AN: I'm just going to throw a TW on this for unwanted sexual advances.


On the day before any ball I spent it relaxing, complete and utter indulgence. Sleeping in, reading a book as I languished in a hot bath, enjoying a few drinks before I went to bed, that was what I usually did. I attempted it, but sleeping in was impossible. So I settled into my bath early, hoping my book could distract me. It proved to be of some use, and by the time I emerged my dress had been delivered and placed, in its box, in my dressing room. I pulled on a tea gown, loose and flowing, and opened it. I had been very specific in what I wanted, and Lord and Taylor delivered perfectly. Smiling to myself I set the lid back down, moving to the sitting room and picking up my embroidery. I was going to relax today, I was not going to focus on the business, or the ball, or how much I wished Will would be joining me for it. I had barely made a stitch when a maid creaked the door open, "Miss, you have a visitor in the parlor. Mr. Reichster says he has some business with you."

I stabbed the needle into the fabric, "Some business?"

"That's all he would say Miss, will you be going down?"

I grit my teeth, "Yes, I will be down momentarily." She stepped away and it took everything I had not to throw the embroidery hoop across the room. Any chance of relaxing today was gone, and I had no doubt whatever this was would put me in a foul mood. But I owed it to Mr. Keller, he had stressed to me how much business we stood to lose to the Reichsters if one small thing went wrong. Perhaps I could convince him to partner with us on something, that there was some benefit to it. Or perhaps I could just tell him to go to Hell. Either way, not receiving a guest would have been the height of rudeness.

I wished the slippers I wore would have made a harsher sound as I headed downstairs, some kind of expression of how this while situation made me feel. Henry Reichster was standing in the parlor, looking far too pleased with himself as he gazed at the pictures on the wall. He looked over as soon as I walked in, "Ah, Anastasia. Thank you for seeing me, I don't suppose we could go up to the office? This is a business matter, it might be better dealt with there."

I stood firm behind the settee, twisting my hands together behind my back. "No, Mr. Reichster, here will be fine."

"Please, call me Henry, my dear." He reached into his jacket, pulling out a leather portfolio which he proffered to me. "I have something that might interest you."

I took it over to the empty fireplace, turning a lamp on the mantle on so I could read. It appeared to be a contract, and I tried to quickly read it. "A stock sale?"

"Yes, I am prepared to be quite generous for your stake in Dalian Shipping." His voice was rather jovial. "I could double your personal accounts in an instant for them."

I slapped the portfolio closed, holding it back out. "I refuse, you can leave." It didn't even require consideration. My family had built this, it was mine, and if he wanted it he would have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

"Come now Anastasia, be reasonable. What do you know about running a shipping business?" He didn't take the contract from my hands, flashing me a smile from underneath his mustache.

I knew enough to make sure he'd never get his hands on it, and under Mr. Keller's tutelage I was sure I would know far more soon. "I assure you Mr. Reichster, I am quite capable. As is my mother."

"Henry, my dear, and do you really think those under you will agree to a pair of women leading the company?"

"I would think they wouldn't care, so long as it's my family." I angrily turned toward him, "I have no desire to sell you my stock and let you get your grubby fingers into my company." I turned to the mantle, looking for a book of matches that was kept on top for lighting fires. I'd burn the damn thing before his eyes, that would show him.

I heard him come up behind me, his step heavy even on the rug, freezing as I felt his hands find my waist. The feeling of his lips on my ear set every hair on my body standing on end. "Of course, Anastasia, I would be willing to accept half the stock, for the same price, with an additional payment." I felt my fingers clench around the portfolio, hardly daring to breathe. "I saw the way you looked at that man you had here, half mad with lust. Perhaps that why you never quite preferred Zachary, you want a mature man. It would make sense, why you took up with that sailor."

"Mr. Reichster, you must be drunk to be speaking this way." Oh God, again. It was happening again. I would scream, I would, I would. I drew in a deep breath, fully prepared to scream bloody murder when he pulled me tight to him. I froze, my voice dying in my throat.

"No, I am quite sober my dear, Anastasia." He drew out my name, letting it linger on his tongue like it was honey. "And I promise, I can make it worth your while." His hand drifted up from my waist, tightening when I tried to step away. I was breathing hard now, and his hands quickly moved to my breast, rising and falling as I tried to take in enough air. He was right behind me now, pressing himself against my back. His lips continued to brush against my ear as he spoke, "I suppose I should thank that sailor for ruining you, but I swear I can make you feel things you never dreamed of, things he could never do. You'll forget him in a night."

