Plot development...I think. :)
The August humidity had caught up with everyone. Anna was barely able to bear the layers of her dress and underpinnings. Everything felt damp. She had awoken twenty minutes late, her hair was a limp mass of reddish blonde tangles and her face was glistening. It was unseemly. Not to mention, she and her mother were now late to meet Grace so that they could go to tea at Esme Tiernay's home. On top of that, she could not stop reliving the moment when Elizabeth Dashiell at the restaurant from the night before.
After her departure, Colin had become moody and distant for the remainder of the evening. He attempted to smile and laugh with everyone, but it was clear to Anna that his heart was not in it. He'd kissed her on the cheek when they'd said goodnight, which had both disappointed and hurt her feelings. She'd lain awake fretting for most of the evening, which explained her exhaustion and inability to rise at a decent hour.
Anna finally gave up the fight with her uncooperative hair and braided it before pinning it high on her head. Her mother gave her an approving look.
"I should have thought of that." Meg said with a sigh, brushing an errant lock from her eyes and sighing. "We'd better go. We're already fifteen minutes behind."
"This is absurd." Anna grumbled, wiping her neck with a handkerchief and grabbing her parasol. "Don't even think about making me wear gloves." Her mother gave her a withering look.
"At least bring them along so it looks semi-proper." She suggested, making Anna scowl. "You're in a mood today, Annie."
"Didn't sleep well." She replied. And I'm slightly devastated.
"Neither did I." Meg said, climbing into the car. The two fell silent for the remainder of the short ride to Grace's home. Anna's sister was standing impatiently on the front porch with her arms folded, tapping her foot.
"Here we go." Anna rolled her eyes at Grace's expression of annoyance. She huffed as she climbed into the vehicle and gave both her mother and Anna a wary sigh.
"Running late, are we?" She asked.
"Darling, it's hot and we didn't get much sleep." Meg explained tiredly.
"Ugh." Grace groaned, covering her eyes. "Me either. Christian wouldn't leave me—" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "He was snoring." She amended, turning red. If Anna hadn't been in such a sour mood, she would have snickered.
"Well, you're father can sleep through anything, it seems." Their mother said. "Storms, earthquakes, soul crushing heat."
"I wouldn't say it's soul crushing, per se…" Anna allowed, swallowing, wiping her forehead as they turned onto the street where Esme and Roger lived. They had moved into a handsome home in Paris after Roger's uncle had passed recently. The three women were let out at the door and shown into the house by a butler of middle age. The sounds of the various Destlers and Holden women came from within, filling the impressive home with welcoming noise. Anna found it hard to fathom a home with so many people bustling through when it had most just been she and Grace their whole lives. Their cousins lived in Orleans, and they only had one uncle who had three children. They were not close with them despite the fact that her father had been very close with his younger brother.
"The ladies are in the drawing room." The butler informed them pleasantly, showing them into the room where it seemed scores of women were crowded. Anna was pulled into warm arms immediately and vaguely realized that Colin's mother had come to her and was beaming.
"How are you today, my dear?" Lady Hollenbeck asked, squeezing her again before turning to her mother. "Meg! It's been years. How are you and Brett?"
"We are quite well." Anna's mother answered happily, holding Lady Hollenbeck's hands. "Two of our three are settled. I couldn't be more content."
"Me as well…I have two grandsons now." Colin's mother grinned. "Perfect little monsters, my little Jason and Gavin are." Anna shared a look with Grace, knowing it could be hours before the two women emerged from their conversation about grandchildren. Most of the Destler girls and all of the Holden girls were present along with Anna's Godmother, the Comtesse. Julienne waved to them from her position on the settee beside her youngest sister.
"Good afternoon, girls!" Esme said happily, standing to kiss each of their cheeks. It should have surprised Anna, but it did not since as far as she could tell, all of the women from their family were extremely affectionate. "Anna, you look positively lovely!"
"I'm sopping." Anna pointed out dryly, giggling with her sister. "This weather is unacceptable."
"Congratulations on your new title, Lady Nighton." Grace added, taking Esme's hands. The new Viscountess waved her hand dismissively, shaking her head.
"No…just Esme, I beg you." She laughed, sharing a look with Julienne, who was helping herself to a cake. "We're among family." Anna thought the girl winked at her for a moment, but she could have been mistaken.
"I'm sorry I'm late!" Claire de Chagny said, entering the parlor with her newborn daughter in hand. "Evangeline has been fussing in this humidity."
"Let me have her." Madame Destler instructed, taking her namesake out of her fourth daughter's arms. Claire seemed to sag in relief, withdrawing a handkerchief and dabbing at her neck.
