My costume was a beautiful confection of powder blue silk, golden lace, and filmy ruffles, and the wig towered high with ostrich feathers, pearls entwining around the curls. It did have a downside though, the wide skirts and their supports meant that I had an entire bench of the carriage to myself, and that I was almost bent double to save the wig. Will found it an amusing sight, and he was trying to distract James from his worries by voicing his thoughts. "Come on now, James, surely you think this is rather funny? Ana can't even raise her head to look at us."

"I can still hear you." I muttered, my head hunched down to preserve the wig. I could tell that we were both waiting for James to say something, to comment on the ridiculousness of my costume and the position it put me in, but we were disappointed. All James seemed to be focused on was the paper, he had been reading it over and over all day, and I could see him mouthing the words of it even now. Watching im was straining my eyes though, so I went back to studying their feet.

The carriage eventually pulled to a stop outside the Astor's massive house, James and Will heading first. Will called out from inside, "You should probably put the wig out first, and then yourself Ana." I bit my tongue, he was right and I did have to maneuver the wig out before I could follow it. I took in the sight of all of us, James with Will's borrowed sword, Will in his charcoal gray suit. It was very well tailored, and I let my eyes linger on him for a moment. I had a feeling that we cut a fine couple as we headed in, James trailing in our wake. He at least managed not to gape at the opulent surroundings, the plush carpets and polished wood. The three of us joined the line to meet the Astors, and Mrs. Astor smiled widely when she saw Will. He nodded to her, "Thank you for yet another invitation, Mrs. Astor."

"Of course, Mr. Murdoch." She reached out and patted his hand. "It's always a pleasure to have you join us. And Anastasia, such a wonderful costume. Although I'm afraid I have not met your friend back there."

I stepped aside, gesturing to James. "This is our dear friend James Moody, James this is Mrs. Astor."

He actually bowed, Will's sword sweeping back behind him. "Thank you for allowing me to attend, ma'am. Your house is wonderful."

"It's a house." She shrugged, "It's the people that make it wonderful. I hope you have an enjoyable time, Mr. Moody." We all nodded to her as we moved off to the ballroom, taking in all the various costumes represented. I saw Madame de Pompadour talking to Cleopatra, a shepherdess flirting with an older man in a suit, it was enough to make one feel heady, as if unstuck from time as mythological figures danced with men in the latest styles.

"Oh, you do look lovely." A woman, dressed as a suffragette, said as we walked by. Her costume was rather undercut by her sign, reading I Want the Vote Because I Can't Get a Man. More than likely that would be abandoned by the end of the night, cast aside to dance.

I nodded my thanks, feeling Will slip his arm around my waist. Once we had passed her I sniffed, "Will, I don't think you need to worry about her stealing me away for a dance."

"I'm not, I just like holding you." He muttered, "Although, I am not a fan of her costume."

"You don't approve of suffragettes?" I cocked an eyebrow as I looked over, having to move my head slowly to keep the wig in place. "I rather admire them, although I can't exactly throw my public support behind them."

"Of course I approve of them." He snorted, "You run your own company Ana, Ada was a teacher, and my sisters would skin me alive if I said something as horrible as what I've heard people say about them. I've been surrounded by capable women all my life, I just don't approve of her making them into a joke." I stepped a bit closer to him, swinging one of the side skirts out so I could press myself to him in a brief hug. He sighed, stopping to look out over the ballroom. "Now, how exactly are we to find Liz?"

I took in the ballroom, swirling colors that resolved themselves into figures for just a moment before they vanished again. "Ah, it will be rather difficult. She did not tell me what her costume was, no matter how much I begged."

"I can find her." James stepped up, looking over to a staircase that climbed upward to a balcony that encircled the room. "If you will just give me a moment." I watched him climb up, his hand on the handle of the sword as he looked out over the ballroom.

Will squeezed my waist, "Shall we dance? It may take him some time." I grinned, letting him whirl me out onto the floor. My costume proved difficult to dance in, and we both broke down laughing at one point when I stumbled over the skirt and wound up having to hold it up to free my feet. He looked down, "Well, at least you're only showing your ankles."

"If I showed my knees you'd haul me off somewhere." I chuckled, swirling my skirts around my legs as we danced. The band struck up a tango next, and Will was more than happy to move us off after I told him I would definitely tear my skirts trying to dance it. I took a glass of water from a table, "So, what is the best costume you've seen so far?"

"I'm not falling for that." Will smiled, taking his own glass. "If I say anything but your's, Rigel will be back in your bed tonight."

"I'm serious, although thank you." I rolled my eyes, Peggy had already told me that Will was losing one of his nights this week due to our discovery earlier. I had briefly thought about slipping over to his bed for the night, although I knew I would pay for it. It would be simpler to just lose that night, Will would be home soon enough. And I could always sneak off to spend time in his bunk when he came in again.

