Anne knew that she would soon have to open the door, so she walked back down the steps. As soon as Anne reached the landing, she heard a knock on the door. She had to hold back a laugh, Sir Charles was banging at the door heavily, like no one that she had ever opened the door for before. Anne silently opened the door, the amused smile still on her face. As she opened the door, she realized just why Maria was so obsessed with him. He was absolutely perfect in every way imaginable.
He was about a foot taller than her and had dark, almost black hair. He was wearing a classy, but still appropriate outfit. He was, in short, the perfect gentleman, at least by his looks. Anne realized that he was gazing at her, just as she was gazing at him. Anne also knew what she was expected to do.
"Hello, sir. I take it that you are Sir Charles." she said this without taking her eyes off his face, which she happened to notice looked like it had been carved by angels.
"I am. I am here to see Miss Maria. I do hope that she is expecting me." Even his voice was perfect. It kind of reminded her of the sound of her father's voice which she had not heard in so long.
"Oh, she has been," Anne spoke softly. "She has been most difficult to dress, especially now that she has something to squirm about." As soon as she had spoken, Anne realized what she had said. "Oh, excuse me. That was not in my place to say. I do hope that you will be forgiving, and not mention this to my step-mother. She is already quite angry enough at me for getting sick last week." Anne bowed softly.
"Of course, I will tell no one. This will be our little secret." He bowed, which made Anne blush scarlet on her pale cheeks. "Though, I do have one question. I think my not mentioning anything, deserves a reward. You said your step-mother. Are you then the daughter of the Earl of Brennings?" Anne inwardly groaned. How could she have been so careless? It was just stupid to let it slip that Marylind was her step-mother.
But how could she deny Sir Charles an answer to his question? He had, after all, promised to tell no one of her slip of the tongue. She was obligated to answer his question. "Yes, he is my father." Anne said this quietly, letting her loose hair fall into her face. She knew what the next question would be.
"He was your father. And yet, your step-mother treats you in such a manner? It is undignified! It is the lowest that I have ever heard! It is-" Anne interrupted him.
"To remain a secret. It must remain a secret, Sir Charles. Please." Anne couldn't believe that she was begging this man, yet here she was.
"Please, then, if we are going to have this many secrets between us, you must call me Charles. And you must tell me your name." Anne realized with a blush of chagrin that she had never introduced herself.
"My name is Anne."
"Then, you must be the rightful Earless of Brennings, not this awful woman that lives here now, Miss Anne." He bowed again to her, now embarrassing her more than she ever dreamt possible.
"I am just Anne, Charles. I am no miss. Not after being the servant to my step-family for so many years. You must understand, I know that I really am an Earless, but I can't believe it. Not when I am living in my father's house as a servant and wearing rags as my dress. Not when I must tend the fire into the night, burning my fingers and sometimes my hair. Please sir, call me anything, but please do not call me miss." Anne finished. She was slightly ashamed of herself for what she had said, but every word that she had spoken was the truth. Charles looked at her with an understanding that she was not used to seeing.
"I understand, Anne."
"Thank you. Now, I had better present you to my step-sister before they come down to figure out why I haven't brought you to the sitting room yet." Anne bowed with a smile on her face. "Remember, to you I am only a servant in the house. Follow me." Anne led him up the staircase and knocked on the sitting room door. "Ma'am, Sir Charles is here to visit Maria."
"Of course, please allow him to enter."
Before entering the room, Charles turned to Anne and whispered in her ear, "Before I go, we must speak again." Anne nodded in response and Charles stepped into the sitting room. Anne closed the door behind him, knowing that if she didn't she would be accused of spying on them.
Anne carefully retraced her steps down the stairs. She decided that she would take some tea up to the sitting room, so that she might see how Maria behaved. She also wanted to see Charles again, though she could hardly admit this to herself.
When Anne entered the kitchen, she saw Steven eating a small piece of bread. "Hello there. Where is your mother?" Anne asked, smiling at the young boy. He was everything that she loved in Rosa, only in a little boy.
"She went outside to help the carriage master of that Sir that was coming to visit Maria. I would bet that he is as awful as her, if he's willing to sit in a room and talk with her." He continued to eat his bread. When Anne didn't respond he said, "Did you talk to him, or something? Was he kind?"
"I only spoke to him for a second. For what I saw him, I thought that he was a very kindly man." What Anne wouldn't admit to the boy was how her heart leapt now, just at the sound of his name. Charles. Charles. She would not admit how they had talked, how reassuring he had been, how badly Anne wanted to see him once more, even if only for a minute.
"Why did you need my mother?" he asked as he ate the last bite of his bread.
"I wanted to take some tea up for them. He looked cold and as if he would benefit from some tea."
About ten minutes later, Anne was hurrying up the stairs, carrying a platter of tea and cakes. Anne desperately wanted to see Sir Charles, Charles, once more.