An Old Fashioned Southern Romance Novel (6 page)

With that, Annabella gracefully exited the meeting room. No sooner had she made her way to the hall before Warrenton’s
blowfish of an attorney appeared.

“If you can do that soliloquy in court, the jury shall surely find in our favor!” He yelled at her.

Annabella did not hear him, nor would it have made a difference. She was fed up and her mind was made up. She was tired of being bullied by Warrenton and his cohorts. Annabella realized that as long as she was tied to Warrenton, her life would never change. She would never be able to find happiness or any semblance of it. Warrenton was always there, berating her, making her feel like she was not good enough. Who was he to tell her she had no idea how to find love? After all, he was just projecting his own failures on her. He was the one who had no idea how to find love. As far as Annabella was concerned, Warrenton was an uncouth, uncultured brat who used his family’s money and good name to intimidate and impress people. However, Annabella was neither intimidated nor impressed. She was from an exceptional family and, in addition to buckets of money, she had values. And no one, especially not Warrenton, was going make her compromise everything in which she believed for a few moments of pleasure or, in the case of Marigold, to get out of trouble for something that was clearly not her fault. Annabella was going to live life on her terms – everyone else be damned!

When Annabella returned to her house, she was more intent than ever to leave. She asked her beloved and trusted friend to make arrangements for her to go away. Hattie was more than happy see Annabella take a vacation, but Annabella was thinking of something a little more permanent.

“Anna, you cannot just leave with a lawsuit pending. You could lose everything.”

“I know, Hattie. And you know what? I don’t care. I simply do not care. I will start a new life in England. I will just have to get a job to support myself.”

It took everything in Hattie to keep from laughing at her baby girl. But, Annabella could see the laughter in her eyes.

“I can
, too, get a job, Hattie. Why, I was editor of my school paper. I could become an editor. Or, better yet, a famed author. The sky is the limit.”

“Anna, I raised you for the most part, so I do not doubt your ability. I just question your motive.”

"Hattie, you know me. I am the single most level-headed person in this town. Every decision I have ever made in my life has been based on logic, reason, cause, effect, and other people's feelings. I can no longer live my life for other people. It's time to start thinking about myself. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be me? There was a time in history when
 a girl like me was every man's dream. Things have changed so much. No one wants a good, old-fashioned girl with real values. And at my age, one would think I would at least have some prospects. But no, I'm too much of a prude, a Goody Two-Shoes. Hattie, do you know the definition of insanity? It is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. I can't change who I am, but I can change where I am. Hattie, let me go. Tell my father to let me go.

"As you wish, ma'am," Hattie said coldly.

 Annabella knew that when Hattie called her ma'am, she was not pleased with her. However, she would not give in this time. Hattie would just have to be upset with her.

"Be ready to leave first thing tomorrow, Anna. I shall have all the arrangements made."

Annabella went up to her room and collapsed on the bed. She tucked her pillow under her chin and imagined that by this time tomorrow, she would be in England, hob-knobbing with London's Literati. Surely she would fit in with a people who have been historically known for their inability to care what others thought of them. She thought about all the parties, cotillions, dinners, and theaters she would attend that would put her front and center, face to face with the most important and dignified people on earth. Yes, Annabella was sure she was making the right choice and she was only further badgering herself that she had not done it before. She fell asleep wishing that she could simply wake up and already be there. Instead, she awakened to Warrenton standing in her bedroom doorway.

“How did you get up here!” Annabella screamed.

“I used the stairs,” he joked.

“Get out!”
She warned him.

“Relax, Anna. Hattie is in the next room. I just came to apologize for today
.”

“Well, you didn’t do anything –
per se
. But, to think you are going to be one of them next year. I already find you despicable. Once you pass the bar, I will downright despise you,” Anna teased Warren.

“
I will never be one of them. When I finish law school in the spring, I will be a corporate attorney. My job will be to protect corporations and their money, not bilking innocent people out of theirs. I have neither the time nor the patience for those kind of lawyers. They give us all a bad name.”

“Nevertheless, you will still be counted among them. Why on earth did you ever decide to go to law school, Warren?
You had been out of college for years.”

“I did not decide to go to law school. My
father decided for me. I was enjoying a carefree life of philandering and spending. I guess it was too much for the old man to take. He decided that I needed to do something with my life. I thought I was already doing something with it. I suppose that is not what he had in mind. He thought I should become a responsible adult. So, he told me it was either go to law school and then come work for the family business, or go out there and try to make it with just my name. Warrenton Bingham Boatwright The Fifth is a great name, but it doesn’t mean a hill of beans if The Fourth doesn’t sign off on any of my ventures. I decided law school would be a great place to lay low for a few years to get the old man off my back. Worst case, I would go work for him. Surely, he wouldn’t fire me. I mean, after all, if he fires me then I will have to go to him for money. So, either way he has to pay me. It’s better for him if he gets some work out of me.”

“So, you always do what your daddy tells you, no matter how
miserable it makes you?”

“Not always. He also told me to marry you. I told him that is where I draw the line
,” Warrenton ragged her.

“Get out of my house, Warrenton,” Annabella laughed.

Warrenton grinned and turned to walk down the steps. Annabella watched him exit the room. She knew in her heart she adored him. She just wondered what kind of life could come from loving someone who obviously loved himself so much. Annabella hoped that the following day would bring a little more sanity to her life. She was intent on meeting her new attorney and hammering out a settlement she could live with. After all, she did not have years of her life to waste on Warrenton and his silly girlfriends. Annabella thought that if she had a dime for every floozy that Warrenton brought home, she would surely have enough money to pay off Marigold – with dividends!

