Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, or Meg, or Madame Giry, or any other characters from the ingenious mind of Gaston Leroux! Anne just currently resides in my head until she's done telling her story. She's getting alone quite well with all of the other voices that reside up there. :)

AN: I'm sorry this has taken me a while to post! I hope you all realize that I wrote over 50,000 words in November and so I'm having a little bit of burn out ( and when I mean a little I mean A LOT ) and these next few chapters are hard for me to write, and require a lot of thought to make it all work out okay! Don't kill me! :-)

Chapter 38

The Summer of 1861

"Mama…where is Papa?"

It had been at least the tenth time in the past ten minutes that Elizabeth had asked that question, and her mother was growing excessively tired and annoyed. She turned to give her daughter a lecture about being quiet and refraining from her incessant questions, but she found that Anne had, once again, taken over the role of supportive mother. She had her arm around her sister's shoulders, trying to console her.

"Papa is gone, Lizzie. Papa has gone to sleep and won't wake up." As always, Elizabeth burst into tears and Anne did all she could to dry them. As always, Maria was grateful for her eldest daughter, especially now that they had only each other. It had been a terrible month being destitute with no where they could even lay down their head. They had been on the street, Maria and sometimes Anne trying to find odd jobs to keep them alive…even if just barely. She hated to see the bones of her daughters' cheeks, as they had barely scraped enough to have just one meal a day, and even then, Maria had made sure that she had given up her portion to her children. Anne, however, still looked gaunt but Elizabeth shone like the morning sun.

"Girls…I have very good news." Maria took each daughter by the hand and led them down the cobblestone street. "I have managed to find a suitable position for us."

"That's wonderful, Mama!" Anne squeezed her hand while Elizabeth seemed at a loss. "Lizzie, Mama has found work and now we may have a place to sleep."

"Like our old house, Annie?"

"No my child, not like our old house. I'm afraid these living arrangements are going to be a far cry from what we were used to. Things are a lot different for us now."

"Because Papa is gone, and we have no money?"

"Yes, Elizabeth."

"Ah, Mrs. Hillcrest…you've arrived finally. And these are your two daughters I presume?"

Anne had never seen such a fiercer woman in all her life, and she had thought that her governess was scary. This woman was obviously the housekeeper, as she wore an all black dress, a white cap, and a ring of white keys was secured around her white apron. She grasped her mother's hand tighter but she wasn't going to hide behind her skirt the way Elizabeth was. She had to be strong for her little sister and to prove to her mother that she could handle herself. In the past month, Anne had done small work in order to help her family. She had, secretly, given her sister her portion of food many times, only eating when she knew she would pass out and that would obviously give her away to her mother.

"Yes, ma'am. Anastasia, my oldest, and Elizabeth, my youngest."

"Yes very well, come in then."

Anne was so glad to get out of the cold. The warmth of the house immediately went into through her thread-bare dress, through her skin and into her very bones. The house was far grander than their come in the country. White and black marble floors, with floor to ceiling columns, and the many paintings that greeted the viewer made her feel insignificant and inferior. She felt the need to bow her head in shame, but was determined to not let anything get the better of her.

"Take the girls into the kitchen, and then you and I are going to talk about your duties here. Kitchen is through that door and down the stairs. I'll be waiting here for you."

"Come on girls."

Mama led us through the door and down the stairs and I saw a place I had only glimpsed when we lived in the country. The kitchen was not a busy place during this time of day, since we had arrived just after lunch was over. There was, however, a roaring fire which Mama led us to. Lizzie was very reluctant to let go of Mama's hand, but she seemed content to stay if I did.

"Ah, the new crew!" A woman who could only be the cook came up to us, with a warm cheery smile. "I daresay you two are chilled to the bone. Come and sit and we'll have a cup of cocoa and a plate of cookies."

"Mama?" Anne looked up at her mother, asking for permission.

"Go ahead, darlings. I'll be back in just a few minutes." Maria smiled kindly at her children and gratefully at the cook, before returning upstairs.

