The Party

(The Green Dress is what Annabel's wearing for the Party)

"You wouldn't believe who we ran into today while shopping for a dress for the party this Friday." Rebeca twirled her fork in the air and gave Richard a you wouldn't believe it look.

George looked up at her, he wasn't expecting her to be the one bringing it up. Maggie looked at her older brother for further details, but he just smiled at her. It was rare for George to join them for dinner nowadays, even more rare to see him smile, so who ever it was, made him smile again.

"Pray tell, who?" Richard said with a slight annoyed tone to his voice, it was getting exceedingly hard for him to put up with Rebeca.

"You tell him George."

All eyes turned to George as he cleared his throat in surprise.

"We saw mama."

Maggie gasped, Richards hand froze from cutting the steak and his eyes opened wider, the twins happily looked at each other and hugged and Margot, well, she started calling out to her again.

"Y-you," Richard cleared his throat and tried again. "You saw Annabel?"

His heart was fluttering.

"Yes, she works for the Wilton's now, believe it or not." Rebeca put a forkful of food in her mouth.

"Old Wilton's gotten sick to the point of being bedridden and I haven't visited him in a while. I think it's about time I stoped by to see how he's doing , don't you think George?" Richard wiped his mouth and put the napkin down, getting up from his seat.

"I do, I'll even accompany you." George pushed his chair back and got up.

"Where do you two think you're going? It's lunch time, people are eating right now. You can't just barge in unannounced." Rebeca annoyingly sighed at them.

"James!" Richard called out and the butler hurriedly came into the dinning room. "Call the Wilton's and tell them that George and I will be stopping by this evening to check in on old man Wilton."

"Of course sir."

George sat back down and got kicked under the table by his sister.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She hissed at him.

"I was going to, but she beat me to it."

"So ah," Richard sat back down and shifted in his seat. "How is she doing?"

Maggie and George smirked at each other.

"How am I supposed to know? Get this, she's going to the party on Friday. In what? Her hand me downs?" Rebeca laughed out loud like what she said was the most hilarious thing in the world, but no one else laughed.

"You know papa, I know you told me a few days ago to come along to this party and I refused, but I think I've changed my mind now." Maggie gave her father a sweet smile.

He raised a brow at her but didn't say anything. He has a feeling he knows why she changed her mind.

Later that evening Tiffany was following around Annabel as she and her younger siblings picked their toys up to put away.

"He's going to come." She said for the millionth time that day.

"I'd much rather if he didn't." Annabel grumbled as she continued to work.

"Deep down you do."

They both stared at each other when the door bell rung.

"It's gotta be him!" Tiffany excitedly squealed and ran out of the room.

"It's most definitely not." Annabel huffed, but she was still curious and walked out of the room, down the hallway and peaked around the corner, down the stairs to the open door where the butler was greeting whoever it was.

"Thank you for having us on such short notice."

Her hand flew to her heart as it skipped a beat once she heard a voice she hasn't heard  in a long time. She leaned back onto the wall and tried to calm her racing heart and slightly flushed cheeks. She was amazed and terrified of the strong effect his voice alone had on her.

Movement on the second floor caught Richards eye and he could swear it was a Annabel. He wanted, more than anything, to run up those stairs and find her. He needed to apologise to her. He needed her to come back home, for their kids, for him.

"Old man Wilton, he's upstairs in his room?" He strained his neck to see her and tried to move for the stairs.

"Actually sir, he managed to come downstairs into the living room to greet you." The butler motioned to the living rooms direction and Richard felt slight disappointment.

"I didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon." Tiffany came down the stairs with a smile on her face as George grinned up at her.

"Ms. Wilton." He walked towards her and helped her down the last step.

"Where's mama?" He whispered to her.

"Upstairs. Nothing I say will bring her down." She whispered back, but then she turned to Richard. "A pleasure to have you in our house Mr.Pelton."

"Ms.Tiffany, it's been a while." He tilted his head towards her.

"This way gentleman." She led them to the living room where her weak, frail father was sitting in his favourite seat.

"Wilton, my friend, it's been too long." Richard greeted his old friend and they sat and conversed like no time has even passed, but the entire time, Annabel was on Richards mind to the point that any noise coming from inside the house would get his heart racing and him sitting upright in case it was her and she was about to walk in.

George and Tiffany hit it off and in no time the two of them became close. They talked and brainstormed many ideas on how to get Annabel and Richard back on speaking terms and if possible, to actually get them together.

"This Friday?" Tiffany asked.

"This Friday." George confirmed.

*

On the day of the party things whizzed and happened so fast, Annabel didn't even realise what was happening until they were walking in the big ball room.

"Tiffany, I don't think this is a good idea."  Annabel whispered and gripped Tiffany's arm in slight fear at the big, intimidating venue.

It was all bright with chandeliers, polished floors that were so bright she could see her reflection, a music band in the corner that has already started playing and the amount of incredibly rich people already present.

"I don't fit in."

"Yes you do. You look better than half the women here."

"What about the other half?"

Tiffany gave her a pointed look.

"Annabel, you're going to be fine. You'll fit right in, don't worry. Look, you've already caught a few mens attention, although it's not from anyone you should care about. Say, where's Richard?"

"He'll be here? Then it's definitely not a good idea for me to stay. That man hates me." It pained her more than she liked to admit when she said that. "I shouldn't be here Tiff."

"Yes you should. Live a little Annie. You have to make him jealous."

"Jealous of what?"

"Just jealous. Here's the plan-"

"There is no plan."

"George and I thought-"

"You got George into this!?"

