When Anne finally returned to Grosvenor Square, she found herself in rather high spirits. Indeed she felt quite content, a far cry from her earlier conflicted emotions. What should have been only an afternoon call had turned into something quite different. With no Edward present she should have been quite forlorn as had been quite determined to speak with him regarding Miss Bingley's raptures over their engagement. How thankful she was indeed to have a friend in Lady Beatrice. After her much welcomed conversation with Lady Fraser, whom she was most fond of and whose good opinion she trusted most heartily; she had then spent the rest of the afternoon in both she and Lord Fraser's company.
Although still rather frail, what conversation the gentleman did partake in was charming, and Anne could not help but find herself quite drawn to his friendly open manner. He had kind eyes. There was a gentleness to him which Anne found rather comforting. They had spoken together for a good half hour, with Lady Beatrice filling in small gaps of the conversation when her husband ran out of stream. She had sat, close to his bedside, her hand firmly placed within his for the entire exchange. Anne could not help but admire their clear admiration and devotion for one another.
A short game of whist had then taken place, after which Lady Fraser and Anne continued to play alone, making small talk while the gentleman simply listened and observed. Upon Missy's arrival with a bowl of soup for the master, the afternoons pleasant visit was brought to a natural conclusion. As Anne said her goodbyes, she noted how hesitant the young girl was when feeding Lord Fraser. Why ever did she hold the spoon at such a strange angle?
Anne, asking if her assistance would be welcome, was most pleased when she was granted permission to help Lord Fraser with his meal. Missy watched as Anne made the task seem so easy. She patiently fed him, small spoonful's one at a time. until it was all but gone. Lady Fraser had watched over her young friend with great affection. She could not be prouder of her dear Edward than in his falling for the virtues of such a fine young woman.
Finally, Anne had followed Lady Beatrice downstairs, quite ready to take her leave. As she began to ready herself to make her departure; Lady Fraser invited Anne to remain and join her Ladyship in an informal supper in the comfort of the parlour. Anne happily accepted such a plan and it was not until nearly nine o'clock that she found herself within the comfort of her own home once more.
"Oh, thank you Mrs Marks," Anne said as her house keeper brought a tray of refreshments into the parlour. She picked up a small dusty white bonbon, gently tapping the excess sugar from the sweet. "Were there any messages during my absence?"
"Yes miss. Miss Darcy called shortly after your departure, such a lovely girl she is; and Lord Colville called but twice earlier this evening. He said he would call again though he has yet to be received."
Anne smiled; he had called twice already. It had felt like an age since she had spent an evening in Edwards company, cosy in this very parlour. There had been quite a pile of daily newspaper gathering, though she had not the heart to tell the young messenger boy to stop his delivery during Edwards earlier absence.
She felt most pleased that he should seek her out after their earlier missing each other. She hoped his time at the House of Lords had been to his liking, indeed she hoped his afternoon had been near only as half as nice as her own. She thought for a moment upon Lady Fraser's advice. Although, she was still quite desperate to see him, and still a little nervous in the prospect of doing so; she believed that she should indeed take the advice of her friend.
After such a day and the drama of the rather vile Miss Bingley, perhaps the best retaliation was in fact beating Miss Bingley at her own game. What if Anne did indeed arrive at the ball, dressed to perfection and entirely willing to be wooed by the charming Lord Colville? What would Caroline Bingley do upon seeing such an Anne? A small part of Anne took great satisfaction when imagining the look upon Caroline Bingley's insolent face upon her witnessing such a scene. If the lady wished to best Anne in her endeavours, she would need to try a darn sight harder than her mere lies and fabrications. Anne was quite determined not to be duped, nor inhibited, by such actions.
That someone like Miss Bingley should think of Anne as a threat, had never crossed her mind before. Regardless of her relationship and the situation with regards between herself and Edward; never had Anne considered herself as a worthy female adversary. She was no young fresh-faced girl of eighteen, this was simply fact. Her mother had never found any beauty or charm in any of her looks. Nor was her short frame and more generous figure particularly fashionable. Although she was still most vexed by Miss Bingley's behaviour, and rather disinclined to bestow any unnecessary kindness on the girl, she could not help but feel a little flattered. That the raven-haired young lady should see Anne as a rival. To be jealous of Miss Anne de Bourgh, she thought with a smile, my how well that's sounds!
She glanced at the clock; it was a quarter past nine. It was not unheard of for Edward to appear at this hour. When unable to escape previous dinner engagements, he would often still arrive at this late hour. They would then converse for a while at leisure, just the two of them together, before his leaving to return home. How much she enjoyed those evenings with no one else for company.
Anne considered her friends advice. "Mrs Marks, I do believe I shall retire directly, for I find myself quite exhausted this evening. Would you be so kind as to allow no one admittance to the house? Pray I must ask of you yet one more task. Please allow no callers for the duration of tomorrow entirely, unless they be of course Georgiana. If my dear cousin should call again please send her to me directly."
She rose from the cerise settee and crossed the room to the gleaming trophy upon the mantel. She thought of Edwards note; 'From one Champion girl to another.' Anne was quite determined that this should indeed be the case; she had every intention to out run them all. If she had her way, Miss Bingley would never even make it out the box.
Feeling quite fatigued from her previous restless night's sleep, and the events of the day, Anne said her good nights to Mrs Marks and ascended the stairs to her room. She found Hennie already within her chambers, busying herself in the task of folding fabrics and placing Anne's personal items away in their correct homes.
"Hennie I am afraid this evening I am quite spent. Would you be so kind as to help me undress now?"
