Diamonds Fall (13 page)

Annabel heard Daniel call after her as the trap jerked into action.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed in his direction. She could see the frown in between his eyes and the hard line of his mouth as he tried unsuccessfully to reassure her.

"I love you."

She saw his lips move over the words but couldn't hear them uttered. The trap disappeared into the trees before she had the time to respond.

"Why - why are you doing this?" she sobbed.

"We were ordered by your father to bring in the man you were found with. It's over now Miss." There was feigned loyalty in his voice.

"I can take you to the real kidnapper. I know where he is...please."

"No Miss, we have to get you home."

"NO! Let him go! I - I order you to let him go! LISTEN TO ME!"

She heard the officer laugh as she pummelled his chest. He lifted her with ease onto the back of his horse and kicked it as hard as he could. Annabel wanted to jump down but they were now galloping through the woods at break neck speed, such an endeavour would have been suicide.

After a while she gave up fighting. These men had said they were taking her home. Her father would surely sort out the misunderstanding in a matter of seconds.

"Look Ma'am," said the sergeant, breaking through the heavy silence as they slowed to a gentle trot about half an hour later. There was no trace of amusement or enthusiasm in his voice. "You were kidnapped, believed murdered, we were told - and paid handsomely for it - to get you back and arrest the man that took you. We're just doing our job."

Annabel saw it all now; they needed a scapegoat to get their money. Going to the village would take them another few days. Why would they bother when they could just blame Daniel and save themselves the work? Annabel spit in the officers face, he laughed in hers.

"Well I can see all the hype surrounding you was wrong, you're not much more than a peasant. I'm sure your fiancé will be very excited to get you back. "

"You must have forgotten your place officer. I will ruin you!"

He laughed again and seized up her wrists with one hand, holding them firmly around his waist. The experience of riding with the officer was completely different to riding with Daniel. This man's flesh was softer with too many rich meals. His uniform scratched her face as it bounced against his shoulder. Daniel's carving dug painfully into the skin just above her heart.

Annabel must have imagined her homecoming thousands of times over the past few weeks. In all of those fantasies she had been seated in one of her family's fancy carriages, dressed from head to toe in silk and jewels with Billy, Jen, Patsy and Daniel at her side.

This was as far from that daydream as possible.

The officer let go of her hands as they reached the edge of the forest, emerging into a sudden burst of morning sun shine that made Annabel squint. The journey back had been significantly shorter than the journey there, suggesting Trevor hadn't really known where he was going, or had ridden for much shorter bursts of the day.

The officer made her jump off the horse and remount so she was sitting side saddle.

"As befits a lady of your station, of course," he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Annabel tried to rearrange the ratty trousers and ripped dress that she had on so she at least resembled the former queen of high society but gave up almost immediately, seeing the effort was futile. The officer, back on the horse as well, combed his fat fingers through her tangled hair, pulling loose a few strands on several occasions.

It was an ironic twist that, in that moment, she felt exactly the same as when she had been taken...vulnerable and violated.

However, just before they were about to turn towards the centre of town the officer seemed to change his mind and led her, not towards Hoddington Manor, but towards the police station.

It being a clear day, Annabel spotted the big house seated on a large, steep hill off to their right and got a sudden thrill of anticipation.

They made it to the station within ten minutes. Annabel could already see the trap that had taken Daniel parked outside and she looked around frantically for some sign of him. There was none.

The officer, who was still yet to identify himself, jumped off the horse with a thud, as his considerable bulk hit the floor and pulled her after him. They bypassed the main entrance, raised above the street by three granite steps, choosing instead a small back door. Annabel was led down a dingy corridor lined with five or six closed doors, each holding the name of a sergeant, before they reached one that read `Sergeant T. Link' and entered. As they crossed the threshold the floorboards squeaked beneath Annabel's feet. She immediately rounded on the officer.

"You have to free Daniel."

The officer laughed. "I'll leave your father to decide that one."

