Chapter Four
Evelyn stood there, jaw dropped. Her granddaughter was in a room with a man alone, and kissing him! How dare her!
She couldn't muster any words, just little squeaking sounds. She shook her head and walked out slamming the door.
Anna laughed. Christian looked down on her, she was actually laughing. He couldn't help but laugh also.
"What are you laughing at? I was pretty scared at what would happen. After all you are a duchess." He said.
"So, just because I am a duchess does not mean that I always have to be the perfect angel. People always think me this quiet young lady who does what she is told. But I am not." She replied.
"Sometimes that is not a good thing. People need to see the real you, not some fake person. But, the person I have seen is very angelic indeed." Christian said and walked towards the door.
"Well, I guess that this is goodbye, for now. I do hope that I will see you soon, my lord." She said with a charming smile.
"You will my lady, have no fear about that." He said and walked out of the room.
Anna breathed a sigh of relief and threw herself into a chair, a large smile plastered on her face. She could still feel his lips on hers. She touched her fingers to her lips. She smiled once more and rose, straightened her gown and walked out of the room, and back to the ballroom.
"Ah there she is!" Edward announced as she stepped into the room. "Come here Anna and play us an enchanting song of yours."
Anna smiled and walked over to the pianoforte in the corner of the ballroom. She shot Edward a warning look to which he smiled at her.
Se sat down and gently pressed her fingers onto the smooth white keys. She opened her mouth and a sweet, heavenly voice came out. When she finished the performance, she looked up to see everyone smiling and clapping at her. She saw Christian with an eyebrow raised and a smile on his face. She stood and bowed her head, then walked over to her grandfather.
"A lovely job sweetling." He said and kissed her cheek. "Are you ready to go? I think everyone is beginning to leave." He added looking at all the guest' beginning to say their goodbyes.
Anna nodded and looked around also. "Yes, I am very tired. And we have church tomorrow so I believe we should be on our way."
John escorted Anna to the door, and found his wife. Evelyn was upset about something. Her nose was in the air, and her eyes were mere slits looking around at everyone, and coming to rest on Anna.
The ride home was uncomfortably quiet. He sensed strife between his wife and granddaughter, and wanted to know what happened. When the carriage pulled to a halt in front of the mansion, he climbed out and helped his wife and Anna down.
Anna pulled sat on her red velvet settee reading one of her famous books by Shakespeare. She looked up when her door was opened and closed. Her grandmother stood there looking even more furious at her than at the time when she tracked mud on her new Persian carpet.
Anna closed her book, and raised her eyebrows, waiting for her outburst. And she didn't have to wait long.
"You wench! How dare you be in a room, alone, with a man! And kissing him as well! Do you know what would have happened if you were found by someone other than myself?' she roared.
"I suppose, they would have spread rumors about me. I'm sure you would hate that, wouldn't you? Anything coming close to harming your precious reputation." Anna replied.
Evelyn walked over to her and slapped her hard across the cheek. "Your innocence might have your grandfather fooled, but not me. You think you are so cute, but you have everything wrong my dear." She warned her.
Anna stood up and looked her grandmother square in the eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it. She would be gone from this house soon enough.
"That is what I thought. Now you little wench, you are not to leave this house. Jenkins will walk that bloody dog of yours." She said firmly and walked out of her room, slamming the door.
Anna rolled her eyes, "That's what you think."
Anna sat next to Edward on the church pew and was talking quietly with him. "I can't believe that you made me perform in front of all those people last night. You are absolutely horrid!" she sat and punched him in the arm.
"Oh come now, you know you enjoyed it. Now hush, mass is about to begin, and we have to interrogate this new vicar." He replied with a smug grin.
She smiled and rolled her eyes. She turned and looked up at the pool-pit her smile dropped as she saw Christian open his mouth to begin his sermon.
Christian saw Anna and smiled down at her. She was in shock. He could tell by the look on her face, it was one he would never forget.
After the sermon he made his way down to greet everyone. Edward clasped his hand on his back and laughed. "I knew something was different about you. I could tell last night when I met you. But I do hope that you keep coming to the social gatherings, you are very humorous. Ah do you know Lady Anna?" he asked pulling Anna out from behind him.
"Yes, we met last night. How are you fairing today my lady?" Christian replied.
