Chapter 18
Chelsey almost chocked on her hot chocolate.
"My father?"
"Yes mam"
"Take out my gown. Anyone will do " she told Annalise and hurried eating. She needed to have something in her stomach before she talked with her father.
She was supposed to go meet him. Why couldn't she have gone. 'Why did he come here?' She said to herself shoving the last piece of the scone in her mouth.
She did want to see her father. Maybe he had forgiven her. Maybe that's why he had come. She wished she had been able yo go to meet him. She had had everything planned. What did she bother making plans. Nothing ever where went according to her plans. Ever.
she gulped down her chocolate and got up from bed. The roof of her mouth was burning. Her heart was pounding in her chest
She would tell her father that she would help him with her inheritance. She had no idea how much it was. But she had be known as an heiress when she came out. She knew her mother had left her an inheritance too. To be controlled by her husband.
"Where is my husband?". She asked Annalise.
"He returned early morning mam. He is sleeping in the next room. Should I send some one for him." She said as she was helping Chelsey out of her night gown.
"Oh no that won't be necessary." It was better this way. She can explain everything to her father. Robert was not going to mind her helping her father out surely. He loved her. And it was her money. Although most men were different and wouldn't consider it to be her mony but theirs she was sure Robert was different.
Everything will be all well at the end. she thought. Father isn't angry with me any more. And I am in a position to help him now with out marrying that Wilbur. She knew he would be upset. But she was going to insist that she take the money.
Yes it was better she met her father alone. Robert's presence might make him angrier. He would assume Robert had gotten her with child. Which in fact, was true but Robert hadn't known. She hurried in to her clothes. She should send for her clothes. Or maybe get new ones she thought. She was getting plump. Annalise was having a hard time buttoning her up.
Annalise brought out her shoes. It was clean but it was dog eared. She really not needed her things. She was the lucky that the soles hadn't fallen during the last week. She had not packed an extra pair when she left home. Or well jumped from home. She thought with a smile.
She walked down the stairs. The Butler who was waiting at the end of the steps showed her the way to her father. He was waiting in the same room she had taken tea.
Her steps slowed as she reached the room. Her father was a formidable man at the best of times. She had run away from home. By now every house in London and probably every where a mail coach went knew that the earl of Westlys daughter had run away.
She had shamed him. She had disgraced him. She had not had a choice she knew that. But he hadn't seen it like it. He was not going to be pleased. She wished to God that he had come because he had forgiven her.
She took a deep breath, straightened her spine and gathering all possible courage entered the room.
Her father was standing at a window looking at the garden behind the house.
He didn't hear her enter.
"Hello father "
He turned around. He looked older than she remembered. Had it just been barely ten days? How can some one age so much in just ten days.
