The Engagement

"Ms. Von Eckerman is here, Master Richard." James led the lady into the tea room where they had their tea and breakfast.

The tea room was very bright with the amount of sunlight coming in from the windows. Three of its walls were glass that peered over the field where the horses grazed in.

The children had a separate, bigger, round table than their father, who had a table for two and always sat alone. Occasionally, he would force Annabel to sit and eat with him, insisting that Margot didn't need help with eating all the time and that she herself should be eating meals during their proper time and not later because she was looking after them. Meals first.

This time, Annabel was feeding Margot, mostly teaching her how to eat by herself, so she has created some sort of mess and Richard was at his table alone.

Rebeca Von Eckerman stepped into the sunlit room, eyes surveying the place. A look of slight irritation crossed her face when she saw Annabel and the mess Margot was creating.

"Good morning Richard. I thought I told you to fire her and that I was going to find you someone better?" She walked up to Richard, her heels clicking on the ground.

He got up and kissed her cheek in greeting, one hand on her hips.

Maggie and George shared a disgusted look.

"Ms.Annabel will not be leaving. She looks after the children with excellent care and love. I won't hear another word about finding a replacement for her." He sat back down and went back to reading the newspaper.

"Alright, but don't make me say I told you so." She sat down in the other chair and when Richard put down the newspaper, they began small talk.

"What do you thinks gotten into papa?" Maggie whispered to George.

"Idiocy and stupidity if you ask me." He whispered back.

"George!" Maggie said in whispered surprise.

"It's true. He could have the best women in the world right here but he doesn't want to believe his own heart." He said even more quietly so Annabel couldn't hear.

They both watched her slightly laugh when Margot flicked food at her face.

"True, an idiot indeed." Maggie sighed and they went back to eating their breakfast with solemn expressions.

*

"Papa, I thought you and I were going to go over some paper work?" George asked his father who was grabbing his Homburg hat and buttoning up his blazer.

"After I take Ms.Eckerman in town to do some shopping." Richard held his arm out for Rebeca and she placed her hand on it.

"We'll see you children after noon." She said, standing closer to Richard than necessary.

"Be good to Annabel." Richard said opening the door and closing it after them when they stepped out.

"Ooo I'm going to take RebeCa out shopping! Ooo she's hanging off of me and pressing her breasts on my arm. Ooo I'm going to shower her with gifts!" Maggie said in a mocking higher than her normal voice tone.

George sniggered.

"Don't say that out loud in fear she might hear you and slap you." He said and Maggie burst out laughing.

"Like papa would let her. She'll be kicked out as soon as she does." She giggled at the thought but George frowned.

"Yeah, but he didn't do anything when she hit mama."

"Right."

*

Moments after they were done with their lunch, someone was at the door.

"Annabel. It's for you." James said, walking into the dining room were she was pulling Margot out of her high chair and everyone was getting up.

"For me?"

She and George shared a look and they both made their way to the front door, the curious kids coming after them.

"Ms.Annabel, so lovely to see you." The man from last night was at the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"These are..."

"For you, yes." He handed her the flowers and flashed her a million dollar smile.

"Oh, um, thank you." She held the flowers close to her, not really sure what to do.

"Mr.Fredrick, my father is not here right now. Please come back at another time." George stepped forward.

"I'm actually not here to see your father, but Ms.Annabel. I was wondering if you'd like to go for an afternoon stroll with me?"

"But I hardly know you."

"Which is why we'll get to know each other. Just a quick stroll, we'll be back before the sun sets."

She looked at George for help, but an idea was forming in his mind and he gave her an encouraging nod.

"Even Pelton junior doesn't mind." Fredrick said to persuade her more.

"I'm confused as to why you'd want to take a stroll with someone of a much lower social class than yourself."

"It does not bother me and should not be the deciding factor in my decision with who I want to court."

She was slightly surprised at the use of the old term for dating, it wasn't used too much like a few years ago.

"C-court!? Don't you think-"

"It's just a stroll Ms.Annabel, nothing serious." He gave her a soft smile.

"She'll be ready in a few minutes." Maggie said. She grabbed Annabel by the hand and ran up the stairs with her.

"I'll be waiting here then." He said smiling from ear to ear.

Both George and Fredrick watched as she ran up the stairs.

"So where is your father?" He turned his head towards George.

"Taking your obnoxious sister out on a date."

"Half sister."

"Still your sister."

Fredrick and George both sighed at the same time and went to sit on the couch in the foyer. A maid took the younger kids away.

"I feel bad for him. He has to deal with her. She's a lot of maintenance." Fredrick lifted his arms and rested them on the back of the couch.

