Lady Sullivan was not at all impressed that her only daughter would be spending the day in the company of Cutler Beckett, with his clerk, a suspicious looking character by the name of Mr. Mercer, acting as chaperone. She was however relieved to find that her daughter was finally taking an interest in a man who could become a potential suitor. But that would have to wait until he was made a Lord; she would not have her daughter cavorting about with a man who was below her station.
Anna bounced down the stairs happily, eager to finally get going on her day out with Cutler. She had no idea what they would be doing, but she looked forward to whatever it was regardless, she just wanted to spend time with him. She could hear Cutler speaking with her Father in his office, his charming voice reached her ears and made her smile grow wider. Anna knew that Cutler had been in there for quite a while now, whilst she added the finishing touches to her outfit, she had not meant to take so long, but she wished to look as perfect as she could be.
Her favourite and most trusted maid, an older woman who allowed Anna to call her by her birth name; Helen, was the one she turned to for help in this situation. Helen had been serving in the Sullivan Estate since just before Anna was born, being hired to perform nursemaid duties for the infant.
Lady Sullivan had insisted that the older woman be dismissed from the household now that Anna was too old to need her assistance, but she did not succeed in getting Helen dismissed. Anna and her Mother had argued loudly for days on end about the matter, each convinced that they were in the right. Lord Sullivan had refused to get between their argument, assuming that it would simmer down within a few days; like other which had come along before. He had of course been wrong and after a week of non-stop arguing, Lord Sullivan had sided with his wife, purely because he thought that Anna would get over her tantrum and all would be forgotten. Helen remembered the young Lady's actions as if it were yesterday. She had been standing by the front door, awaiting a carriage to take her to her new home with some other family that she had yet to meet. Anna had come running down the stairs, her own suitcase in tow announcing to her Father that if Helen was to be thrown out then Anna would go along with her. Lady Sullivan still speculated that the tears Anna had cried were crocodile tears, and that if Lord Sullivan had been firmer with his decision, Anna would not have gone with Helen, but there was no way she could prove such thoughts. Lady Sullivan had been furious with her husband as he conceded to his crying daughter. It had been in that moment that she realised Lord Sullivan was no longer under her control as strongly as he had been for many years previously, now Anna could sway his opinions, and that meant change in the Sullivan household.
Although her Mother doubted the sincerity of her tears, Anna knew for certain that she much preferred Helen to her own Mother mostly because the older woman had always been closer to her. Helen had praised Anna and encouraged her from a very young age to continue learning as much as she could because she did not want to see the young girl ruined by the harsh ways of the world. Helen was also the only one who understood the extent to which Anna's admiration of Cutler Beckett extended; therefore she was the only one that Anna trusted to help her prepare for the day. Helen knew just what to do in order to catch the gaze of the man that Anna was deeply infatuated with.
Helen had helped Anna select her best dress for the occasion, even if neither woman had much idea what said occasion would be. They knew that Anna and Cutler would be spending the day together, but the man himself had dropped no hints whatsoever as to what was going to happen. With that in mind Anna was forced into a corset which was pulled so tightly that doing much more than breathing, talking and sitting would not be possible without some discomfort. At first Anna had complained about how tightly the corset was pulled but once Helen had explained that it was necessary to accentuate certain areas, she had immediately changed her mind. Anna had blushed bright red at the comment and the knowing look which she had received from Helen, knowing that the older woman had her best intentions at heart. They had then decided upon a pale green dress with an intricate vine and leaf design sewn along the bodice would be the best option for the day. Anna's hair had then been pulled back loosely, just enough to keep it from covering her face and it was adorned with a solitary tulip from the bunch that Cutler had brought her yesterday.
Before venturing downstairs Helen had pulled her young Lady into a tight embrace, quietly reassuring her that everything would go perfectly before shooing her out of the room with a friendly wave.
Anna stood outside of her Father's office, listening to Cutler and her Father speaking about something, but she could not make out the exact words. She checked her reflection in the mirror down the hallway one last time to make sure that everything was still in place. When she was sufficiently happy with her appearance she knocked lightly on the partially open door and waited until she was summoned into the room.
"You may enter Anna!" Lord Sullivan called.