"The boys are beside themselves. Lucien was crying all night long and ended up sleeping between Gustave and I. Thank goodness Erik is getting to the age where he is able to handle things on his own. He's such a good boy." She sighed, smiling at Emmy. "How are the twins handling it?"
"Your brother is an insufferable dolt." Emmy sighed, stifling a laugh. "He insisted that we have one of those new cold air machines imported from America."
"Oh good Lord." Claire muttered, patting Emmy's arm. "You're a saint for taking him on."
"I can't help it. I love the moron." Emmy giggled. "An even trade perhaps? A brother for a brother." She said, referring to the fact that Claire was married to her brother.
"Yes, but Gustave is wonderful." Claired insisted, making everyone else in the room grin knowingly.
"You're opinion is a bit biased, love." Emmy reminded her. "You've loved him your entire life. And he never put spiders in your bed."
"He would be dead." Claire replied acidly, keeping her smile.
"So tell me, Anna." Esme said, leaning toward her conspiratorially while everyone resumed their former conversations. "Is it true that you've nearly brought Colin up to scratch?" Anna's eyes widened, looking around the room. Of course, Lady Hollenbeck must have told them about dinner.
"Well, I…he's courting me." Anna answered, looking at her sister for counsel. Grace nodded encouragingly.
"You must know, our Colin isn't a frivolous rake." Julienne added, giving her sister-in-law an assuring look. "He can be a flirt, but it's never suggestive and he never misleads young ladies. If he's courting you, he intends to follow through."
"Did you hear that Mercer is back in town?" Claire asked Lillian, crouching down in concern. Lillian nodded, biting her lip.
"Simon told us." Her hazel eyes met Anna's. "I'm sorry he bothered you, dear."
"My goodness, it was nothing!" She insisted, reaching for Lillian's hand. "We just bumped into each other and he apologized. Then we parted ways."
"You can't believe a word he says." Giselle said, putting a protective arm around her oldest sister. "He's a pathological liar."
"Actually, he looked ill to me." She said thoughtfully. "Very thin and tired."
"A ploy, no doubt." Lillian spat, cringing. "When I think of him in the same place as James, I just—" She cut off, burying her face into her hands. "I'm terrified he'll try to hurt him again."
"James wouldn't let that happen, sweetheart." Fern Holden murmured, stroking her daughter's long, sable locks.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent pleasantly enough, though it was awfully warm still. Claire excused herself early with the baby, when the sky darkened, threatening a storm. Grace became ill with the heat, so they too decided to retire early. Anna's mother decided to stay with Grace until her husband returned from his meeting that afternoon while Anna opted to take a motor taxi home.
Anna stared desolately ahead at the dark afternoon sky, which was currently mirroring her inner turmoil over Colin. She needed to see him and speak to him. Quickly, she instructed the taxi driver to take her to the Saint James and Albany, eliciting a look of disbelief. He did as she asked, however, without a word of complaint. It had just begun to pour as she bounded into the lobby and swiftly moved toward the stairs.
She was further disappointed when she realized that Colin was not in his hotel room. Closing her eyes, she willed herself not to think of Madame Dashiell with her sparkling eyes the color of rich coffee.
We really must catch up sometime...
Was that sometime now? Anna thought worriedly, chewing at her lower lip. Elizabeth Dashiell had as much as admitted that she had been Anna's brother, could Colin have an affair with her too? Her vision blurred at the onset of tears as she fled away from his door and back down into the grand lobby of the luxurious hotel. The rain still fell in angry sheets, pelting against the pavement with force. Resignedly, Anna stepped out into the watery street and tried to blink through the pounding rain to find a cab. It was impossible to see a thing.
"Mademoiselle!" A voice called to her. She could see the vague form of a fair haired man beckoning to her from nearby and noticed a cab with an open door. Grateful, she rushed toward him and flung herself into the taxi, wiping futilely at her drenched face. The young man got into the car beside her and she told the driver where she lived before turning to thank him. Anna gasped.
"You."
"Me?" Mercer Arnott asked, confused. "Mademoiselle Reynolds?"
"I shouldn't be in here with you." She told him, looking longingly out the window and wishing she'd had the sense to stay inside until the rain had slowed.
"I do apologize for the inconvenience." He said, sounding somewhat irritated. "I wasn't really being choosy when I saw you. I didn't even realize it was you until just now."
"You tried to kill my brother's best friend." Anna reminded him sharply, glaring into his eyes.
"And what shall I do to atone?" He asked, taking on a desperate look. "Mademoiselle, I know I made a mistake. I want very much to make amends. I don't know how." He put his arms out in question. "What would you suggest?"