Will considered the crowd out before him. "I can't say if it's my favorite, but that woman dressed as Mata Hari is by far the most memorable." He pointed out into the crowd, singling out a woman who was surrounded by a crowd of men. I could only see her when they shifted, revealing her in an extremely tight fitting gown with an obscene amount of jewelry draped over the very low cut bodice and curled around her hair. It was fairly obvious why she was popular, her dress left little to the imagination and portions of it were even flesh colored to create the illusion that she was wearing very little.

"Stop staring at her." I elbowed him, grinning when he looked down. "Otherwise I'm going to have to go trade costumes with her to keep your attention."

"Ana, I can't stop myself from staring. Although it's only shock rather than desire." He put his arm around my waist. "You look far more alluring when you're covered from your neck to your ankles." I laughed at that, knowing that Will would think me enticing even if I was wearing a nun's habit. I was still laughing when James found us, his eyes focused on something across the way. Will turned to him, "Did you find her?"

"Yes, she's dressed as a fairy. A pink fairy, over there." He pointed to the side of the ballroom, and it took a moment for the crowd to split until I could see her. Liz was indeed a fairy, with a pair of pale pink gauze wings sprouting from her back. A crown of fresh roses circled her head, and her dress was just as ethereal as the wings. She was having an apparently heated discussion with Oscar, her angry expression not matching her costume in the slightest. James sniffed, "I don't know how to go about this."

"Just go up and ask her if you could speak to her parents." I said, giving him a slight push. He didn't move. "Do you want me to go find her parents?" He didn't even speak, just nodding quickly. I sighed, looking to Will. "I'll be back in a moment." It took a little time to weave through the crowd, finally coming behind the pair of arguing Vanderbilts.

"You had no right to read my letters!" Liz appeared to hardly care who heard her, "I can write to whoever I want!"

Oscar drug his hand down his face, "I'm not saying you can't, but he should have talked to Mother and Father. What if he tried to seduce you?"

"He's not like that!" She snapped back, her face screwing up to launch yet another attack.

"I don't suppose your parents are close by?" I cut in, smiling at the both of them. I saw the two of them straighten up, both turning to look at me. "I would like to talk to them about something."

"They're still greeting the Astors." Oscar said, "You do look lovely tonight, Anastasia." I froze as he reached out, brushing one of the ringlets of the wig back behind my ear. "Although that wig is rather ridiculous."

"I believe that is the point of a costume ball." I smiled, taking a step back. I was saved from having to comment on him by the arrival of his parents. I looked to them, "Richard, Moira, I hate to bring this up at the beginning of a party, but I need to speak to you about something."

"Would this happen to be Mr. Moody?" Mrs. Vanderbilt raised an eyebrow, "Oscar here seems to think that we're right on the edge of a scandal because of him."

I bit my lip, "Yes, he wishes to speak to you about everything that has happened. I offered to arrange it." I pointed off to the side of the ballroom, a series of sitting rooms and drawing rooms available for guests who did not want to join in the dancing. "Perhaps we could meet in there?"

"We?" Mr. Vanderbilt looked down at me. "Are you going to be pleading his case?"

I ducked my head. "No, he is. I am just trying to help. He's rather nervous about all this." He nodded at that, the four of them moving off to one of the sitting rooms, and I could hear Liz and Oscar begin bickering as they moved off. I navigated my way back to the two of them, smiling at James. "They're willing to talk, they're over there." The poor boy looked as if he was going to be facing a firing squad, the color of his face draining.

Will stepped up, putting an arm on his shoulder. "You'll do fine, James. You've survived far worse than talking to people."

"You saved me that night, sir." His voice was barely a whisper. "I don't think I'd have made it without you."

"And I probably wouldn't have made it if you weren't there." Will shrugged, "Just be honest about what you feel, remember the speech you wrote. If they have any kindness in them at all, which if they're Liz's parents I would think they would, they'll accept you just fine." I was hoping that James would square his shoulders as he set off, drawing up his courage, but he took shaky steps as he made his way to the sitting room, closing the door behind him. I heard Will let loose a breath, "He's got to find himself in there, otherwise he's doomed."

I slipped my arm through his. "I'm sure he'll be find, although I'd be grateful to you if you could distract me from thinking about it."

"I have a few ideas on how to do that." He shook his head, smiling as he led me off to the side of the room. He seemed to consider a number of the sitting rooms, walking past several. "It appears I won't be able to use my initial idea, everything is occupied."

I stepped up, placing a hand on his shoulder as I whispered into his ear. "Will, were you planning something scandalous? I wouldn't mind if you got me out of this dress, or the wig."

He flushed, "Ana, good God. You're insatiable."

