respect her so why didn’t she care more? Maybe he knew he was all those things and that was part of the problem? The thing that really bothered her most was that Baden wasn’t as forward.
Annie looked off to the other side of the restaurant and saw Baden sitting in the furthest corner of the room. Her eyes widened in shock before she regained her composure. He smiled a cheeky little smile and sat with his hands clasped together just watching her. Everyone seemed to be ignoring his presence, patrons and even waiters ignored him.
“Annie, what is the matter?” Eli asked looking around to the direction she was facing. Just as he did a waiter came up and started serving their food. Annie breathed a sigh of relief that Eli hadn’t seen Baden, not that she knew why she kept Baden a secret. When the waiter had moved out of their way Baden was gone and Annie couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
When Annie and Eli were part way through their meal, people who knew Eli came up and greeted him while Annie remained quiet and polite. They were introduced to her and you could see the spark of curiosity in their eyes in question of the relationship between her and Eli. It made her feel uncomfortable and she was glad when they left.
During the meal she felt more than one set of eyes on her constantly but decided to ignore the feeling as best she could. Soon enough they were in the carriage on their way back to the manor.
“Would you like to see your friends at Miss Danes’ manor?” Eli surprised her by asking.
“I do not believe Miss Danes would appreciate me intruding on her household.” Annie looked out the window trying to hold back tears.
“Well, Miss Danes does not need to know. She will be travelling shortly and we can pay a visit after she leaves,” he planned mischievously. She turned and looked at him, feeling almost hopeful.
“I…” Annie wasn’t sure what to say. Would that be wrong if she went behind Miss Danes’ back? “That would be perfect!” She decided it wouldn’t be after how Miss Danes had thrown her out.
After a while of silence Eli spoke.
“She only threw you out because she was jealous of you, Annie,” he said to try and comfort her.
“The reasons are useless to me. I have no need for an excuse,” she said. Still, she was grateful for the compliment. He smiled a little to himself at her way. She was strong and made the best of situations that were thrown at her. He admired that very much and what made her even more incredible was that she was beyond compare in her exquisiteness. It was like she was an undiscovered treasure, hidden away…until now.
Soon they were home and Eli jumped out of the carriage to help Annie. He held out his hand for her but as she took it she also tripped on the length of her dress. She tumbled into his arms and he caught her easily. She peered up through her falling tresses and stared into
his face. The slightest smile slipped across his lips as he steadied her.
“We may have to get Antoinette to adjust that hem for you,” Eli suggested, breaking the tension. He had to be somewhere and he didn’t want to be distracted by what could happen between them. She let out an awkward laugh and turned to walk inside. Eli waited a moment before he headed for the stables. He thought to himself that it was going to be a long night.
When Annie was inside Garrick found her and took her to her new room. He had headed home after he dropped her at the restaurant to prepare her accommodation at Eli’s request. She felt bad for not even realising that he hadn’t been driving the carriage on the way back. She walked into her new room and there was already a fire lit, which warmed the room and rid it of the cool night.
The bed was just as large as Eli’s and the furniture was quite similar to the theme of the house. Settees sat in front of the fire, day beds lined each window and an ottoman sat at the end of the bed. There was definitely no shortage of sitting space. A small but stylish writing desk sat off in the corner near the fireplace, two bedside tables accompanied the bed and Carcel burners sat on each. And lastly there was an extravagant closet with adjoining draws that held her clothes.
There was a large, white gift box with a red ribbon tied around it sitting on her bed. She ran and jumped on the bed in excitement. When she had settled down she carefully opened it. There was a note resting on top of the tissue paper. It read:
Annie,
These may be more appropriate for sleeping in,
compliments of Antoinette.
Eli.
She placed the letter down and lifted the tissue paper to find an array of women’s sleepwear. He really did think of everything. She dressed by the warm fire in a white, lacy nightgown. It was a rather revealing number and Annie thought that maybe Antoinette had also misconstrued her relationship with Eli. Brushing off the thought she went to bed in the thoughtful gift from her rescuer.
In the early hours of the morning there was a tapping at Annie’s window. She woke in a daze then crept over through the dark to investigate. She peeked over the window sill and could scarcely make out a silhouette but it could have just been the shadow of the trees below her room. After a moment of inspection a person stepped into the moonlight and it caught her breath. Baden had been throwing small stones against her window. She stood and opened the window, leaning over just enough to see a little better.
“What are you doing, Baden?” She whispered as clearly as she could through the cold night.
“I was simply playing a game of throws which you now have interrupted!” He whispered back. She rolled her eyes at his joke and he smiled innocently.
“Then I shall leave you to your game,” she bluffed, her breath coming out as frost. She reached out her arm to grab the windows and pretended to close them, pausing when he stepped forward.
“Do you not want to join me?” He asked sheepishly. She looked daftly at him, unsure of what he meant.
“I will freeze. How are you not frozen cold, Baden?” Everything in her wanted to go with him but how was she meant to get down stairs without being heard? She didn’t know the layout of the manor well enough.
