"Hang King George!" A man yelled loudly.

"Hang the lot of them! " Another man called out.

There was so much commotion, yelling, screaming, fire and gunshots could be heard out all through Charles Town. It was scary and fascinating to Annie all at once, she could had sworn that the entire town had been gathered in front of the assembly hall. Men from the balcony of the assembly hall were hanging large dolls made out of flour sacks and straw, the dolls had been wearing red coats and were set on fire, and left to hang from the balcony. Men and women cheered from the sight of the burning, hanging dolls. As if the dolls had actually been real red coats... real men. It was amazing at how much people were supporting the war, they were cheering for such a horrible cause.

Why did people want South Carolina men to be sent to die?

Annie and her family continued to watch the scene from below them, from atop the balcony. Annie looked around the crowds of people to see if she could spot anyone she recognized or someone that was her friend. But there were so many faces, and it was hard to pinpoint people.

"I've never seen anything like this before, it's amazing. Everyone is there because of the assembly being held tomorrow," Charlotte paused and looked at Benjamin "You know Burwell and the others will be expecting you to say something tomorrow, they will expect you to go along with everyone else and help the levy pass. So many Insist that South Carolina should be at war."

"I know" Was Benjamin's only response. He did not take his eyes off of the crowds that were gathered below.

"Will you stand up for what you believe or will you help the levy pass Benjamin? if you stand for what you believe you will be frowned upon very much so by others. This war means so much to them." Charlotte said.

Benjamin finally looked at her. he said nothing, he had a look of sadness and disappointment on his face. A few moments passed and Benjamin responded.

"I will say, and do what I think is right tomorrow. I will not be forced to do something I do not agree with, or think is wrong. War is not the answer to our problems, it only creates bigger problems." He replied with a very monotone voice. he had no expression.

Annie looked at Gabriel when she heard him say her name .

"I should be down there right now, I should be cheering with the others below. Father doesn't know what he is saying, we need to fight for our country. Say you'll go down there with me." Gabriel said to his sister. She looked at him with a hint of disappointment.

"No, I also agree with Father, war is not the answer Gabriel. War only gets people killed. I will not go down there and stand up for something I do not agree with." Annie answered, she turned her back on Gabriel and continued to look down to the townspeople in front of her.

"You don't have to go with me to promote something you don't agree with, I'm sure your friends are down there somewhere with their families. You can just talk with them. Come on we've been in the house all day. I'm restless." Gabriel told his sister, Annie thought for a moment, they had been cooped up in the house all day. And it would be nice to explore the town, and possibly meet up with her friends. Her aunt Charlotte had told her earlier that she had bumped into Dorothy, one of Annie's friends, while she had picked up Annie's dress from the tailors. Her aunt Charlotte had said Dorothy was excited to hear that Annie would be visiting. Dorothy had said she would mention Annie's arrival to their other friends. Perhaps she would go with Gabriel, but only of course to find her friends.

"Fine, I will join you, tell Father we're leaving the house for a while." Annie said she began to turn away from Gabriel and make her way back into the house to retrieve her shawl and hat, for when they would go out. Gabriel turned to his father who still had a blank expression on his face.

"Father, Annie and I will be leaving the house for a while. Annie wishes to see if her friends are among the crowds, and I myself just wish to explore." Gabriel told his father Benjamin nodded .

"Alright. Be back at home with your sister soon though. I don't want you two wandering the town at a late hour." Before Benjamin could say anymore, Thomas had butted into the conversation.

"Father please can I go with them." Thomas begged.

Benjamin thought for a moment. He knew Gabriel really wanted to leave the house and join the crowds because he agreed that South Carolina's armies should join the war. And he knew Thomas agreed with Gabriel as well, but he was so young. He was a thirteen year old boy he should have no part in war what so ever.

"No, you're too young Thomas, and do not beg me any further. I want you to stay here with the rest of the family tonight."

"But Father!"

