AN: Yay update!

Thanks Emeraldbuttercup for following!

And sorry gothrockerchick I didn't thank you for following and favorite-ing on the last chapter! So thank you :)

Mirror-owl38: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Haha I was literally cracking up at your review. AND OH MY GOODNESS PRIDE AND PREJUDICE IS MY FAVORITE BOOK IN ALL OF EXISTANCE! And you've read it 37 times? …and I thought I was cool for reading it 6 times! Anyway you are hilarious (especially your quote or advice or whatever it was) and I'm glad you like the story so much :)

Catlover1033: Yes there is some suspense coming up but actually not for a few more chapters :( BUT IT WILL COME!

Chapter 6: 30 Days until the Ball

(Annabelle)

I sat on the edge of Lydia's bed gently stroking her golden curls and singing absentmindedly as she drifted off the sleep. She was resting her head on my shoulder and subconsciously hugging my arm. When her grip finally went slack, I extracted my arm from her and tucked her blankets in more snuggly. I turned to slip quietly out the door but was stopped when I heard a noise from behind me. "I love you, Anna," Lydia whispered.

With a smile I walked back to her, kissed her forehead, and whispered back, "I love you too, munchkin. Always."

I sighed and tip-toed back out into the darkly lit corridor. I gasped as a hand came from behind my back and covered my mouth to prevent me from screaming. A voice I didn't recognize mumbled in my ear, "You're coming with me."

Fear streaked through my body like lightning, but that hand was all too familiar and I knew that smell. Instantly I relaxed as I was nimbly swung over Edmund's shoulder. "What are you doing!?"

"What does is look like I'm doing? I'm kidnapping you," he stated matter-of-factly, as he started down the hall towards of the vineyards.

"But was it necessary to scare me out of my skin?"

"No not at all! That was for my personal enjoyment." I playfully slapped him on the head as I could hear the grin in his voice.

"Will you at least put me down? As soon as one person sees me I'm fired and then you'll never see me again!"

"And I would be so lost without you," he joked, setting me down. Even though I know he was over exaggerating, I couldn't help but hear the truth in what he said. The fact of the matter is, I would be lost without him too. Over the past few months we have relied on each other for everything. We could talk for hours and tell any secret. I'm sure that he now knows everything about me and I know everything about him. There were times when I would cry and times when he would cry, and neither of us cared because we knew that our secrets were safe and there would be no judgment. Together, we were safe.

When we reached the clearing, I pilfered a couple bunches of grapes while Edmund retrieved the blanket that we hid there for our use. He flopped down onto it and let out an all too familiar sigh.

"What happened?" I asked, tossing him some grapes.

"The queen wants to have a three-day ball for me."

"But that's good isn't it? She's finally being nice to you, right?"

"My birthday is in 30 days, Anna." Darkness seemed to cloud his usually bright eyes. I understood what he meant. This was a common topic. His father had decided that he had to marry, and since Edmund was so unwilling to marry someone his father picked, he was given until his 19th birthday to find someone. This was a ball to find his wife.

"Apparently her niece is given the first dance with me too," he muttered.

"Wait, she's setting you up with her niece?"

"Yes she is. It's good to know she didn't have ulterior motives for marrying my father, right?" he sarcastically added.

"But you don't have to choose her! You do get that choice, you know. And besides…" I paused, for these words hurt even thinking them, "…maybe you'll find someone." I knew he would eventually marry someone and I knew I couldn't stop it, but still the thought made me want to cry, and I still hoped against reason that it might be me.

"Out of all those nobles born and bred to marry and 'impress' princes? I don't see that happening," he replied bitterly laughing. While it was encouraging to me that he was so reluctant to meet someone at the ball, I was a little irked by his judgment.

He slightly deflated and calmed down to the point where he was actually in a decent mood. Continuing to look up at the stars he asked, "So have you heard anything from you brother yet?"

I brightened instantly, "I have, actually! The godmothers have found an improvement on their treatment and he seems to be responding well to it."

"That's amazing!"

"Well, for now it is."

"What do you mean?"

"They don't know if they have the resources to keep up with treatment. He's good for now, but who knows how long it will last."

He could have said he was sorry, or tried to give me more hope than there was, but instead he sat up and held me close. I relished it. Reluctantly, I pulled myself away and we drifted into normal conversation, occasionally just looking at the stars.

All of a sudden, he shot up into a sitting position again, and the light played in his eyes. "Anna! You could come!"

"Wait, what? Come to what?"

"The ball!"

"Are you kidding me? Me? How would that work? I'm a nanny and I'm pretty sure that this thing will be for people at least of higher rank than nanny."

"They said nothing about excluding nannies!"

"I think it's implied, Edmund!"

"The queen is inviting every eligible maiden in the land. You are eligible, you are a maiden, and you are definitely in the land! Come on! I need someone there who I can actually talk to!"

His eagerness made me laugh. "But I don't even have a dress, let alone three!"

Edmund paused on the verge of defeat, but being Edmund, his eyes relit with that familiar glow. "Lydia's dressmaker! I know she'd make you a few dresses and I could easily handle the cost."

All of a sudden, I felt a shyness wash over me. He really wants me to come, doesn't he? "Are… are you sure? The last thing I want to do is make a big deal out of this," I responded weakly.

He reached out and took my hand, looking sincerely into my eyes with a smile. "Yes, I'm positive. I want you there." His intense gaze probably turned me beet red. Thank goodness it's dark right now.

Then it hit me like a bucket of water. I would be going to a royal ball. Me. An orphan. I am going to ball. With a squeal I dove into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and knocking him back over in the process. "Thank you so much," I whispered, "I've never done something like this before."

He laughed happily as he brought us back up into a sitting position. I love that laugh. "Well let's just say I have more selfish reasons for wanting you to come, but I'm happy you look forward to it," he grinned.

"Well then I must warn you, Your Highness," I said jumping up and putting on my most haughty appearance, "be prepared to have your dancing shamed as I was the lightest on my feet out of the whole village." Sure I was a pretty good at dancing, but maybe I did embellish a little.

"Then may I have this dance, miss?" he inquired, standing before me and bowing deeply.

"Very well, then," I giggled, taking his outstretched hand. He pulled me into a waltz, but we had not been dancing a minute before he took the hand that he rested on my waist and wrapped it completely around me. He lifted me slightly and spun me around through the air causing me to ring out with unabashed laughter. I readjusted to get at better grip and held both my arms around his neck.

This tight embrace felt like heaven to me. I took in his woody scent and let myself relish the closeness I was feeling with him. Noticing the contemplative silence from both of us, Edmund slowed and set me back down. I looked up into his eyes and gazed at the darkness that had had always enchanted me there. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. The works were banging on the inside of my head, trying to get out, but I wouldn't allow it. I couldn't allow it.

I noticed his lips twitching up into a smile and the color rising slightly in his cheeks. Finally he broke the silence, "We should probably head back; it's getting late."

AN: Hooray for fluff! SO I still would love a cover photo! So if you have drawing skill (I have none) then send me a link (deviantart?)! I would love to see any ideas you have in mind.

And you know the drill….. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!