Ms. Pratt opened the curtains to Annabelle's room and Annabelle cringed from the light that reached her eyes and burrowed under the covers a little deeper. She felt utterly drained from the endless, shopping, tea parties and meetings. She had not even been officially presented yet. She was just being introduced to her Aunt's inner circle of friend, a bunch of old biddies that seemed to want to do nothing but criticize her.

Like the other day at tea, Lady Denton had scrunched her face like she sucked a lemon and said, "She is too scrawny, Augusta." The woman continued to walk around her accessing, "You must find a way to put some weight on the child. No man would believe her capable of surviving childbirth let alone be healthy enough to bare him a son!"

Aunt Augusta would never defend her, she'd just smile at her friends tolerantly and pretend that she was interested in their opinion, which Annabelle was quite certain she was not as the only opinion that mattered to her Aunt was her Aunt's opinion.

Not even her own opinion was welcome. At the dressmakers, she was not allowed to choose her own ribbons or fabrics. Everything she showed her Aunt was met with a frown or an "Absolutely not" or "Honestly, Annabelle."

Annabelle began to feel like she did not know a thing about anything. Till this point in her life she had thought of herself as intelligent, maybe not her sister's version of intelligence but certainly she was not completely empty headed.

Just for one day she would love to escape it all.

"Lady Annabelle, you must rise. Your Aunt is waiting for you."

Annabelle let out an audible groan, but before she could protest further the covers where pulled back and she was being dressed, brushed and polished. Annabelle missed her country life. She did find the city, it's hustle and bustle, and variety well suited to her artistic sensibilities but ultimately she was a country girl at heart.

Her ideal would be more simple life, a home and family to dote upon. Although she felt certain she'd make the perfect hostess, she really wanted a quiet life, to enjoy those she loved. As she took in her appearance in front of the looking glass she, heard Lady Denton's words echoing in her head, "Too scrawny," and frowned.

"Is something wrong?" Ms. Pratt asked. In her opinion, the young woman looked perfect in her morning dress, the beautiful light blue had complemented her immensely.

"I am so sorry, Ms. Pratt. No, everything is fine. Thank you for your help."

Ms. Pratt looked relieved and curtseyed and left the room.

Annabelle looked over at her painting of the garden and ran her fingertips across it. It has been a week and she has not been able to touch it. Even at her insistence that Mr. Harris was waiting for it, her Aunt just told her there wasn't time.

She sighed and shrugged. "Maybe tomorrow," she said aloud, though no one was there to listen. She left her room and descended the stairs. At the bottom, Aunt Augusta's butler was waiting. "She is in the drawing room, Miss."

"Thank you," Annabelle said. She paused briefly before entering the doors. She wanted a day off. She was tired of all this running about. She had to inform her Aunt. She just could not keep up this pace.

She took a deep breath. Opened the doors wide and stated, "Aunt Augusta I have decided that..."

Her words came to a halt upon her lips as her Aunt and to her astonishment Mr. Cyril Kane stood and looked at her, both obviously startled by her loud and boisterous entrance.

"My apologies. I was unaware we had a guest," Annabelle said, she could not believe he was here.

"Mr. Kane is not our guest. He is here on... business," Lady Cantrell clarified. She did not care for the look in Annabelle's eyes upon seeing Mr. Kane in the room. Her niece looked positively flushed and excited but thankfully was quick to squash it, and regain her composure.

"Business?" Annabelle asked.

"Yes, I require your Aunt's signature on the documents she requested us to prepare for her when we last met," Cyril had explained, his serious expression broke as a secret smile appeared just at the corner of his mouth. Although, she was quick to recover, it thrilled him immensely to see her reaction to him. He could not help but smile.

"I see," Annabelle said, trying hard not to be affected by his appearance but she had sincerely thought she would never see him again and as he smiled at her, she felt a nervous flutter spread through her.

"Ahem!" Things were out of hand. Lady Cantrell broke the spell. Mr. Kane's smile instantly faded, releasing the hold it had over Annabelle.

"Mr. Harris also inquires after his painting," Cyril asked, his stoic manners back in place.

Annabelle wished she could bring that smile back. "I fear I have had little time to work on it."

"Yes, my niece has been very busy with her other more important social obligations. Mr. Harris will just have to wait. I am certain he will understand," Lady Cantrell said.

Cyril nodded. "I will make certain he does."

"But please," Annabelle spoke up, "please ask him not to give up on me. I did promise and promises are very important to me."

"Knowing Mr. Harris as I do. I am certain he would never give up on you, Lady Annabelle." He loved that he could remove that worried expression from her features and she rewarded him with another smile, which instantly caused him to respond in kind.

"The papers?" Lady Cantrell asked abruptly.

Cyril instantly turned away and said, "Of course, I have them here." He handed the prepared documents to her.

"I will need a moment to review these, Annabelle. I will be with you momentarily. Ms. Pratt will fetch you when I am through."

She was being dismissed. She did not wish to go. Annabelle wished she could figure out at moment to be alone with Mr. Kane so she could ask him about her letter, but knew that was impossible, their first meeting after all was by chance.

Dejected, she said, "Of course, Aunt Augusta."

Cyril did not wish her to go. She was being sent away, and he panicked. "Lady Annabelle, with your Aunt's approval perhaps when we have finished here...you would accept to take a carriage ride with me through the park?"

Annabelle turned back but her Aunt had already responded, "Absolutely not!"

"Mr. Kane, I fear it would be most inappropriate to accept your generous offer," Annabelle said hoping to soften the blow of her Aunt's words. "I have yet to have my Presentation at court and to be seen traveling in the park with a man I barely know..."

Cyril had not thought of this, and berated himself for not doing so. "Of course, you are right. I would never wish to have your reputation disparaged in any way, Lady Annabelle. I had only hoped to be of service." He felt like such a fool.

"It was a wonderful idea," Annabelle said, "And a service indeed as I could use the respite but perhaps you can join us for refreshments after you have finished with my Aunt here?"

The invite had come from her directly, it would be rude to refuse but he knew just by the look on her Aunt's features he was expected to. He however, looking back to Annabelle and seeing her expectant face could refuse her nothing.

"Thank you, for your invitation. I humbly accept," he replied bowing slightly to her.

She beamed that radiant light at him and it warmed him heart and soul. "Wonderful, I will have everything ready by the time your meeting has adjourned."

He felt elated to be able to steal a few more moments with her, but his excitement burst the moment he turned and seen Lady Cantrell. Her look severe, she demanded...

"I want know this very moment, Mr. Kane. What exactly are your intentions towards my niece?"