Chapter 124 - Hundred And Twenty Four
The morning sun streamed into the Ellington drawing room, but the atmosphere inside was anything but bright. Baroness Augusta sat stiffly in her chair, a cup of tea untouched before her, her expression grim. Mr. Prescott stood beside her waiting for his orders.
"Make sure you look everywhere, Prescott," Augusta commanded, her voice a low, dangerous growl. "Find where that old man is hiding. I don’t care what it costs."
Prescott bowed his head. "Yes, Baroness." He nodded.
Just as they finished talking, Anne came down the stairs for breakfast. She was dressed elegantly, as always, but there was a foul, stormy mood about her that was impossible to miss. Augusta sighted her and sighed.
"Why are you in such a bad mood this morning?" she asked, her own patience already worn thin.
"Why would I be in a good mood, Mama?" Anne retorted, not even looking at her as she swept past and headed towards the dining room.
Augusta followed her, her voice taking on a pacifying tone. "I know you are upset about Duke Philip, my dear. But you know it is always hard to get the elders’ approval right away. You should not give up. You must keep trying."
"I know, I know," Anne said, her voice full of a weary impatience.
They both went into the dining area. As they sat down at the long, polished table, the maids started serving a lavish breakfast of eggs, ham,warm bread and a pot of hot tea.
Anne continued her complaint, her voice a low, bitter murmur. "I just hate seeing Delia. I hate seeing her rub her happiness in my face every time I go to the Carson estate. I didn’t even tell you about the last time, at the disastrous family lunch, because I was so embarrassed." She looked at her mother, her eyes flashing with a familiar, hateful fire. "Do you know what she told me, Mama? She said, ’Who says I’m the fake one? Don’t you dare.’"