A/N: so I finally got chance to update, I'm currently away so internet access it limited :l but anyway enjoy the chapter :3

Chapter 7: Old Faces

Morning came sooner than I would have liked, that meant all of three things, another day had past and my fiancé still hadn't found me, I had wasted another day doing nothing and finally, somehow I had managed to get through another day of hell with the Trancy butler.

A sigh escaped my lips as Hannah helped me into one of the new dresses Alois had ordered for me, it was a floor length royal blue dress, it wasn't overly detailed but then it wasn't like I had anyone to show it off too.

"What's wrong my lady?" she questioned as she finished buttoning up the back of the dress.

"Nothing really, it's just…it's almost November and no one has found me yet, and to my knowledge no one has bothered to even come looking for me…it all seems a

little odd." I answered as I turned to her, a weak smile on my face.

"Oh I see, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about." She didn't sound too convinced herself, I was about to say something else when the door opened.

"Claude, is there something we can help you with?" I questioned raising a mocking brow.

"Hannah, don't you have other tasks to be taking care of?" he ignored my remark and shot a glare towards the maid who quickly curtsied to me before leaving the room.

"Is that what I am now, a task?" I shot him my own glare as I folded my arms over my chest.

"My lady, your presence has been requested by his highness, if you would follow me to the study." He left the room before I could even protest, I quickly took the letter I received yesterday, out from under my mattress, clearly I was in the right mind enough to hide it, and just as quickly I stuffed it down the front of my dress, doesn't sound very comfortable I know, but I had nowhere else to hide it.

I followed quietly behind him as we made our way down the hall. When I was sure he wasn't paying any attention to me I took the letter out and scanned over it.

Dear Anna

You looked wonderful last night, I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to speak to you, perhaps I will this time, I know you don't want to come home so I will meet you half way. In the woods not far from where you are staying there is a small cottage, I will wait for you there until morning, come whenever you wish. I promise I won't ask you to come home, just please, let me talk to you.

Your Loving sister

Margaret.

She was wrong, it wasn't like I didn't want to go home, it was just that I knew that if I did then my wretch of a fiancé would try something again. But, I had to speak to her, even if it was to only explain why I left, I just had to.

We stopped and I quickly hid the letter again before looking up at Claude.

"What was that?" he questioned, his gaze was cold as per usual.

"What was what, I don't know what you are talking about." I replied, feigning innocence.

"You really are terrible at hiding things." He responded, his eyes narrowed as they bore down into me.

"I really don't know what you are talking about." I insisted.

"I don't like liars." He sneered.

"Yes, and I don't like you but you don't see me complaining, now I do believe you have other tasks to attend to, so if you'll excuse me." I retorted as I pushed past him and entered the study where I was met by a bored looking Alois.

I made myself known by clearing my throat, as soon as he looked up his bored expression left and was replaced by a rather mischievous playful one.

"Ah good, you're here." He cheered as he motioned for me to take a seat.

"If this is about what happened last night while I was…not myself then I would like to apologize." I spoke.

"Even if I don't exactly remember what happened…" I mumbled the rest, and I was sure he hadn't heard me.

"Don't apologize, it was entertaining and besides, there was no harm done, the Trancy name is still intact." He replied with a slightly worrying smile.

"Now that that's out of the way, why don't we discuss your schedule for today?" I looked at him with a questioning gaze, I presumed my day would go as normal, lessons, dinner and then I would retire for the night. Of course, when was anything that simple?

"I don't have any work to do so why don't we spend the day together?" he gave me a hopeful look, but in all honesty I just wanted to do my lessons.

"Well, actually I wouldn't mind doing the lessons Claude had planned for today…" I spoke, hoping he wouldn't be too angry. I hoped for too much.

His glare felt like it would stab me to death, either that or the menacing silence would. I tried my hardest to avert my gaze but then thought that doing so might just anger him even more, so resorted to staring him straight in the eyes.

"Tell me Anna, do you enjoy Claude's company more than mine?" he hissed and I flinched a little.

"N-no that's not-"I tried to answer but he cut me off.

"Do you fancy Claude?" he asked, a sickeningly sweet tone tainting the words.

"That's absurd, he's too stubborn and mean and well he's not mean but he's too stoic!" I tried to defend myself as best I could without shouting or being unconvincing. In all honesty that butler was just too creepy. He paused for a moment as he thought over what I had said, luckily enough his expression softened.

