Anna was calm.

Anna was prepared.

Anna was-

'...about to be late!'

Was that really the right shade of rouge?

Was her hair a little too curled?

Was the perfume a bit too much?

'Netherfield is just across the street,' Kai commented, as Anna raced around looking for that jewelled hairpin her outfit would not be complete without. 'As it is, you're already 10 minutes late… which is practically early.'

Anna had never been one to stick to social convention. She could attempt to, but each endeavour just led to her slipping off, like a buttered dog trying to climb out of a huge sink.

'I need to be late enough that I don't look eager, and cause Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl to wonder where I am, and therefore think of me,' Anna explained. 'But I mustn't be too late, in case all the other ladies take him!'

'I see,' Kai said, completely lost.

'Is this what you were looking for?' he said a couple of minutes later, fishing out a gleaming piece of metal from in-between three empty cups of tea. Dressing for a ball makes one thirsty.

Anna beamed. 'You've saved me, Kai!'

If I use it to pin back a small braid…

There.

Now his attention will be captured by the gem, and then he'll look down and see my lovely long neck all waiting to be-

Kai cleared his throat.

'I hate to rouse you from your daydreams, Miss, but I notice a carriage has just pulled up outside Netherfield.'

She saw the flash of a dress, and that was enough.

I'm going to be the woman he wants, not her!

'Well, I must be off,' Anna announced.

Kai narrowly avoided a black eye as Anna thrust her parasol at him, bending over her pile of shoes. 'A lady always takes her parasol, even if she is only going a short distance,' Anna quoted.

'Mrs. Smith was very wise,' Kai agreed, gingerly taking the offending item. 'You look most excellent, Miss Smith, so graceful,' he said, ignoring the fact that Anna had nearly fallen over twice whilst lacing up her shoes.

'Thank you, Kai,' Anna grinned. 'Let's hope Mr. Bösew- I mean, let's hope the gentlemen do too!'


'Joan,' Anna gushed, 'I didn't know you had that dress! It looks incredible.'

'Thank you,' Joan said, leaning in closer. 'I bought it especially,' she admitted.

'Oh, did you?'

'Anna…' Joan said warningly.

'I have an excellent taste in men! I'll find you someone who is just your type, Joan,' Anna assured her.

'Your type appears to have disappeared,' Joan commented.

They'd arrived 20 minutes ago, and Anna hadn't seen even a glimpse of Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl's wonderful backsid-

'I find it most terribly rude,' Joan continued, and Anna squashed those thoughts back down for when she was back in her room. 'If one is to host a ball, one must at least greet each new guest- but to not be present at all! How shocking!'

'He's European,' Anna defended. 'He doesn't know our customs.'

Joan raised an eyebrow, and took Anna's gloved hand in her own. 'Don't go conflating nationality and bad manners,' she advised. 'True bad manners are bad wherever you are. I highly doubt this would be acceptable in Almany.'

'I'm sure he'll appear soon,' Anna said, 'I can hardly judge him, sister. Remember when I was late to my own birthday?'

But Joan wasn't appeased.

'I don't want you to settle, Anna,' she begged.

Before Anna could reply, Joan had dragged her over to a small line of chairs down one side of the room.

'Sit here until a dashing young man asks you to dance,' Joan said. 'I heard that they will be starting soon, and you will need a partner.'

'Why can't I ask a man to dance? Why must I sit and wait?' Anna demanded.

'You have your heart set on a very particular man, and if I leave you to your own devices, you will only dance with a bunch of lookalikes, and end up disappointed because they are not him. I say take a chance, because you never know who you might meet!'

'Fine,' Anna pouted, weak in the face of Joan's enthusiastic stubbornness. 'Where are you going?' she cried.

Joan just smiled. 'I'll be with you if you need me, Anna. Have fun!'

And with that, Joan was gone.

Anna slumped in her seat, not caring if people talked about her lack of manners.

As if I'd catch the eye of any man, let alone Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl. I should have declined the invitation-

She sat up straight.

Across the room, a man with messy blonde hair was walking right towards her.


The man reached the centre of the floor, and then froze.

Anna watched him in a 'I'm-not-watching-you' manner.

He turned and walked back.