"You've debauched me, I'm afraid." I whispered back, turning to look out at the crowd. "Although not as debauched as Mata Hari over there. How she hasn't lost her dress on the dance floor, it's a miracle." I watched her as she strutted her way through a tango, her hips clearly visible even with the fabric over them. "Or I could ask to borrow it, would you like me in it for your birthday?" I furrowed my brows. "When is your birthday? I've never asked."

"The 28th of February," He drew me a bit closer to him. "And I'd rather have you waiting for me in nothing at all." He was lucky we were away from the main crowd at the ball, in a corner that was rather dark.

And intimate.

"So that means you'll be forty next year." I turned, placing my hand on his chest. "And I'll be marrying an old man."

He tugged my hand down to his waist, stepping closer to me. "And what about you? I'd hate to have your birthday come up and not have gotten you anything."

"The 30th of November." My voice dropped, focusing on his face. "I'll be twenty-six."

"Hmmm, I'll be an old lecher by the time we're married then." He chuckled, leaning down to press his lips to mine. I smiled into it, enjoying the way his arms wrapped around me to draw me to him. I couldn't help the quiet moan I gave as he slipped his tongue into my mouth, or the way that I stroked it with mine. I could feel his teeth, nibbling at my bottom lip before he pulled away. He pressed his forehead to mine, smiling. "If you'll still want an old lecher, that is."

"You're hardly going to be old." I whispered, wishing that we could share more than a brief kiss. "And I'll still want you regardless of how old you are." He chuckled, his arms slipping from around me to lead me back out to the dance floor, spinning me around in a brief waltz. We were both rather thirsty by the end, and it was at the drinks table that we were discovered. I found myself staring at the two figures making their way towards us, a blonde woman in a billowing white dress with a glimmering headdress on her head and a man in a suit.

"You look so beautiful!" Sophie gushed, "That dress is stunning."

Zachary sniffed, "Hopefully, unlike Antoinette, you won't lose your head tonight. I'd hate to see that throat cut." At his comment Will wrapped his hand more tightly around me, his face darkening. "Ah, I see you came as a gentleman tonight. No one would ever guess you're simply a sailor with that costume."

I grabbed Will's hand at that, "Are you supposed to be someone with class tonight, Zachary? You should try to stay in character if you are." I felt his fingers tighten around me, well aware that it was likely he was stopping himself from punching him by holding me.

"Zaza, you shouldn't be so sarcastic. You know tonight is for us ladies to show off." Sophie twirled after she finished, her kokoshnik shining in the lights. "Look, I'm just like you tonight! I'm the Grand Duchess Anastasia. Mother was kind enough to send me a picture of the Imperial children so I could make sure it was accurate."

"Your costume in quite lovely, although I doubt my namesake looked quite like you." I kept a pursed smile on my face as I spoke, relishing what was going to come. Part of me wondered if Sophie was really as clueless as she acted, or if it was all a play to keep us confused.

"Your namesake?" She cocked her head, her eyes focused on me. "Are you named after the Grand Duchess? I thought you were older than her."

"No, not that Grand Duchess." I grinned, "My grandmother, there's a family legend that she was a bastard Romanov."

Her jaw dropped, "A bastard Romanov? From what branch?" Of course she was concerned with bloodlines, all those old European noble families placed such a high regard on it. Connections were valuable here, of course, but even a third son, like Richard Vanderbilt, was still as worthy as his brothers. If not as obscenely wealthy as them.

"The Imperial line, my great-grandmother had an affair with a Grand Duke." I shrugged, "At least that's what my grandmother always said. We have no idea if it's true, but it is rather interesting. Don't you think so?"

"Well, Sophie here is legitimate." Zachary stepped forward, his arm on her waist. "A Duchess in her own right, not a by-blow."

Will shrugged, "A Duchess, but not a possible Grand Duchess." He smiled down at me, "If Ana here ever gets the desire to prove her bloodline, and if the Czar is feeling charitable, she could very easily become one."

"I highly doubt he'd legitimize a bastard line." Zachary snarled, "Especially an American woman, one who doesn't even speak French or Russian."

"These are quite volatile times," I smiled calmly at him, "Who knows what the coming years will hold? Perhaps you'll be having to address us as their Imperial Highnesses soon." I didn't believe it for a moment, but it was quite enjoyable to bait him.

Zachary thrust Sophie behind him, stepping forward. Will copied him, gently pushing me back as he came at him, the both of them only separated by inches. My breath caught in my throat as I watched Zachary work his jaw, "She's nothing but the granddaughter of a bastard, even if it's true it means she's nothing but a pretender. Just like you pretend to be a naval officer to make all the old ladies swoon over you. Like you pretend to be a gentleman. Fakes, the both of you."

"At least we're honest. Ana never pretended to be royalty, I've never pretended to be anything but in the Reserves." Will snapped, "How much have you been hiding from Sophie? Your friends, what you, and your father, have done to Ana? Would her brothers still be willing to leave her here if they knew what you really are?"