"But he is innocent and you are supposed to bring about justice."

The officer gave another hollow laugh. "Yeah, sure we are sweet pea. We are supposed to feed our families as well. That's what I'm doing. Wait here."

He pointed to a low, wooden chair on the far side of a rickety desk and closed the door behind him. Annabel could hear his heavy footfalls echo down the hall.

Finally alone, Annabel seized her chance and dashed out the door. She heard it click back into place and closed her eyes briefly, hoping the officer had not heard it.

She had to speak to her father.

As quietly as she could, Annabel ran along the hall towards the door at the end. When she reached it she darted outside and ran along the cobbled street, her bare feet slapping against the smooth stones.

She thrust her arm out when she saw a cab roll past but it didn't stop. Annabel cursed under her breath and continued along at a steady jog, receiving many disgusted looks along the way as she fled into the more upmarket part of town. People crossed the road when they saw her coming, too caught up in their own selfishness to look past the ragged clothes and see one of the wealthiest women in the world, in desperate need of assistance.

As she started up the hill that would inevitably lead her home, a couple of people got up the nerve to stop her, or try to, but Annabel shook them all off. She continued now at a faster pace, until she reached the top with burning lungs and searing limbs. With the manor now in full sight Annabel felt a touch of her old vanity creep back into her blood so she reached into her bodice, pulling out the hair comb which she twisted into her limp, greasy hair. She hoped she would be recognised just enough to allow her through the gates. She smoothed her torn dress down with her hands, noticing how much rougher they looked, the skin now dry and red, before glancing up.

Looking upon the manor, Annabel realised she had never truly appreciated the grandeur of the place. She had called the building home for eighteen years but had never even looked at it until then, as she stood as just another spectator to the Hoddingtons' unachievable perfection.

Taking a deep breath she quickly reached the set of gigantic, golden gates that shielded the world from the splendour they couldn't afford, whilst simultaneously trapping the wealthy family inside.

Beyond the gleaming gates the walls of Hoddington Manor shone pure white. Hundreds of windows studded the surface, glistening in the dull sunlight like row upon row of shimmering diamonds, set against the majestic pallor of royal skin. White roses crept along the numerous pillars flanking the grand entrance, in such a way that proved dozens of gardeners spent entire days pruning them. The grounds around its walls were immaculate, dotted with impressive sculptures and fountains arranged with hundreds more carefully tended white flowers. These grounds stood in stark contrast to the acres of unruly meadows beyond them, used throughout the summer for hunting. Just on the other side of the gate was a small, one story house resided in by the team of uniformed gatekeepers.

This was probably the only time Annabel had ever looked upon her home with anything longer than a fleeting glance and she was in awe.

She stood on the wrong side of these gates for about five minutes, her hands wrapped around the golden bars in an attempt to see how she was supposed to enter on foot. The gates had always been opened as she approached before so she did not know the protocol when they were closed.

A young girl in a black maid's uniform passed her with a basket of fragrant, fresh herbs and made her way around to the smaller, servant's entrance where a guard stood on the opposite side. Neither of them paid the beggar in rags so much as a look.

Annabel took her lead and followed the unsuspecting woman. The maid quickened her step, realising within seconds she was being followed. The guard slammed the gate behind the maid with such finality it shook for a good few seconds afterwards. Annabel, hearing hooves falling gently behind her, glanced over her shoulder. Just crossing over the brow of the hill was the officer, Sergeant Link she assumed, remembering the sign on his door. He was closing in on her rapidly.

"Um...hello, I um -" She began talking to the guard in a hurried voice, her mind fogged by exhaustion, her lungs still clamouring for breath. The guard studiously ignored her, his arms pressed to his sides, his body motionless.

"Excuse me, guard. I need to get through to my house. Excuse me...I ORDER YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!"