"Thomas." Benjamin said sternly, Thomas said nothing and just stormed into the house angrily, he felt like his father was always treating him like he was his brother William's age. But he hadn't been. He was thirteen, he believed that he was old enough to do whatever Annie and Gabriel wanted to began to turn away until he heard his Father speak to him.

"Gabriel, I know you wish to support the cause, I know you wish to join the Continentals. But when we attend the assembly tomorrow, and if the levy is to pass. You will not enlist without my permission." Benjamin said sternly to his son..

"So give me your permission Father." Gabriel replied.

Benjamin decided to change the subject, he would not speak any further about the future events of the upcoming day.

"Go on, your sister is waiting for you." Benjamin responded, Gabriel sighed with disappointment but decided not to argue, and turned to leave and join his sister who was ready and waiting to leave.

Annie found herself alone and left in a large crowd of people, she pushed past and made her way around the cheering people that surrounded her. Gabriel had left her by herself and decided to join the Howard's that were a few yards away from them. Gabriel and Annie could hear Mr. Howard shouting his ideas and opinions on war all the way from where they had been standing. Gabriel immediately became interested in what Mr. Howard was saying unlike Annie. So he left her alone in a crowd. Annie began to question as to why she agreed to join Gabriel, she hardly enjoyed the shouting and yelling and she kept getting bumped into by the people around her. Annie suddenly became frightened and gave out a shriek when she heard a gunshot go of beside her, right by her ear. Her ears began to ring. Annie placed her hands on both ears and began to rub them, in hopes that the annoying ringing in her ears would go away.

"Are you alright, dear?" Annie heard an older woman say from beside her. Annie turned to face the concerned woman.

"I'm fine. Thank you." Annie answered.

The women nodded and turned away from Annie once she knew she was fine. Annie took a few more steps forward until she finally had recognized someone, she recognized a tall young man standing a few feet away from her. He was by himself and look a little lost. Annie took a few more steps towards him and hoped the man would notice her approaching him and recognize her. it of course had been almost two years since she had seen the young man. But she knew he would have to remember her right away, since he had been a family friend for as long as she could remember. Annie finally stopped and stood in front of the man.

"James Wilkins?" Annie asked.

James turned to face her, his face lit up when he saw Annie. He recognized her almost instantly. Her looks had only changed a bit since he last saw her.

"Annie Martin, I'm surprised you are here, no doubt your Father had been called to the assembly." James replied, Annie nodded.

"Yes, a post rider had arrived at our house yesterday afternoon. He delivered us three letters, two for my father. One notifying my father about the assembly. The third letter had been from my aunt Charlotte. I'm staying with my aunt for a while actually, I'm not sure how long but I'm very excited to be here. But, how have you been James? It's been so long since I've last saw you, two years have felt like ten." Annie smiled, she was glad she had found James amongst everyone else, she had always enjoyed talking to James.

"You're staying in Charles Town? Well I'm glad to hear that, you will be sure to see more of me then. For however long you are to stay. Must I say you have become even more beautiful over these past two years, it does me good to see you. How's the rest of the family. I'm sure your father will not be too pleased to attend the assembly tomorrow, I know he does not favour war. Will you be attending the assembly yourself, tomorrow?" James asked curiously.

He hoped Annie would say yes. He would love to see her the following day .

"Thank you James, for your flattery," Annie paused she had felt herself blush when James had called her beautiful. She had to admit James had become quite handsome.

"And my family is just fine. Thank you for asking. But I'm sure tomorrow will put my father in a foul mood." Annie sighed. "We're having a bit of trouble with Gabriel. He wants to join the Continentals so badly. But since my father came back home from the French and Indian war he has wanted nothing to do with any violence whatsoever. The last thing he wants is Gabriel to join the war. I wonder what had happen to my father during the war to make him so bitter towards it." Annie replied.

She look at James with wonder in her eyes, she hoped James would tell her what had happened to her father during the French and Indian war. She wanted to know how he earned his title "The Hero Of Fort Wilderness."

