Hello everyone. Sorry for the very long delay since my last post but unfortunately it has been a nightmare few months for me and my family. My brother in law passed away unexpectedly in a tragic accident and the job that I was in fell through just before Christmas. So finding work and looking after my sister has been top priority. I have been too physically and emotionally exhausted to write until now. Thanks for bearing with me and I hope you enjoy the chapter love Miffygirl18 xx

Chapter 55 – Anywhere But Here:

"Mama? Do you really think Percy will like it?" Annabelle asked nervously as she held the neatly wrapped gift on her lap. Jane looked up as she bounced William up and down on her knee and smiled broadly at her daughter.

"It's stupendous, it's a stupendous story my dear. Percy should feel immensely honoured to receive one of your stories." Annabelle didn't seem convinced. She had spent many hours coming up with a new Lord Magani story, giving Percy a starring role in her latest fable. In their many letters, she would send little short stories or poems and he would send her drawings, so she decided it was only right to give him a unique, one of a kind tale, just for him.

Her grandfather, thoroughly impressed with her work, took it to a bookbinder and had it bound in a smart green leather cover. Annabelle also asked Miss Lyons to help her draw and paint the illustrations as her mother had been sadly too busy with her lady-in-waiting duties to assist.

"Do you think my dress is appropriate too Mama?" she piped up again and Jane smiled at her daughter's nervous demeanour. She handed the baby to Tarzan and sat down next to her daughter in the carriage as the train chugged its way through the Kentish countryside.

Jane tenderly adjusted the large navy blue bow in her daughter's hair. "Appropriate to the highest degree my love," she smiled before kissing the crown of Annabelle's head. She looked so adorable in the navy blue sailor dress that she was wearing and there was a beautiful pale blue silk dress with a high necked cream lace infill, cream sash and puffed sleeves packed away carefully for her to change into for the party later that night at the Foxtons. She was no longer a little girl anymore; she was slowly but surely turning into a beautiful, intelligent young woman.

"Hello my darlings!" Cecilia beamed as the Porters walked into the hallway of Foxton Manor. "Did you have a good journey?"

"Well enough," Jane replied happily as the two friends kissed each other affectionately on the cheek. Cecilia turned to Annabelle and beamed with delight at sight of her adoptive niece.

"Don't you look a picture!" she smiled as she twirled Annabelle around. "I swear you get even more prettier every time I see you my dear."

"Thank you Aunt Cecilia," Annabelle nodded graciously, "you look very well yourself."

"Oh you are too kind," Cecilia laughed heartily. Her belly was now sporting a more distinct curve and she was now wearing a special maternity corset to accommodate her growing bump. "Come now, let's have some tea before we all have to get ready for the party."

"Is Percy joining us?" Annabelle asked as they sat down for afternoon tea, dainty finger sandwiches, divine looking cakes and freshly baked scones all laid out beautifully on the table.

"Yes, where is the birthday boy?" Tarzan added jovially as Cecilia poured them all tea into delicately painted bone china teacups.

"He is sleeping," Cecilia replied and then smiled at Annabelle to take what she wanted from the cake stand. "He tires easily and gets headaches. I think his glasses might need adjusting."

"Yes, he told me that he had to cram like mad for his logarithms exam the other day," Annabelle replied, recalling from the last correspondence that she received from Percy and she could feel his stress in his words, despite their positive outlook.

"Yes, so all the more reason to celebrate," Cecilia nodded before delicately nibbling on a cucumber sandwich. "In fact Percy has only allowed me to organise this party unless you could come. He was quite insistent on it."

"Our children have really taken to each other haven't they?" Tarzan said as he put down his teacup. "Belle is always looking forward to receiving Percy's letters. She practically snatches them out of our hands when the postman delivers them!"

"Papa!" Annabelle blushed scarlet in embarrassment and Tarzan smiled at her apologetically.

"It's good that our children are friends," Jane smiled and raised her teacup, "as you and I have always wished for Cecilia. To friendship, long may it last." The adults raised their teacups and Annabelle raised hers a second later and they clinked together, ringing out like tiny fairy bells.

"Do I look alright Belvedere?" Percy asked his manservant once he finished brushing the lint of his tweed jacket.

"Perfectly attired Master Foxton," Belvedere replied in his clipped, but not unkind voice. "I shall tell your mother that you are all dressed for the party."

