Chapter 2
by Starsinger
Sorry, good chapter names are avoiding me. Still don't own them.
The sound of chopping wood came from the side of the chalet. Piotr chopped wood. As his friends, Remy and Jean Paul watched. Anette was inside making breakfast. "She was so beautiful, mon ami. She glided down the aisle to the throne." Remy lounged on the growing wood pile while Jean Paul leaned against a wall. "Her lustrous brown hair and green eye gleamed as she curtsied gracefully before the King and Queen."
Jean Paul interjected at this point, "Yes, she curtsied, and nearly toppled over like a tree. You are confusing Anna with Emma." He turned to Piotr in a gossipy tone, "Let me tell you, she swept down the aisle like she owned the palace. Her curtsy rivaled that of the Princess. Now, the real news is, the Princess has chosen the Baroness for her new Lady-in-Waiting. She should be here any moment. I will teach her court etiquette."
"Here?" Piotr nearly laughed. A blonde head rounded the corner at full speed. Piotr smiled, Illyana put a smile on everyone's face, even her overbearing father.
"Piotr, Piotr, there's a beautiful carriage here. With a strange lady. Is she the Princess? Has she come to take us to the castle?" The seven year old talked so fast that the three men could barely keep up.
"No, little princess," Jean Paul replied with a doting smile, "Her name is Anna, and she is the Princess' new lady-in-waiting. I will teach her how to be a lady!"
"How can you teach her how to be a lady when you're not one?" the little girl asked oh so innocently.
That was it, Remy and Piotr lost it. Piotr leaned against the axe handle, tears streaming down his face. Remy wasn't in much better shape as the woman came around the corner. A large, hairy, glowering man stood just behind her. All three men bowed to her. Piotr admitted that she was a lovely young woman, but the white stripe in her hair put him off. "Petey, you have that book?" Jean Paul asked.
Piotr shook his head, knowing what Jean Paul had in mind. It was a trick he had used with Illyana, just a much smaller book. They watched as Jean Paul lifted Anna's chin up placed the large book on top of her head. "Now, walk, and balance that book on your head." The horrified look Anna gave him set Illyana giggling. Anna took one step before the book slid off her head.
The early morning wore on as Anna made progress. That is until Jean Paul made her start curtsying. Illyana demonstrated beautifully the proper technique. Jean Paul was right, she looked like she was toppling over like a tree. Piotr was extremely amused to see Remy unable to take his eyes from her. "Piotr!" came the call from Nikolai. "It's time to serve breakfast!"
Piotr's eyes turned sad as he picked up wood from the pile and headed into the house, Illyana close behind. "I thought you said he was Sebastian's son?"
"Stepson," Remy replied tightly. "Sebastian is the Duke now. I suppose Scott will inherit the title. No will was found from the Duchess," Remy shrugged. "That's an odd omission. I thought I remember seeing one years ago. I remember helping search for one, but not even Sebastian could find one."
Anna remained silent. She like Piotr, and could see why Remy and Jean Paul did as well. He was a handsome man. Despite the treatment by his stepfather, he had prospects. She wasn't sure she wanted to meet his other family. This became a moot point when Illyana came out and escorted Anna in to meet her Papa. The Duke was indeed imposing, and his sons were not. Arrogance was the order of the day as she was introduced to the Duke. He smiled, "Maybe you could introduce my sons to the Princess. They're quite a catch." Anna smiled politely.
Pete reminded her of a weasel and a sneak. While Scott's wiry strength and manners made him attractive, something about him made her distrust him. She left hastily, she had to wait on the Princess.
"Piotr!" Sebastian bellowed. Piotr hastily made his way into the kitchen and took his seat next to Illyana. Sebastian may have looked down on his stepson, but he expected the entire family to be present for meals. Silence followed until Sebastian spoke up, "Piotr, why didn't you tell us that you were friends with Baroness Rogue?"
"I just met her this morning, Stepfather. Jean Paul is teaching her how to be a lady."
"Papa, how can Jean Paul teach Anna to be a lady when he's not a lady?" Illyana asked oh so innocently. Scott promptly choked on a piece of toast. Pete pounded on his back helpfully.
Shaw looked down at the tiny girl, "Trust me, princess, it's something you'll understand when you're older."
Piotr saw her pouting, "Snowflake, he's right. When you know more about men and women, you'll understand."
Illyana lit up, "Papa, do I have to go to the tutor today?"
"Yes, princess, you do," Shaw said as he stood up.
Piotr cleared his throat, "Stepfather, we finished the harvest yesterday. We need to pay the field hands."
Sebastian nodded, "Meet me in the office and I'll give you the purse. Scott, Pete, we'll go to town afterwards. With the Autumnal Ball approaching, you need to look your best." Anette would also be going to ensure that enough material would be purchased for Illyana's gowns. She was very excited, this would be her first trip to the palace.
The Autumn Ball was a three night event at the palace where all the fabulously wealthy came. Matches were often made, and, of course, every man tried to catch the eye of Princess Catherine. Of course this meant that Pete and Scott had to be dressed in the latest fashions. Piotr would not be attending. He was almost an afterthought in his stepfather's plans. It did not matter that he was the most trusted of the three boys. "You won't mind missing the Autumn Ball, will you?" Sebastian asked as he counted out the money and handed the purse to Piotr. "Once we get Scott or Pete settled we'll get you settled as well."
Piotr just nodded in agreement. He wouldn't have minded going to the ball, but at least Illyana was going. He had responsibilities, he went to the fields and paid the hands. Part of it was his own. He worked in the fields alongside everyone else. He missed his mother some days more than others and the work helped tire him to go right to sleep after supper. He slipped back into the house to continue his hobby, drawing. One of the few things that his Stepfather actually paid a tutor to help him out with. Shaw lavished his own sons with gifts and expensive clothing, and had little left over for his stepson. He made up for it with selling his drawings to Remy and Jean Paul for the court. With that money he ensured that Anette and Nikolai had the clothing they were promised as part of their pay.
Piotr went outside and sat on the fence overlooking the fields. He sketched the landscape as he saw it with the trees shedding their leaves. He looked up as horses approached from the distance, a beautiful girl and her entourage seemed to be coming toward him…