"If you're hoping that I will tell you what happened at Fort Wilderness, I'm not, I will leave that for your father to discuss with you when he believes you are old enough to know what happened." James said, it was as if he had read Annie's mind, she was taken aback for a moment.

"No, no of course not, I understand. But, I'm not sure if he will ever tell me, I don't even know if he had ever told my mother- " Annie paused when she heard a voice not to far off call her name, she looked around, but she couldn't see who was calling her name. There it was again, a female voice was calling her name. Obviously it was someone who knew her. Annie kept looking around until she noticed a few girls standing in a group, one of them rose on her tiptoes and waved her hands in the air to get Annie's attention. Annie squinted her eyes.

"Oh, it's Sophia! And there's Dorothy to," Annie waved back "Oh it's nice to be back in Charles Town. James you will have to excuse me, my friends are expecting me to join them, I assume. I will see you tomorrow James. It was very nice to see you." Annie smiled.

James returned her the smile. He then took her hand in his and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand gently. Annie could feel herself blush again, she had never gotten that much attention from a man before. Wilkins noticed her blushing and gave out a small laugh.

"I believe you're blushing Miss Martin." He laughed again, Annie wished he hadn't pointed that out. She could feel her face go pitch red.

How embarrassing.

Annie said nothing, and just gave him a small shy smile and diverted her eyes to her feet.

"I shall see you tomorrow, I'm looking forward to it. Goodbye for now Miss Martin." James said before Annie gave a nod and said goodbye, she then turned and began to walk away. She glanced behind her to see if James had been looking at her, and he had. Annie smiled when he noticed her glance over to him. She turned her head back around and made her way towards her four friends that were waiting for her.

"I believe that was one of my brothers who had put ink in your tea. Perhaps Samuel, or Nathan. They are two rather rambunctious boys you know." Gabriel said trying to defend himself.

He had been speaking with Anne Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Howard's daughter. She had been accusing him of putting ink in her tea when she was eleven years old. Anne had been eleven the last time she had saw Gabriel (which was seven years ago.) Gabriel couldn't help but talk to Anne when he saw her he thought she was quite beautiful, her curly raven black hair was pinned up, and she gazed at Gabriel with her bright blue eyes. Gabriel even found himself flirting with her.

"- And send A message to king George he will never forget!" Gabriel heard Mr. Howard yell at the large crowd in front of him, the crowd cheered and shouted. Anne gave a slight smirk at Gabriel's remark. She knew he was of course lying to her.

"It was you, and it turned my teeth black for a month." She sneered, remembering how awful it had been having black teeth for a month and having everyone stare at her, and laugh.

"I, uh." Gabriel didn't know what else to say, he knew she had caught him in his lie. He was only eleven years old when he put that ink in her tea, he meant no harm, he had always had fun teasing her when they would play with each other when the Howard's would come to visit their parents. Gabriel and Anne stood awkwardly beside each other until a red headed man walked up to him and broke the awkward silence.

"Gabriel, Anne." Peter Cupin said.

Anne looked over and notice Peter, she gave him a nod.

"Gabriel I didn't know you were in town, why didn't you come call on me earlier. We could have gone out for a few drinks together. How are you? How's the family doing lately? I've meant to make a visit to your house a while ago." Peter asked. Gabriel smiled, he turned to face his friend.

"I'm well and so is the family. Thank you. And I'm sorry my family and I had just arrived today. My father has been called here for the assembly taking place tomorrow morning. How's your family? I had received your letter about your mother's illness, I hope she is well." Gabriel said, Peter looked down at his feet and then back up to Gabriel.

"She could be better, she's still rather sick. The doctor assumes that there is a possibility she could get better, I'm just holding on to that possibility. And pray for her every night," He paused "Well. Have you talked to your father about joining the Continentals? I've joined myself, my father approved of my decision. Has yours Gabriel? I know you have been having troubles convincing him."