"Yes, thank you Belvedere," Percy replied and the manservant dutifully left the room. His stomach was still filled with butterflies; they had started on the train home and had not stopped since. Every mile that the train chugged towards the Foxton's country estate, Percy felt more and more dread build up inside him. The only thing that made him go through with all of this was the fact that she was going to be there.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and he called out "Enter!" thinking it was his mother or another servant. His eyes widened at the sight of the visitor, to him an angelic vision dressed in pale blue silk and cream lace.

"Hello Percy," Annabelle said as she entered his bedroom. "Your mother said I could see now that you are no longer napping and dressed for the party. Has your headache gone?"

"Err, yes, yes," Percy stammered nervously as she came over to him, her long brown hair flowing in a cloud behind her, the pale blue silken fabric swishing as she walked, the cream sash at her waist, gleaming like a mother of pearl shell. All the words, all the things he wanted to say, that he thought long and hard over on the train journey disappeared from his mind, leaving him dumfounded and awkward.

"You, look, look, wonderful," he eventually stuttered and Annabelle beamed at his compliment.

"Thank you. So you do."

"I, I, I have some new soldiers if you would to play with them before the others arrive? Or a game of draughts if you prefer?"

"I would like to play soldiers," Annabelle smiled kindly and soon both children were setting them up on the bedroom floor. Carefree laughter filled the room as they played with the tin soldiers and horses, Percy soon feeling himself relax in Annabelle's presence.

"I think I need to draft a peace treaty!" Percy laughed as Annabelle was soon clearly winning by a landslide.

"Well here is an incentive to surrender," Annabelle giggled before handing him the wrapped present. "Happy birthday Percy."

Percy carefully unwrapped the present and his eyes lit up as he saw the book. He flipped through some of the pages and recognised her handwriting and the prettiness of the watercolour illustrations.

"Do you like it?" Annabelle asked apprehensively as Percy had not said anything for a minute.

"Like it, I love it," Percy beamed from ear to ear and his glasses lightly steamed up. "It must have taken you ages."

"Not really and Miss Lyons did the pictures. It was a pleasure writing it Percy." Annabelle looked at Percy and their eyes met for a second before they both looked away, blushing. Then there was a knock on the door and a servant entered the room.

"I am here to take you down to the party Master Foxton, Miss Porter. The guests are waiting," the servant nodded politely and Annabelle saw a look of sadness cross Percy's face.

"Yes. Thank you Buxton. Anna?" Percy held out his crook of his arm and Annabelle slipped her hand through it and lightly squeezed it in encouragement.

As they entered the ballroom, Annabelle gasped as she saw that the place festooned with many colourful paper streamers, garlands and bunting. There was a large buffet table set to one side, almost groaning with many delicious foods including ornate jellies and cakes.

A small group of musicians played jovial songs and there were games set up for the children to play. Most of the children were boys from Percy's school and the girls must be their sisters or cousins, Annabelle thought.

Percy looked nervous, almost frightened, completely unsure of what to do with himself. Annabelle could feel that the palm of his hand was slightly clammy as she slid her hand out of the crook of his arm.

"Are you alright Percy?" she asked, a little confused at Percy's nervous demeanour. This was a lovely party that most children would only dream of having yet Percy looked as if he wanted to run away.

"I wish it was just us…. playing soldiers," Percy replied quietly before his mother came over, glowing in a pale rose pink dress.

"Come now Percy darling," Cecilia smiled encouragingly at her son. "You'd better greet your guests, it would be rude not to."

"Yes Mama," Percy nodded somewhat reluctantly as he made his way round the ballroom, politely greeting all the guests and thanking them for their gifts.

"Everything going well Belle?" Annabelle turned round to see her father approach her and give her tumbler of fruit punch.

"I think so," she replied as they chinked their glasses and Tarzan noticed her apprehensive expression.

"You think so? Belle dear, what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing Papa," Annabelle replied and then paused. "It's just, it's just that Percy seems nervous, upset even. He looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here."

"Well, Percy is a quiet, rather shy boy," Tarzan said as he watched the young boy greet another group of guests. "Not everyone is as confident and as good at talking with people as you my dear."

"I know, but he shouldn't be unhappy on his birthday."

"Tell you what," Tarzan smiled as he handed her his untouched glass of fruit punch. "Why don't you go over and give him this punch? Join the conversation and be there for him, it might boost his confidence if he were to have a friendly face by his side."