Anna pushed the door back and slipped quietly into the room, constantly checking that she was doing everything as daintily as possible to ensure that she retained the appearance of the proper Lady that she was. Her Father was sitting in his chair behind his large desk full covered in seemingly important pieces of paper. A glass of brandy was clutched in one of his hands; mostly empty much like the bottle which was sitting on the table. Cutler sat in the chair opposite Lord Sullivan, left leg crossed over the other and another glass of brandy in his hand. He was dressed immaculately as always, his clothing without a wrinkle and his powered wig kept in pristine condition sitting straight on his head. His lips curved into a smile as he quickly took in Anna's appearance, his eyes flicking over her body and landing on the tulip in her hair.
Cutler placed his glass lightly down on the desk and rose to greet Anna. He captured her small hand in his own and raised it to his lips, leaving a soft kiss on her skin, "good morning My Lady," Cutler said before adding, "Might I say you look exceptionally beautiful today."
Anna could not hide her blushing face from Cutler's watchful gaze, nor could she hide it from her smiling Father. "Thank you for you kind words Cutler, good morning to you as well. Good morning Father!" she said smiling broadly at them both.
"Good morning my dear," Lord Sullivan replied.
"I am terribly sorry for taking so long getting ready, I hope I did not hold you up from anything important Cutler," Anna said, speaking to him in the manner which she had been trained to do since she was old enough to talk.
"There is nothing for you to worry about My Lady," Cutler responded simply picking up his glass and taking a small sip of his brandy.
"Women always do seem to take a long time to get ready," Lord Sullivan said watching as his daughter pulled an unladylike face at his comment, "but it is something which one learns to get used to. Between Anastasia and her Mother it is a wonder we ever make it on time to anywhere."
Anna raised an eyebrow at her Father's words, "I seem to recall it was you whom held us up the last time we went out dear Father."
Lord Sullivan coughed and looked out the window, "yes, well I am sure there is more than one side to every story my dear one. But you and Cutler should really get going now shouldn't you? Don't want to lose any more of the day now do you?"
"Of course not Lord Sullivan, that is an excellent suggestion," Cutler said. He downed the rest of his glass in one go and extended his hand to Anna, "shall we?"
"Yes we shall," Anna replied, threading her arm through Cutlers and bringing their bodies closer together. "Goodbye Father, tell Mother goodbye for me as well!"
"I shall, have a good time you two," Lord Sullivan turned his attention directly to Cutler. "Make sure you take care of my only child," his eyes piercing sharply into Cutler's making sure that the younger man understood.
Cutler bowed to Lord Sullivan, "I would not dream of doing anything less," he replied, not dropping eye contact with the Lord.
"That is what I wanted to hear," he said before waving the pair out of his office and picking up the bottle for brandy, pouring the remainder into his glass.
The pair walked through the hallways of the Sullivan Estate to the front door in silence, Anna not knowing what to say for fear she would make a fool of herself somehow, and Cutler simply enjoying the silence. He watched Anna's every move out of the corner of his eye, his eyes flicking over her face before settling on her painted red lips.
Cutler nodded to Mr. Mercer and the clerk held the door to the carriage open.
"Good morning Mr. Mercer," Anna said, smiling at the older man whom she also remembered from her childhood. She had never feared Mr. Mercer the way that others did for he had been kind to her, and it mattered not to her if he did so out of duty or because he was ordered to.
"Good morning Lady Sullivan," he replied tipping his hat to her and bowing.
Anna stepped into the carriage first, followed closely by Cutler. It was expected that he would sit on one side whilst she on the other, yet Cutler disregarded such rules of propriety and sat next to Anna.
Once she felt the carriage start to move Anna turned to Cutler and asked, "Where are we going today?"
"I was wondering if you would like to see my home," Cutler suggested. "I must admit that it is not yet fully furnished, and it is rather empty. But it appears that I am in need of a feminine eye to help me decide upon a few things, I was hoping that you would do me the honour of providing that feminine eye."
"I would be delighted to help you in such a way Cutler, but are you sure you would not prefer to select everything for yourself?"
"Anna my dear, I would not have asked for your help in such matters if I did not have complete faith in your fine taste," Cutler said.
"Well, if you have complete faith in my dear Cutler, then I shall try my best not to disappoint you."