"Mr. Reichster, please-"

His hands tightened, pulling me against him and his voice was harsh against my ear. "Henry."

I swallowed, my voice wavering. "Henry then, I am not going to sell. Please, let me go."

His fingers traced their way up from my breast, finding their way around my throat. They tightened, and I shuddered, barely breathing. He loosened them slightly, tracing my throat. "So delicate, isn't it? Your throat I mean, I'd love to drape it in a golden necklace, studded with rubies, and have you wearing nothing but it, waiting for me after one of Samantha's stupid parties." His other hand moved around to my stomach, pulling me flush against him. I felt his desire then, against me, and it seemed like Zachary all over again. But I was trapped, I couldn't grab something and hit him like this and he was far stronger than his layabout son. I shivered again as he drew us over to a mirror, my feet stumbling as he did. His flashing green eyes looked at us, his black hair longer than his son's and slightly unkempt as it tumbled down his face as he bent again to my ear. "Look at us, fair and dark, just think about it Anastasia! Marry Zachary, I'll still have you whenever I want regardless, and if you married him we could combine the businesses, take over from Morgan and his International Mercantile. It would solve everything."

He was even taller than Will, and he must have had fifty pounds on me, easy. I could feel the strength in his arms as he held me, the way his fingers latched around my throat. I couldn't scream, he'd choke me in an instant. I couldn't fight against him, I needed something different. I needed to fool him. I closed my eyes, pretending it was Will behind me and this was just a game we were playing. Just a game, something to excite us. It was just Will, playing a part, like I would have to. I let myself relax into his touch, even as my stomach turned. "You would carry on with your son's wife?"

His hand moved back to my breast, freeing my throat. "Zachary would never know, nor care."

"And your wife?"

"She has hers, I have mine." He brought his hand up, his fingers tracing my lips. They brushed along them, his fingertips grazing my teeth as he parted my lips. Part of me longed to bite them, to draw blood and get away. But his heavy hands were still on me, I couldn't get away. He chuckled, "We have an understanding."

Fighting against the revulsion in my stomach, I reached for his hand near my face and brought it back down to my breast, feeling him dig his fingers into my flesh. "Henry, perhaps I was too hasty." I turned, letting my lips graze against his own ear. "I think we can reach an understanding."

He laughed, a rumble against my back. "I knew you would come to see it my way." His hands moved farther down, grabbing at my thighs and pulling me back against him. "You're a smart girl Anastasia, but a girl none the less. Made for parties and children, not business." I kept my breathing even. I could fool him, I knew I could. It would only be waiting for a moment, a moment where I could get away and lock myself in a room. But I had to play the part until then. I felt his hips move against mine, "Made to warm my bed."

I lolled my head back, exposing my neck to him. He took immediate advantage, and I gasped as he sunk his teeth into the flesh where my neck met my shoulder. It wasn't enough to draw blood, but I turned my shock into a forced moan. "Oh Henry, that is divine." Will, think of Will. Think of Will's hands on me, his lips on me, my body pressed against his. I felt a stirring of that desire, that lust that I had for Will, rise in me. The fact that I felt it toward Will, but it was Mr. Reichster's hands on me, sickened me. But I needed to use it, I needed to make him believe it.

"I bet you taste divine, Anastasia." He suddenly turned me around, capturing my lips in a rushing kiss that I couldn't avoid. His tongue forced its way into my mouth, and I tried not to gag as it did. He tasted of cigars and whiskey, and his hand crushed against the back of my head to hold me flush to him. His other twisted in my hair, pulling it so my head leaned back and he could deepen the kiss. I could get through this, I could get out of the parlor and find help. I just had to endure it. His tongue was still in my mouth as he pushed me back, my knees slamming against a table and suddenly I found myself on my back on it as he loomed up over me. The pins holding my hair back were digging into my scalp, and I tried to shift myself up to relieve the pressure. Mr. Reichster roughly shoved my shoulders back down. He was undoing his jacket, breathing hard as he looked at me. "God, you're a vision like that."