"Alright, well the sooner you finish your studies the sooner we can spend time together, so just go." He waved his hand to dismiss me before he returned to his bored state. I quickly stood and scurried from the room before he changed his mind. Outside of said room I ran into the Trancy butler himself.

"C-Claude, I thought you would be waiting in the music room…" I stated. He didn't say anything, he just looked at me with a slight hint of anger on his face, for once he was showing some sort of emotion, if only slightly. Though maybe not the best emotion…

"D-did you hear that c-conversation?" I stuttered, feeling a little hesitant about the situation.

"We have a lesson to do, please stop wasting time by conversing with me." He finally spoke, his tone sounded a little harsher than usual. I didn't say anything more instead I found myself silently following him again.


"Wrong, play it again."

"I've been playing this piece for the last half hour!" I complained, knowing that he would only glare and insist I play the piece again.

"You have gotten it wrong for the last half hour, so, play it again." He replied.

"But…"

"No buts, the sooner you get it right the sooner you can move on, we don't have all day." He chastised before pointing to the top of the music sheet.

"Fine, whatever." I grumbled as I began to play the segment again. Moments later I hit the wrong note.

"Again." He sighed, he looked about done with this. I huffed as I threw my hands down onto the keys making a very obnoxious sound, causing me to wince a little at it.

"I can't do it, why won't you just accept that so we can move on!" I groaned.

"Because you need to learn, you are an adult now, you should already know how to play such simple things as this." I looked at him in disbelief as I picked up the sheet and held it out in front of him.

"How on earth is this, 'easy', look at all those notes, how am I meant to learn all these, I'm sure not every woman knows how to play this." I said in frustration. Truth be told I wasn't exactly focussing, all I could really think of was that letter, and I had to figure out how I was going to get out of the manor without being seen.

He took the paper from me and placed it back down on the piano.

"Alright, do you really want to know why I can't play this, or much of anything else unless it's short and simple?" I questioned, not really sure if he even cared.

"Yes." He spoke, his tone had gone back to bland again.

"Alright then…" I paused for a moment to think things over before I explained them. I took a deep breath before I began my little story.

"Back when I first found out I was to be engaged to some stranger, I made a deal with my mother that I wouldn't marry until I had finished my studies, I already explained how I prolonged them as much as I could just so I didn't have to get married…" I looked over to him to make sure he was still paying attention, surprisingly he was.

"Well, during my lessons I would slack off, not pay attention or just be annoying, needless to say I got through many private tutors." I almost laughed the words.

"So the reason I am so bad at this is because I genuinely am bad at this, I try to pay attention I really do but part of me still thinks that if I get through all this then I will be forced into marriage…so it's hard to pay attention I guess…" I explained. I looked back up at him and examined his expression and waited for his reply, but none came. I shook my head and sighed as I stood up from my seat.

"Never mind, it's not like you care anyway…I need some air." I mumbled before almost charging out of the room and down the hall, it took me a few minutes to reach the garden.


I sat on a small stone bench as I looked out over the rest of the garden, it was quite peaceful outside, just what I needed. I could hear the faint chirp of birds in the distance, it was relaxing. I closed my eyes as I listened, thankfully it was a nice day with very little clouds, though it was still quite cold. It was then that heard a rustling noise and my eyes shot open and I looked around to see where it was coming from. I watched as a crow hopped out from one of the nearby bushes, it stood staring at me for a good few minutes before it was startled and flew off.

"Hello?" I called out as a familiar gardener appeared.

"Oh Timber, how are you?" I questioned him, he looked at me for a moment, a slightly confused expression on his face before he mumbled something, I think he said he was fine.

"Good…it's a nice day isn't it?" once again his reply was very quiet but it made a change from all the loudness of everyone else, especially a certain blonde.

"Why don't you come join me?" I suggested as I patted the seat next to me, he hesitated a moment before taking me up on my offer. I watched him with a smile as he sat down.


At least an hour had past and he told me about the different flowers in the garden and what a few of them meant, it was much better than that stuffy music lesson with Claude. However, he did have a job to do and so he had to leave, not before picking out one of the flowers and handing it to me. He seemed like such a sweet person, I was just glad I never heard what he and his brothers whispered to each other.

