Chapter 7
Richard and Ann sat in comfortable silence as they watched the twins argue about yet another thing.
“ Have you finished reading your book Richard asked.
“ Yes your grace” Ann answered.
“ Your grace?” Richard asked raising a brow.
“ Yes, your grace” Ann answered again.
“ I suppose you never promised to call me by my given name” Richard sighed.
“ I believe my calling you by your name is very improper” Ann announced.
“ And I should also believe you find it not improper to say Daphne's name” Richard scoffed.
“ I was given proper permission to do so” Ann replied.
“ So I am to believe that I have granted you an improper permission to say my given name” Richard jumped in sarcasm dripping from every word.
“ Are you being envious of her grace?” Ann asked raising a brow.
“You are very accurate about that, but that is not all, I am also disappointed to say that I have judged wrongly how much you have underestimated our friendship, and I tell you it is way lower than I expected” Richard answered.
“ But I have never underestimated you your grace” Ann replied defensively.
“Well you choosing to be friends with my sister over me, even though, I still don't understand why you do not want to befriend me says quite a lot” Richard said.
“ Even though everyone knows it is not proper to befriend my employer, I never even said I am not friends with you your grace” Ann replied.
“ Richard” he corrected.
“Your Gr..... Richard” she said eyeing him.
“ Even my name managed to sound better on your lips” Richard said smiling.
“ I am quite positive you just did that on purpose” Ann said scowling.
“ For one as stubborn as you are, extreme situations calls for extreme actions” her replied
“ Nevertheless I still plan on calling you by your given name, ... Ann...” Richard added grinning.
“Soothe your self RICHARD” Ann replied.
“ I suppose that is a permission” Richard said smiling infectiously.
“ Whatever you say RICHARD” Ann said trying really hard to fight the smile that was already spreading through her lips from his smile.
“ Seeing how you are answering my questions I should assume we are friends already” he concluded.
“ Which book do you plan to read next” Richard asked.
“ Romeo and Juliet” Ann said.
“ Well since you are my dear friend I will lend you my precious volume” Richard said.
“ Thank you, but Daphne has already promised to let me read hers” Ann replied.
“ I became your friend before she became your acquaintance, so you should definitely take mine too” Richard said.
“Although you bullied me into becoming friends with you, I guess I could take yours too” Ann smirked.
“ Wow, I hope you haven't forgotten who you are speaking to” Richard said.
“ How can I forget a friend?” Ann said with sarcasm.
“ Why do I get this scary feeling that I just walked into a sinking sand?” Richard said faking a shiver.
“ You can still save yourself since you have not gone deep though” Ann jumped in with a drawl.
“ Calm down tigress, I'm going nowhere” Richard smirking boyishly.
“ I was just trying my luck, after all there is no harm in trying” Ann shrugged.
“ My apologies but, luck is not by your side today” Richard smirked.
“I am sure it is going to pour heavily soon” Ann said as a chilly wind blew pass her, causing her to shiver slightly.
“ The weather changed quite quickly, I should better go and prepare the carriage” Richard said standing up.
“ We would meet you there in a few minutes” Ann said before calling the twins over, so that they could prepare to leave.
The carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance of the shop. There was a big sign board hanging just above the door that read MADAME LAMBERT'S DRESSMAKERS, behind the big glass windows were four beautiful ball gowns hanging as a showcase.
Richard helped the twins and Ann down, then he waved them away before climbing his horse.
“ I hope to see you at tonight dinner” he said smiling at Ann, before taking the reins and galloping off.
“He is coming over for dinner tonight” Anna said to her sister with an 'I told you smile' lining her lips.
“ I'm sure it is important for him to be present at Daphne's announcement dinner” Ara said.
“ Nevertheless you just realized that” Anna said smiling.
“Bonjour mezz Arnold” Madame Lambert boomed as she came out of her office.
“Good afternoon Madame Lambert” the twins chorused.
“I adore the bonnet you got for me the last time” Anna grinned.
“ Yes, can I please get another shade of the design?” Ara asked.
“ Of course, et a pleajure” she replied her French ascent creeping through her English.
“Vhat vould jyou like me to do for jyou?” she asked bowing slightly as she got to where the trio were standing.
“ We were informed that the measurements of the twins last fittings were missing” Ann replied.
“ Oh right, ve are sorry for the dezcomfort” she apologized.
“ Marie” she called out, as one of the seamstresses came out.
“ Vould jyou pleaze take the measurements of the twinz and make sure to vrite their names by their measurements” she said to the girl.
Marie quickly took a tape and signaled to the girls to follow her to a table, that had a piece of paper, pen and a bottle of writing ink.
The girls chatted with Marie as she took their measurements one after the other, Ann was even quite sure she heard them argue about something, it was obvious by the look on Marie's face, it seemed Marie was caught in between their argument since both of them wanted her to take their sides, at that point she realized how she looked when ever they argued.
