Chapter 2: Confusion

Ashley rested her head on the window, gazing out longingly at the rose garden.  The weather had kept her from visiting her roses for the past three days. She sighed. Zhane meant well with his Valentine dinner, but she really wasn't in the mood.

Karone smiled lightly. "The weather looks as though it may clear by afternoon. Perhaps then you might visit your roses."

"No," Ashley shook her head. "I'd still have to dig through a couple of inches of ice. If only it were snow."

"Perhaps, but the ice does keep the roses from harm." Karone mused.  She watched as Ashley jumped out of her window seat and walked over to her crystal.

Placing her hands on the cool surface, Ashley closed her eyes.  Perhaps she could help the weather along.  She began to pour energy into the crystal.

"My lady."  Ashley stood back quickly, looking over at the new voice.  A stout gentleman was standing, rather shyly, in her doorway.

"Yes?"

"His Majesty requests your presence in the music room my lady."

"My music room?" Ashley demanded.

"Y ye... yes my lady." The servant stuttered, backing off. He had heard stories from the other servants about the lady's temper. It was said at times to rival Andros's. It was said at some times to be worse.

Ashley walked past the trembling servant determined to let Andros know just what she thought about his intrusion on her private rooms. Just as she neared the music room however, a sound stopped her in her tracks.

The piano.

A haunting and unfamiliar melody assailed her, the notes somber but hopeful. Closing her eyes, she let it engulf her, feeling every note course through her body. It was sensual, this music, seeming to come from nature itself.

"No." She whispered, halfheartedly.

Breaking from her reverie, she slowly walked towards the door and peeked

around the corner. The first things she noticed were his hands. His slender fingers moving deftly over the keys. Ashley marveled at the contrast from the Andros she knew. This man was gentle, caressing the keys with a lover's grace. For a moment she was almost jealous of the piano. Shaking her head she moved into the room.

"Andros," why did she sound nearly out of breath? "Andros, you should know better than to enter my rooms without my permission."

"But you will forgive me this once, I hope?" He turned from the piano.

"What do you want?"

"I came to let you know we have decided to hold a dinner party on the fourteenth."

"Valentine's day?" Ashley raised an eyebrow. "This isn't another one of your ploys to find me a husband, is it?"

Andros nearly choked. "A husband? No, of course not! It was Zhane's idea after all." How could she know what he was thinking? The idea that she might give into the Valentine's Day fancy and fall in love with Zhane had been haunting him all day. Hadn't he just the other day decide a match between the two would be a good thing?

Why was it now, when a possibility, Andros hated the idea?

"Andros?" Ashley ventured.

"What?" He nearly snapped.

"You were woolgathering." She stated.

"Nonsense, I was just about to tell you who would be invited."

"Oh?" She raised one delicate eyebrow. "Who?"

"Who what?" He was fascinated by the way her eyes flashed when she talked.

"Who are you inviting?" She finished, exasperated.

"Billy, his sister, and a few others from earth." Andros tore his eyes away from Ashley and made his way to the doorway.  "I assume you will want a new dress for the occasion. Just tell Karone what you want and I will have Zhane find the fabric."  With that he stormed out of the room, leaving a bewildered Ashley in his wake.

"What?" She mumbled.

Sometimes the man made no sense.

Shrugging she walked over to the piano, running her fingers lightly over the keys. After a moment she sat down, closing her eyes and tried to remember the melody he had been playing. Within an hour, she had the song down, and was adding new nuances of her own.