I sat back in my seat and looked up at the increasing number of clouds, sadly it looked like it was going to rain. I was too busy staring at the sky and trying to make shapes from the clouds that I hadn't noticed the person stood in front of me, it was only when they spoke that they got my attention.

"My lady, it's getting quite late, you should return inside now." A certain butler said. I looked at him with a blank expression.

"Why do you care about when I should return inside?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"My master would prefer that you don't become ill again." He answered.

"Oh so you only care because if I became ill I would be an inconvenience." I scowled as I abruptly stood.

"Well I don't want to return inside!" I huffed and he looked down at me with an unimpressed expression.

"You have missed your lessons because of your stubbornness, how do you expect to learn?" he questioned as he took a step closer so he was now towering over me, I would have stepped back if the bench hadn't been there.

"Well…I…that's beside the point, I wouldn't have missed them if you had said something, anything would have done, I told you something personal and you just completely ignored me!" I had almost yelled as my anger grew, he was changing the subject once again, avoiding the reasons as to why I did something and just complaining about missing his damned lessons.

"You know what, I don't care, and I don't even like you so why would I even want your sympathy!" I yelled as I forcefully pushed past him. I was about to return to the house when he grabbed my arm and spun me around. I glared up at him and I felt tears threaten to fall, but I wouldn't let them. He looked at me blankly for a moment before his eyes fell upon the purple flower pinned to the top of my dress. A brief look of anger, or maybe jealousy shot across his face.

"Miss Hamilton, you may not like me but I have been assigned the task of teaching you, so whether you like it or not, I will fulfil all my duties, even if that means dragging you to your lessons kicking and screaming, do I make myself clear?" he growled, I grit my teeth as I pulled away from him, I wanted so badly to slap him but I knew it wouldn't get me anywhere so instead I ignored him like he did me and stormed off inside. If I had anywhere else to go I would leave, just so I could get away from him!

For the rest of the evening I remained in my room, it was around ten when I decided how I was going to get out without being noticed. I planned to steer clear of the servants quarters and I would find another way to reach the side entrance, from there I would head to the stable and get one of the horses. That would be a lot easier than going on foot. After that I would ride out to the cottage and meet my sister, everything after that would just be improvisation, hopefully I wouldn't be gone too long.

As soon as the clock struck half past I gathered up a few things, one of those being the dagger that Claude rather reluctantly gave back to me after a long talk I had with Alois and the letters I had previously received. With those items in hand I carefully crept out of my room, cautiously examining the hallway as I did, making sure I didn't run into anyone like the last time. I slowly made my way down the halls, every now and again I would check behind me, things were suspiciously going well, maybe too well. It didn't take me too long to figure out a way to the side entrance without passing the servants' quarters, and luckily enough I never ran into anyone.

I stood at the door, it was the only thing left between me and my sister…well that and the hundreds of trees I would have to navigate through. I quickly turned the knob and dashed out, I almost forgot to close the door behind me. Once I was out I hurriedly headed for the stable, thankfully it didn't take me too long to saddle up one of the horses, and not too long to figure out how to mount it. Unfortunately for me I had never had riding lessons, so had very little clue as to what I was doing…I didn't really think my plan through.

I held the reins tightly and dug my heels into its sides and then we were off, I had to pull back on the reins a little as it was going too fast for my liking.

Quickly I rode off into the forest, I didn't look back, afraid that somehow that damned butler wouldn't be far behind. I wasn't going to give up this chance to see my sister, I at least owed her an explanation.

The moon was high in the sky now and I appeared to be deep in the forest, not entirely sure as to where I was though. I had slowed down since I no longer feared being chased. There was a cold chill in the air, but then, it was only a matter of hours until it became the first of November.

Everything was quiet really, which was a little strange, I didn't even hear any owls or the rustling of foxes, but I didn't think too much of it until something spooked the horse. She reared up and I tried to keep hold of the reins and calm her down at the same time only to fall off and hit the cold hard ground, that would surely leave a mark. I watched as the horse charged off in the direction we had come from, great, now I would have to walk.

I quickly got up and brushed the leaves and twigs off of my dress, noticing I had torn the hem I bit my lip as I thought about what Alois would say, or rather, what he would do. No, that didn't matter, all that mattered was getting to the cottage and seeing my sister. With that thought in mind I continued on my way, ignoring how my feet started to ache as the hours past.