"And I'm still having troubles convincing him, you're lucky your father has allowed you to join the Continentals. I wish my father would understand how much I wish to be apart of this war. I want to fight for this country. My sister is no better, she agrees with my father. They think that I should not be apart of such a conflict." Gabriel responded in disappointment.

Peter's thoughts went to Annie. He had always had something for Annie, but he was always too shy to tell her that he liked her. And he was scared she would view him differently. Perhaps in a bad way, if he told her that he liked her.

"I'm sure your father will come around Gabriel. And speaking of your sister where is she this evening? Don't tell me she had decided to stay indoors." Peter asked curiously, Gabriel turned to Peter after he had finished saying something to Anne.

Gabriel then looked around to see if Annie had been around, he had forgotten that she had even left the house with. Then Gabriel spotted Annie walking towards her friends. Gabriel gave a pat on Peter's shoulder to get his attention, Peter looked at Gabriel and saw that he was pointing in the opposite direction they had been facing. Peter noticed what Gabriel had been pointing at, it was Annie. She still looked the same, and he still thought she looked pretty.

"Look at her," Peter began, Gabriel looked at him awkwardly. Then looked at his sister. "She is still so pretty you know, your Sister... What beautiful hair, her skin so fair." Peter continued to admire Annie and speak so fondly of her. Gabriel was even more disgusted at the fact that his good friend was speaking of his sister in such a manner. Gabriel cut off Peter from speaking any further.

"Oh, I never knew that you thought of my sister in such a way Peter. Perhaps I should speak of how beautiful Josephine is then." Gabriel laughed.

"Oh please Gabriel, that's my sister." Peter replied.

"And that's mine!" Gabriel laughed.

"I spoke with your Aunt, early yesterday afternoon." Peter remembered.

"My goodness Annie! It's been much too long since we have seen, or even spoke to one another." Josephine said excitedly as Annie finally stopped in-front of her four friends.

"I know, I know. It has been much too long indeed. I have missed all of you so much!" Annie exclaimed "Writing letters back and forward to one another just isn't the same as actually speaking and being face to face with all of you," Annie paused to look at her friend Dorothy "And congratulations on your engagement Dorothy, I'm so happy for you and Jedediah." Annie smiled.

The rest of the girls smiled and nodded their heads in agreement.

"Thank you Annie. I am very excited for the wedding. I couldn't believe it when he had proposed to me. It was quite the surprise." Dorothy responded. One of the other girls Mariah shook her head in disagreement.

"Oh. Nonsense Dorothy, what do you mean it was a surprise? We all knew from the moment Jed courted you that he would marry you some day, he was and is so fond of you. You are lucky to have such a caring man by your side. I would thank the lord everyday if Emmett was like Jed." Mariah huffed and rolled her eyes. Annie furrowed her brows. Dorothy said nothing back.

"What's wrong with Emmett, Mariah? I was under the impression that you two were practically inseparable, from what I read from the last letter that you had sent me." Annie said, Mariah just gave a quick glare to Annie.

Annie received that glare Mariah had given her, and she didn't like it. She thought perhaps Mariah thought she was being sarcastic or lippy. But she had not, Annie was telling the truth. Mariah had boasted and explained that her and Emmett had been so in love.

"No, well. Things had changed between the two of us. He's changed, I didn't lie when I said that we were in love." Mariah lied, Annie and the others had always noticed that Mariah was jealous of Dorothy and Jedediah's relationship. Mariah always felt as though she needed a man by her side, to care and love for her at all times.

"He's rarely around anymore, I barely see him, he never comes to my house anymore to visit. Or even go for a walk. Something is very unclear and suspicious," Mariah stopped and gasped when a thought crossed her mind. "What if he is seeing another woman!"

One of girls in the group gave out a laugh, it had been Sophia.

"Mariah, when had Emmett ever come to call on you." Annie and the other three girls nearly gasped at Sophia's response, they looked at each other. Mariah turned from annoyed to furious.