"I will never get married to a person like her."

"Good for you Pelton."

They went quiet for a few seconds before George turned his head to look at Fredrick.

"So, my nanny?"

"She's a wonderful person. Did you see her two nights ago? She got my heart racing when she calmly stood up for herself."

George hummed a response and they both turned to look at the stairs when Annabel and Maggie came down them. She was wearing a light blue simple dress and her hair was in a low bun with a hat on to keep the sun out of her eyes. Light powder and blush adorned her face giving her a natural flushed look.

George smiled at how pretty his mama looked and Fredricks heart beat faster at seeing her simple, elegant, beauty.

"You look beautiful." He said approaching the stairs and held his arm out when she reached the last step.

"You're being too kind." She placed her hand on his arm and they made their way to the door.

"Take care of your younger siblings and yourselves while I'm gone." She said to George and Maggie who nodded at her and ushered them out the door.

"Do you think it will work?" Maggie asked George when the two adults were out the door.

"It definitely will."

With Annabel seeing another man, they hoped their father got jealous and admit his feelings.

*

"We're home!" Richard called out and heard the sound of pounding feet coming from the top floor. His children came rushing down the stairs and their eyes gawked at the amount of bags and boxes being carried in.

"What's all this papa?" Sam asked as Richard picked him up.

"Stuff I got for Rebeca and the lot of you." He grinned and kissed Sam's cheek.

"Rebeca? Just this morning you were calling her Ms.Von Eckerman."  Maggie protested and gave Rebeca a nasty glare which's she responded to with a smug smile.

"Yes well, your father and I have an announcement to make." She took Richards hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Yes we do," Richard looked around but couldn't find her, "where's Annabel? It would be best to say this announcement to everyone at the same time."

"Who cares? Her opinion doesn't matter here, she works for you." Rebeca sweetly smiled up at him.

"Yes, but-"

"Your papa and I are engaged!" She excitedly said and took of her elbow long glove to reveal a diamond ring.

Everyone in the house froze.

The maids and the horse handlers bringing in the boxes, James directing them to the living room, Samantha who had just came out of the kitchen with a plate of warm cookies for the kids before bed, which she dropped, and the kids, they had the most heartbroken, shocked looks on their faces.

"George." Maggie's lower lip trembled and she clutched her older brothers hand.

Richard didn't expect this reaction from his kids. He thought that they might be happy for him, but they all looked like they were on the verge of tears. Only George was the most put together as he gathered Tam in his arms and handed Margot to Maggie. He took Sam from his arms and looked at him with a blank expression.

"We wish you happiness in this marriage that we do not agree to, but our opinions do not matter. I hope this wasn't an impulsive decision father. Good night."

They went up the stairs together and Richard sighed in defeat.

"I apologise, I really thought they might be happy."

"It's alright, I understand where they are coming from. They're not ready to see another women other than their mother by your side. It will take them time to adjust." She patted Richards arm and he smiled down at her.

"Thank you for understanding. It's getting late now, I'll get my driver to get you home safely. We have a big day tomorrow with you moving in."

"Yes we do, don't we?" She leaned up and kissed his cheek before heading out. He couldn't help but wipe it off.

Richard immediately went on a hunt to find Annabel. He searched everywhere he thought she was, the library, the kitchen, the living room, her room, he knocked on bathroom doors and checked the children's room in case she was tucking them in, but they were already asleep. He even visited the barn and that's where Phil told him that she had headed out since the afternoon.

He nervously paced the foyer waiting for her to return home. He even placed a chair in front of the door to sit on and wait, but he was too fidgety and anxious for her safety. What if she got lost? What if she fell and hurt herself and couldn't get back up? What if she feel in the stream again? What if someone took advantage of her in the dark?

Ideas that made him even more panicked raced through his head. He kept checking his pocket watch and when she hasn't shown up for half an hour he decided that he was going to go out and look for her. Where? He didn't know, but he couldn't just sit in the house with the possibility of her being in danger out there.

He turned on his heels and went to grab his blazer that he disregarded on the chair, and just as he was about to slip it on, the front door opened up and she walked in with a bright smile on her face.

Relief washed over him and he dropped the blazer on the ground and made his way over to her.

Annabel thanked Fredrick for a wonderful time, a smile adorned her face, and when she shut the door she was aggressively turned around by her shoulders and pulled into a bone crushing, protective hug.

Richard had one arm vertically pressed on her back, pulling her close, and the other one in her hair.

"You had me so worried."

Suddenly, he let go of her in irritation and went back to pacing back and forth, a hand running through his hair.