"Thanks Papa," Annabelle smiled at her father's advice. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek in gratitude. Tarzan beamed and went to ruffle her hair but stopped as he realised that she wouldn't want it to be messed up. Annabelle smiled at her father again and went over to Percy with the two tumblers of fruit punch.

As she approached the group of children, she noted that the rest of them were boys and maybe a year or two older than Percy. Cecilia had left her son to entertain them and was over at the far side of the ballroom, chatting to some of the mothers. Percy looked uncomfortable to say the least and looked utterly relieved when she came over. Annabelle felt that the older boys seemed to be rather rambunctious, not the sort of boys that the quiet, reserved Percy would be friends with. But then again, who was she to judge?

"Sorry to interrupt Percy," Annabelle smiled as she entered the circle of boys and held out the tumbler to him. "But I thought you would like some of the fruit punch."

"Err, thank you," Percy stammered as he took it from her and Annabelle notice the boys slightly sniggering.

"So Bookworm," the tallest boy said, in a not too friendly tone, "we didn't know that you knew any girls."

"Yes he does as a matter of fact. I'm Annabelle," she replied, keeping her face calm but felt annoyed at the older boy's jibe.

"It's just that Bookworm is always swotting up in the library so it seems fair to conclude that he doesn't know any girls." The boy looked her up and down and then made a cocky smile, "besides cousins don't count."

"I'm not his cousin actually. Our mothers are friends and Percy is my friend, one of my best friends."

"Golly gosh!" the older boy scoffed and his acolytes sniggered in delight. "Bookworm actually has a real friend! Isn't that a miracle! A real life friend and not a figment of his sorry, pathetic imagination!"

"I'm sorry?!" Annabelle was dumbfounded at the boy's comments and the other boys joining in with more sniggers. "Yes Percy is indeed my friend, we write to each other all the time."

"Oh those stupid love letters Bookworm spends all his time pining over like Lord Byron!"

"Please George," Percy mumbled feebly and the older boy's mouth formed a triumphant smile.

"Calm down Bookworm, I just want to talk to the girl that you claim lives in the jungle with all the monkeys."

"It's true," Annabelle bit back, "I do come from the jungle and we live with gorillas not monkeys for your information."

"Well now I can see that it is true, after all you do look like a monkey! Want a banana Monkey Girl!" George jibbed and the other boys roared with laughter.

"That's enough George," Percy felt the colour rise in his cheeks and his heart begin to pound in his chest. He had never spoken to him or any of the other boys like that before.

"I'm just getting started Bookworm," George snarled and then turned to Annabelle. "Are you like those ratty organ grinder monkeys you see on the streets Monkey Girl? Dance Monkey Girl, dance Monkey Girl for a coin or two!"

The other boys joined in, quietly chanting 'Dance Monkey Girl' or making monkey sounds. Annabelle felt as if she was about to burst into floods of tears, whilst Percy stood there helplessly silent.

"I may be a monkey girl but you mister are a pathetic bully! You are nothing more than a lowly dung beetle!" she snapped back and George looked taken at her retaliation. His face turned red with rage and his fists clenched tight. He stepped towards her and Annabelle feared for a second or two that he was going to hit her.

"You take that back!" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

"No," Annabelle shook her head defiantly whilst trembling inside but she didn't dare give him the satisfaction of knowing that she was afraid. "Gorillas and monkeys eat lowly dung beetles like you for breakfast!"

You will regret that you ever said that Monkey Girl. You're dead meat! You and your pathetic, cowardly worm of a friend!"

"Arghhhhhhhh!" Percy suddenly let out a war like cry and charged at George into the buffet table! Smashes and crashes of silver and glassware sounded out in the ballroom as the two boys wrestled on the floor whilst the other children rushed over to see the spectacle! There were cheers from the boys and shrieks from the girls as the boys rolled around, hitting and punching each other.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Charlie stormed into the throng of children and managed to pull the two warring boys apart. George was now sporting a bloody nose and Percy had taken a heavy blow to his eye.

"Percy!" Cecilia cried as she rushed over and inspected her son's bruised face. "Are you alright?"

"What the hell do you think you playing at!" Charlie turned to his son, his face purple with rage. "Fighting in the ballroom indeed! Your mother has spent so much time and effort organising this party for you and look at what you have done! You have ruined it, you have disgraced us you stupid spoilt brat! I should take the strap to you for this outrageous behaviour!"

