He hesitated and glanced at Mrs. Leonard, who nodded her consent. “No matter; she won’t have need of it much longer.”
Annabel’s stomach knotted.What did she mean by that?
Peters hurried out of the room, and Mrs. Leonard redirected her attention to her daughters. “Your sister has displayed poor manners indeed. She is far too old to behave like a naughty schoolgirl.” And throwing a disapproving glance at Annabel, added, “Whatever shall we do with her?”
Florence, who looked every inch like her pale, sharp-faced mama, sniggered, and Flora, whose dark ringlets matched Annabel’s and Papa’s coloring, giggled behind her hands.
Annabel looked poignantly at her sisters. “I should think a naughty schoolgirl is one whorefusesto do her reading.”
“Enough!” Papa pushed back his chair and stood up. “Clear the table!” He snapped his fingers at the remaining footman, who jumped forward in response. “Supper is over. There will be no pudding tonight.”
“What?” Flora wailed.
“Mrs. Leonard,” Papa said, ignoring his youngest, “bring Annabel to the drawing room. I want an audience with both of you immediately.” He wheeled around and strode out of the dining room without waiting for a response—a signal that his orders were not negotiable.
“Mama! It’s not fair that we are punished because of Annabel’s silly book,” Flora complained.
“I’m still hungry,” Florence moaned.
“Me too,” her sister echoed. “My stomach cries out for pudding.”
“Hush! You are not punished. But you will be if you continue to whine in that uncomely fashion.” Mrs. Leonard turned to one of the footmen. “Find Miss Allen and ask her to join the girls in the dining room, then you may serve their pudding.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the footman put down his pile of dirty dishes and hurried out of the room.
“Thank you, Mama.” Flora bounced on her seat, and Florence stuck her tongue out at Annabel, taking advantage of her mother’s turned back.
“There you are, Miss Allen.” Mrs. Leonard said as the governess entered the dining room. “When the girls have finished their dessert, you may bring them to the drawing room for a special surprise.”
“Hooray!” Flora clapped.
“If”—Mrs. Leonard held up a finger—“their behavior is beyond reproach.”
Annabel frowned.What surprise? Why was her stepmother acting so secretively tonight?
“Come along, Annabel,” Mrs. Leonard called as she swept out of the lavish dining room, “we mustn’t keep your papa waiting.”
Annabel dashed after her, stepping into the marbled hallway. “What does Papa want to talk about? And why did he end his supper over something as inconsequential as a novel?” she said, unable to resist the opportunity to strike back at her stepmother.
“Novels are not inconsequential!” Mrs. Leonard whirled around to face Annabel. “I have told you time and again, they are dangerous, especially for a young woman as headstrong as you.”
Annabel opened her mouth, ready to retort, but her stepmother held up a hand to silence her. “I have allowed you leeway in the past because you lacked a proper upbringing. You were too indulged in your formative years, and it has led you to become willful. But after twelve years under my watch, you still refuse to learn. You must rid yourself of your common ways.”
“My common ways? You make me sound positively vulgar. And all for the crime of reading a book.”
“That is exactly the kind of behavior to which I am referring. Learn to curb your tongue, or you will find yourself an old maid.”
If curbing my tongue is what I must do to gain a husband, then I shall remain single.
As if reading Annabel’s thoughts, Mrs. Leonard narrowed her eyes and said, “You are soon to be one-and-twenty and will take your place in society. It’s time you set a better example for your sisters.”
“What do you mean, ‘take my place in society’?” Annabel asked, but Mrs. Leonard was already marching up the stairs. She hastened after her stepmother, but the woman said nothing further until they reached the drawing room.
There, she clasped the doorknob and paused to address Annabel in a harsh whisper. “A word of warning. Whatever your papa says in this room is for your own good, so I advise you to listen and refrain from arguing.”
Annabel opened her mouth, and, once again, her stepmother silenced her protest. “Your papa’s patience has been tested enough tonight, and I think the consequences will be very harsh if you insist on continued willfulness.”
Without giving Annabel a chance to respond, Mrs. Leonard thrust open the door and stepped inside.
