Free Persuading Annie by Melissa Nathan Page A

out every year at that time. I know! We’ll do Madison Avenue.’
    ‘I’ve got an even better idea,’ exclaimed Annie, ‘after I’ve gone bankrupt, we can rob Madison Avenue! Bagsie the Versace balaclava.’
    Cass changed the subject fast. She hated it when Annie got sarcastic.
    First things first, she had a man Annie simply had to meet.
    Annie sighed. Would Cass never tire of trying to match her up with some horribly eligible bore? Why did everyone assume that because she hadn’t had a serious relationship since … for a while, she was desperate for one? Didn’t they realise that as far as she was concerned, men were there to service her when she required servicing, much in the same way as a plumber was there when a leak sprung. Or, on one very fortuitous occasion, to do both at the same time.
    ‘He’s over six foot tall, built like a brick shithouse, thighs like mountains, knees like a Greek god and Brutus plays rugby with him so he’s seen him in the shower – Annie, we’re talking serious potential here.’
    Annie perked up.
    ‘Sounds interesting.’
    Cass grinned.
    ‘Deep down, you’re really very shallow, aren’t you?’
    ‘It’s not that deep down,’ smiled Annie. ‘I’m shallowly shallow.’
    ‘There is a slight catch though,’ said Cass. ‘He’s got a rather unfortunate manner.’
    Annie nodded. There was always something. ‘Arrogant, patronising? Or snivelling, toadying?’
    ‘No. Manor . Unfortunate manor. Two hundred acres, completely surrounded by farmland. Stinks of manure for ten months of every year. Apart from that he’s perfect. Wondered if you’d like to go shooting pheasants with us all. The season’s just about to start.’
    ‘So sorry,’ said Annie wearily. ‘I belong to the Friends of the Pheasants Society.’
    ‘Don’t make me miserable, Annie.’
    ‘Sorry. Let’s not discuss the massacre of harmless wildlife for mindless sport, shall we?’
    ‘Let’s not.’ Cass scanned her menu. ‘Right. What shall we eat?’
    Over their first glass of wine, Annie explained to Cass why she was grateful not to be going to New York. She couldn’t bear the thought of living at such close proximity to Davina. Katherine, fooled by simple flattery, was blind to the real motives of her ‘friend’. But it was clear to Annie that Davina was after more than a fling with George – and Annie was concerned enough to think that there was a real danger of her getting her way. She had to keep an eye on her.
    George had had many affairs – Annie felt sure that his marriage to her mother had not even put a stop to that. But, and it hurt Annie to say it, Davina knew exactly how to turn the head of a vain, foolish man like her father. God only knew what would happen if someone like Davina married him and became the matriarch of the Markham family. She was cunning and clever, putting as much effort into appearing innocent and naïve as her sisters put into being beautiful.Davina could win an Oscar for her daily performance. Annie was terrified about the schisms Davina could create within her family.
    ‘Schisms? Why would she do that?’ asked Cass.
    ‘Your mother would be out on her ear. There would only be room for one woman in my father’s life. Susannah would lose her job and probably all contact with the family. And it would be even worse for us. Your mother is masterminding saving Father’s company. Davina could ruin us all.’
    ‘Jesus.’
    ‘Or what if, for argument’s sake,’ continued Annie, ‘Davina and Father have children together, a whole new family of Markham miracles? What then?’
    She took a gulp of her wine.
    ‘I mean, I know Katie’s not perfect,’ she continued, ‘but that doesn’t mean I want to see her on the street. Without her inheritance she wouldn’t last a week. And Davina is the sort of woman who, once married, would get her hands on my father’s will before letting him get his hands on anything she had to offer. And where would that leave any of