I have to thank to my beta-reader kleindog. Without her editions my story would never be so readable in English. Hope you enjoy and sorry for such a long pause.
Chapter 13
"Are you tired?" Vladimir asked after they stepped into the house.
"No, but I am hungry," Anna replied.
"Well, we will eat dinner and continue later."
"Shall I set the table, sir?" Anna asked as she had for what seemed ages.
"Oh, come, Miss. You are no longer a servant. Take a seat and rest. Your work is quite different now, isn't that true?" replied Vladimir with a smile.
"Oh, I am sorry. I just forgot," Anna responded obediently.
After they finished dinner, the Baron asked, "Did you like the meal?"
"Oh yes, very much so," Anna replied freely.
"I thought you did. Anna, if you continue eating so much, I shall have to increase our food stores. Otherwise, we might soon die from hunger," Vladimir observed with amusement.
Anna dropped her head and discarded any thoughts about another piece of cake.
Vladimir continued in a playful tone of conversation, "Oh, it seems to me that you would like to taste this cake, am I right?" While saying this, he set his eyes knowingly on an exquisite looking cake covered with whipped cream that sat in the middle of the table. Seeing that Anna became more and more red, he got up and cut a piece of the dessert for himself.
Anna gazed at her plate in disbelief, too frightened to take the fork in her hand.
"Oh, come, dear, have a heart and eat with me. Tell me, how you like this cake. My stomach is full to bursting, so I depend upon your judgment." While saying this, Vladimir could not stop his merriment.
"Our cook will be sad if we do not at least taste it–" he said in a stifled voice.
This was too much for Anna's dignity. With a huffing expression, she shoved an entire piece of the cake into her mouth. With traces of cream still around her mouth, she wordlessly rose from the table and tried to leave the dining-room the shortest way possible.
This is my fault, she thought. If I had not ran away, Vladimir would not taunt me now. To hell with it, I have devoured this cake so quickly that I hardly know how it tasted.
"Do not forget, Anna, that we will continue with your education!" the Baron's voice boomed behind her. That wild thing! Vladimir thought, she would not leave a piece for me.Now that she had gone, he could taste the cake for himself, and he enjoyed a large piece in privacy.
An hour later, the Baron knocked on the door of Anna' s chamber.
"Who is it?" Anna asked.
"Your teacher," came the reply.
"Come in," bid the young woman.
"Are you ready?" asked Vladimir gently.
"Yes, I am. However, I would prefer to learn something different. Walking seems quite boring to me," said Anna, hoping to change the Baron's plan.
"No no, we must go on from where we have stopped. I have a wonderful idea," Vladimir replied commandingly as he pull out a black scarf from his coat pocket.
"Why do you have the scarf?" inquired the girl curiously.
"I am going to blindfold you," the Baron responded.
"Well, but – I won't be able to see to walk!" said Anna with horror.
"That's right. You will not be able to watch your feet. Hence, it will make you to trust your escort. Let us try it."
Vladimir gave Anna no chance to protest. Tying the scarf over her eyes, he blindfolded her.
"What are you doing? I cannot see anything. Stop it!" cried Anna out as tried to remove the scarf from her eyes. The Baron, however, grasped her hands firmly, keeping her in her dark prison.
"You have no choice, Anna. You must endure this experiment. Do not worry. I will not let it harm you. I am with you. Just try to trust me, that is all," said Vladimir soothingly.
Anna resignedly dropped her arms.
"All right; I do not understand it, though. Perhaps, we will have some fun at least," she said hopefully.
"I believe so. Start walking. Keep your head high. There is no point in lowering your eyes for you cannot see anything. Concentrate on your walk and try to trust me. Soon you will find out that nothing bad can happen to you as long as you walk with a companion." Upon saying this, Vladimir stepped out of the chamber with Anna by his side.
"Oh, no! This is impossible!" she cried out. "What would the household say if they saw us like this?"
"Do not worry. There is noone but Daria in the house. I have given the others time off, and Daria is a good girl. She will not say a word to anyone."
"You think of every detail, Baron, don´t you?" Anna noted with a hint of bitterness.