The carriage trailed through the streets, passing building by building while the pair sat in silence. Cutler was far too close to Anna to allow her the pleasure of relaxing, but she could not help but wish that he was even closer to her. She wished to wrap her arms around him and hold him close like she had done yesterday, but she had no such courage left within her. Her body remembered the feeling of Cutler's fingers on her own last night, the way he had squeezed and run his fingers wherever they pleased.
"Whatever happened to the other tea house that used to be located in there? Cutler asked, leaning over Anna, shaking her out of her private thoughts and gesturing out of the carriage window at what used to be one of his favourite buildings.
"I am not completely sure, but I believe that the older couple who owned it moved to the countryside to live out the rest of their days. As far as I am aware, they left the building in the care of their eldest son, but it struggled to make a profit so the son had it shut down as a tea house and reopened it as something else," Anna replied, blushing slightly as she recalled what the building had become once it had reopened.
Cutler frowned at the tale, "such a shame, I did rather enjoy their tea."
"There is another place which is rather similar to it located further on in town; it is simply named 'The Tea House'. Perhaps you should try it sometime, it may not be up to the same standards as your favourite, but it is not far from it."
"I believe I shall have to give it a try. It truly is amazing how things change whilst one is gone for even the smallest amount of time. From what I have seen so far, most things seemed to have changed for the worst. However, some things have changed in the most pleasing of ways."
"I am glad to hear that your return has brought some happiness amongst your disappointment Cutler," Anna replied. She felt her heart drop at Cutler's words, he really was not all that happy to be home despite his polite words yesterday; in fact, he was disappointed with the way London had changed during his absence. Anna bit her lip to stifle a sigh of sadness from escaping her, she was one of the many things that had changed in London, and perhaps he was not happy to see the way that she had changed.
Cutler's hand reached out towards Anna, his fingers trailed through stray pieces hair before tucking them behind her ear, he caressed her cheek lightly with the back of his hand. "What is wrong Anna?" he asked, his body far too close to be appropriate. She could feel his breath brush against her skin with each word he spoke.
"Nothing is wrong Cutler, I just have something in my eye, that is all," Anna said looking away from him.
Soft fingers cupped Anna's chin pulling her face towards Cutler, "such a trick might work on other people my sweet, but I know you far too well to accept that as an explanation. I have said something that has upset you haven't I?" He studied her watery wide green eyes, "it was not my intention to do so, tell me what I said to upset you so my sweet one."
"You sounded as though you were not happy to be home, when I have never been happier than the moment you stepped through the front door," Anna snapped her lips shut and cast her gaze downwards, ashamed at how forward she had just been. It was not right for a woman to speak so easily of her feelings, to all but declare that her happiness revolved around a man whom she was not wed to, she was disgusted and ashamed of herself. Her Mother had told her a thousand times that her free speech would be her downfall and that she should learn to curb her words and hide her enthusiasm if she ever wanted to marry.
"Why do you look away from me Anna? You should not be ashamed to show me your pleasure," Cutler said, raising her chin to force her eyes upwards.
"I should not have said such a forward thing Cutler, will you forgive me?"
"There is nothing to forgive My Lady. I expect that you would have been taught not to speak so freely around men, yes?"
"Yes Cutler, you are correct." Anna froze in place and her breath caught in her throat as Cutler's gentle fingers trailed over the flesh of her cheek.
"You have never needed to check your words around me before Anna and you most certainly do not need to do so now. There are few people in this world that one can trust to tell them the truth, I believe you to be one of those few people, do not tell me I have been wrong all of this time."
"No Cutler, you have not been wrong, I would never lie to you," she answered.
"Then you have nothing to be ashamed of, think nothing more of my careless words. The happiness I found upon my return was you my sweet," his thumb trailed softly over her bottom lip, releasing it from the hold her teeth had clamped down on it, "you have grown into a fine young woman."
"Thank you Cutler," Anna replied breaking away from Cutler's intense gaze and grip before she did something she may regret. Cutler reluctantly removed his fingers from Anna's cheek and instead placed him arm on the back of the seat. Anna gently sunk back against the seat allowing his arm to rest on her shoulder as she leant her head on his shoulder.
Cutler smirked as he felt Anna relax more against his body, revelling in the heat he could feel coming from her. As he looked down at her he could clearly see her chest rising and falling with each breath that she took, her eyes flicked up to meet his and Anna gave Cutler a shy smile.