"Richard, are you all right? You seem concerned." She asked, concerned about the sudden switch in his mood.

"Concerned? Me? Am I concerned? What an absurd question. Of course I was concerned!" He raised his voice and she slightly flinched.

"You've been gone since the afternoon! You left the kids all alone! And you come back late at evening! How could I not be concerned and mad!?"

"Well the kids said-"

"I don't CARE what the kids said!" He shouted and looked at her. "You left them alone and they could have gotten hurt! They were left without anyone to take care of them! How could you just leave them like that?"

"If you would just let me talk you would know I didn't leave on my own free will! Your kids forced me to go out with Mr.Fredrick. I didn't leave them unattended! I had them bake cookies with Samantha, play games with Phil, and attend to their studies with James. They were supervised at all times. And you! You should have a little more faith in your kids! George and Maggie are all grown up and can handle a little responsibility and looking after their siblings for a few hours."

"But you left for far longer than a few hours! That's not being responsible." He took a deep breath and held his own fingers behind his back and stood sideways to her. "Maybe Rebeca was right."

"What?"

"Her and I got engaged and are planning to get married. She'll be here a lot more often and will be able to take care of the kids without your assistance."

"What are you saying?"

He turned his head towards her but it was tilted down to the ground.

"I'm saying that your services are no longer required." He looked up with a mean glare. "Leave."

"You don't mean that. Richard you don't-"

"We don't need you here any longer."

Tears pooled in Annabel's eyes and they trickled down her face.

She rushed up the stairs, past the children who were watching what was happening and into her room were she threw open her bag and shoved the very little amount of clothes she had, in it. She glanced at the squirrel stuffed animal on her bed, more tears running down her face and she kept it there.

She shut the suitcase and picked it up, heading out.

"You listen well children. You have to be good to your father and Ms.Von Eckerman. Don't cause trouble and stay on top of all your studies. You understand?" She held Maggie's crying face in her hands. "You're such a beautiful girl Maggie, I'm sure you'll be able to achieve anything you set your mind to."

She tucked her hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead.

"You're such a good boy Georgie, you keep pursuing your dreams. I want to one day open the papers and see your name front and center for having designed the best thing in the world."

She kissed his cheek and kneeled down in front of the twins.

"If you keep crying you'll make me sad. Sami, look after Tami. And you make sure your brother doesn't do anything too dangerous." She kissed their heads. She kissed Margot's cheek, picked up her bag and rushed down the stairs and out the door, without sparing Richard a glance.

He slumped on the chair, a hand covering his mouth in shock at what he had just done and a single tear rolled down his face.

"Noo!" George's voice broke in the end. "No Mama don't go!"

He has registered what has happened and ran down the stairs, aggressively opening the front door and running out into the now pouring sky.

"Mamaaa!" He screamed for her, tears getting mixed with rain.

"George." She placed her bag down and turned around in time to catch him throwing himself at her.

"Mama don't go, please." He clung to her and put his face in the crook of her neck.

"You know it isn't up to me whether I stay or go. You have to respect your father's decision."

She pulled back and looked up into his face, she placed a hand on his cheek and he leaned into it.

"You can't leave us alone with her. You can't. You have to stay with us. You haven't finished taking care of us. Sam and Tam are going to year 2 in less than a month, and Margot, she's going to go in hysterics once she realises you're not coming back. A-and you know Maggie is going to be heartbroken and depressed and relapse to her bad behavior. And me. You'll be leaving me. I can't lose my mama a second time. I-I can't."

"George, Georgie you have to listen to me." She put her other hand on his face and smiled at him. "You're a strong young man George, and me leaving, a nobody, a nanny, shouldn't bring you down."

"But you're not a nobody! You're my mama!"

"George, I wish I could stay. I really do." Tears rolled down her cheek. "But your papa has made his decision and this was bound to happen sooner or later. Look after your siblings for me, would you?"

Maggie ran down the stairs with a tear streaked face.

"Mama!"

Richard held her back from going in the rain and she kicked and lashed out.

"Let me go! Let me go! I have to go see mama!"

"No! It's raining outside and you're in your nightgown."

"I don't care! Let me go!" She kicked and lashed out even harder. "I hate you! I hate you I hate you I hate you!" She screamed at her father.

He let go in surprise and shock and she dashed out the door.

"Mama!"

Annabel looked up to see Maggie running down the front steps.

"I have to go George. Good bye."

"No, good byes are forever. You always said good byes are forever, you can't say good bye. You can't!"

She picked up her luggage and continued on her way to the city a few miles away, leaving her life with the Peltons behind.