As Hennie began the painstaking task of unbuttoning the back of Anne's dress, her mind again wandered to the blue unworn ballgown.
"Hennie, I have been thinking very much with regards to my attire for the ball at Hart's tomorrow evening."
"Oh, do not worry Miss, I had Marta deliver the altered blush pink evening gown this afternoon. I have starched several pairs of your evening gloves, and pressed them too, so you can have full choice of your selection."
"You are a good girl indeed; I do not know where I would be without your invaluable skills. Yet," Anne paused. She was still not sure if she was in fact brave enough to wear such a dress, especially when the pink gown was indeed so fine. "Hennie, I have been thinking that the pink evening gown is perhaps not the right dress for such an occasion. In fact, I have been much considering another gown in its place. I feel, I mean perhaps, another of my collection might be more suited for such an occasion."
Hennie's eyes grew wide. Oh goodness, she thought, it was unlike her mistress to change her mind on a gown when it was once selected for a particular engagement. Oh heavens, there would be hardly any time to alter anything if it were required. There would be no time to refresh any fabrics or to track down anything bespoke if that was her mistresses desire.
"But miss, I thought you approved of the pink? We only had a final fitting but three days ago. The waist has already been altered and the trim and bead work added to the sleeves and neckline. It is just as you wished. Wait one moment and I shall bring it to you for your inspection."
"Hennie, I am sure it is most exquisite and I am quite certain it shall be worn very soon, however perhaps there is something more suitable for tomorrow. I perhaps need to wear something more suitable."
Hennie stopped and looked at her mistress, what did she mean need?
"Hennie it would appear that I must put my best foot forward, so to speak. I intend, very much, to make it quite impossible for Lord Colville not to ask me for my hand in marriage tomorrow evening."
It took a moment for Hennie to understand the meaning of Anne's turn of phrase. She intended to allow Lord Colville to ask her to marry her! Hennie could hardly contain her excitement and a small squeak escaped her lips. She instantly moved forward to throw her arms around Miss de Bourgh in a most overly familiar fashion. Thankfully, her good sense got the better of her and she managed to compose herself just in time.
"Shall I take your moment of unchecked excitement as confirmation that you welcome such an idea?" Anne asked smiling warmly at her friend. Part of her wished the girl had indeed hugged her, for it would only have made her feelings even more joyous.
"Oh miss, I have long been expecting to hear news of the kind. I have often prayed and hoped for such an outcome. If you will allow me to be so bold, never have I seen a man more in love!"
"Oh Hennie, do be serious." Anne blushed but smiled all the same with genuine happiness. "Do you really think so? I believe I perhaps have been the last to know. How foolish I feel, when it has been so well understood by everyone but me!"
A look of panic suddenly crossed Hennies freckled face. "Oh miss, do you think he will reside here at Grosvenor Square or shall I begin to organise your trucks? I shall need to perhaps hire some help for such a purpose, but I am sure it can be done as quickly as you desire."
"I have not given such a thought one ounce of consideration, nor do I see any such decision being confirmed for quite some time. Remember we are not yet engaged, do not count your chickens just yet."
As Hennie continued to ready Anne for bed; Anne told her of her earlier conversation with Miss Bingley and then that with Lady Fraser. The two girls conversed quite openly; Anne had long shared much of her inner thoughts with her maid. She could not have asked for a better lady's companion. Once dressed in her nightgown and shawl, Anne perched on the end of her bed as Hennie sat on a dressing chair absorbing every detail.
"It is quite astonishing," Hennie repeated once Anne had shared her and Miss Bingley's entire exchange. "To think that she had the nerve to lie to you in your own home! You are too kind miss; you should have told her to leave at once."
"I must admit my head was in far too much of a turmoil to do something as rational as throw the awful woman out. Oh, how I wish you had been there to help me with such an idea. Yet it is done. So, you see Hennie, I must not let her think she has won. I must not let her intimidate me, and the best way to do so is to fight fire with fire. I must arrive looking quite marvellous at her ball tomorrow, I simply must!"
"The pink gown is indeed beautiful, if not it, what other have you in mind to take its place?"
"Hennie, I do believe I wish to wear the blue."
"The blue?" Hennie repeated as her mind slowly worked its way, gown by gown, through Miss de Bourgh's elegant collection. There was of course the pretty parade dress, but it was not suitable for an evening ball; nor could she see her meaning the pale blue gown with the ruffled long sleeves, this only left one other.
"You do not mean the colbalt blue gown!"
"Indeed, I do. I think it is the most daring item in my whole wardrobe. If not now when else would I wear such an dress? You look anxious? Do you think it would act as my armour, or are you concerned it would simply render me a fool?"
"It is a beautiful dress miss, daring to be sure, but you will be divine. That is not the reason for my panic. You purchased the item yes, but merely from the manikin. You refused to have the gown fitted to you, and you have not tried it on once since you purchased it. We have so little time for any alteration work, there is no way I can take it to Marta and have the item returned in time."
"Oh dear," Anne said, realising the difficulty in the situation. "I had not considered that. Well... the pink gown is indeed very pretty too. I just, well, I wished for something quite unexpected."
Hennie thought a moment. Indeed, there was no other dress quite so bold, nor as fashionable, as the vibrant blue gown. Truth be told she had admired it for so long, she believed her mistress would never wear the poor gown. She was intent on doing everything in her power to have the dress ready for the following evening.
"Miss I must ask you to try and get some rest, for I believe we shall have an early start in the morning."
"An early start?" Anne asked puzzled.
"Indeed miss, do not be surprised if I arrive to wake you just as the birds begin to sing."