"- up this amazing plan. It's fool proof, trust me. He'll see you dancing in the arms of another man, get jealous and whisk you away. He'll take you back and wife you up and then you two will have the most adorable children and I will be the best au-"

"Tiffany, that's enough. None of what you said is going to happen. Mr.Pelton is engaged and soon to be married. It's not proper to say these things. Get these fantasies out of your head."

"But you would make the most wonderful chi-"

"I think it's time I head home." Annabel turned around and began heading the other way.

"Annabel! Come back, I'll stop, I promise." Tiffany went after her.

"No, we both know that-" Annabel suddenly turned around and walked to Tiffany. Both girls held onto each others arms.

"What? What is it?" Tiffany searched Annabel's spooked eyes.

"He's here. Richards here, what do I do?"

Tiffany looked behind Annabel and sure enough, Richard, his fiancé, and his two eldest kids were walking in. She then looked around her, grabbed the nearest man and shoved both him and Annabel to the dance floor.

"My friend here is a little shy. Why don't you show her the dance floor?" She gave the man a shut it look when he looked back at her in surprise and panic.

"Tiffany!" Annabel glared at her friend who just continued to push them until they were on the dance floor.

"I'm really sorry about her." Annabel apologised to the gentleman in front of her as they forcibly began to dance together to the music with the other dance couple.

"It's alright. I don't mind dancing with a beautiful lady like yourself." He smiled at her and she awkwardly laughed.

"Why thank you."

Richard scanned the crowd and his eyes fell on the most ethereal women he has ever laid eyes on. Her awkward smile, her beautiful brown hair, her glowing skin, the way her dress moved and how the colour complimented her so well. It set his soul on fire. Annabel set his soul on fire.

And it bothered him more than words can describe and more than he cared to admit that she was dancing in another man's arms.

Without even realising what he was doing, his feet moved on their own, away from his family and fiancée, to her.

"Annabel." He breathed out.

The song had just finished and she had just curtsied to the man in front of her while he bowed. The man looked up behind her at someone and she was about to turn, but froze when she heard her name coming from his lips.

Her dance partner gave her a quick smile and left, leaving her alone to deal with Richard.

"Would you turn around?" He asked softly, one of his hands going up and gently holding her elbow.

"Mr.Pelton, I don't think you should-"

He turned her around and they began dancing once the music came on, holding each other at a slight distance while they twirled and whirled to the slightly more upbeat song.

"Richard, I thought I told you to call me Richard when we're alone." He said when he pulled her closer in and then had to twirl her out again.

She looked even more beautiful and he didn't even know how that was possible.

"Well we're not alone, are we?"

He smiled at her cleverness, but then it dropped.

"I stopped by the Wilton's the other day when George told us that's where you work now. I was maybe hoping-"

"What? That I would come down and greet you? Why would I do that? You kicked me out, I do not owe you a greeting, or this dance actually. I would much rather go back to the Wilton's house and be getting ready for bed than be here."

"Then why come in the first place? You hate these events."

She couldn't tell him that he was the main reason she was there.

They continued to dance silently although it felt loud and suffocating, each was drowned in their own thoughts. People around the dance floor whispered amongst themselves about the mysterious women dancing with Mr.Pelton. Who is she to capture his attention the second he walks in the room that he makes a beeline for her and has his first dance of the evening with her and not his fiancée?

"Come home Annabel."

She ignored his pleading eyes and stared at a spot on his shoulder.

"How are the kids doing?"

"They'd be better if you were around."

"But I'm not. I wonder why?" She gave him a pointed look and he looked away.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled that night. I shouldn't have overreacted. I shouldn't have let you go. Would you come home now? Our kids-the kids really need you Annie. Things are falling apart and-"

"Well it's nice to know you feel sorry for that night. But I can't just pack up and move back in. I have responsibilities to deal with at the Wilton's and children to look after. Plus, I'm sure the kids new nannie would do just fine. Now excuse me, I'm feeling a little thirsty."

The song ended and she moved away from him, but he followed her.

"They don't have a new nannie." He said as they weaved between the crowd.

"And why on earth is that?"

"Rebeca likes looking after them."

"I'm sure she does."

"That sounds very sarcastic."

"It is. Now please leave me alone. I have a friend to find and you have a fiancée to get to. It was very improper of you to have your first dance with me."

"Who cares about what's proper?"

She furiously turned around and jabbed a finger in his chest.

"You, I can't believe you! Your children's and your family's image does. Don't ruin it, and you will continue to ruin it if you keep following me and talking to me. Your fiancée is furiously marching over here, pull yourself together Richard."

She turned around and continued to the drinks table.

"Margot's sick."

She froze.

"What?"

"She has a high fever."

"And what exactly are you doing here?" She slowly turned around, clear annoyance and anger in her eyes.

"W-well I'm at a-"

"Are you being serious right now? Did you even leave a single maid to look after her?"

He shook his head no.

"I can't believe you. I actually can't believe you! You left your three year old daughter, unattended, and sick. I at least had others take turns to babysit them while I was out on a stroll, while you left her no one! Do you see how badly you're contradicting yourself right now Richard? This is the exact reason why you fired me. I honestly cannot believe you."

She slightly lifted the front of her dress and hurriedly made her way out of the party.

"I cannot believe him. That stupid, stupid man." She mumbled under her breath.

Richard ran after her, pushing past people.

"Papa, where are you going?" Maggie followed her slightly frantic father, George right behind her.

"Follow mama, we're going home." He said to her.

"You saw mama?"

"Didn't you see? He was even dancing with her." George said.

The siblings shared a look and grinned.