Zachary turned his head to stare at Sophie at that. "No matter what you hear from them Sophie, it's lies. All of it. You can't trust people like them, they lie about everything."

"Should I lie about everything you did to try and woo me?" I stepped forward, feeling a rush of anger in my breast. "How you practically were on your knees, begging me for even a slightest hint of my favor, no matter how much I ignored you?" I looked to Sophie, seeing a blush of anger on her cheeks. "Or maybe she would like to hear about how you tried to force yourself on me? How you hounded my footsteps for years after that? Or am I lying about that, too?"

"He would never do anything like that." Sophie moved toward me. "Zachary is the kindest, gentlest man I have ever met. He wrote me poems you know, he left them for me every morning in Berlin." I was aware that people were watching the four of us, not coming closer but it was apparent that we were the focus of the ball at the moment. I hardly cared, not when she was coming towards me, her eyes bright and two red spots of anger on her cheeks.

"More than likely he stole them." Will snorted, "Just like his father tried to steal everything from Ana. Even her virtue."

"You don't have your sword tonight, Murdoch." Zachary's face had drained of color. "I'd be careful what you say next."

"I don't need my sword to beat you." Will surged forward at that, his hands balled into fists. "I thought you would remember that." I was staring at Sophie, feeling my own hands begin to twitch. Either she was stupid enough to actually believe Zachary or she was acting, my money was on the second considering the way she was starting towards me.

"Gentlemen!" A voice cut through the tension, Mr. Astor staring at the two of them. "I would hope that our ball won't be sullied by bloodshed." All of seemed to freeze for a moment, the men immediately dropping out of their stances.

"Of course not." Zachary stepped back, "A true gentleman, such as myself, would never stoop so low. It's this dockyard trash here that's out of place."

"Zachary, do not make me have to have you escorted out." Mrs. Astor, on her husband's arm spoke up. "If neither of you is willing to apologize that I am afraid that I must ask you to stay away from each other for the rest of the night. If you do not, then all of you will be thrown out."

Will, standing stiffly, nodded to her. "I am sorry Mrs. Astor, he was insulting Ana. I felt I had to respond in some way."

"There are ways besides violence."

"I tried those, but they failed." Will glared across at Zachary. "But I will withdraw for now, I think I see the Vanderbilts coming out anyway." He was still stiff as he took my arm, walking away from the crowd that had gathered around us as they had scented the possibility of a fight on the air. I could feel their eyes on our backs as we headed off, and I forced myself to look ahead. I could see that Will was right, the Vanderbilts were coming out of the sitting room.

And James was holding Liz's hand.

"I think it went well." I whispered to Will, "Look at his smile, I don't think I've ever seen him this happy." James was indeed beaming as he spotted us, and I could see him squeeze Liz's hand as they started towards us. She was smiling as well, although it was a small one but focused completely on him. Liz didn't need her wings tonight, she was practically floating on her own. Oscar even appeared to be rather mollified, he at least wasn't glaring at James anymore. And the Vanderbilts looked thrilled to see Liz clearly adoring the man she was walking with.

"I should think so." Will whispered back. "Should we join them for the next dance?"

"Let them have this one." I said, grinning at James. "I told you that you would do fine."

"Miss Dalian, thank you." James couldn't seem to stop smiling, "I still can't believe it."

Liz almost snorted. "You should, unless you can't believe that we're going to the theater next time you're in town?"

"Of course." James immediately said, "I wouldn't think not to." He glanced out to the floor, "Would you care to dance?" Liz smiled, and the two of them swept off onto the floor. I knew that Will couldn't tell exactly why their stiff steps became much smoother after a moment, but the Vanderbilts and I could see that Liz had taken the lead, even as she stayed in the following position.

I glanced over as Oscar stepped beside me. "Anastasia, could we speak for a moment?" I turned to Will, but he nodded. I felt Oscar take my arm as he drew me aside, not too far from the others but enough that whatever he said would be private. He kept his hand on my arm as he spoke. "I'm sorry for my outburst the other day. It wasn't fair to Liz, or James, and especially not fair to you."

"No, it wasn't." I shook my head, "But it looks like it worked out in the end. How was he?"

He laughed, "Terrified, although Father managed to get him calmed down enough to say his piece." He looked over to the two of them circling the dance floor. "And Liz spoke up for him, he didn't even ask her to." Oscar smiled though, watching them dance. "You know why I was concerned though, right?"

"I don't have siblings, Oscar." I followed his gaze, taking in Liz and James smiling in each other's arms as they danced. "But I do understand. He clearly is smitten, as is she. They'll be fine. Now, if you want to hear a story, you should hear what Sophie is dressed as tonight."

Oscar chuckled as he led us back over, "I have a feeling you'd tell me even if I said no."