"Now, you two have a seat next to the fire, and Cook will take care of you."

"Thank you," Anne whispered, getting as close to the fire as she dared. As she slowly sipped her cocoa she couldn't truly understand the situation her mother was in upstairs.

"I'm impressed that you answered our advertisement as soon as you did."

"I was looking for employment for quite some time and I knew this was just as good as any I could hope for." Maria took the offered seat, taking great care not to get any dirt on the chairs.

Mrs. Fairfax, the housekeeper, sat down as well, folding her hands in her lap. "Yes, a governess is something we are always in need of here, as the children cannot seem to focus and have a tendency to drive the previous governesses mad."

"Children can press their boundaries as far as they can, it just depends on whether or not there is any corrective action taken that determines the outcome of both parties."

"You speak from experience?"

Maria smiled. "My eldest was quite willful during her early years, and at times still can be, but a firm hand, as well as looking after her sister, has taken some of that out of her."

"Yes. I told the Mrs. Wetherington about your situation and she's agreed to let your youngest and your youngest only be a companion for her children and to take lessons with them."

"But what about…"

"Your eldest, I'm afraid, is going to have to earn her keep here. The charity is offered to only one." Mrs. Fairfax smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm grateful for whatever kindness. What shall Anne be doing?"

"She has spirit and a lot of energy. She'll be below stairs, of course, and probably end up doing a lot of polishing since her fingers are so small. Just keep her busy, and make sure she doesn't get in anyone's way." Mrs. Fairfax stood up, her keys jingling. "Now, if you come with me, I'll show you room."

Maria followed the housekeeper, saddened by the thought that her precious Anne had to work. It couldn't be avoided, but she had wanted to be the one responsible to making sure that her children were taken care of. She wanted to be the provider, but now, that, like so many other things, was out of her hands.

Her room, the room that she would share with her children, was located on the third floor next the nursery. Surprisingly, it was a spacious room that could easily house the three of them. A large bed was pushed up against one wall, and there was a dresser, wardrobe, and a vanity. The window, which also housed a window seat, overlooked the gardens in the back. The walls were painted a soft blue color and the floors were covered in a thick off white carpet.

"It's beautiful," Maria could hardly believe the good fortune that had been finally given to them. "I cannot thank you for your kindness."

"You'll share this room with your youngest daughter, while your eldest will sleep with the rest of the servants in their quarters located in the attics."

Maria whirled around. "Excuse me?"

"You honestly didn't expect to share this room with both of your children did you? Your eldest is a servant now in this household and must, therefore, act and live like one. We've given you the opportunity for one of your daughters to have some sort of dignity, Mrs. Hillcrest. After your husband's shocking death, you should be grateful of any kindness given to you."

Maria gripped the bedpost, shocked that the story of her family's demise came even this far away from the countryside she lived in. "Yes…I am grateful, it's just…Anne is my eldest."

"Better suited to work than your youngest. Elizabeth could quite possibly marry well enough to save your family from servitude. Be grateful for this small chance, and learn to make due with the cards handed to you." Mrs. Fairfax left Maria to her thoughts, but Maria could hardly think. Anne had always been her favorite and she had had great plans for her when she had reached the age to marry. She didn't have the money to send her to live in Paris, but perhaps if she scraped enough then in a few years, she could send Anne to live with Antoinette at the Opera House. Maria touched the locket around her neck and pulled it out from beneath her dress. She cradled it in her hand, thinking back to the dear friend she left behind in the dungeons of the Populaire. Yes, one day, Anne would go to the Opera House and make sure that he was alright, and perhaps…in time…

She pushed the thoughts of the future aside, as she knew now that tomorrow was always uncertain and one shouldn't plan for a day that would probably never arrive. She left her room, closing the door behind her, and made her way back down to the kitchen so that she could explain to Anne and to Elizabeth what had befallen them.

