Anne softly and carefully knocked on the door. It wouldn't be good to get her stepmother in a foul mood. "Yes," came as a reply. Anne couldn't tell whether Marylind was pleased with how Charles was behaving by her tone.
"Please, ma'am. I brought you some cakes and tea. I thought that the sir might be cold from his journey. The wind is blustering something awful outside. Would you like me to bring the tray in?" Anne stood outside the door, not sure whether she should just enter.
"Yes, I suppose so." Anne opened the door and walked across the room to the table where she let the tray rest. "Now, hurry along." Anne snuck a glance at Charles. He was smiling at her. She noticed that when he would smile, his eyes would twinkle. This realization made her stomach fill with butterflies. Why was she so conscious of this man that she met less than an hour ago?
"Are you sure that you won't be requiring anything else, ma'am? If you like, I could build a nice fire to keep you all nice and warm." Anne tried to say this without any contempt in her voice.
Marylind looked suspiciously towards Anne. "Why are you so willing to do chores all of a sudden? Normally, I have to practically threaten you just to do the simplest of things." Anne saw Charles tighten up at these words in the corner of her eye.
"I just feel bad for getting sick last week. It was unfair to you." Anne was never a very convincing liar, but thinking about just being in the same room as Charles made her heart do flips and this made her able to lie.
"Hmm, that is true. You put the girls and me into a most inconvenient position. Yes, I suppose that this will be good for you, a penance of sorts." Marylind nodded toward the fireplace and Anne walked over to begin the fire. Charles was sitting on the edge of his seat. Marylind must have noticed this because she then commented, "Oh, Sir Charles, don't mind her. She's just an orphan that is lucky to work for me here. Really I am quite just compared to some people with their servants."
Anne noticed how Charles didn't bid Marylind to forget the 'sir'. This small detail made Anne wonder, could Charles really care about her? He had said that he did not want to leave without talking to her once more. She wondered what he would say, what that entire conversation would be about. Anne looked forward to it. She began to listen to the conversation occurring around her, though she had to make it look like she wasn't listening.
"Oh, Sir Charles, you are just too fascinating. Isn't he fascinating Cortia?" Maria asked as she placed her palm on his wrist. "You really must tell us more about yourself." She looked at him with a sickening sweet smile and Charles looked uncomfortable.
"Well, what do you want to know about?" he asked.
"Oh, Sir Charles, I do so want to know everything about you. You are just so handsome and fascinating. And after all you visited me, you must provide me with amusement. Tell me everything. How old are you? I do know that you have a younger brother, a John, I think? But he's not a Sir yet, is he? He is just a Mister. How unfortunate for him!" At this point, Maria turned on her sister. Anne knew that Cortia adored Sir Charles' younger brother and she knew that Maria was just saying these things to hurt her sister.
"Well, I am nineteen years old," Charles began. Anne's heart fluttered. He was nineteen years old, while she was only fifteen. Surely he could not care about her in such a way that he would ask marriage of her? Especially with the differences in their ages. Anne burnt her hand and cried out in pain. "Are you okay?" Charles asked as he leapt to his feet.
"Sit, sit, Sir Charles. It is not in her place to speak out and she knows this. She only cried out for attention and it would be best to ignore her, lest she get ideas that it works.
"I am fine." Anne said, barely above a whisper. She heard Charles sit back down and she continued to tend to the fire.
"Now, what were you saying Charles. I do believe that you were just about to tell us about your brother," prompted Marylind. "Please continue. I do find it most interesting."
"Well, I do have a brother, John. No, he is not yet a Sir, but I do assure you that he will be once he reaches of age." Anne noticed that his voice seemed different, as though he was affected by her burn. "Now, I do hate to be rude, but the weather seems to be worsening. I am afraid that if I do not leave now, then I will not be able to find my way home." He stood up.
"Oh, but you mustn't go yet, Sir Charles," Maria whined. "Our visit has only just begun. You have only been here for a little over an hour, surely you wish to remain just a bit longer?" She touched her hand to his wrist again as Anne stood up.
"I will show him to the door, if you wish," Anne said, addressing Marylind.
"Surely, you will stay for supper," Marylind questioned Charles.
"I really must leave now, or I will be stuck here and be a burden. Please, the servant can show me out." Charles began to walk to the door. He got there before Anne, and he opened the door to let her through. Anne blushed crimson. Normally, it was her job to hold the door open for guests.
Anne followed Charles down the stairs. He opened the door and walked outside, then held the door open for Anne. She followed him once more. What could he possibly have to say to her? Anne looked forward to it. He really did seem to care for her and this excited her.