Chapter Three

Anna stood in front of her full length mirror watching as Molly fastened the tiny rows of buttons on the back of her gown. This was by far her most favorite gown. It was gold with a band darker gold under the breast. The arms started at mid shoulder, making her neck and collar bone visible. It dipped teasingly low in the front, and ridiculously low in the back. It was simple, there were no frills or silly bows upon it, yet it was very elegant.

"My you look lovely, here let me arrange your hair my lady." Molly said as she finished the buttons.

Anna sat at her vanity and watched as Molly pinned up her hair in a mound of curls atop her head. She pulled out a few strands and let them curl around her face and lay on her bare shoulders.

"There." She said confidently when she finished.

Anna smiled and turned her head to view different angles. "Thank you so much Molly." She replied.

She clasped a gold diamond necklace around her neck, one of her mother's old pieces, and pushed a diamond ring on her ring finger, a gift from her father.

She walked out of the room and down the long corridor, pausing in front of a portrait of her parents. She looked up at and smiled. She turned away and continued her journey down the corridor and down the stairs.

When she arrived in the entrance hall, she heard Kirby barking and heard Jenkins, the butler yelling at him. The door to the parlor flew open and Kirby ran out, the old butler chasing right after him. "He stole my shoe!" he yelled after him.

Anna laughed and walked into parlor and sat down and the pianoforte. She placed her fingers on the smooth keys and pressed ever so slightly down. She began to play one of her favorite songs.

John paused in the doorway and closed his eyes and the heavenly sound that confronted his ears. He opened them to see Anna, eyes closed playing dramatically. She was just like her mother. His daughter, Lauren, had a passion for music, and that passion was instilled in Anna. When she was younger, and her parents were alive, he could remember watching Lauren teach Anna how to read music.

Anna opened her eyes and was startled to see her grandfather there watching her. She stopped and folded her hands in her lap.

"You remind me so much of your mother." He said coming into the room. Anna blushed and looked down. "Maybe, but from everything grandmother said, I feel like I am more like father."

John laughed and nodded, "Aye you're right. You are much like your father. He was a smart and great man. I never really appreciated him, and that, I suppose, is what I regret. But, you have your mothers beautiful voice. How I would love to her you sing tonight." He said hopefully.

She shrugged a shoulder and stood. "Possibly, no guarantees." She replied and walked towards him.

They walked into the entrance hall to await Evelyn. She was right on time, as usual. She was wearing a beautiful blue gown that matched her eyes. Her salty brown hair arranged in an older style, curled and pulled back. Her small figure glided down the staircase and hurried to the door.

"Come now, we don't want to be late do we?" she said, out of breath as she called for Jenkins to get their cloaks.

Anna pulled on her black cloak with the rabbit hair lined hood. She watched her grandfather help Evelyn into hers and smiled. Her grandfather was the perfect gentleman.

They arrived at the party on time, thanks to Evelyn's insistent complaints to the driver. Anna made her way to were Lady Katherine Jameson stood with a group of ladies stood.

"Good evening ladies." She said brightly.

She received good evenings from all of them, and compliments on her dress. She dismissed the compliments and began listening to the local gossip.

After listening to about 10 minutes worth, she began dancing. A young man by the name of Corbin Fairfield had asked to waltz with her, and she agreed. He stepped on her foot 8 times during the waltz and as soon as the song ended she had to sit down.

"How many times?" Eleanor asked taking a seat beside Anna.

Anna looked up at her, while rubbing her feet and grimaced, "Eight." She said.

Eleanor laughed lightly and left her to dance with her husband. Anna, feeling better, continued dancing with the other men on her dance card.

Christian stood next to Mark Jameson, talking with a group of men. One of them, by the name of Harmon Barrett was commenting on all of the ladies when he saw her. She was in the middle of a group of ladies and seemed to be in the middle of a humorous joke. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lady that needs my attention." He said and made his way to the group of ladies.

He walked up to Anna and whispered something in her ear. She politely excused herself from the group and followed him outside.

Christian, being the curious man that he was, followed them. He stepped onto the balcony and held himself beside the curtains, straining to hear them.