"We are coming close now," he said. "If you look out my window you will be able to see my home much faster than if you look out your window." Cutler opened the curtains of the carriage located on his side. "There, do you see it?"
The building which Cutler pointed at was more of a mansion than a house due to its sheer size the ornate architecture which was on display. Cutler's home featured three balconies which could be seen from the front, the largest was located above the front entrance and the other two were located to the far side to the left and right, possibly connected the master bedroom and a guest bedroom, Anna could not be sure until she ventured into the home. There were bound to be more balconies on the other side of the building as well and the windows attached to the roof suggested that Cutler's new home also possessed an attic.
Anna gazed in wonder at Cutler's home for a while, stunned, before she finally spoke, "my goodness Cutler, your home is magnificent!" Anna gasped as she leaned slightly over him and looked out the window. A bump in the road sent Anna jolting forwards, nearly falling of the seat. Cutler took the occurrence as a chance to wrap his arms around her waist and hold her in place tightly against his body. Her hand had ended up on his mid-thigh, an innocent gesture but one Cutler would not immediately dismiss. As she went to snatch her hand away, Cutler clamped his hand down on top of hers, holding her firmly in place. Anna gave Cutler a nervous look, unsure of what she should do in this sort of situation but he gave no verbal response. Cutler simply smirked at her, rubbing his fingers against the back of her hand, "I am glad you are so impressed with my home Anna. As you can probably see, there is still some work to be done."
"I do not think so Cutler, from here it looks amazing!"
A rare genuine smile graced Cutler's features, it was a smile infused with pride; he had most definitely come a long way since his younger days. He never would have dreamed of owning such a grand home, but now it was completely his, and things would only get better from here on out. If Anna's affections were to be taken as true, he could also see himself marrying the young woman sitting at his side and making her his own Lady Beckett. He would be Lord Cutler Beckett within a few weeks and then nothing would be able to stop him from taking whatever he wanted.
The carriage lurched to an abrupt stop and the door was opened from the outside by Mr. Mercer. His dark eyes darted quickly between his employer and the young Lady he was sharing the carriage with before landing on the distinct positioning of Anna and Cutler's hands. The clerk's face remained emotionless as he announced that they were at the Beckett Estate.
Cutler stepped out of the carriage first, dismissing Mercer with a simple wave, the clerk knowing that he was not required for the moment. He turned back to Anna to see that her face was once again tinted a light red with a blush of embarrassment, though he knew she would have no reason to feel such things for neither Mercer nor himself would speak a word to anyone else.
"Shall we My Lady?" Cutler asked as he extended his hand to Anna and helped her out of the carriage.
The inside of his home was as grand as the outside despite the fact that it laid devoid of any furniture or anything that would show the personality of the man who ruled it.
"Would you like the grand tour my sweet?" Cutler asked, his voice echoing in the empty spaces of the house.
"I would love to see whatever you wish to show me Cutler."
"The grand tour it is then," he replied squeezing her hand gently in his, "though I must warn you, the rest of my home is as bare as this room."
"That does not worry me in the least Cutler," Anna said smiling at up at him.
He started off in the entranceway, moving to the large lounge room which stretched from the front of the house to the back with doors which opened out into a backyard. The dining room was off to the side of the lounge room and next to the kitchen. Cutler did not bother showing her the kitchen or the servant's quarters because there was no need to do so. Down the other end of the house was where Cutler's office was located and further down that same hallway there was a locked room which Cutler did not take the time to explain. He then led her back to the entranceway where the bottom of the grand staircase was located. Once upstairs Cutler showed her each of the bare bedrooms, there were so many that Anna lost count as they continued on through the house. Finally they stopped outside of the largest bedroom in the house, the master bedroom as Cutler referred to it. It was a great deal larger than any of the other rooms on the second floor; it even contained its own fireplace and its own balcony. It almost escaped Anna's notice when Cutler snarled at the curtain which adorned the windows and the balcony door of his bedroom.
"Is something wrong Cutler?"
"Those curtains are something I wish for your help on. They used to adorn each and every window in this house until I had them taken down, apparently these ones were missed."