I guessed that it was nearing one in the morning, I took out the letter and read it again, noticing that it stated she would ony stay until morning, hopefully she meant the break of dawn.

I took notice of a small clearing up ahead and quickened my pace, soon a small cottage came into view and I let out a sigh of relief when I saw a light in the window. She was still there. I broke out into a sprint, or at least, a faster walk as my feet were killing me. I approached the door and waited a moment, thinking over the many ways our conversation could go before I knocked on the door. The light blinded me as the door was quickly opened, revealing the cosy looking interior, and a figure sat over by the fireplace.

1 hour ago:

It didn't take the horse too long to return back to the manor, its neighs caused disturbance and the angry shouts of the Lord Trancy for the animal to be silenced. To which his butler exited the manor to see what was wrong with the animal. It didn't take him long to notice it was one of their own, and only slightly longer to notice the torn bit of blue fabric that was stuck to the saddle, and on further examination he recognised the fabric's owner.

Now:

I slowly made my way inside, looking around the room as I did.

"H-hello?" I stuttered.

"Well, well, well, I'm surprised you came, although, with the promise of seeing your dear sister, how could you resist?" the mysterious figure stood from the chair and turned to face me, my eyes widened and my breathing quickened as realisation hit.

"Alexander…what the hell do you want?" I hissed, a smug look was plastered on his face as he watched me.

"You didn't honestly think you were meeting with your sister, she thinks that you and I are on a little trip before our wedding, honestly your family are quite thick." He chuckled.

"How dare you!" I growled, I kept my distance as I didn't trust him in the slightest.

"Oh…I dare, now then, let's get to the point here shall we, you are going to return with me, marry me and then I will share in all your wealth and we will live happily ever after, the end, how does that sound?" there was an evil glint in his eyes and his voice was laced with that very evil. How could he for one second expect me to go willingly, to a life of torture, maybe if I was naïve and believed he would change, but honestly, I'm not that foolish.

"Or, here is the better option, you leave me and my family alone and go find some other woman to leech off of?" I suggested, my own words were dripping with venom.

"Hmm…no, and you don't exactly have much of a choice either." He motioned his hand towards me and that's when I felt a strong pair of hands grab my left arm whilst another pair grabbed my right.

"I see you brought friends." I stated, I tried my best to stay calm but I could feel a lump forming in my throat, my fear was almost choking me, I really didn't like the thought of being violated by three people, or one for that matter.

"So, shall we go?" his tone had become harsher now and he began to walk closer to me. It was then my adrenaline kicked in. I stamped on one of the men's feet and elbowed the other in the face, a cracking sound was heard and the guy doubled over in pain as he held his nose. Sounded to me like I broke it.

"You can't escape that easily bitch!" he hissed before I kicked him in a rather painful area, I didn't wait to watch him fall to his knees, instead I threw the door open and ran out into the cold night air, or rather, morning air.

I didn't look back as I darted through the forest, as unlucky as I was it had gotten foggy out, thus making it ten times harder to see where I was going. I kept running straight until I hit something hard, but it wasn't a tree. I fell backwards and landed on the floor once again. I groaned as I rubbed my back. In the distance I heard the shouts of the men from before.

"I need to get out of here." I mumbled as I tried to get back up only to be pushed back down. Through the fog I just managed to make out the familiar shape of the butler I claimed to hate so much, though, at that moment in time I couldn't have been happier to see him.

"Claude what are you doing here." I breathed as my eyes widened a little. He replied with a shushing gesture and the sound of footsteps grew louder. I did as he said and remained quiet.

They stopped and stared daggers at Claude who seemingly remained calm.

"Oi, you, why don't you just give us the girl and we will let you live?" one of the men suggested and for a second I thought he might take him up on the offer and I was about to protest when I became dizzy and my vision blurred more. It seemed the cold had finally gotten to me. Just then I noticed the glint of a knife and one man charged form Claude, I went to warn him but nothing came out and I gave in to the darkness as I fell backwards, hitting my head on something hard. Before I fully lost consciousness my ears were filled with the sounds of terrified screams and a cracking sound. After that there was nothing but the darkness of the void.

A/n: so I don't know which of the triplets is the gardener or if there is a set one so I just improvised, hope you liked this chapter it was a pain to write so it might be a bit crap. Anyway, fav, follow and review :) Bye.