As Annabelle tucked her 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 damn world.

“Where do you wish to go?” the driver asked Annabelle curiously. “Your father said that it is up to you.”

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 her down.

“Catherine?” Her friend raced towards the carriage so quickly that her hair fell out of her chignon. “What are you doing here?”

“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 just incredible.”

“Oh.” Annabelle did not know what to say, she could not imagine her father acting in such a way. “What has Lord Ashdown said?”

“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 wife now.”

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 her liking.

“Is my mother alright?”

"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, after all."

“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 me too.”

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 see you."

“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 know before.”

“I have met him. He seems like a perfect gentleman so it all looks good at the moment. He is handsome too.”

“What does he look like?” Annabelle had never known her friend to show interest in a man before. She wanted to know what she liked.

“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 just fine.”

“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 is wonderful.”

“I am sure that Edith and Harriett will have husbands soon, too, which will make them very happy.”

“Of course, it will,” Annabelle laughed. “That is what they both so desperately want. They will likely have babies before I see them next.”

“Yes, Beatrice too.”

Of course, my niece or nephew. Annabelle did not want to miss out on Beatrice giving birth, but she felt sure that her sister would understand.

“Yes. A lot of things are going to be very different soon. This is us growing up.”

“That it is.”

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 looking back.

It was a bittersweet moment.

“I shall miss you. Are you going to find the stable boy again?”

“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 an afterthought.

“You will marry him? Even if he is not a Lord?”

“I will marry him... if he wishes to marry me.”

“Your life shall be challenging,” Catherine warned. “But as long as you are happy, that is all that matters.”

Annabelle pulled herself out of the carriage to embrace her friend. At least this time she was getting a proper goodbye with one of the important people in her life. Last time she left, she said goodbye to her mother, she had been offered an almost goodbye with her father, and now she was saying farewell to Catherine.

It really did feel much more serious this time.

“You look after yourself, will you?”

“Yes, I will. You too. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Annabelle.”

As the girls parted their embrace, and Annabelle finally managed to reel off the address to the carriage driver, emotion filled her up. She waved to her friend and watched her life vanish into the distance. There was a pensiveness to her, but no fear. Annabelle had already proven to herself and everyone else that she was more than capable of making it out there in the world, alone.

I am coming Floyd, she thought excitedly. Finally, I am coming back for you. Please just wait for me a little while longer.

It was not until she settled back into her seat and she glanced down at her body that she realized she was going to turn up to Mr. Brentwood’s home in a tattered-looking wedding dress.

That was going to make for very awkward conversation. Annabelle hoped the outcome of the story would be amusing rather than heart-breaking.

* * *

Annabelle’s eyes widened happily as the home, that she had been daydreaming about for hours while she travelled through the countryside, came into view. It stood just as tall, next to the wonderful lake, with lovely trees blossoming outside of it. There was not any sunlight bouncing off it this time, the evening darkness shrouded it, but there was still something very impressive.

“Is this it?” the driver asked her, sounding a little sleepy after the long ride. “Is this where you wish to be dropped off?”

“Y... yes, this is it.” All of a sudden, Annabelle felt anxious. Maybe this was not the great plan she thought it was after all. Once the driver took the carriage off Mr. Brentwood’s land, she was fully on her own. She had the money her father had given to her, but that was it. All she had to wear was her wedding dress, that now felt very over the top. “Thank you.”

“Do you want your father to know your location?”

Annabelle considered this for a moment. She did not want to lie anymore, she wanted to be open and honest with her family. Being secretive did not exactly work out for her in the past, so maybe there was not any point. He did tell her that she could do as she pleased now. It did not matter that she was doing what he asked of her.

“Yes, please. Tell him this is where I have stopped first.”

She stood in the grass and stared up at the house, barely listening as the driver turned the carriage around to leave her behind. All the memories she had while living and working for Mr. Brentwood came back to her... including the horrible way that she left.

Mr. Brentwood is unimpressed with me for lying. He will not want to see me.

Maybe there was a way that she could see Floyd without catching his attention. Much as Annabelle wanted to make things right with her former boss, she did not think that turning up in a dishevelled white dress, looking a bit like a mad person was the best way to do that.

Luckily, he had the staff to answer the door for him.

Annabelle tried her best to remain determined as she stepped rapidly towards the front door. She did not want to wait until it was far too dark to make this bold move, in case things went terribly wrong and she had to leave in a hurry. Unfortunately, Mr. Brentwood did not live near anywhere, so it would not be easy for her to get somewhere new, but the opportunity had to be there, just in case.

I should have asked the driver to stay, she thought regretfully. That was silly of me.

But she could not remain in regret for long. Every single step took her closer to Floyd again and she could not wait.

By the time Annabelle reached the huge, wooden front door, her whole body shook anxiously. She could feel her knees knocking nervously together, her pulse racing, her fists curling together.

Just do this, I have to do this. She gave herself a pep talk. I am Annabelle Hathaway, strong enough to run away, strong enough to leave my wedding day. I can do this.

Knock, knock.

Annabelle bobbed from foot to foot as she waited. It felt like an age until she even heard steps radiating through the hallway. As she finally sensed movement, she pressed her ear up against the door to check that it was smaller steps. It was unlikely to be Mr. Brentwood. That was a relief.

The door swung open, Annabelle took a step backwards and she folded her arms defensively across her chest. This was a terrible situation, she imagined that it was one of those things that had never happened before, and she did not know how it would be taken.

“Annabelle?” a shocked voice called through before she could even see who it was on the other side. “What are you doing here?”

“Violet!” She was in luck, it was the one person she actually got along with in the Brentwood house. Aside from Floyd, of course. "Oh, thank goodness it is you. I am so pleased to see your face, you have no idea.”

Violet pushed the door open further and she stepped outside. She half closed it behind her so they could have a semi-private conversation. “I cannot believe that you are here again. I never thought I would have the chance to see you again!”

“I know, I am so sorry I left in a hurry. As you saw, it was not really my decision.”

“No.” Violet shook her head sadly. “That was terrible, I was very upset.”

Annabelle did not bother to ask Violet what everyone else thought when she left, she did not want to know. “Yes, me too.” It was time to get down to business. She needed to know now, the tension was killing her. “So, is Floyd inside? I would love to speak to him?”

"You do not know?" Violet gasped in shock. "Oh my goodness, I thought you knew."

“Knew what?” Annabelle’s heart quickened, she did not like this surprising turn of events... whatever it was.

“Floyd is gone.”