"I am quite well thank you. If you two will excuse me, my grandmother is calling; I fear that I am under house arrest. Good day to you." She said with a smile and left them. She could feel Christian's eyes on her back.
"Anna dear," Eleanor said catching her arm, "I would be delighted if you would accompany me to luncheon. Edward wished to bring the new vicar, and I would not like to be alone."
Anna looked towards her grandmother, who was giving her looks of warning and she smiled. "I would love too." She replied.
Eleanor smiled and they made their way to the entrance of the church. Anna stopped beside her grandmother, "I am going to luncheon with her majesty. I shall be home later."
Anna and Eleanor climbed into the royal carriage and talked until Edward and Christian climbed inside. Edward talked during the whole ride to the palace.
Christian helped Anna out and escorted her inside, following Eleanor and Edward. "Don't you two make a charming couple?" Eleanor said smiling.
"I think that her pregnancy is making her a tad bit emotional; in the sense that she wants everyone to be in love." Edward added.
After lunch the ladies left the men to their port, and went into the parlor. "Oh my, I have been so out of sorts lately." Eleanor said sitting down on a plush couch.
"You should be, after all, you are having a baby." Anna replied and walked to the side table that held the brandy. She poured herself a glass and began sipping at it.
"Anna, could you play me a song on the piano forte. I fear I have a headache, and I think music will soothe me." Eleanor said and smiled at her innocently.
Anna finished off her glass of brandy and sat down at the pianoforte and began playing a slow ballad. She finished and looked up to see Eleanor asleep in the couch.
She stood and walked out of the room, back to the dining room to join the men. She stepped inside and the men looked up. "Speak of the devil." Edward said looking up at her.
Anna quirked an eyebrow and took a seat. Christian watched as Edward slid her a glass of port. "Thank you." She said and began drinking.
"I didn't know that ladies cared for port." Christian said watching her closely.
"Anna isn't your average lady." Edward replied.
"I hate when people talk as if I wasn't in the room. It really gets under my skin." Anna said downing the glass of port, and refilling it. "True I am not like most ladies, and I really don't care what somebody says about it. Most ladies swoon and gossip, where as I prefer getting my hands dirty, and learning the truth about things." She added.
Christian smiled at her. He watched her look up at him and blush. Edward saw this blush to and a mischievous smirk mischievous appeared on his face.
"Now Anna, Chris and I were wondering, why you are under house arrest?" Edward asked.
"Well, my grandmother is a crazy old bat and she didn't like my behavior at the ball last night." Anna answered.
After a few more glasses of port, Anna was announced drunk. Edward laughed at her and helped her to her feet. "I'll take her home, my lord." Christian said and took her.
"It's Edward. And that would be wonderful. The driver will know where she lives. You might want to take your time, if she gets home like this, its likely that her grandmother will go ballistic." He replied.
"Goodbye Eddie." Anna slurred, then looked up at Christian. "You are so handsome, and I like you. Of course when grandmother saw us kissing she didn't like it, but who cares." She said then passed out.
Christian lifted her in his arms and looked at Edward who was laughing. "Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me." He said and showed them to the door.
Christian climbed into the carriage and held Anna in his arms. He shook her gently and she woke up. "You know, I hate carriages. They shake too much. I much prefer my horse, Flash." She said then fell back asleep.
She was quite charming when she is under the influence, Christian thought. They pulled to a halt in front of the large mansion, and he climbed out, Anna still in his arms. The large door opened and footmen rushed out. He saw her grandmother and she looked appalled.
"What the devil happened?" she asked, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Well ma'am, your granddaughter fell ill at the luncheon. We gave her a spot of brandy to calm her stomach and she passed out. She should be waking soon. She will have a headache though. I do not think that she is used to drinking." He replied. Following Evelyn into a beautiful parlor and gently set her on a settee.
"Well I thank you very much for bringing her home. Your sermon was most liberating this morning. I hope you wont be a stranger to our household, my lord." Evelyn said. "If it is alright, I would like to stop by tomorrow and check on my lady here." He replied giving her a dazzling smile.
"Yes, I'm sure that Anna would appreciate that." Evelyn said and showed him out.
She was genuinely concerned for her granddaughter, and the fact that they had a large fight last night made her feel extremely guilty. She had a footmen carry Anna to her room and her maid, Molly put her in her nightgown.