"You want my advice?" Anna exclaimed, gaping at him. "First, perhaps an apology? Then, I don't know…maybe try to actually do something for somebody other than yourself!" She winced. "Donate to charity. Make a name for yourself on something other than your father's money…find a nice girl to marry and settle down with her. Faithfully." At his look of surprise, she raised a brow. "Oh, don't play dumb. Lillian's sisters knew all about your philandering."
"You are the first woman who has ever spoken so bluntly to me." He told her, staring at her in a mixture of what seemed to be irritation and awe.
"Well, perhaps that's been your problem." Anna offered. "Everyone in your life has spent their time praising you, when they should have told you when you were wrong. You're a very good looking man, Monsieur Arnott, but your past behavior makes you unappealing. Have you ever even had a true friend who wasn't trying to smooth your ego?"
"A true friend never insults." He argued.
"No. A true friend is willing to see your flaws and look past them. It does not mean that they should not be acknowledged." Her eyes narrowed. "For example, your hairline is slightly receding." His brown eyes widened and his hand moved to the hair at his forehead.
"What?"
"Not unattractively." Anna corrected. "But it is. It's very dignified. Now, point out a flaw of mine."
"Mademoiselle, I don't think—"
"Fine. I'll do it. I have a tendency to tell exactly what I'm thinking and I make decisions without considering consequences. I also cannot cook." His face softened at this.
"You have very small ears." He told her, making her laugh sharply, despite her dislike of him.
"Is that a bad thing?" She asked, reaching up to touch her earlobe. Arnott smiled.
"Definitely not. They're very charming ears." He assured her, making her face heat in embarrassment. "In fact, the only flaw I can find with you is you are very blunt."
"Need I remind you that I dislike you, Monsieur Arnott? Also, if my brother were to find out I rode home with you, we would both be shot." She could not bite back her momentary grin before she realized the car had stopped. "Thank you for sharing your cab with me, can I give you fare?"
"No." He responded, putting his hand up to stop her. "Consider it my first donation to charity." There was a brief smirk on his lips as he watched her exit the car. "Thank you for being a true friend." Anna again smiled, despite her better judgment.
"I am not your friend, Monsieur Arnott." She quickly shut the door and hurried through the rain into the house. It was quiet, indicating that her father had not come home from work yet. Their housekeeper caught sight of Anna and came to her.
"Good, you're home. There is someone here to see you." She informed Anna, whose hand moved to her dripping wet hair and skin.
"Who?"
"Monsieur Moreau." The woman replied, gesturing to the parlor. "He insisted on waiting for you." Anna's heart leapt momentarily, before her earlier distress returned and made her eyes sting. Composing herself, she smoothed her soaked dress and walked forward into the parlor. Colin was seated on an armchair with Cleo in his lap. He was absently stroking her silky fur.
"Colin?" She asked breathily, hating her anguish and hating Elizabeth Dashiell for making her question Colin's affections. He was on his feet instantly, looking imploringly at her.
"Anna…forgive me." He pleaded, rushing toward her.
"Don't. I'm all wet." She warned, holding her arms out for him to see.
"I don't care." He bent to brush her lips with his instantly. "How was tea with my family?"
"Fine…Grace got sick, so we left…" Anna accepted a towel from the housekeeper as she removed her shoes. "This is highly inappropriate." She told Colin, who held his hand out to her.
"Come on." He said with a sigh, guiding her to the stairs.
"What are you doing?" Her voice wavered.
"You need to change before you catch a chill." His tone indicated that it was not up for discussion.
"But my father is going to be home soon!" She protested, to which he shook his head.
"I overheard your butler speaking on the phone. He's going to meet your mother for dinner in the city." Anna felt the moisture leave her mouth as they reached her bedroom. Fumbling with the door, she managed to shut and lock it behind them.
"You didn't even say goodbye last night." She reminded him grumpily, folding her arms. His silver eyes were soft.
"I acted like an idiot." He agreed. "Turn around, love." She reluctantly obliged and felt him start on the buttons of her day dress. "Your skin is so lovely this way."
"Thank you, I—" She began, cutting off when she felt his lips just under her ear. "What are you doing?"
"Tasting it." Came his answer. His hands brushed down her wet arms, warming the gooseflesh there. She felt his breath on the nape of her neck while he continued to unfasten her dress. The bodice fell away, revealing her corset and chemise. "I love these new corsets." He added when her dress fell to her feet. The warmth of his large hands penetrated the fabric at her hips. "Narrowest waist ever, they're saying."