"You watch that tongue of yours Sophia, How dare you say such a thing! You should be ashamed of yourself. I can see your jealousy coming through!-"

Sophia interrupted Mariah, before she could say anymore.

"Enough of your talk, do you want to drive Annie away from us tonight. She has come to visit and she does not deserve to come back to Charles Town and encounter this nonsense. Now can we please talk about other things."

Mariah cooled down, Sophia was right.

"Well you started it… I'm sorry, Annie." Mariah said quietly. Annie just nodded.

"Now. Annie how long will you be staying in Charles Town for? There is so much to do, we will all have so much fun together like we had so long ago. Please say you are staying longer than last time!" Sophia asked.

Annie gave a smile, finally she could tell her friends that she would be staying in Charles Town longer than she had before.

"Well, I had received a letter from my Aunt Charlotte yesterday. My father had sent her a letter earlier. He asked her if I could stay with her for a while. Because my Mother's gone and my father thinks I need a older woman's influence, he thinks I'm to much like a mother then a daughter or sister. And I have to agree with him, it stressful and I get tired to watching my younger siblings. It's a lot of work, a lot! So yesterday night I had opened my aunt Charlotte's letter that was delivered to our house earlier that day. And she said I could stay here for as long as I want. I didn't think I would be arriving here today but my father has been called to an assembly." Annie finished.

"Oh that's absolutely wonderful Annie!" Josephine said excitedly. Annie smiled, she was glad to hear and see that her friends were excited for her to stay in Charles Town for however long she may be staying.

"Thank goodness for the assembly, if it had not been taking place tomorrow, who knows how long it would have taken you to get here. Jedediah is attending the assembly tomorrow. He wishes to join the Continentals." Dorothy said proudly.

"Peter has already joined the Continentals, my parents and I are so proud of him. Will you be attending the assembly tomorrow Annie? If you are, we can all go to the mercantile afterwards?" Josephine asked, Annie just sighed.

"Unfortunately, I will be attending, you know I don't like this whole topic of war. It's all Gabriel and Thomas ever speak of. My father will not allow Gabriel to join, but I fear he will anyway. And there is no way of stopping him, enlisting is a death sentence." Annie had not been aware of what she had just said. She hated war unlike her friends. And she quickly realized she shouldn't have mentioned that enlisting into war was a death sentence, judging by her friends facial expressions. She could feel her heart sink into her stomach, she frowned slightly.

"I'm so sorry, Dorothy, Josephine. I, I should not have said such a thing! Enlisting isn't a death sentence and I understand as to why you and your families are proud of Peter and Jed. They are very brave men, it's just. I'm scared. I'm scared for Gabriel's well being, I've heard such horrid things that go on during battles. You all understand."

"We understand, but what we do not understand is why you do not favour war Annie. You see it is the only way our country will truly be free. We need young men like, Jedediah, Peter and even Gabriel to fight." Dorothy answered, Annie wished they would not speak of war any longer. She wanted to talk about better things like what they had planned tomorrow, Dorothy's wedding, things young women should talk about.

"Perhaps I have learned to hate war, because my father speaks so Ill of it." Annie sighed. The conversation had suddenly turned around when Mariah had noticed Gabriel standing beside Peter and Anne.

"Isn't that your brother, Annie?" Mariah asked.

Annie looked over to where Mariah was looking and nodded her head. Mariah gave out a small giggle, she thought Gabriel was very handsome. Sophia started to laugh when Mariah had. Annie knew right away as to what the two of her friends were thinking. And she knew she would have to endure her friends admiring her brother.

"He's quite handsome isn't he Sophia?" Mariah asked Sophia, who wore a large smile on her face. She nodded.

"Yes he is. I dare say I would not mind if Gabriel were to come over here to talk to us," She laughed "I wouldn't mind if he decided to court me."

Annie rolled her eyes, Sophia was so smitten with Gabriel. Annie knew she would probably catch the two tomorrow talking to one another after the assembly. Sophia may even invite him to join them to the Mercantile. Annie hoped she wouldn't, she wanted to spend time with her friends only. Sophia's face dropped when she saw Gabriel and Anne giggling with one another.

