Annabelle: A Fallen Angel

Chapter 1

Pinks, lilacs, and blues alike were strewn before Annabelle. The beauty and extravagance of the dresses were not lost on Annabelle. She'd never had cause to wear clothes of this quality in her life; nor had she ever seen dresses in such numbers and beauty all at once. Yet, here she had to decide on how many and which she wanted.

"Aunt really, I couldn't decide... You choose," Annabelle backed away from the bed where all the dresses lay in abundance as if intimidated.

"No, my dear Annabelle, it is your season, you must choose what you like," the Countess smiled at her niece and urged her forward.

Annabelle sighed nervously, "Aunt, I don't think seventeen is quite old enough to be out yet."

"But if you wait another year you will not be able to enjoy it with Emily," Elizabeth persuaded, "Now pick just one dress for your first ball."

"But the cost of all these dresses is...." Annabelle felt quite overwhelmed.

"You need not worry about the cost dear," Elizabeth put her arm about her niece, "you may have all the dresses in London if you like..... If it will make you happy."

"Aunt you are too kind," Annabelle truly meant it.

Elizabeth smiled and urged Annabelle to choose her dress. The girl pointed uncertainly at a pale green chiffon dress with white flowers embroidered at the hem and the neckline. Her aunt then chose all the rest good-naturedly. A pink voile here and a blue silk there and soon Annabelle was fitted for her first season.

"Annabelle, one would think you've never been shopping before," Elizabeth remarked as the two of them had tea together in the conservatory after they'd returned home.

"Not like that, I haven't," Annabelle said,

"Your father was a Baronet, you don't wish to tell me you didn't have nice dresses," Elizabeth carefully spooned more sugar into her tea.

Annabelle looked down at her hands. They were so pale, she could see blue veins through her skin. She bit her lip as she tried to formulate words in her head.

"We weren't so very poor," she started as she busied herself with making a cup of tea, "but after my mother died, my father quite lost his will to live and he even stopped painting."

Annabelle tried to smile to take off the edge of her words, "He uh—wasted quite a lot of money without making effort to repay it all and so my sister and I haven't had many nice or new things the last few years."

Annabelle exhaled and moved her teacup to her lips, sneaking a look up at her aunt.

"My brother always was a passionate one," Elizabeth didn't seem fazed, "and he loved Abigail so much."

Annabelle smiled at the sound of her mother's name, "we all loved her."

Elizabeth was quiet for some time as she observed Annabelle's downward gaze and shy manner before she spoke again, "How was my brother, really...during those last days? Was he in pain?"

Annabelle was taken aback at the vulnerable way in which the question was presented, "he—he—wa—was fine."

Elizabeth smiled faintly, "he was never much of a writer so I never knew how you were all getting on."

Elizabeth showed a little remorse in her eyes when she looked up at Annabelle again, "I should have visited though... to make sure you were all fine. I didn't think of it though"

"We were fine," Annabelle tried to ease her aunt's conscience, "A little lacking for money but we managed quite well.... Father still cared for Lucy and me."