"I did what you asked. He didn't go quietly Anna. I'm afraid that there will be problems soon." Harmon said to her.

"I will take care of it. I still can't leave yet, not while he is here. I will leave this summer, as planned." She replied. "We better get back inside, no need to cause gossip."

"Like there is never gossip about the two of us." He added on their way back in.

Christian watched the two of them dance one song then separate. Harmon walked back over to the group of men and joined them himself.

"Mark, I was wondering, is that Harmon man involved with Anna?" Christian asked hesitantly.

"Harmon? Anna? Of course not! Anna and Harmon have been friends for the longest time. He helps her with her business affairs. Why would you be interested?" Mark asked.

"No reason, just wondering." Christian replied. "Why don't you introduce me to her? I would really like to know where she got her dog."

Mark gave him a speculating look and smiled. "All right, follow me."

Christian followed Mark over to where the group of ladies was. Katherine saw him and motioned him to come to her.

"Ladies, this is our new friend Christian Lawrence." Katherine said, motioning to Christian.

Anna's smile dropped immediately when she saw him. But his didn't waver as he looked at her.

"Ah Christian, this is Annaliese McKenzie. Anna, do greet the man." Katherine said, mumbling the last part and nudging Anna.

Anna managed a small smile and offered he hand. Christian brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. Anna was breathing fast, and her heart was racing a mile a minute.

"Why don't you two dance? Anna is quite good." Katherine said with a smile.

"I would love to." Christian said, still holding her hand, and pulled her out onto the dance floor.

"Are you that shocked that I would find you?" he asked, trying to get her to smile.

"No, rarely am I surprised at anything. You dance very well, I thank you for not stepping on my feet." She replied, still not looking at him.

"The dance isn't over yet, my lady." He said with a bright smile. At that, she looked up at him.

He was too handsome, too big, and too perfect. It scared her, these feelings she was having. They weren't necessarily a bad thing, she told herself. They were just different. And she liked them.

While trying to organize her thoughts, she didn't notice that she had stepped on his foot, not once but three times.

"You are stepping on my feet." She said smoothly, as they twirled about the room some more.

She looked down and back up at him, blushing shamefully. "I'm sorry." She said biting her lip.

He laughed, and then she did it. She put on the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen from her. She couldn't help it, but his laugh made her want to smile forever.

Harmon looked at Anna smiling in this mans arms and smiled himself. So this was the man, he thought. Well he would be in for a real shock soon.

"They do make a striking couple don't they?" John McKenzie asked him.

"They do, do you know who he is?" Harmon replied.

"No I don't, but I will find out soon enough you can be sure about that." John replied, waves of protectiveness surging through him.

As the song ended, Christian didn't let go of her, nor she. "Come." She said and pulled him through the crowd of people to a corridor and down it. She opened a door and walked inside.

Christian shut it and turned to her, "So Anna, why are we in this lovely library?" he asked looking at the room, then her.

"Because I would like to get to know you and not have to learn from everyone else. Plus this way it is more private and.well I don't know any other reasons." She replied.

"Well I know very much about you, but I don't think you know anything about me, other than my name and the fact that your dog likes me." He said.

"Yes, so please tell me about yourself." She said biting her lip in nervousness.

"Well."he began as he took a seat on a settee in front of the glowing fireplace. "As you know, my name is Christian Lawrence. I am from the southern part of England, and am the heir to the Earl of Portsmouth. I came to London to visit and one day in the park, I encountered a lovely creature and her dog and became quite mesmerized by her." He finished.

Anna cocked her head to the side and smirked, "Well, that seems like a plausible story indeed." She said leaning against the mantle.

It was a rather provocative pose, but her innocence didn't allow her to notice. Christian stood and walked to her. Her breath didn't quicken this time, but she was at a loss of words. He stopped in front of her and gazed into her eyes.

Anna gulped and licked her lips. She felt his hand cup her cheek and he dipped down to kiss her. Fireworks exploded in her mind and she didn't want them to go away. But at a knock at the door they did. Christian pulled away as the door opened, and in walked Evelyn McKenzie.