"They're a nuisance." Anna scoffed, turning around at his urging. His eyes fell to the top of her corset, which fell just below her bust, barely covered by her thin chemise. The water had made the fabric completely transparent. Her arms moved to cover herself immediately.
"Anna." He let out a pained groan. "This is not fair."
"I didn't ask you to change my clothes, Colin." Anna reminded him. "Turn around, so I can take off my—" He brought her mouth to his in a rough kiss, instantly searching her with the gentle pressure of his tongue. Anna lost her breath, clutching at the front of his jacket and forgetting her nearly exposed breasts. Launching herself upward, she jumped into Colin's grasp, letting him hold her off of her feet while he kept kissing her. Forgetting her earlier anger with him, she mewled against his lips, struggling to get closer to him.
"No, no…" Colin began to pull away, but Anna held the back of his head and kept him there.
"Stay." She begged. "I want…I want…"
"I can't." He told her, but took her to her bed and laid her down, settling beside her, fully clothed.
"I need you." She protested, pulling him back to her for another long kiss. "I want you." She heard a ragged sigh leave him as his hand wandered over her corseted abdomen. He easily unhooked the front and let the boning fall away from her body, allowing her to breathe. A moment later, her chemise was removed which left only her drawers and stockings. Those two were disposed of. Anna realized, with a touch of alarm, that she was completely naked.
Her small fingers began to work feverishly at his buttons, but he shook his head.
"No." He insisted. When she gave him a bemused look, he lowered his head to the gentle slope of her breast and nuzzled it with his nose, kissing it. Her toes curled in surprise, and she felt herself arch into his touch. He then flicked the tip of his tongue over the hardened peak, making her cry out. The warm slide of his hand over her taut body made her want to purr like a cat until he reached the nest of blonde curls between her legs. Her eyes opened wide, staring into his in inquiry.
"You are so beautiful, Anna, my love." He whispered, rubbing his cheek against hers before pressing a soft kiss to her lips while the tip of his finger found something that Anna had never even known existed. Her entire body jolted with the shock of it. "Shh…" He soothed, rubbing gently around it. "Let me. Open…" Her thighs seemed to part of their own accord while his long fingers slid over her, playing with the tiny hooded pearl and brushing teasingly over the slick opening to her body.
"Help me, help Colin!" She cried, holding his wrist, but not knowing what she wanted. "I want – I need…"
"I know." Colin cooed wickedly against her ear, flicking his tongue against the delicate lobe. Her entire body tensed in surprised arousal as one of his fingers slid inside her, moving expertly. Anna could not keep her eyes open as sounds continued to tumble from her mouth involuntarily. She heard herself begging, pleading, whispering his name while he patiently soothed her with his lips and his hands. One hand kneaded her breast while he kissed her druggingly, drawing long muffled moans into his own mouth. Her hips bucked off the mattress as he continued his torture of her lower body, manipulating her swollen folds with practice. Anna began to feel the sense of urgency build within her, listening to her cries become louder. Colin caught them against his own mouth, muting her so that they did not alert the servants. A moment later, she lost her breath and fell back against the pillows like a pile of mush, unable to move a single limb or even blink. A relaxation like nothing she had ever known settled over her body while Colin calmly retrieved her dressing gown from the hook on her bedpost and helped her to dress languidly in it.
He pulled her trembling body against his and lay with her on her bed, running his hands over her back in calming circles. Anna's eyes fell to the bulge that was barely contained by the fabric of his pants. He noticed her looking, because he brought her face back up to look into his. "Another time, sweetheart. After we're married."
"But you haven't offered for me." She reminded him, running a lazy hand over his chest.
"You aren't doubting, are you?" He asked.
"Well you just seemed…" She trailed off. "I mean, that woman last evening—"
"You're not wondering if there's something between us, are you?"
"It seemed like there might be." Anna confessed, feeling her eyes well up.
"Listen to me, Anna Reynolds…Flash." He added, making her look at him. "That woman doesn't deserve to stand in your presence."
"How do you know her?" Anna sniffed. Colin shook his head, sighing.
"We were engaged. Briefly." His voice was full of contempt, making Anna feel the slightest bit better. "She ran off with someone else. So much the better." Anna sighed into the fabric of his coat.
"I'm sorry." She said, allowing him to kiss her.
"I'm not." Colin told her honestly. "I would have never been happy with Libby."
"I'm terrified I'm going to wake up tomorrow and this will all have been a dream." She breathed deeply. "Please don't break my heart, Colin. I need you too much."
"Never." He promised. "I—" His voice stopped immediately. "I would never."