He had shed his jacket and had reached for my skirt when I giggled like a girl, pulling it away from his hand, teasing him. "Oh Henry, can't we go find a bed? This isn't very comfortable." The sound of my own voice sickened me, it sounded so false that he must notice. But he was filled with lust, and made another grab at my skirts. I twitched them away from his hands, slowly pulling the hem higher, revealing my ankles. "Please?"

"A bed?" He had managed to get my skirt, flipping it up around my knees as he suddenly leaned over me. I had a brief thought flash through my mind, that I should twist my legs together to stop him from reaching what he wanted, but I needed him to think I was serious. That was the only way I could get away, the only way he would let me have a moment to run. "How far up is the bed?"

I gave another giggle, grabbing at his necktie and pulling him down into a kiss as my mind raced. I kept my eyes closed, holding Will's image in my mind, even as his cologne clogged my nostrils. I broke it off, "Oh, it's only a couple floors to one of the guest rooms."

"A guest room," He muttered, his hands moving to my waist, starting to pull me to him so that my calves dangled off the table. He had dropped his hands to my knees, pressing them open. "Hardly seems fitting. What about your father's room?"

I screamed curses at him in my mind even as I batted my eyes. "The fifth floor. Oh wouldn't that be fun." He had stepped back so I sat up on the table, still holding his tie. "Don't you want to do it there?"

His eyes were glazed, and I could see his desire pressing itself against his trousers. "God, yes."

I let go of his tie, moving to grab the portfolio from where it had fallen. I'll say this for Mr. Reichster, he didn't let an opportunity pass him by, for as soon as I had leaned over he was up against my rear, his hands on my waist. I could even feel his hips begin to move slightly against me, a moan tearing itself from his throat. I shivered again, moaning myself, in distress and not passion, though he was so crazed by thinking his scheme had worked he didn't notice. "Patience Henry, let me go tell the staff to stay away for the day. I'll meet you up there, and I'll have this," I held up the portfolio, "All signed and sealed." I backed towards the door, the handle in my hand. "I'll be quick, I promise. And then we can spend all day there." The handle turned quietly in my hand, and I was out the door before he spoke. I tried to keep my pace slow, for I heard the door open behind me. The last thing I wanted was for him to catch on to what I was doing because he saw me running. I let my hips swing from side to side, looking over my shoulder to catch his eye. I gave him a slow wink and saw him start for the stairs.

I very calmly entered the kitchen, and immediately turned around and locked the door. The servants, gathered around the table for their lunch, stared at me as I made my way to the butcher's block. I picked up a cleaver the cook had set aside, wrapping my fingers around the handle and clutching it tightly. I looked to Peggy, "Mr. Reichster is in Father's room, expecting me to come to him. Have some of the footmen throw him out, make it public." My voice was still high, still girlish as I stared down at the blade.

Peggy spoke slowly. "Perhaps the police should be informed?"

"Oh, I would think so. Trespassing is such a vile crime." I moved to an empty chair, the cleaver gripped tightly in my hand. I wished I could rid myself of the politeness that had been ingrained in me since I was a child. That I could scream and curse and fight against someone like him without being thought hysterical and confused. I watched as one of the kitchen boys ran to go fetch an officer, while two of the largest footmen started for the stairs.

One of the maids spoke up. "Miss, are you alright?"

I let my fingers run along the spine of the blade, "Not in the slightest."

"Well, if you're going to accuse him of trespassing," Peggy said, coming around behind me. I felt her fingers begin to repin my hair, adjusting the neckline of my dress. They were shaking slightly, but she quickly had me put to rights. "Then you can't look like he's been at you."

"Thank you Peggy, that's very smart." I opened the portfolio in front of me, slamming the cleaver into the contract again and again. I watched the paper and the leather beneath it split beneath the blade, but I wished it was something else. I wished it was Mr. Reichster, that I had had the cleaver in the room and I could have taken it to him. I dropped the cleaver beside the ruined portfolio. "You know, I think from now on I'd like to have one of the staff sit with me when I'm receiving. Regardless of the person."

"Of course Miss, we'd be glad to." Peggy stepped back, and I took the shredded contract to the oven, opening the door and throwing the whole of it into the fire. Eventually the kitchen boy came back with an officer, who appeared rather confused to find himself brought in through the kitchen door.

"Miss, your boy here told me there was a trespasser." He nodded to me, "Do you know where he is?"

I pointed to the door, "Oh yes, I found him in the rooms upstairs. I asked a couple of the men to handle him while I locked myself and the other women in here to be safe." An utter lie but at this point I hardly cared.