The guard flinched at her authoritative tone and his eyes flickered to her face. It was the only part of him that moved. They widened as they caught sight of the glittering hair comb and then sunk into thin slits as if he was disbelieving his own vision. He seemed to be thinking very hard.

"As you are wondering, yes my name is Miss Annabel Maria Hoddington. I live here, please let me through."

She employed her trademark air of impatience to make her case more believable. She clearly succeeded for the gatekeeper gasped. His eyes flickered back to the diamonds in her hair. They seemed to offer him the proof he was desperately seeking and his hands flew up to his mouth. The expression of his shock was so great and unexpected he swayed on his feet for a few seconds, as if he would topple over. He looked hurriedly around for someone to tell him what to do. When he found no one, he swallowed, his adams apple bobbing in his throat.

"Miss - Miss Hoddington."

The man sank into a low bow and then jumped, as if remembering for the first time the large gate standing between them. He immediately searched through his pockets, drawing out a large ring of keys that jangled in his trembling hand. Fumbling through them he eventually found the correct one and opened the small gate, embedded inside the larger. As she stepped through it, he bowed again and offered her his white gloved hand for assistance. She must have looked as tired as she felt. His crumpled expression as she passed him told her she didn't smell too great either.

"I have been absent for quite some time and getting home in a prompt manner would be most satisfying," Annabel said.

The guard nodded frantically, looking around himself again for someone to help him. He seemed torn between escorting his mistress to the house and staying at his ordered post.

"It is quite alright," Annabel continued, noticing his internal struggle. "I can escort myself home and a sufficient bonus will find its way into your wages. Thank you. Oh and tell the officer behind me, my family are incredibly grateful for my safe return and they will happily provide him with a light lunch, should he wish to head around to the servant's kitchen."

She smirked up at the officer who had just pulled up by the gate, his mouth hanging open at her insult. She waved before turning on her heel towards home.

"No!" she heard Sergeant Link exclaim in an outraged tone.

This situation being a much more familiar one the guard began his spiel, repeating a speech that was clearly used on all unwanted visitors, with an air of detached disinterest.

"I am to take her into the house," Annabel heard the officer plead somewhat pathetically, his authority failing him. The gatekeeper repeated the exact same speech, obviously bored.

"That is quite unnecessary, I assure you." Annabel called over her shoulder. "You see I have my own legs that work perfectly fine."

She heard the gatekeeper's muffled snigger, as if he had raised a hand to his mouth to hide the expression and she winked at him. He seemed taken aback by his young mistress's friendliness but quickly reassembled his impassive facial expression.

Annabel employed her usual upper class tone. It felt strange now on her out of practice tongue.

"I believe your duty was to return me safely to my house officer, nothing more. You have therefore fulfilled your brief. If you wish to stay, as I said earlier, by all means you may wait out here with the rest of the staff. I would extend you my thanks but frankly, it would be a lie. Good day."

Sergeant Link's face fell into a vicious glare and Annabel smiled back at him as she walked further up the immaculate drive.

Annabel had quite forgotten the magnitude of her home. Having survived in nothing more than a stable, the sheer size of this house seemed excessive to say the least.

As she reached the entrance, time seemed to slow down.

Stepping inside the grand foyer, her bare feet slapping against the marble, Annabel was surrounded by the perfumed scents of her illustrious childhood. There were gasps from all angles as the various members of staff caught sight of her, stopping in their tasks to register the girl silhouetted majestically in the door.

One gasp in particular caught Annabel's attention more than all the others. A tall woman, dressed from head to toe in black silk, had stopped in the middle of the floor, her hand clutching her chest in shock.

Annabel approached her mother slowly, as if unsure she was truly there. The elder woman had the exact same expression on her own, gaunt face. When they were within a few inches of each other she reached out, brushing Annabel's cheek with cold fingers. She drew in a shaky breath and did something that took her daughter (already on the edge of a meltdown) by total surprise; she drew her into her embrace, cradling her head against her breast as both of them collapsed onto the floor in a pool of black silk.