Evelyn stood there, jaw dropped. Her granddaughter was in a room with a man alone, and kissing him! How dare her!
She couldn't muster any words, just little squeaking sounds. She shook her head and walked out slamming the door.
Anna laughed. Christian looked down on her, she was actually laughing. He couldn't help but laugh also.
"What are you laughing at? I was pretty scared at what would happen. After all you are a duchess." He said.
"So, just because I am a duchess does not mean that I always have to be the perfect angel. People always think me this quiet young lady who does what she is told. But I am not." She replied.
"Sometimes that is not a good thing. People need to see the real you, not some fake person. But, the person I have seen is very angelic indeed." Christian said and walked towards the door.
"Well, I guess that this is goodbye, for now. I do hope that I will see you soon, my lord." She said with a charming smile.
"You will my lady, have no fear about that." He said and walked out of the room.
Anna breathed a sigh of relief and threw herself into a chair, a large smile plastered on her face. She could still feel his lips on hers. She touched her fingers to her lips. She smiled once more and rose, straightened her gown and walked out of the room, and back to the ballroom.
"Ah there she is!" Edward announced as she stepped into the room. "Come here Anna and play us an enchanting song of yours."
Anna smiled and walked over to the pianoforte in the corner of the ballroom. She shot Edward a warning look to which he smiled at her.
Se sat down and gently pressed her fingers onto the smooth white keys. She opened her mouth and a sweet, heavenly voice came out. When she finished the performance, she looked up to see everyone smiling and clapping at her. She saw Christian with an eyebrow raised and a smile on his face. She stood and bowed her head, then walked over to her grandfather.
"A lovely job sweetling." He said and kissed her cheek. "Are you ready to go? I think everyone is beginning to leave." He added looking at all the guest' beginning to say their goodbyes.
Anna nodded and looked around also. "Yes, I am very tired. And we have church tomorrow so I believe we should be on our way."
John escorted Anna to the door, and found his wife. Evelyn was upset about something. Her nose was in the air, and her eyes were mere slits looking around at everyone, and coming to rest on Anna.
The ride home was uncomfortably quiet. He sensed strife between his wife and granddaughter, and wanted to know what happened. When the carriage pulled to a halt in front of the mansion, he climbed out and helped his wife and Anna down.
Anna pulled sat on her red velvet settee reading one of her famous books by Shakespeare. She looked up when her door was opened and closed. Her grandmother stood there looking even more furious at her than at the time when she tracked mud on her new Persian carpet.
Anna closed her book, and raised her eyebrows, waiting for her outburst. And she didn't have to wait long.
"You wench! How dare you be in a room, alone, with a man! And kissing him as well! Do you know what would have happened if you were found by someone other than myself?' she roared.
"I suppose, they would have spread rumors about me. I'm sure you would hate that, wouldn't you? Anything coming close to harming your precious reputation." Anna replied.
Evelyn walked over to her and slapped her hard across the cheek. "Your innocence might have your grandfather fooled, but not me. You think you are so cute, but you have everything wrong my dear." She warned her.
Anna stood up and looked her grandmother square in the eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it. She would be gone from this house soon enough.
"That is what I thought. Now you little wench, you are not to leave this house. Jenkins will walk that bloody dog of yours." She said firmly and walked out of her room, slamming the door.
Anna rolled her eyes, "That's what you think."
Anna sat next to Edward on the church pew and was talking quietly with him. "I can't believe that you made me perform in front of all those people last night. You are absolutely horrid!" she sat and punched him in the arm.
"Oh come now, you know you enjoyed it. Now hush, mass is about to begin, and we have to interrogate this new vicar." He replied with a smug grin.
She smiled and rolled her eyes. She turned and looked up at the pool-pit her smile dropped as she saw Christian open his mouth to begin his sermon.
Christian saw Anna and smiled down at her. She was in shock. He could tell by the look on her face, it was one he would never forget.
After the sermon he made his way down to greet everyone. Edward clasped his hand on his back and laughed. "I knew something was different about you. I could tell last night when I met you. But I do hope that you keep coming to the social gatherings, you are very humorous. Ah do you know Lady Anna?" he asked pulling Anna out from behind him.
"Yes, we met last night. How are you fairing today my lady?" Christian replied.