"I imagine they would have been a charming bright yellow colour but they have faded terribly, I can see why you would want them removed," Anna said casting her eyes around the room.
"Precisely, but now I am at a loss as to what colour they should be replaced with," his words were of course a lie, he knew exactly what colours he wanted for his home, he was just curious as to what Anna would suggest.
"If it were up to me, I would suggest a nice dark red for the rooms downstairs as well as for the guest bedrooms."
"You would suggest something different for this room?" Cutler asked, agreeing with the choice of dark red, but interested to see where Anna was going with her ideas.
"Well, this is the master bedroom after all," she said her fingers trailing over the wooden panels on the wall. "That means that this room needs something to set it apart from all of the other rooms, something which shows the power of the man who owns this house. I would suggest a royal purple for this room, or some other equally regal colour."
"Royal purple you say," Cutler raised an impressed eyebrow, "now that would suit me nicely. That is an excellent suggestion my sweet."
"I like that," Anna said simply, a dreamy smile plastered to her face.
"What is it that you like?"
"I like it when you call me your sweet."
"Then I shall call you my sweet whenever you permit me to," Cutler said, looking at Anna and giving her fingers a gentle squeeze within his own. He lightly tugged on her hand, pulling Anna closer to him, spinning her around and wrapping an arm around her waist.
Anna let out a surprised gasp as her soft body collided with his, "you do not have to ask my permission Cutler."
He smirked at Anna's choice of words, "May I ask another favour of you My Lady?"
Anna nodded in a silent response, she did not trust her voice not to waver or fail her when she was so close to Cutler.
"May I kiss you," he paused searching her face for a sign of repulsion, finding none he continued, "on the lips, my sweet?" His eyes landed on her plump red lips, he had wanted to feel them against his own since he returned. Cutler would have her, sooner or later. "Why are you blushing so my sweet?" Cutler asked, running his fingers over her cheek.
"It will be my first kiss," Anna replied, biting her lip, her eyes looking everywhere but at Cutler's face.
"Does that mean you are denying my request my sweet?" Cutler asked, forcing Anna's face to tilt towards his own.
"N-no," Anna stammered, her eyes unable to break contact with Cutler's icy stare, nor could she pull away from his tight grip. Anna was trapped by Cutler's eyes and her own indecision.
Cutler took her silence as an invitation and pushed his lips forcefully against hers, it was a simple kiss on the lips, but it said everything that needed to be said. Cutler was in charge as his lips dominated hers. Her lips were soft as his tongue gently ran across her lower lip, asking for entrance. Anna let out a gasping moan as one of Cutler's hands trailed up her side, rubbing and caressing as it travelled to her breast. Her body responded just the way Cutler had been hoping for, she moulded into him, her chest pushing forwards against him, her hands trailing to the front of his shirt where she fisted her hands into the fabric.
"Excuse me sir!" Mr. Mercer called as he knocked on the door loudly, waiting for outside for permission to enter.
Cutler broke away from Anna and let out a disappointed sigh, he kept his arm wrapped around Anna's waist, holding her tightly, but he stepped them both away from the wall. He pressed another innocent kiss to Anna's lips in a silent gesture of reassurance, his eyes glittering with an emotion that Anna could not place. She buried her face in his neck to hide her embarrassment at almost being caught in such a compromising position.
"Enter!" Cutler shouted.
Mercer stepped through the door, his eyes once again flicking around the room before landing on his employer and the woman whose body his arms were wrapped around. "It appears that you are needed at the East India Trading Company, I've just received an urgent message from one of the directors," Mercer said.
Cutler's face darkened, he had been expected a few days off and away from the Company, but that was apparently not to be, "very well Mr. Mercer, you may wait by the carriage for now," and with those words Mercer was dismissed.
"Anna my sweet?"
"Yes Cutler," she replied, her voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt where her face was hidden.
"I hate to do this to you, especially on a day where we were to reacquaint ourselves properly, but I cannot ignore the call of the Company. Will you forgive me for cutting our day short and returning you home?"
"I think that I could forgive you," she replied, "but only if you promise to kiss me like that again some time." Anna was smiling now, her face no longer hidden.
"I could never deny My Lady her request," Cutler smirked as he felt an unmistakeable tightening in his stomach; Anna was turning out to be a very interesting young woman indeed.