Annabelle came out of the water much fresher. His anger seemed to evaporate along with the waterfall that sprinkled it. She crawled back up the cliff and sat on the rock, drying his body, clothes and golden hair.
When she was sure everything was dry, Annabelle put her horse back on and the red hood that protected her. Speeding up the horse with him, she returned to the estate.
"Griselda!" called Annabelle to the butler.
"Yes, Miss Annabelle," answered Griselda.
"Prepare my emerald green dress, I'm going to the Lord Albert Louis's dance party. I don't want to be Lord Falkner's mistress."
Hearing the words of his lord daughter, Griselda smiled happily.
"With pleasure, My Lady."
"I'm not a Lady yet, Gisela," argued Annabelle.
"In a minute, My Lady Louis."
Annabelle's eyes stared hard at her servant, when she heard Griselda mention Lady Louis. Even she didn't know how Lord Louis looked, who was so famous for his good looks.
After Annabelle said, if she wanted to attend the Duke's dance party, Griselda became very busy. She started calling in a tailor to make an emerald green dress that puffed up at the bottom. Don't forget to make a corset that is comfortable for Annabelle to wear. Which would make Annabelle's waist appear slender and seductive.
Griselda also prepared the best horse to pull the carriage Annabelle was going to use to her ball. Repainting old unused iron chariots, polishing them in such a way that they looked like new again. Rubbing against their faded family symbol "The Taylor Family Symbol".
When Annabelle learned of the preparations Griselda was making, Annabelle scrambled her waist.
"Actually, who is going to the dance party? Me or you?" asked Annabelle when she realized how busy the waitress was.
"You, My Lady," answered Griselda.
"Stop calling me Lady."
"That is my prayer, My Lady."
Annabelle rolled her eyes, without thinking of courtesy. If his parents or great-grandchildren knew, they would have hit him on the head for being so disrespectful. "No princess rolls her eyes, just because she doesn't agree with other people's opinions. That's very disrespectful," his great-grandfather told himself.
"How much money did you spend preparing for all this Griselda?"
"Quite a lot, but it's not worth what you'll get."
"We are in need of money to pay off this estate's debt, why are you even wasting it on a dress and a horse-drawn carriage?"
"Everything I do is your initial capital this will make you look stunning. You will never be underestimated again."
"Listen, Griselda. Even I don't know what Lord Albert Louis looks like. I may have misunderstood someone. Anyway, I will marry any noble who is single and wealthy. It doesn't matter he is Lord Albert Louis or not."
"No, Miss Annabelle. You have to find the Duke. If it's just the landlord or Earl once, Lord Falkner can still beat you. Look for the best-looking guy at the party, who has lots of girls going around. He is Lord Albert Louis whom you must seduce."
"I will remember what you said Griselda."
A few days later, the dance party that all London women have been waiting for arrives. Griselda had prepared everything Annabelle needed. Even the gloves and handkerchief that Annabelle is going to wear have been matched with her emerald green dress.
"Stop Griselda! This corset tortures me terribly," said Annabelle as Griselda tightened the straps.
"You have to flirt with a slim waist, Miss Annabelle. I still have to tighten it again."
"This is too much, my chest is tight feeling this girdle."
"Hold on for the next few hours, I beg you."
"I won't be able to sit comfortably, I swear this is the last time I'm going to wear a corset," Annabelle started cursing, while Griselda was silent and continued to tie the corset straps.
That night, Annabelle sat on the train that would take her to the castle of Lord Albert Louis, Duke of Hamilton. Annabelle stared at the brown invitation in her hand. She brought the invitation to his nose and felt the aroma. Smelling like wooddust in summer, Annabelle felt as if she were in the middle of a forest.
Annabelle's hands, which were wrapped in white gloves, opened the ribbon that was tied beautifully at the front of the invitation. Her eyes stared at the writing there, Annabelle's fingers tracing Lord Albert Louis's gold inked signature.
"How will I find you, My Lord?"
The horse carriage Annabelle was riding suddenly stopped. She opened the window beside him. A large and very beautiful castle lay in front of him. Horse carts, lining up to drop off the guests, gave Annabelle a chance to admire the castle.
Not yet satisfied with admiring it, the horse carriage door opened. A man reached out to help Annabelle get off her horse carriage. The man bent over to usher in Annabelle.
Annabelle was standing in front of the castle, all eyes on her. They started whispering to Annabelle. For those who don't know her, they whisper in awe of her beauty. But for the women who knew him, they whispered about his pine status.
No matter how beautiful and charming she was, it still felt uncomfortable to be the subject of gossip. Annabelle chose a quiet place while looking for the figure Griselda said.
"Handsome and surrounded by women," muttered Annabelle.
At that moment, Annabelle's eyes caught the figure Griselda was saying. In the center of the room stood a handsome man in flashy clothes. All the women seemed to admire him. They giggled while covering their mouths, being polite, when the man spoke. As if the man was telling a joke.
Annabelle's eyes locked onto the man, lest Lord Albert Louis be out of sight. She devised a strategy, how to seduce him.
Albert came out of his room very late. There's a land dispute that he has to resolve before the dance party starts. He had absolutely no wish for this to happen, just as the ball was going on. His chest felt tight looking at all the guests who came. His castle was huge, but for some reason, the night seemed so crowded and packed.
When he wanted to step into the center of the hall, his eyes widened when he saw the woman in a beautiful green dress. Her waist was very slender, and seductive. Albert knew, behind that slender waist, there was an uncomfortable feeling. He felt like pulling her corset back and relieve her from his suffering.
Albert immediately recognized the woman. The forest woman he had seen twice. The woman who races her horse and races with it. A woman who is without fear, plunging from a height with a swift current of water. Those blue eyes sparkled like jewels of great beauty and rarity.
Albert's heart felt hot, when he saw the direction of the woman's gaze. The woman's eyes continued to gaze at the Earl of Lawton. The woman's feet began to step toward the man. With quick steps, Albert approached Annabelle and stopped her steps.
Annabelle's eyes, which didn't let the man in the middle of the hall fade away, didn't really notice if someone had blocked her way.
"I'm sorry, My Lord. You got in my way."
"Where are you going, Miss...?"
"Annabelle, My Lord."
"Where are you going, Miss Annabelle?"
"I want to meet Lord Albert Louis," Annabelle replied without looking at the man she was talking to. What was on her mind was to keep locking up the man she thought was Lord Albert.
"Who do you want to meet?" Albert repeated, frowning, as if he could not believe what he had heard. Annabelle wanted to meet him, but her eyes were on another man. Was she in the wrong person and thought that the Earl of Lawton was him? What if tonight, he had a little fun with the woman in front of him? Inner Albert.
"Lord Albert Louis, My Lord," repeated Annabelle, answering the question of the man in front of her.
"Lord Albert Louis seems to be busy accompanying the girls, how about tonight I accompany you, Miss Annabelle."
Realizing that her name was being called, Annabelle's eyes finally looked at the man who was blocking her path. His eyes suddenly widened, as those clear golden brown eyes were staring at him.
"Oh my, you?" Annabelle's words choked up as she recognized the man as a handsome and charming rider. Annabelle immediately didn't care about the man she thought was Lord Albert Louis, because the charming man in front of her had caught her attention.