"Of course," Vladimir replied proudly.
The strange pair passed through the various halls of the house when Anna asked, "Where are we? I have lost my orientation completely. And I am still not well familiar with this house, I suppose."
"It is not necessary to know the exact place when I am by your side, Anna. Just walk for a while until we are finished. Keep your head high – good!" Vladimir commended Anna.
"The scarf is uncomfortable," cried Anna, squirming in discomfort.
"Just a moment more and you will get your award, dear," replied Vladimir, trying to comfort the young girl.
"Very well, what kind of award do you mean?" required Anna curiously.
"That is a surprise," whispered the Baron into her ear.
Suddenly, Vladimir stopped. Anna stopped too and asked, "What happened, Vladimir?"
"The end of our walk is behind this door that I have to open," the Baron replied and put his hand on the handle.
They stepped inside the opened door. Still unsure of where she was standing, Anna asked, "Vladimir, will you tell me where have you brought me?"
She heard another click of the handle. Perhaps, they were in the dining-room or the library. Vladimir grew nearer to Anna to whisper an innocent answer, "We are going into your chambers, dear Anna. I have to thank you for such kind company."
With these words, he bent to help her untie the scarf.
Anna started, and a disturbing idea came into her mind. Are we in my chambers? With the door closed? What if he locked the door? No one in the house would help me if they heard me cry out, not even poor Daria.
In her fright, she lifted her hand and slapped the Baron.
Vladimir winced with pain. His face was burning but that was not important at that moment. He did not understand Anna's action. What happened? He only wanted to please her while she gave him an unreasonable slap.
Anna took off the blindfold, releasing herself from the darkness. Her eyes flashed and she breathed unevenly. Vladimir longed to find out the cause of her fear but was afraid he might frighten the girl more. He decided instead to finish his original plan. Stepping to Anna's side, he kissed her palm reverently.
"What do you expect of me?" the girl asked with trembling lips.
In a second, Vladimir understood why he had frightened her.
"I wanted to please you, not terrify you," he said tenderly and resisted his wish to caress her hair. "You did not think I would harm you, did you?"
"So what did you mean to do?"
"I will tell you, if you will stop being afraid of me, Anna".
Anna gave no reply. Instead, she looked straight into his eyes.
"I have escorted you to your chambers to show you the surprise," said Vladimir slowly, and gently turned the girl so she could see a dress hanging on the wardrobe.
It was a beautiful dress for outdoor wear. On the nearby dressing table sat a new bonnet that matched the dress.
"In two days, a street theatre will be held in the city park, Anna. I would like to go with you to see it. That is why I rushed your walking lessons. It is much better to go with a beautiful young lady by my side than alone. I hope you will not refuse my invitation," said the Baron as he looked into the girl´s puzzled eyes.
Anna did not know whether she felt frightened, bewildered, grateful, or touched.
"I – forgive me, Vladimir. How could I think that – you wanted to -"
"Seduce you?" he finished her thought.
Anna dropped her burning face. "Forgive me," she muttered.
Vladimir took her face into his hands and gave her the sweetest smile.
"Nothing happened, Anna. I am sorry that I have frightened you so much. On the other hand, I am glad a bit. Now I know you truly care for your virtue. Well, you will not hit me anymore, will you?" he said, turning the whole situation into raillery.
Anna could not but laugh. "Of course, not. I feel really awkward. And – I have not still thanked you for the beautiful dress. Will we truly go out in only two days? To a theatre!" she cried with enthusiasm.
"Yes, in two days. You have my word. Just, promise me one thing –"
"I promise. I will keep my head high and I will trust you and – I will never hit you again," Anna finished his words. It was her nature and she could not stay serious for long.
"Are you giving me your word?" the Baron asked with laugh.
"Yes, you have my word. How about your face? I must treat it," the girl said anxiously.
"It is alright. Nothing, really," Vladimir brushed aside her suggestion.
"Oh, no. I must treat your face. It is such a shame that I have caused you pain. You must not reject me now, please. Give a chance to retrieve my error," said Anna humbly.
"Very well," Vladimir agreed and with laugh in his eyes he let her lead him to the kitchen.