Anne's first day working had caused her hands to bleed, her knees to ache, and her back to stiffen. She had washed all of the dishes in scalding hot water, polished all the silver till it shined and had even wiped all of the glasses twice. She had scrubbed the floor in the main hall, waxed it, had polished the stairs, and had even dusted all of the wood furniture in the receiving room. She had been roused from her relaxing sleep at four in the morning, been given a bowl of oatmeal to scarf down before chores started at four-thirty. Lunch had been a small sandwich with a glass of water, and then more chores until dinner at seven, after the family had eaten. She had never known such exhaustion, and had only wanted the comfort of a soft bed when she ran into her mother and sister.

"Annie!" Elizabeth smiled and rushed to her. "Why are you dressed like that? You're covered in dirt!"

Anne smiled and tried to wipe away the dirt on her dress. "Better?"

"No…not really." Elizabeth laughed and Anne looked away in embarrassment.

"Come along, Anne. We'll get you all cleaned up." Her mother extended a hand which she gratefully took.

Anne was thrilled with the hot water that washed away the dirt and grime of the day. Elizabeth was in the other room curled up in the window seat going over the day's lesson, so it was just Anne and her mother.

"Things are going to change, Anastasia. It won't be like this forever."

Though so young, Anne knew instinctively what her mother went. "It's alright, Mama."

"No, my daughter, it isn't. It isn't fair…"

"To be quite honest, Mama, we are in no position to talk about the subject of fairness." Anne submerged herself in the hot water to rinse off the soap, and then quickly rose back up. "We have a new position in life, and we must adapt. To think back on the luxuries of yesterday or the uncertainty of tomorrow will only prevail to drive us insane."

Her mother didn't say anything, and Anne quickly finished taking her bath. "I'm really tired, Mama, I should probably be going. After the day I've had, I need to rest."

"Of…of course. Just let me know if you need anything."

"All I need for you to do is take care of Elizabeth. She needs a lot more nurturing than I do." She put on her work dress, somewhat dry after laying next to the fire. Anne towel dried her hair and then let her mother plait it.

"Never forget who you are, Anne. You are a strong young lady and will make a strong impact on someone very special."

"Mama, I'm only eleven."

"A lot can happy at that age. I had met someone very special at your age."

"Who?" Anne watched her mother touch the locket she had always worn around her neck. In her young mind, she had imagined it to be a picture of her father.

"Someone I have never forgotten."

Anne kissed her mother, said goodbye to Elizabeth and then made her way below stairs.

"And just where have you been, Anne?" It was the first question directed to her by the housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax.

"I've been with my mother," was her timid reply. Whatever signs of bravado she felt while being with her mother, they quickly vanished in the presence of the formidable housekeeper.

"You are not to associate with your mother or with your sister. You are a servant in this house, and will act as such. No more private meetings with your mother, do you understand?"

"No…I…don't."

Mrs. Fairfax huffed, her nose flaring, and her eyes narrowing. "You're only eleven, so it's quite understandable that you do not comprehend what I'm saying." She grabbed Anne's arm and led her back up the stairs and into the attic, where all the other maids were preparing for bed. "You sleep here, with the rest of the girls. You do not associate with the rest of the household, and that includes your mother and your sister. You are no longer a rich girl with all of the opportunities once dangled before your eyes. You have to earn your keep, do your work like a good girl, and pray to whatever God you choose, that we do not throw you out on the street."

Anne stood dumbfounded as Mrs. Fairfax turned and walked away. She didn't noticed when one of the other maids came forward and guided her to an empty bed. There was a small chest at the foot of the bed. Anne was assisted out of her work dress and into a nightdress. They were saying comforting words, but she didn't pay any heed to them. As she was put into bed, the covers placed over, tears came to her eyes. She could do with the riches, the finery, and the pretty dresses. She could even do without the simplicity of her younger sister…but her mother. To be told that she could not even so much as talk to her mother was a loss that her young heart was not ready to bear.