"Well, let me see if they've caught the cad." He unlocked the door, stepping through. It was only a moment before he came back. "Miss, if you'll come with me." I followed the officer out into the foyer, where the two footmen currently had Mr. Reichster lashed to a chair with a curtain rope while they stood watch. He had also lost his tie, waistcoat and trousers at some point.

I gave a little shriek, turning away from the sight. Part of me wanted to laugh, he looked so foolish and was red in the face from screaming at the footmen. He started cursing me quite loudly, swearing that I had begged him to come and visit, that he had every right to be here, he was a guest and I had seduced him. I turned back around at that, glaring at him. He sneered, "This was me being nice, Anastasia. I'd urge you to reconsider before things get ugly."

I looked to the officer, "Sir please, I don't know what he wanted but I am all alone here. I would never allow a man to visit unchaperoned." He assured me that he would see to everything, and shortly a police wagon had pulled up in the drive and Mr. Reichster, resisting the two policemen who had him by his arms, was dragged out and thrown inside.

Another officer, he introduced himself as Lieutenant Conner, came up to me as they were loading him. He had a lilting accent, Irish most likely. "Miss Dalian, you know we can't hold him for long. He can make bail by tonight."

"I am aware, Lieutenant." I watched as the doors were slammed shut, a rope twisted around to secure them even further.

"I'd suggest you close your house then, and avoid any events outside of it. Get yourself a man to stay here, for your protection."

"I will consider it." I muttered, and the Lieutenant quickly loaded up into the wagon with the others. I stayed there, watching as the wagon turned a corner and vanished from sight. I must have been staring out the window for a long time when Peggy came up.

"Miss, is there anything I can do?"

I had my hands wrapped around myself, unaware that I had done it, for if I pulled them away I would begin to shake, "I want my mother, Peggy. That's all I want." I turned and headed upstairs. "I'm going to my room." The stairs were something I could focus on, simply moving one step at a time, sliding around a landing, and then back up. My sitting room seemed so quiet, and I settled myself at my writing desk. There was something I needed to do. I drew out a piece of paper, dipped a pen in some ink, and began to write, the shaking of my hand making my letters fuzzy.

My Dearest Will,

I wish I could not write this, but I do not want you to see it in some gossip column. I would rather you hear it from me. Henry Reichster attacked me in my home, I am safe and well I promise, but in order to free myself from him, I had to play the coquette, I angrily crossed that out, whore. To make him think that I would go to his bed. I swear to you, he did not succeed in his aims. My household staff was more than willing to restrain him once I was safe, holding him until a policeman could be fetched. He was removed, but I doubt he will be held long, his name and money will see to that. I do not know what poison he will spew about what occurred, but I dread you reading some paper and thinking that I would betray you. Please, know that I only did what I had to in order to free myself from him.

I love you,

Ana

I folded it shut and quickly addressed an envelope to the hotel he was at in London. I stared at the creamy paper, shining against the dark leather blotter of my writing desk. When Will got that, he might leave me, and I wouldn't blame him if he did. Zachary had tried to force himself on me, this time I had acted a harlot and brought it on myself. If I hadn't insisted on going with Will everywhere, or going out with the other officers, Mr. Reichster wouldn't have thought me ruined and an easy target. I could only be grateful that the negatives of the pictures were well hidden in a hatbox in my dressing room, if those came out I would be finished. I looked over as the door opened, Peggy slipping in. I held out the letter, "Please, post this as soon as you can Peggy." As soon as it was out of my hand, part of me wanted to grab it back, to hide it away. If Will didn't know, then everything could go on as it did before. But I immediately felt chagrined, Will had trusted me with his darkest thoughts, I should trust him with this. Even if it left me bereft, I would be honest.

"Yes Miss," She slipped it into a pocket of her apron, "Your mother is coming. And Ezekiel, she ordered him over."

"Thank you." I tried to smile, but nothing came. "You don't have to stay."

"Miss, I'm staying." She sat in one of the chairs. "You shouldn't be alone right now." I stood, shrugging as I made my way to my bedroom. If she wanted to stay, fine, but it wouldn't affect what I was needed. And what I needed was a drink. I'd grabbed the brandy decanter from Father's office and brought it down a week ago, using it to calm myself during the night. I filled a snifter, coming back out into the sitting room and sitting across from Peggy as I drank half of it in one swallow. Peggy wrinkled her nose. "You shouldn't be drinking that either."