Annabella awakened bright and early the next day. She selected her most dynamic skirt suit to wear. She was feeling empowered and she was sure Ms. Mary Jane De Bergerac was everything Hattie had described and more. Annabella was intent on
getting her legal troubles behind her so as to be freed up to move to England. Her mind was made up and she was sure it was the right decision. She still had not told Warrenton her plans and she did not feel obligated to tell him. After all, he was not her boyfriend and he had never made his intentions, if any, known to her. She was not going to spend the rest of her life waiting for something to happen. Life was happening around her and she was missing the best part of it waiting for some man to rescue her from her mundane existence. Caroline had found her true love and as far as Annabella was concerned, she wasn’t nearly as desirable as Annabella. No, Annabella was now realizing that she was just being too stringent. She was not allowing things to happen naturally. That was all about to change soon. She had been in touch with her host family in England and everything was set for her arrival. Annabella would be living the life of virtual royalty. She would have her own Lady in Waiting. She would be groomed daily in the social conventions of interacting with wealth and privilege. She did not have a lot to learn, but her skills had been slowly dissipating as she interacted daily with people who had little or no couth. She was ready to be among those who shared her values and, quite frankly, she was just ready for change. So, she decided on a number that she was satisfied with, and she was going to settle her case with Marigold. Annabella planned to leave town as soon as the documents were signed. She did not know how to say goodbye to Warrenton and she did not feel obligated to figure out a way. She only felt that she needed to handle this business matter so that her family’s estate would not be in jeopardy. Annabella was only one meeting away from leaving the searing heat of the south and embracing her destiny. She hoped that Mary Jane was as efficient as Hattie described. Annabella was not looking forward to wasting another day of meaningless strategizing, racking up attorney’s fees, and being insulted in the process. She was sure Warrenton was enjoying his meetings with his attorney because they both were pigs. Besides, Warrenton wasn’t paying for the man’s time so it was like a fraternity meeting to him. But, one could be sure that Warrenton’s father was receiving a hefty bill for the time his son spent with that bologna of a man. Annabella despised him and could not fathom, for the life of her, trying to piece out any reasonable settlement as long as that man was in the room. He was unkind, unyielding, and downright disgusting.

When Annabella arrived at Ms. De Bergerac’s office, she could tell right away that her time would be well spent. The office was neatly decorated, and efficiently staffed. Everyone was kind and cheerful and Annabella did not have to wait long before the young, beautiful attorney appeared. She was everything Annabella imagined. Annabella thought for one minute that if she was a career woman, she would certainly want to be like Mary Jane. For as strikingly beautiful as she was, she was equally pleasant.
Annabella wondered how she got anything done with people gawking at her all day. She was sure the woman could not pass on the street without being hit on. She hoped Warrenton never had to meet her, lest he defile her merely with is words. But, she would soon learn that Mary Jane knew Warrenton and his family. She tried not to let this fact change her opinion of the woman, that task proved most difficult. She wondered if Mary Jane had ever gone out with Warrenton and, if so, how it ended. The young lady seemed to have nothing but good things to say about the Boatwrights, so maybe Annabella was reading too much into the connection and maybe the relationship was strictly business. Besides, Annabella didn’t think the woman looked like the type to fall for Warrenton’s advances. She seemed confident and secure. Also, she seemed financially independent and unfazed by the wealth of others. Annabella hoped that she was right, but in the end she did not care one way of the other. She was there for the sole purpose of settling her business with Marigold and she was intent on handling it in one visit. Annabella simply had to sign a power of attorney for Mary Jane to negotiate a settlement up to the amount specified. Annabella was unmoved by the amount, but was more interested in putting the worst behind her. She knew she had done nothing wrong and that Marigold was feigning her injuries and anguish, but she figured karma would handle Marigold. Annabella needed to do what was right on her part to ensure the family was not at risk of losing anything.

Mary Jane spent the next few hours explaining documents to Annabella and having her execute the necessary ones. As Annabella signed, she began to feel stronger and more confident in herself. She wasn’t the shrinking belle that she usually portrays. There was something about anticipating a move abroad that made her a different woman. She wondered how her new role would translate in England. There were no southern belles to speak of and she was by no means British. She certainly could pass for one until the time she opened her mouth. As soon as that long, southern drawl was heard, her origin would be quickly identified. But, Annabella was no hick and she could sip tea with the best of them. She was not the least bit concerned that she would feel out of place. She was sure she would be different, but that was the point. Annabella always felt out
of place at home. Maybe things would be different in London. She could only hope that was the case.

Annabella had signed the last document and she gently placed the pen on the counter. Mary Jane looked at her with satisfaction. She was not a loquacious woman and she felt everything had been said and done to her satisfaction. Annabella prepared to exit the office, but took a moment to reflect on what was next. She knew that once she left that office, there was no turning back. There was nothing left in her southern hometown holding her back. She had settled all her affairs.
She got into the waiting car and signaled to the driver to depart. Annabella was on her way to the airport and she had no regrets about the decisions she made.

Chapter Ten

Hattie turned up her nose as she looked out the window and saw Caroline switching up the
driveway. Soon, Caroline was beating on the door like a crazy woman and Hattie was becoming increasingly frustrated with the entitled menace.

"What took you so long, Hattie?" Caroline inquired.

"I'm not as young as you pretend to be, Ms. Caroline."

"A bit snippy, aren't we? Where is Anna? Perhaps she is in a better mood than you."