Well then.

Compared to Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl, the gentleman was a giant.

Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl looked very short and, dare Anna say, fragile, when faced with Anna's new suitor.

I prefer my neighbour, Anna decided.

Where Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl cut a dashing figure and wore the smartest suits, the stranger wore…

Anna wasn't actually sure what it was that he was wearing. Some sort of very thick jacket, and-

Boots with fur!

Why isn't the whole room looking at him, they are so adorable!

She was so enraptured by this strange choice of footwear, that she didn't realise the man had approached again until she heard a woman's soothing whispers right beside her.

'Just approach her,' the woman crooned in his ear.

He stared at the floor, blushing.

'But what if-'

'She is not Miss Winters,' the woman said, voice harsher now. 'That creature was unnatural, sinful…'

The poison in her voice shocked Anna.

The woman looked up, as if realising she was in public, and Anna quickly diverted her gaze before she got caught.

'Miss Winters had… would never dare treat you… severe mental disturbances…'

Anna zoned out a little. She was not going to waste her time with a man who was clearly still in love with someone else.

I want to be a lover, not a man's own personal advice column!

'And how she treated you,' the man was saying now, his hand on her shoulder. 'How could she treat my own sister in such a way…'

'I will never get over it!' the woman exclaimed. 'What unspeakable...'

Anna was now thoroughly enjoying the foreign accents, and the gossip.

Whatever had this Miss Winters done?

'Go and ask her to dance,' the woman urged. 'They are about to start.'

She walked off, leaving the heartbroken man alone.

Anna sized her up as she walked past.

She looks… mean.

Anna had never met anyone who looked mean before. She made a mental note to stay out of her way.

Subconsciously, Anna turned back round to look at the gentleman.

Their eyes met.

Both widened in surprise.

Anna smiled, trying to be friendly.

The man frowned.

And then he spoke so quietly, that it was only by virtue of years of eavesdropping that Anna could hear:

'No… she is not so handsome close up. Hmm. There is no one in this room worthy of dancing with. No one who can live up to her…'

There was an undercurrent of fear and sadness in his talk. Anna knew he didn't really mean it.

But that didn't mean it didn't hurt.


'How dare he!' Hans exclaimed, as they began the two third. 'Whoever would pass up such a gorgeous creature as yourself?'

Anna blushed.

She was in love. With Hans. Hans and his dreamy voice...

He'd told her to call him Hans.

So European!

Joan would see it as a gross over-familiarity, but Joan knew nothing.

'Don't you think so, Anna?' Hans urged, his face serious and beautiful. 'How rude!'

'He had a nasty experience with a former lover,' Anna explained. 'I forgive it.'

Anna was so happy, she'd overlook anything!

She'd sat on her chair for a few more minutes after the man had insulted her, spirits low.

And then Hans had appeared, dressed in such finery, and offered to dance, and had danced with her and her alone this whole night!

Hans looked pained. 'Anna,' he exclaimed, 'you do not know his true nature!'

'His true nature?'

'Yes. I-I know Mr. Bjorgman, and he has not a thing to recommend him!' Hans rushed out.

He put his hand around Anna's waist and turned her slightly to the left. 'He's over there,' Hans said, pointing at the far corner of the room. 'Look at him, and tell me there is any admirable aspect of him!'

Mr. Bjorgman stood deep in conversation with a darker skinned man, whose contribution seemed largely to consist of nodding.

Hans took her silence as confirmation.

'Quite right!' he cried, at the same time as Anna cried, 'Oh, but his boots!'

Hans blinked.

'I beg your pardon?'

'Have you ever seen anything quite like them?'

'Anna,' Hans said slowly, as if she were very stupid indeed, 'Kristoff Bjorgman is incredibly arrogant and proud, and so is his sister, Karoline. In fact, I declare it a very good thing that he turned his nose up at you. We may never have met otherwise.'

Hans' expression took on a shy, embarrassed quality that made Anna melt.

'I'm very glad we did meet!' Anna said. 'Though I dare say it would have happened sooner or later, considering we live so close.'