"What would you have me do then, Peggy?" I leaned back into the plush comfort of the settee. "In the past two months my life has gone to Hell, and the only good thing to come out of all that isn't here and I haven't heard from him in almost a month."

"I'm sure he has a letter on the way." She reached over and picked up my embroidery from the table. "The mail takes time, especially from Britain. Why don't you work on this until your mother gets here?" I drank the rest of the brandy before I took it from her, and while my fingers started on the stitches, my mind paid little attention. Everyone thought they knew what I needed, or what I should be doing. All I wanted right now was my mother, to have her tell me that everything would be alright, that she would send for Will and he would be back and I wouldn't have to worry about anything. But that couldn't be.

I had finished a tail feather when the door opened again, but who burst through was not my mother, but Ezekiel. He was wild eyes, his red hair disheveled and he quickly came over to the settee, kneeling beside it. "Oh Annie," He gave me a sad smile, then pulled me into his arms. I couldn't help the tears that pricked my eyes. He hadn't called me Annie since we were kids, when he couldn't quite manage Anastasia. He pulled back, "Do you want me to kill him?"

I gave a bitter chuckle, "No Zeke, at least not yet." I hadn't been able to manage Ezekiel when I was little, we'd been Annie and Zeke to each other. He quickly settled himself by me on the settee, talking quickly about everything that had been going on with his family. Morgan had been able to stop staying at the Fifth Avenue house all the time and had come home to find the place a mess and no one willing to take responsibility. He rolled his eyes, "What can she expect? It's all us boys at home, and most of us are out at sea half the time." I laughed at that, even as I watched Peggy come out of my bedroom with the brandy. She whisked it away, a quiet maid in the hallway taking it from her, before she sat across from us.

Ezekiel kept up his chatter, and I let it distract me as I worked on the embroidery. He talked about the most meaningless things, but he made them sound exciting. As if having to stoke a boiler because his father had caught him dozing at the dinner table was actually a great honor, and by the end of it the stokers had considered him one of their own. At least that's what he thought all his shirts mysteriously being dusted with coal while they were in his trunk meant. I only looked up when he stopped, his face solemn. "Mrs. Dalian."

"Ezekiel, thank you for coming so quickly. I take it staying here won't be an issue?" Mother stood in the doorway, all in black.

"No ma'am. Are you staying too?"

"Until things are settled, and the item I asked you to have?"

Ezekiel stood, his hand going to his hip. I hadn't noticed the dark pistol handle, it had been away from me. He shook his head. "Not a problem, ma'am. I'll keep it on me at all times, like you asked."

"Are you still going to be attending the ball, Anastasia?" She walked over to the settee, "If so, Ezekiel will be with you the entire time. And armed."

"Yes, Mother." I looked up to her, "Thank you for asking him to do that."

She looked at Peggy and Ezekiel, "Thank you for waiting with her, please, let me speak to my daughter." The two of them shuffled out, closing the door behind them. Mother sat stiffly down on the settee, and I couldn't help myself. The tears I had been trying to control sprang forth, and I threw myself in her arms. I couldn't even speak, could only sob into her breast as she wrapped her arms around me. "My poor girl, shhh shhh. It's alright, I'm here. I won't let him get close to you again."

Part of me had been expecting a lecture about how my conduct had brought this about, that it had been a failing on my part as I knew it was. But she just held me close, and I gave myself over to the safety of her arms. I sobbed about what had happened, how I missed Will, how the nightmares had plagued me, how I found myself missing Father at the strangest times. Mother didn't offer any solutions, but she also didn't offer any condemnations. She simply listened, and eventually I felt empty. All my concerns, all my fears, had flowed out of me with the tears and I had nothing in me.

Her fingers felt cool on my face as she drew my gaze up, "Anastasia, you're exhausted my dear." Her hand was gentle on mine as she pulled me to the bed, settling me under the covers. "Sleep, and I'll be here. But you need to sleep." I blearily watched as she fetched a chair from the sitting room, turning the lights low. I saw my embroidery in her hands as she sat next to the bed, muttering. "Really Anastasia, the head on this is all wrong. I suppose I can fix it, if I-" I couldn't catch the rest of what she said, my eyes sliding shut and for once, a peaceful dreamless sleep followed.