“Then I shall join you,” he proclaimed through a whisper.
He started to climb the vine inhabited lattice, making it look as easy as walking up a flight of steps. She stepped back into the room and he silently jumped into it, landing close to her. He then turned and closed the windows. The room was dark, lit only by the moon and the dying embers of the fire. He looked beautiful in the shadows, like a dream that you can’t quite remember but try so desperately never to forget.
“How did you manage that?” She asked keeping her voice hushed.
“I have had practice.” He mimicked her soft tone which made his warm breath wash over her face.
He brushed his black suit pants and formal navy blue coat clean, which looked all buttoned up and neat even though he had just climbed in it. Again he looked irresistible and it made her worry that maybe he had just come from an outing with a woman. She hated these new emotions she had just discovered, jealousy, nerves, obsessing. She felt like she didn’t even know herself anymore.
“You climb many a window lattice, do you?” She folded her arms unimpressed.
“No, Annie. I climb in general.” He looked around the room for a brief moment. “Expedient,” he summarised the room into one word.
He looked down to her nightgown and she realised she was rather under dressed. It buttoned loosely around her breasts and the material was thin and white. Part of her wanted to cover herself in case he didn’t like something he saw and the other part hoped he found her appealing in every way.
“Tell me, Baden…why were you in the cemetery that night you saved me?” She had to keep in mind that this person could be dangerous.
“I might ask you the same thing?” He countered.
“I was taking a shorter route home,” she answered without hesitation, throwing her arms down by her side in an attempt to demand his answer.
“I do not wish to tell you,” he said flatly and stepped closer to her seemingly without cause. Annie had to take a moment to catch her breath.
“What happened to my attacker?” The words were barely audible. She was practically asking him if he had murdered someone, all alone in her room with no way to defend herself. Though she wasn’t afraid of him…well, maybe just a little.
“He received his due course.” Baden stared straight into her eyes and she held his gaze, refusing to look away. Her heart was beating erratically against her chest. She could only be guessing what his words might mean but knowing full well within herself the truth of them. But somehow she still wanted him to stay. He started to lift his hand and she froze for a moment which caused him to hesitate. When she could see he wasn’t going to do her any harm she relaxed a little and he continued with what he was going to do.
He gently placed the back of his fingers against her cheek and slowly slid them across her soft skin. It was the single most amazing sensation she had ever felt. Her body tingled all over and she had to hold back a shiver, which she didn’t quite manage.
“Baden,” she whispered his name softly. Her warm breath created a dissipating mist, which was strange because she felt anything but cold with him so close. He opened his mouth to speak but there was a sudden knock at the door.
She turned around brusquely and looked towards the door but by the time she turned back to Baden he was gone. The windows were now open and all that was left was the cold night air, her nightgown undulating in the breeze. There was another sudden knock. She snapped out of her dazed state, shut the windows silently and quickly went to the door. On her way she grabbed a bed throw and pulled it around herself. She opened the door to find Garrick standing there, pale with fright.
“Garrick, whatever is the matter?” She asked panicked.
“Mr. Brighton, he has been hurt,” he squeezed the words out by what seemed a miracle.
“What are you waiting for?” Annie said when he just stood there. “Lead the way,” she insisted. She followed as he turned and started walking. She was usually calm and collected when in intense situations but on her way to Eli’s room she couldn’t help the fear that crept over her at the condition she might find him in. As they approached the door it seemed she was about to find out.
CHAPTER 8
Annie walked into the room after Garrick and all she could see was blood. Eli was sprawled across the bed with the sheets thrown back, resting in a pool of his own blood. He woozily looked over to her as she approached.
“It looks much worse than it is,” his voice was covered in husky pain.
“Do not waste energy in speaking,” she scolded. “Garrick, please get some cloths and hot water. Also, some pain relief if you have it,” she ordered. Here came the Annie she knew; strong, composed and taking control. Garrick rushed off to do as she asked. Dropping the bed throw she had wrapped around herself, s
he straightened out Eli’s pillows and removed his shoes.
“Eli, we must take your coat off and lay you on the bed appropriately,” she instructed. He found it hard to concentrate on anything but the pain. He simply nodded and tried to move. He let out painful moans through his efforts and gave up almost instantly.
“It hurts too much,” he gasped. Annie saw no use for it and took charge. She stepped up onto the bed and kneeled next to him on the mattress for the best position to manage her efforts. Her nightgown was getting stained with blood but she didn’t have much choice.
“I am going to undress you. If you have any reservations speak now.” She paused a moment and he just shook his head.
She carefully pulled his arms out of his jacket as best she could. Now she had to pull it out from under him. She leaned down and slipped her hand under his back to pull at the material of his jacket to try and slide it out that way. His weight was implausible, it was as difficult as if she was trying to tug it from under a dead horse. Her face was close to his in her attempts to regain the jacket but she didn’t feel uncomfortable with the closeness. She actually wondered how someone so drained could look so handsome. He started to become delirious from the pain.