Percy, chest heaving and failing to hold back tears pushed his mother aside and ran out of the ballroom.

"Percy wait!" Annabelle cried and was soon in hot pursuit. Even though Percy was fast, she managed to follow him outside into the dark night. Even with a burning stitch in her side, she managed to keep track of him and saw him dash into one of the large outbuildings. Percy ran into one of the stable stalls and the horse that was lying down in the soft hay, suddenly stood up in fright, rearing up its front legs.

"Woah Admiral! It's me, it's Percy," Percy reassured the rearing horse and Admiral soon recognised his young master and then calmed down. Horse and boy rested their faces against each other's in a moment of quiet serenity before it was interrupted by Annabelle.

"Percy! There you are!" Annabelle came into the stall, slightly out of breath and slightly nervous as the horse fretfully neighed at her.

"It's alright Admiral, this is Annabelle. She's my friend," Percy reassured Admiral and then turned to Annabelle. "Don't worry, Admiral won't bite. He is nervous of strangers but he knows you are a friend now."

Annabelle stepped forward and carefully stroked Admiral's nose and then the horse made a friendly snort at her.

"What happened in the ballroom Percy?" Annabelle's voice was soft not only to not spook Admiral but also Percy. "Who are those boys?"

"Just boys at school," Percy replied as he ran his hand along Admiral's side, "I'm sorry that they called you names. I should have stood up for you sooner."

"Why did you invite them? They were so horrible to you."

"I didn't, my mother did."

"Why would she invite them though?"

"She thought that they were my friends," Percy continued stroking Admiral and avoided Annabelle's gaze.

"Friends? They are hardly friends!" Annabelle stepped closer to him, "Where were your real friends?"

"I don't have any friends! I don't have real friends Anna alright!" Percy suddenly snapped and Annabelle stood there in shock at this heart-breaking confession.

"But what about Roland, Edwin, Gilbert and Fletcher?" Annabelle was confused, "the boys you wrote about in your letters. Those boys are your friends aren't they?"

"No…I made them up," Percy admitted after a long silence, "Well, they are real boys at school. They are the ones that just ignore me…the others hate me."

"What? Why? Why did you lie Percy?"

"Because I didn't want you to feel sorry for me. I didn't want to be pitied. It was my one chance to create a happy school life where I was liked and popular for once. They call me Bookworm for being in the library all the time, but it's the only place where I feel safe there. Sounds stupid now doesn't it?"

"No, it's not stupid," Annabelle shook her head and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Have you told your teachers?"

"No, they are just as mean as the boys. They cane you or give you the slipper or the ruler for even the slightest step out of line. I wish I had a kind teacher like your governess."

"Do your parents know?"

"No of course not."

"You have to tell them, you have to tell how unhappy you are Percy. Maybe you can change schools."

"Change schools! My father would never allow it. It's Eton, the best school in the country. I have no way out except -" Percy went over to a pile of hay and pulled out a big canvas duffle bag.

"Percy what is that?

"A bag, I smuggle it here earlier," Percy went out of the stall and came back with both arms full of horse riding equipment.

"And where are you going?" she demanded as Percy started to tack up Admiral with a great intensity.

"Anywhere but here," he replied as he finished sorting out Admiral's reins.

"And is running away really going to solve your problems?" she again demanded as Percy put the duffle bag over his shoulder before climbing onto Admiral and then settled into the saddle.

"At least I won't have those problems to face. At least I can be myself," he replied and then held out his hand to her. "Come with me."

"What?"

"I have saved up my allowance. We can ride Admiral to Dover and go to Paris. We can dine on croissants and pain au chocolat. Or we can go to Southampton and get a ship to America? We could go to New York, I could draw and you could write."

"Percy…I have my family here and in the jungle. I will miss them and you will miss yours too."

"Please come Anna," Percy's face was crumpled in sadness and pain. "Please," he begged and for a moment Annabelle wanted to say yes only to stop that desolate look on his face.

"Belle?" the children turn around to see Tarzan standing in the doorway of the stable stall. He slowly came over and Percy didn't attempt to bolt out on Admiral.

"Come on son," Tarzan held out his hand. "Let's go inside and sort this out."

"I can't," Percy sniffed, "They won't listen, my parents won't listen."