"I am quite well thank you. If you two will excuse me, my grandmother is calling; I fear that I am under house arrest. Good day to you." She said with a smile and left them. She could feel Christian's eyes on her back.
"Anna dear," Eleanor said catching her arm, "I would be delighted if you would accompany me to luncheon. Edward wished to bring the new vicar, and I would not like to be alone."
Anna looked towards her grandmother, who was giving her looks of warning and she smiled. "I would love too." She replied.
Eleanor smiled and they made their way to the entrance of the church. Anna stopped beside her grandmother, "I am going to luncheon with her majesty. I shall be home later."
Anna and Eleanor climbed into the royal carriage and talked until Edward and Christian climbed inside. Edward talked during the whole ride to the palace.
Christian helped Anna out and escorted her inside, following Eleanor and Edward. "Don't you two make a charming couple?" Eleanor said smiling.
"I think that her pregnancy is making her a tad bit emotional; in the sense that she wants everyone to be in love." Edward added.
After lunch the ladies left the men to their port, and went into the parlor. "Oh my, I have been so out of sorts lately." Eleanor said sitting down on a plush couch.
"You should be, after all, you are having a baby." Anna replied and walked to the side table that held the brandy. She poured herself a glass and began sipping at it.
"Anna, could you play me a song on the piano forte. I fear I have a headache, and I think music will soothe me." Eleanor said and smiled at her innocently.
Anna finished off her glass of brandy and sat down at the pianoforte and began playing a slow ballad. She finished and looked up to see Eleanor asleep in the couch.
She stood and walked out of the room, back to the dining room to join the men. She stepped inside and the men looked up. "Speak of the devil." Edward said looking up at her.
Anna quirked an eyebrow and took a seat. Christian watched as Edward slid her a glass of port. "Thank you." She said and began drinking.
"I didn't know that ladies cared for port." Christian said watching her closely.
"Anna isn't your average lady." Edward replied.
"I hate when people talk as if I wasn't in the room. It really gets under my skin." Anna said downing the glass of port, and refilling it. "True I am not like most ladies, and I really don't care what somebody says about it. Most ladies swoon and gossip, where as I prefer getting my hands dirty, and learning the truth about things." She added.
Christian smiled at her. He watched her look up at him and blush. Edward saw this blush to and a mischievous smirk mischievous appeared on his face.
"Now Anna, Chris and I were wondering, why you are under house arrest?" Edward asked.
"Well, my grandmother is a crazy old bat and she didn't like my behavior at the ball last night." Anna answered.
After a few more glasses of port, Anna was announced drunk. Edward laughed at her and helped her to her feet. "I'll take her home, my lord." Christian said and took her.
"It's Edward. And that would be wonderful. The driver will know where she lives. You might want to take your time, if she gets home like this, its likely that her grandmother will go ballistic." He replied.
"Goodbye Eddie." Anna slurred, then looked up at Christian. "You are so handsome, and I like you. Of course when grandmother saw us kissing she didn't like it, but who cares." She said then passed out.
Christian lifted her in his arms and looked at Edward who was laughing. "Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me." He said and showed them to the door.
Christian climbed into the carriage and held Anna in his arms. He shook her gently and she woke up. "You know, I hate carriages. They shake too much. I much prefer my horse, Flash." She said then fell back asleep.
She was quite charming when she is under the influence, Christian thought. They pulled to a halt in front of the large mansion, and he climbed out, Anna still in his arms. The large door opened and footmen rushed out. He saw her grandmother and she looked appalled.
"What the devil happened?" she asked, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Well ma'am, your granddaughter fell ill at the luncheon. We gave her a spot of brandy to calm her stomach and she passed out. She should be waking soon. She will have a headache though. I do not think that she is used to drinking." He replied. Following Evelyn into a beautiful parlor and gently set her on a settee.
"Well I thank you very much for bringing her home. Your sermon was most liberating this morning. I hope you wont be a stranger to our household, my lord." Evelyn said. "If it is alright, I would like to stop by tomorrow and check on my lady here." He replied giving her a dazzling smile.
"Yes, I'm sure that Anna would appreciate that." Evelyn said and showed him out.
She was genuinely concerned for her granddaughter, and the fact that they had a large fight last night made her feel extremely guilty. She had a footmen carry Anna to her room and her maid, Molly put her in her nightgown.