'It's like fate,' Hans said softly. Then he frowned, and waved at some unknown guest. 'So sorry- an old friend- I will be right back-'

Anna found her gaze drifting right back to Mr. Bjorgman. He seemed more hesitant than proud to Anna, but Hans was the veteran of many balls, and clearly knew the man better than she did.

Anna glanced at Mr. Bjorgman's friend.

Quiet and thoughtful, just like Joan. I must set them up...

'Anna?'

'Hi, Joan, how's it goi-'

'Did Mr. Bösewicht-Kerl really leave you partnerless in the middle of a dance?'

Anna had no time for Joan's negativity.

'Talk later, sister,' Anna said, and Joan was gone. Joan would change her tune once she realised how wonderful Hans really was.

'Missed me?'

Anna looked up into Hans' adoring face.

'Not as much as you missed me,' she breathed, winking.


By the time Anna sat down with her plate of chocolate-covered strawberries ('are you sure there is fruit under all of that?' Hans teased), the entire hall seemed to be whispering about Mr. Bjorgman being arrogant and proud.

'I'm a bit of a gossip,' Hans admitted, 'but I didn't want this town to be deceived.'

Because Anna was also a bit of a gossip (well, to Joan), and because Hans had so openly acknowledged his flaws, Anna only loved him more.

'How do you know Mr. Bjorgman?' Anna asked.

'We met in Norway,' Hans began, 'and I was-'

'Where's Norway?' she interrupted. Anna loved hearing about new places.

Hans paused. 'It's far far away, and very very cold,' he said.

'That's why he has such warm boots,' Anna sighed. 'I wonder where I can get a pair like that.'

Hans looked slightly irritated, but she must have imagined it, because a second later he was as charming as ever.

'Don't you see, Anna?' he said, pushing his hair off his face in a gesture that made Anna breathless. 'He can't even bring himself to dress in the English fashion! I myself aspire to dress and act so that I can live amongst you undetected.'

Anna rather liked the Norwegian fashion. She was sure the German fashion was even better.

Imagine Hans in lederhosen… just lederhosen...mmm…

'Are you okay?'

Anna snapped back to the present, back to a Hans who was, sadly, fully clothed.

'Sorry, just daydreaming,' Anna said, blushing.

Hans smiled. 'Let me tell you a story,' he said.

Hans told Anna all about his time working in Norway, where he'd met Kristoff Bjorgman's father. They'd got along very well, and Hans had been treated like a second son, helping the Bjorgmans harvest ice. Hans had completely revolutionised the way the ice harvesters sold their ice to the kingdom, encouraging them to haggle and demand more money, and soon Mr. Bjorgman was very rich.

But when he died, his son left Hans nothing, even though it was written in the will that the two men should receive an equal share of the wealth.

Anna commiserated, disgusted by his treatment.

'I can't receive my full fortune until I turn 21,' Anna sighed.

Hans looked very interested by this, but he asked no questions.


They talked all evening, leaving the dancing to other people.

Anna told him secrets she'd never even told Joan, from the time she stole sweets from the Cook and blamed it successfully on her father, to the day she got chocolate in her lap whilst talking to a fine young man at a ball and didn't move her hands from her knees for 3 hours, lest the truth be discovered.

She'd got a little bit of chocolate on her dress today, too, but Hans hadn't mentioned it.

He laughed at her stories, and told many of his own that had Anna wiping away tears of mirth.

He also told Anna all about his wicked, selfish older brothers, about the woman who only loved him for his wealth, about his secret desire to become royalty.

Anna lost track of time.

Who knew conversation could flow so naturally, that you could finish the sentences of someone you had only just met with such ease?

'You have chocolate on your face, you know,' Hans smirked, as the first few guests began to leave.

She never wanted this night to end.

Anna licked around her mouth in an exaggerated movement. 'How about now?'

'Still there,' Hans said, chuckling. 'It's up a bit, to the left. Here.'

He licked his thumb, and swiped it down her cheek. He let it rest there for a moment.

'Thanks,' Anna whispered, lost in his eyes.

'I know this is quite sudden.' Hans said, his other hand rubbing the back of his neck, 'but would you like to visit again tomorrow? Just me and you. I have to know you better!'

'Of course!' Anna exclaimed.

For the first time in forever, she felt alive.