would miss her the most.
Chapter 1
9 Years Later
Annette drank in the sights outside the window of the carriage. The view of familiar rolling green hills and clear blue sky was the very epitome of comfort, telling her she was finally home.
There was something distinctive about England, she thought. It couldn’t be mistaken for anywhere else. In Annette’s mind, it was the most wonderful country in the world, and she had missed it dearly.
Living in France for three years had been good for her, and she wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Her aunt and two cousins had shown her around the beautiful country and taken her to the most fashionable places in Paris. The food had been exquisite, and it had been wonderful to enjoy a change in scenery for a while.
She felt like she’d grown more mature while living away from her parents and discovering a new place, though she couldn’t quite identify exactly how she’d changed. She felt older and wiser somehow.
And yet, there was nothing like home. Though Annette had missed the distinctive view of the English countryside, she had missed her family even more. They had visited her occasionally in France, but it was nothing like actually being with them at home. Her aunt had certainly been kind to her; she’d bought her several pretty gowns and played duets on the piano with her.
But nothing could act as a replacement for her mother’s wit and her father’s laughter. She’d missed both of them clapping with delight as she finished a piano piece and complimenting her on her proficiency in French. While in France, she’d often dreamed of her daily walk between her father’s estate and Longford, Ben’s home.
More than almost anything else, she had missed Ben. He had been true to his word from the day he left Longford. They had sent letters back and forth for nine whole years, without once laying eyes on each other since that fateful day which Annette remembered so clearly.
She could instantly call to mind the grief that had encompassed her, the incessant tears that had run down her face the entire day. Her spirits had been low for several months following the departure of her closest friend since birth. She had often wondered what she would do without him, and what he would do without her.
In the years that followed, they had constantly expressed how much they missed each other’s company in their letters.
But now that Annette was back in England, and Ben was done with his schooling, they would finally be able to meet again after all this time. Just the thought of it brought tears to Annette’s eyes.
She couldn’t help but wonder how much he would be changed. Would he still be the slightly awkward boy who couldn’t quite remember his manners? Was he still inclined to mischief?
Annette giggled to herself. She doubted his schoolmasters had allowed him to get into trouble; Ben had hinted as much in his letters. But her most prominent thought was: Was he still her friend?
Though they had never ceased to joke and speak fondly to one another in their letters, Annette couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to see him again after all this time. She imagined that just as she had changed, Ben would also have changed.
The carriage pulled up to her father’s estate, shaking Annette from her thoughts. The door was opened for her and she smiled at the feel of the crisp spring air. Her parents were waiting for her and rushed forward to greet her as she alighted from the carriage.
“Oh, Annette!” Her mother embraced her tightly. “How good it is to have you home.”
Annette smiled as her mother pulled away. “It is good to be back, Mother. I’ve missed you both,” she said, looking at her father. He took her hands in his and pressed them gently.
“And we have missed you, Annette.” His eyes were warm and sincere. Annette knew they must have missed her just as much as she had missed them.
“This is such an exciting time!” her mother said with enthusiasm as they walked back towards the house. “Your first London season is nearly here! Oh, there’s so much to do!”
Her father chuckled. “Your mother has talked scarcely of anything else these past few months.” There was a twinkle in his eye, a clear sign he was in one of his joking moods.
Her first London season. The thought was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. “When are we to go?”
“We leave in one