Chapter 77 The New Order
The air was bathed in a golden glow as the morning sun slanted through the tall windows.
A profound silence descended upon the mansion, a stillness that felt different from the typical serene quiet. It was as quiet as the prelude to a storm heavy and expectant.
The events of the previous night and the tense conversation with Carson had been replayed in Annabel's mind as she slept fitfully.
The idea of eating still made her stomach churn. The tray of toast and eggs on the table by the window was unattended by her.
The stifling silence became unbearable after some time. With the crumpled tissues and the ghosts of her tears, Annabel needed to get up, breathe and be somewhere else.
After smoothing her wrinkled silk pajamas and running her fingers through her tangled hair she left her room on tiptoe, her bare feet silent on the soft hallway carpet.
She did not know her destination. Perhaps the gardens. All she needed was a place to get away. There was a low murmur of voices coming from the sitting room as she walked down the grand staircase.
Her heart was pounding her ribs in a slow deliberate rhythm as she froze on the final step.
She was able to identify the voices. One was that of a woman with a bright melodic voice that had called Carson darling the previous evening.
Her stomach twisted with icy fear.
Annabel was aware that she needed to go back and hide in her room. But she was stuck there like a moth at a dangerous fire. With her body pressed against the wall she looked around the corner.
It was an extravagant cage, a symphony of cream and gold in the sitting room. Standing by the fireplace with her back to Annabel was a woman.
Her blonde hair cascaded down to her waist in graceful waves and beneath the upscale fabric of her dress her shoulders were straight and slender.
The woman was making a gesture with a jewel-studded hand while holding a delicate porcelain teacup.
“It’s been a long time since I was here to be honest.”With a tinkling bell-like voice the woman remarked “Everything is exactly as I remember it. However it appears that the staff is a little stupid. One of them just stared at me when I asked her to get my bags out of the car…Don't worry though I corrected them…”
Annabel's heart froze. As though she owned the place, the woman was giving orders to the employees.
Despite being a guest and an intruder she behaved like the castle's queen. She balled her fists at her sides at the insolence of it.
While considering her options, Annabel remained motionless for a while. Should she turn around and go?
The embarrassment of being seen in her rumpled pajamas served as a strong incentive. A bold flash of the armor she had vowed to wear however was more powerful.
She wasn't going to hide.
The woman by the fireplace turned as Annabel took a deep breath and stepped fully into the entryway.
Her face, which was a flawless oval with high cheekbones and big almond-shaped eyes that were a striking shade of blue was just as lovely as her voice.
Her face lit up with recognition and her brows raised.
“Look look. It's the little maid.” the woman said, her voice becoming less sweet and more steely.
Instead of looking at Annabel's face she swept her gaze across her bare feet and tangled hair. Despite her hot flush of embarrassment Annabel kept her head up.
She needed to be strong.
“I'm not a maid” Annabel stated in a steady, even voice.
The woman's mouth formed a small disagreeable smile. “Oh my goodness you look the part. I saw you hurry out of the dining room last night. Aren't you the girl who was here? It looked like you were really upset.”
“My name is Annabel” she stated firmly.
In the corridor she noticed the butlers and maids from the night before their shoulders hunched and their eyes wide as they gazed at the conversation.
With a mix of fear and sympathy they gazed at Annabel. She was aware that they had most likely dealt with this woman previously.
The woman's laughter was a sharp brief sound devoid of humor. “Annabel. How charming. I don't have time for this Annabel. I need my bags taken to Carson's room and they are in the car.Why don't you get them since you appear to be doing nothing?”
“No.” Annabel uttered. “I’m not a maid.”
There was a shadow across the woman's face and her eyes narrowed. Her jeweled hand clenched at her side as she stepped toward Annabel.
“Listen to me. Although I'm not sure who you are or what you believe you're doing here I don't have to do your biddings.” Anabelle said
“I am Bridget, your soon to be boss. You should go get my bags, I'm ordering you. Right now.” Bridget's cold rage was matched by the heat that Annabel felt rising on her own.
She refused to be treated like a piece of furniture and was neither a maid nor a servant. She had to defend herself.
“I'm not a housekeeper or maid. And I won't get your bags. You can ask another person to do it. It is not possible to simply enter someone's home and start directing them.” Anabelle challenged.
Bridget moved forward one more step. She had a small amused smile on her face as she watched the show.
“This is Carson's house. And it will be my house soon.” Bridget uttered in a menacingly low voice. “So I can command people to do anything I want. You'd better adjust to it. Because I'm back. And I won't be leaving.”
Annabel stood back a step.
“I don’t give a damn about your identity. I'm not a maid.”
With a tone full of poison Bridget uttered “Until I return you are just a toy for Carson to exploit. When he's feeling lonely he picks up girls like you. He throws them away after growing tired of them. That has always been the case. You ought to have simply remained where you were before.”
Annabel's mouth tensed. She needed to fight back to prove to her that she was more than a toy, that she was a real person with a name, emotions and self-worth.
“Carson loves me.”Annabel remarked her voice trembling a little.
Before she could stop them the words escaped and she witnessed Bridget’s expression change from disdain to utter rage.
With a leap forward Bridget raised her hand. Even though Annabel braced herself the blow never came.
From behind her, a powerful, firm hand sprang out and clamped down on Bridget’s wrist.
Annabel’s eyes grew wide. Slowly, she turned to see who it was.