"But it seems Gabriel has eye's for Anne." Sophia slightly sneered. Annie looked and saw that Gabriel had been speaking with Anne, the last time Annie had seen Anne was when they were very young. Annie knew Anne and Gabriel had probably had the conversation about Gabriel putting Ink in Anne's tea when they were eleven. A smile had formed Annie's lips, she had still found it rather funny.

"Is that really Anne Howard?" Dorothy asked.

"Yes, so it seems. It looks like she is talking to Peter as well. Oh yes Annie I nearly forgot to tell you! Yesterday, Peter had went out for some time, when he had returned home he had gone straight to me to tell me of what had happened during his time in town that afternoon. He says that he had spoken with your aunt Charlotte. of course right away I wanted to know what she had said, and of course Peter wouldn't tell me right away, just to bother me. When he finally told me what they had spoken about, Peter only told me that he was excited to hear your aunt Charlotte say that you may be coming to Charles Town. And if you did, he told me he would be seeing much more of you during your stay. I think my brother may like you Annie!" Josephine explained. Annie could immediately feel her cheeks redden, she never thought Peter would think of her as someone more than just a friend. And then she realized that if he really did like her, would she like him? Or did she ever consider him as more than a friend. Did she even want to?

"Well, I, I never thought Peter would think of me as someone who is more than just a friend. We have known each other for so long. Perhaps his acts of bullying me and teasing me were his way of flirting when we were younger. Or perhaps he is just happy to hear that an old friend would be coming to visit." Annie replied. Annie noticed a few of her friends not paying attention to what she had been saying, they were looking past her. Annie turned around to see what they had been looking at. Annie noticed Gabriel nearing them, he had left Peter and Anne behind so he could talk to his sister. Annie turned to look at her friends and noticed even in the dark that Sophia's cheeks were reddening from Gabriel's presence.

Gabriel had finally stopped in front of Annie and her friends, he said his hello's and they politely said hello back.

"Annie, I think I am going to go back to Aunt Charlotte's now. And I want you to come back with me. I don't want you wandering around here without me." Gabriel said, Annie laughed.

"Now you care as to whether or not I am wandering around without you. As it seems you left me behind to wander around by my lonesome self." Annie replied, Gabriel just gave Annie a smile.

"You're right, and I'm sorry for that. But at least you found your friends. But as I said before I want you to come back with me, it will be getting late. And the later we arrive at Aunt Charlotte's the more we will have to endure Father's lectures."Annie nodded.

"Of course," Annie paused and turned to her friends "It was very nice seeing you all, I will be sure to see all of you tomorrow as well. And I would love to visit the mercantile tomorrow."

"Yes, of course. We will see you tomorrow. Goodbye Annie," Josephine paused "And it was very nice seeing you as well Gabriel, I hope to see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, It was very nice seeing you and your Brother here tonight. And I will most likely see you tomorrow. Until then I hope you enjoy the rest of your night. Goodbye." Gabriel replied. All the girls said their goodbyes to Annie and Gabriel.

Annie and Gabriel then turned away from the group of friends and began making their way back to their Aunt Charlotte's. As Annie and Gabriel pushed past the crowds of people Annie looked around, seeing if she could possibly spot James Wilkins anywhere. Perhaps she could see him one last time before she went indoors. But she couldn't find him anywhere, he was nowhere to be seen.

A few minutes had past and the two arrived back to their aunts. The house was quiet Annie suspected that her younger brothers and sisters were put to bed.

When Annie began to make her way upstairs, she remembered that her aunt wanted to speak with her and her father about a certain matter. One that apparently, as her aunt put it, will make her stay in Charles Town even more enjoyable. Annie instantly wanted to know what her aunt wanted to tell her, and Annie decided she would begin to search for her aunt. She would not beg her to tell her, she would simply ask her once as to what she wanted to tell her. Although if her aunt did not decide to tell her right away, then she would have a hard time not begging.

