Chapter 1

 

'Annabelle, you should consider yourself extremely lucky to have caught the interest of Lord Clifford. Instead of sounding ungrateful and most uncharitable about him, what many a lady would give to be in your place. I am sure that Rebecca Philips urged on by her mother no doubt would be at Lord Clifford's side right now making herself most agreeable to him, rather than sitting here at the corner of this ballroom complaining needlessly,' Annabelle heard her mother snort out at her own mention of Lady June Philips who she had a secret rivalry with.

'Mother I am sorry if you think I sound so ungrateful when I say I am not sure if I like him enough to marry him,' Annabelle resisted rolling her eyes in frustration as she spoke, knowing there may be people at the party watching them. 'And I even feel sorry now that it was not Rebecca who caught Lord Clifford's eye instead of me, because perhaps then I would not have all this unwanted pressure on me from Papa and yourself!' Annabelle sulked.

'Annabelle really! Why ever would you feel sorry for the Philips....if they were in our position they would be lording over us the fact that they were on the verge of making such a potentially good match with a Clifford.'

'But don't you see that if you are right and he asks me that question.......then I will have to make a big decision, the biggest decision of my life, it will change my world completely.....shouldn't we...I... not be sure first if love and mutual respect can grow between us.'