“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 to happen.

“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 find you.”

“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 was wrong.”

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 a mess.

All for a man who did not care about her as much as she cared for him.

For a moment, Annabelle second-guessed everything. Did Floyd ever feel 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 was real...

“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 to you?”

“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 a gentleman.”

“Plus, you love Floyd... do you not?”

"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 for nothing.”

"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 terrible man.”

“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 part alone.”

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 short time.

“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 wear too.”

“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 think now.”

Violet peered inside the door with her heart racing. “It does not look like there is anyone there. Now might be a good time to run.”

“I am not very well hidden, sorry about that.”

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 of Floyd.

“Come on, we are almost there,” Violet reassured Annabelle. “Just down these stairs and we are free.”

But unfortunately, her confidence was misplaced. As soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they were interrupted from their mission.

“What is going on?” an angry voice rang out. “Who is this?”

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 anywhere else.

I will plead if I need to, I do not have too much pride.

“What is she doing here?” the man snapped at Violet. “Why have you brought her back here?”

He knows me... why do I not know him?

“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 her out.”

“Mr. Brentwood will not be happy...”

“He does not need to find out.”

Annabelle needed to intervene with this standoff before it got out of control. “I shall be gone in the morning, it is only for tonight,” she said softly. She needed her tone to remain calm so the man knew she meant no harm. “I came to find Floyd, but as he is not here...”

“He is not here because you broke his heart.”

Oh. Maybe the man was one of Floyd’s friends rather than someone she knew. That made sense, she did keep to herself.

“I did not mean...”

“You left because you were having Mr. Brentwood’s baby,” he accused. “And now you come back in what appears to be a wedding dress. How many men are you involved with?”

The nasty statement reminded Annabelle too much of Watson's words. They were even based on falsehood, just like Lord Ashdown’s statement that she was a street girl. The first time, she was hurt by the words and she acted accordingly. Now, she felt nothing but anger.

“Do not act like you know anything about me when you do not," she hissed. "I am not certain of what rumours were spread around after I left, but I was never having a baby with anyone. It is utterly impossible for me to be pregnant by anyone." She hoped that would get across her virginal status without her having to actually say it out loud. “I was Mr. Brentwood’s employee, nothing more.” She glanced down at her dress and continued with her rant. “I am in a wedding dress because it is supposed to be my wedding day. I was also supposed to be marrying a horrible Lord who disrespected me from the very first moment I met him. I love Floyd, we ran away together because we fell in love.” Or so she believed at the time. “My father dragged me back to get married to the man he chose for me, but today he realized that was not right.”

“Oh.” The man did not know what to say, he had not been expecting that at all.

“So maybe next time, you should think before you listen to rumours. You should find out the truth before you accuse people.”

“Yes.” He looked down, regretfully. “I am sorry.”

Annabelle sighed loudly. She never wanted to have an argument, she just wanted safety for the night. “It is alright, I understand. Do you... maybe know where Floyd has gone?”

She sucked in a breath as she waited for him to answer. If Annabelle knew what direction Floyd went in, she could still try to find him. Even if she found out that he did not love her, she would know. The truth would hurt, but the question ‘what if’ would be a lot more painful...

“No, I do not.” The man shattered her plan. “He did not tell anyone where he was going. He just left.”

“Right, thank you.”

Violet could see the pain in Annabelle's eyes. While there was nothing she could do to stop it from radiating through her, she could take her to a bed where she could sleep it off. Things would hopefully look a lot different in the morning.

“Come on.” She tugged on Annabelle’s arm. “Let us get to my room so I can help you.”

Annabelle followed Violet away from the one person she had hoped could help her. She did not know where Floyd was, her dream of ever seeing his face again was gone. There was absolutely no telling where in the big wide world he had ended up. Searching for him would be utterly impossible. Especially if he did not want to be found.

He was lost to her.

Maybe Annabelle should have considered this possible outcome, maybe she should have planned for it, but everything happened so quickly. She did not think that it would ever come to this. Now, everything had shifted, she really did need to grow up. She was going to have to face the rest of her life alone. She could not go back home, she had left too much of a mess there, nor could she come back here.

Luckily, she was strong. As scary as it seemed right now, she knew that she could do it. Annabelle knew that she needed to rest tonight, but once she had gotten some sleep, she would create the best plan for her. Whatever that might be...

* * *

The morning brought with it a whole new attitude, just as Annabelle knew that it would. After everything that she had been through since the day of her sister’s wedding, Annabelle knew that the best things could come from the unexpected.

“Are you sure you do not wish to speak to Mr. Brentwood?” Violet asked sadly. “I am certain he will allow you to work for him again if you discuss the truth. He will understand. He has a new secretary now, but there is always work...”

"I cannot stay." Annabelle shook her head determinedly. "I cannot go backwards, I need to move forward. It will not be the same without Floyd anyway. I know I cannot find him, but I cannot stay here, surrounded by memories.” Surprisingly, a smile made its way up onto Annabelle’s lips. “I will try and stay nearby so we can still see one another. I will certainly write.”

As the girls embraced, Annabelle felt more positive than she expected. This was a chance for her to start again, the future was an endless expanse that was just waiting to be filled. Floyd was right about one thing, her adventure had only just begun. Now, she needed to get out there in the world and experience that. Thankfully, she had her father’s money to help her with that.

“Thank you so much for your help and clothes,” Annabelle chuckled. “I really appreciate everything that you have done for me, Violet.”

“I am sorry that you did not get what you came looking for,” Violet replied. “But I am glad that you have a plan for the future. Good luck in everything that you do. Although I do not think that you will need it. I am certain you will be fine.”

“Thank you,” Annabelle smiled. “I appreciate it. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, let me go and find out.”