Annie reached the upstairs and noticed that in her sister's room, her aunt Charlotte was tucking them into bed. Annie stood close to the doorway of their room but neither her aunt or sisters noticed her standing there.

"Aunt Charlotte, where's Annie. Is she home yet?" Annie could hear Margaret ask, Annie stepped forward so she was now standing in the room. Annie's sisters and aunt finally noticed her. Her aunt gave her a smile .Annie then returned the smile and walked forward so that she was standing beside her sister's bed.

"I'm right here, did you want something?" Annie asked her sisters. Margaret shook her head.

"No, I just wanted to know if you were home. Father was wondering when you and Gabriel were coming home." Margaret responded. Annie nodded.

"Well, goodnight you two" Annie leaned in and gave her sisters each a kiss on their foreheads. Her aunt Charlotte did the same and then stood up from where she was sitting on the bed, and stood beside Annie. Annie and Charlotte then made their way out of Margaret and Susan's room. After Charlotte had closed the door of their room, Annie decided to ask her what she wanted to tell her.

"Aunt Charlotte." Annie said. her aunt snapped her attention to her niece.

"Yes dear?"

"I was wondering, you told me when we arrived that you needed to speak with me and my Father about something, and I was just wondering what you needed to tell us? I am very curious to know." Annie asked.

Her aunt said nothing for a moment and look as if she was trying to remember what she had wanted to tell Annie, a smile then formed Charlotte's lips.

"Oh yes, well I can tell you now. I will speak with your father later about what I'm about to tell you. Yesterday I had decided to go out into town, it was early afternoon and I was just coming out of the Mackenzie's store. I ran into Gabriel's friend Peter Cuppin. I decided to tell him that I had sent a letter to your father, telling him that I would of course love to have you stay with me for a while. When I told him he seemed rather happy. And he told me that he would be visiting and seeing more of you when you would arrive. You see Annie, I think Peter may want to court you. So I... Oh I hope you won't be angry with me, but I decided to invite Peter over for dinner tomorrow night." Her aunt finished.

Annie had a good feeling that her aunt would tell her that she had spoken to Peter when she had said she went out into town early that afternoon. That was about the same time Josephine told Annie Peter went out into town.

"Oh. No that's fine aunt Charlotte. I think it would be good for Peter to come for dinner."

"Really? Oh good. I really should not have made plans without your permission but, if you think it's a good idea, then I'm glad I invited him." Charlotte said in relief.

"Yes, It will be good for Gabriel and Thomas as well to have a chance to talk to him, and catch up on old times. I'm looking forward to his arrival tomorrow. I'm sure my father will be pleased when you tell him," Annie paused. "Well, I think I will go to bed now. Thank you Aunt Charlotte once again for allowing me to stay with you for however long I may stay for." Annie smiled.

"Of course Annie, I hope you stay for a while. It's nice having you here, as you know it gets very lonely here. Well I will let you get to bed now. We will be getting up early to go to the assembly tomorrow, perhaps you can wear your new dress I got you to the assembly tomorrow?"

"Oh, yes, definitely. I can't wait to be able to wear it" Annie beamed.

"Well, goodnight Annie. I hope you get a good night's rest." Her aunt said before turning around to leave Annie behind.

"Goodnight." Annie said before her aunt was out of sight.

Annie stood in the same spot for a few moments, before she decided to turn and make her way to her room to get ready for bed. She thought to herself, she didn't know exactly how she felt about Peter coming over the next day. The thought of Peter becoming more than a friend had only crossed her mind a few times before. She never knew if he had actually liked her. But now that he was coming over to her aunt's tomorrow for dinner, she knew for certain that he would try to court her. Was she ready? Of course she was! But she didn't know if she wanted to be courted by someone who had known her her whole life. Someone she grew up with, teased and played with. So many questions ran through her mind. Even James had come across her mind a few times. She noticed that she was feeling a greater connection with James rather than Peter.