"You won't know unless you try and I will be there by your side. Both of us, won't we Belle?"

Annabelle nodded and after a long, tense pause Percy reluctantly got off Admiral. Tarzan put his arm around Percy and they all slowly and calmly walked back to the manor house.

When they had arrived, all the guests were gone apart from Jane. Cecilia rushed over to hug her son whilst Charlie still looked rather peeved.

"Come on son," Tarzan nodded to Percy, "they are listening now."

"Mother, Father," Percy swallowed and then started, "I have something to tell you." And so in that moment Percy told his parents the truth, the whole truth. He told them all about the boys and their nasty words, their pushes and shoves and even worse their kicks and punches. He told them how lonely he felt and how he hated going to school and wished that he could be anywhere else but there.

"Oh my boy, my poor boy," Cecilia stifled back the tears as she hugged her son, "I had no idea how unhappy you are. Don't you worry my dear, you will not be going back there ever again. I promise you that sweetheart."

"Hold on Cecilia," Charlie butted in, "we have spent a great deal of time and money getting Percy into Eton. His chances of getting into Oxford or Cambridge will be dashed if he leaves. I'm sure if I talk to the headmaster then the boys will leave him alone, besides it's only a couple more years until he leaves anyway."

"Only a couple of years?!" Cecilia was incredulous, "Your money and your pride is worth more to you than your son's happiness?!"

"Cecilia, I just don't think we should rush things, jump the gun at the slightest upset! I fear that you are raising our son to be weak and watery!"

"Slightest upset! Our son has been tormented and hurt by those wretched monsters since he started at Eton and he kept it quiet to not upset us! No husband, we are not jumping the gun! Our son wanted to run away because he was that unhappy. He is not going back to that school, we will find him a tutor and then a more suitable school where he doesn't get beaten up on a daily basis."

Cecilia got up and went over to her husband and then quietly whispered into his ear. "You of all people know what it is like to be different Charlie. Don't make your son go through the same things as you did just to save face."

"I know, I just want the best for Percy. For his future," Charlie replied out aloud.

"Yes but there won't be a future if we force him to go back there," Cecilia replied and Charlie eventually nodded.

"Yes, you are right Ceci," he conceded and then turned to his son. "We will find you a tutor Percy and then a replacement school. I am sorry for not listening to you son. Forgive me?"

"Forgiven," Percy made a small smile and both parents hugged their precious boy.

"You did well," Tarzan said to Annabelle as he later tucked her into bed in one of the Foxton's guestrooms. "You were there for Percy and your mother and I are very proud of you."

"I would have liked to have gone to Paris or New York though," she smiled as Tarzan tucked Pollyanna in beside her.

"Hard to stowaway a horse on a ship though!" he joked and Annabelle giggled.

"I'm glad that Percy is going to go to a nicer school now. I hated him seeing him unhappy."

"I know and now he is going to be lot happier. You are a good friend Belle, now time to settle down."

"Thank you Papa," she smiled at him before kissing his cheek goodnight and then settled down to sleep. Tarzan pulled up the covers to her chin and then kissed her sleeping forehead. He was so happy that his daughter was a kind, loyal person and that he was utterly glad that she herself was happy.

Later that night, in the wee small hours Annabelle woke up to a quiet knocking on her bedroom door. She got out of bed and tiptoed across to the door.

"Percy," she gasped as she opened the door to see the young boy dressed in striped pyjamas and a quilted dressing gown.

"Sorry to wake you Anna," he whispered, his right eye now purple and swollen from George's punch. "I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for helping me, saving my life again. You are a true friend."

"That's what friends are for Percy," Annabelle made a little smile and then reached out to kiss Percy on the cheek in gratitude but Percy inadvertently moved his head and she ended up kissing him on the lips. Their lips pressed against each other's for just a few seconds and then they quickly parted.

Even in the dark, Percy would feel his cheeks flush scarlet and rush of happiness swept through him, subduing the pain in his black eye.

"Well umm, er, umm, goodnight Annabelle," he stammered once he pulled himself out of his reverie.

"Goodnight Percy," Annabelle smiled again at him and then a loud creak from down the corridor made Percy quietly dash off to his own room and she closed the bedroom door. As she laid down on her bed, Annabelle sighed a happy sigh before hugging herself with glee. She couldn't wait to tell Daisy and later on Keke that she had just experienced her first ever kiss!