Ana pushed the curtain back for the millionth time of the black carriage trying to figure out where they were. Dreary skies and hills upon hills was all she could make out of the morning mist.
Her anxiety was getting to her when she felt the blood she drew from her lips. She touched the chain on her neck that held her father's wedding ring which engraved the Steele crest. Technically he was her step-father, but he was the closest parental figure she ever had.
When he had died in the military, her mother was considered used goods; she was supposed to be widowed, but Ray had been so compassionate and infatuated with her mother. Now in hopes to carry on the Steele family tree, Carla had agreed to arrange a marriage for her daughter.
She still felt the hurt and betrayal the day her own mother had told her the "good" news. The only relief she had felt was when she had to departure her dreadful hometown and sail across the ocean. She had expected a new environment with the sunshine and the birds chirping. Anything that would have proved her favorite authors were actually inspired to write such moving stories and weren't driven mad out of their minds. If they had been driven mad, she was thankful they were still able to have a small portion of sanity to write whatever crazy yet amazing scenarios they had in their minds.
She was so lost in her thoughts she did not realize the carriage had come to a stop. When the driver opened the door and held out her hand, she took it hesitantly. Ana knew it was bad to instantly trust someone, but there was something about the man that made her feel secure.
He continued to be a gentleman and open the gate doors and guide her along the steps. Ana almost fell a few times staring in awe at the manor. It was humongous, and she suddenly felt excited to meet her own Mr. Darcy.
"If it isn't rude." Ana says huffing as she picked up her skirt once more to avoid tripping over it, "What is your name?"
He didn't answer at first, the look of bewilderment was evident on his face. Does he know his own name?
"Sawyer, ma'am." He states as he helped her once more.
"Is that your Christian name?" Ana says pushing a stray hair behind her ear.
"No, ma'am. My Christian name is Luke, but please just call me Sawyer."
Ana frowns at his curtness but dismisses it. They had reached the tall, wooden, double doors. Another servant opens the door for the two and they are guided into bedroom. Sawyer leaves while Ana had to wait patiently in the bedroom while the servants bring in her luggage that did not carry much. Only a few dresses and her favorite books.
One of the maids made Ana sit down in front of the dark vanity table while she brushed her hair. Through the mirror Ana saw what she always sees every day of her boring life. A petite little girl with dark brown hair that contrasted from her pale face. The only feature she ever really liked about herself was the bright blue eyes. Although they were too large for her small frame, she still liked to know she had inherited something from her biological father. Although her mother never talked about him, she knew it was his eyes. Carla never had blue eyes, and Ana had seen a picture of him when she was a child.
Before her mother burned it, of course.
Her thoughts were yet again interrupted when the maid had started tugging on her hair.
"You have too much hair, miss." The maid frowned before twisting Ana's hair into a loose tendril bun at the nape of her neck.
The maid then pulled her to the Chinese screen that looked like it was made of fine silk.
"You have to look presentable, miss." The maid says when Ana lets out disapproving sound. The maid helps Ana change into a much finer chemise and corset.
"I think I can dress myself." Ana says when the maid tugs one last time at the corset.
The maid frowns at the stubbornness such a lady can hold. Weren't they all supposed to be complying and quite things?
After being fully fussed over, Ana looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The dress was modest, didn't show too much of her bosom, and her backside wasn't exaggerated. She was already liking her fiancée.
She touched the ring that rested in between her collarbones feeling the reassuring presence of her step-father. The maid leads her to another room on the same floor. All the doors they had passed by were guarded by at least one servant. She recognized Sawyer in one of them, but he refused to meet her gaze.
They ended up in what looked like a study. There was a marble fireplace ablaze in such early time of the day, a large mahogany desk was place in front of it, and only minimal shelves that held, what Ana could see, political books. The Parliament was named after one of them, and a few other leather bound books were based upon the United Kingdom law. Ana did not catch sight of A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, unbelievably none by Shakespeare, no Bronte Sisters. How outrageous! Ana was glad she had brought her books or she would have nothing to keep her entertained.
The maid leaves Ana alone in the room to continue with her thoughts. It seemed like eternity when someone finally enters the room. Ana turns to see an elderly man walk in and her eyes widened. This couldn't be her fiancée, Ana thought to herself.
Thankfully, someone follows shortly behind the elderly man, someone much younger, and Ana lets out a sigh of relief.
The much older man sits behind the desk, the flames illuminated his backside, and the younger man sits beside her. Neither of them wore a waistcoat despite the coolness in the temperature.
"You must be Anastasia, am I correct?" the elderly man says.
Despite her habit of saying 'Please, call me Ana' there was something about the man that made her hesitate to answer. Instead, she just nodded.
"My son was ecstatic to hear about your approval on the marriage. I'm sure the two of you will make me proud." He continues smiling.
Ana looks at the man beside her and saw him slumped lazily in his chair, the look of disinterest evident on his face. She bit her lip when he turned to her and she looked away quickly.
"In the meantime, do whatever pleases you. I'm sure you would like to venture out and explore. I'm sure my son would love to show you around. Fine way to start off your relationship." He waves his hand away and Ana takes it her queue to leave. She rises out of the chair and briskly walking out of the study and attempting to make it to her quarters.
"Anastasia!" a man says behind her. She cringes before pausing allowing him to catch up with him. He wasn't viewed handsome in her opinion, but he wasn't bad looking. Just something about him made her unsettled.
"Yes...?"
"Jack. Jack Hyde. My father said I should show you around London."
Ana gulped feeling her throat dry. "He suggested it Mr. Hyde-"
He was already pulling her behind him. Ana was starting to curse the name of her mother.
This is NOT a Jack/Ana story. Just adds onto the drama. I actually grew up in drama. School had drama, the only shows we were allowed to watch had drama (grandma wanted to so we must respect our elders), drama, drama, drama.
Anyways! This was the story idea I had which takes place in London and it's during the reign of Queen Victoria. I got the idea when I started to read the old books I have on my shelf that I mentioned in the story. Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, I think I mentioned Wuthering Heights, and I ended up reading my sister's books: The Infernal Devices.
Ana here is like seventeen since back then people wed at such an early age. I am not a rocket scientist on this time era so please bear with me. I'm going to bring in Christian as soon as I can and if you guys would like for me to continue this story. I'm not sure if I started this idea was already used or not; I don't want to be just another one of those authors where everything is already expected.
Please review and tell me if this should be a keeper or not. I hope I didn't start this story off confusing. Thanks for checking this story out!
Reloweven