After the measurements, the girls made sure to remind Madame Lambert about their bonnets, and she promised to send them with their gowns once the fittings were completed in a few days.
Chapter 8The house was bursting with movement when they got to Westonhigh. The servants were busy preparing for the evening.Ann escorted the twins to their rooms and gave orders to a maid to prepare their bath and dresses.After the twins got dressed, she did a quick work with their hair, pining it up into simple styles that were perfect for the evenings atmosphere, before shooing them downstairs.Then she went to her room and changed into a more comfortable dress after which she went to the kitchen to help Mrs cook.Although it was not a part of her job, Ann enjoyed helping in the kitchen.This was because it was very convenient, and the maid were the only other people she could talk with
Chapter 9“ I have come to believe that nothing happens without your knowledge mother” Anna said joining them with her twin at her side and Stephen stopping to give instructions to a maid behind them.“ One day, I just might end up cutting off that vile tongue of yours” Lady Arnold replied eyeing her youngest daughter.“ Good evening your grace, you look exceptionally beautiful today” Lord Mayfair said embracing his mother-in-law in a hug.“ I am positive you said the same thing to Mrs Cook and every other older female” she replied patting his back.“ And I meant every single word” Lord Mayfair said.“ My goodness, Miss Ann, where have you been?” Lady Arnold asked once she saw Ann.
Dada!" Little Roberta shrieked once she saw her father enter the nursery. She quickly and clumsily pulled her self down from the top high chair, she had sat, while her governess read a book for her and her brother. She jumped into her fathers waiting arms, and he lifted her up, almost covering her small frame in his hug."How is the most beautiful princess in my world doing today?" Lord Mayfair asked whilst covering her adorable little face with kisses."
Ann sat on a bench in the rose garden with a volume of Romeo and Juliet, which she had borrowed from Lady Daphne. It was her day off today, she visited the park or went on an afternoon walk with the twins or their mother every Thursdays and Tuesdays, while she took Wednesdays off. On her off days she usually help mrs cook in the kitchen, although there was an abundance of kitchen maids to do the work, she did it because she enjoyed their company. And mrs cook was always happy to hand her a bowl of newly baked biscuits.Ann snacked on the biscuits while she enjoyed the scenery, the garden was the most peaceful place in the house other than the library. The sun was bright and fell lovingly on the flowers, making the scenery just as bright and colorful as a painting.She open her book, I mean Daphne book.Funny how Lord Richard had expected her to borrow and read his too. 'Lord Richard' she blushed at even the thought of his name.
Ann walked up the stairs to a labyrinth of hallways, she visited this part of the house frequently, and was familiar with the location of the library.She pushed the door open to reveal the large Arnold library, it boasted many tall and huge shelves of book arranged in rows. She had been requested by lady Arnold to bring any book she could find on embroidery. Lady Arnold had been very concerned when she saw theflower Miss Anna had tangled on her material.Miss Anna was mostly interested at things that most girls her age will not be interested in. She could ride stallions and climb trees, she was the first person Ann had met when she came into employ, and she had met her slouching through knee deep mud, searching for something Ann could not remember. She Was very flustered when Anna had made her promise not to tell.So Ann was not a least bit surprised when she saw the embroidery, instead she offered her a thimble as her finger had gone blue from
Ann stared at him unable to move, the pain in her leg was beginning to feel faint. She could hardly feel, see or hear anything other than the loud thumping of her heart. She just held her chest willing it to stop the noise. Time stopped and it felt like only her and Lord Richard were the only living beings still moving.She swallowed whenever she saw the look in his eyes, and her breath cut when he leaned closer. All she could do was wait, a part of her actually wanted to pull him close and just when she was sure she would make the most insane decision in her life, he got up."How do you feel?" He asked clearing his throat as he held her ankle."I'm fi...ow!...what are you doing?" She shrieked when he put pressure on the leg."Sorry, I am checking for fractures" he said loosening his grip."Um" was her reply, she felt like an idiot for asking such an obvious question. Once again she had sat waiting for him to do as he wished with her. A wave of embarras
“ I am that Mary wanderer of the night” that did not sound right, there was no one called Mary in the Midsummer night's dream, Richard thought. He had left his spectacles in his study, and was finding it hard to concentrate the word on the book. He had started reading immediately Ann had handed him the book a week ago, and he found the book quite enchanting.“May I see the book please?” Lady Watsby asked, collecting the book from Richard.“ I am that merry wanderer of the night” she corrected.“ I forgot my spectacles again, my apologies for the discomfort” Richard explained.“ I believe there is no cause for apologies” she replied waving him off.“ But if you insist, I would prefer some more of these delicious biscuits, to prove your sincerity” She added grinning.“ As expected, you are making good use of your opportunity” Richard laughed. He stood up to rin
Richard watched her scurry off, he thought about pursuing her, but he was not sure if she desired space. He had glanced at her a while ago, as she talked to Miss Elsa, and she did not look very fine. “ I think you should check on her, I have an important necessity to heed, and I can attend myself to the entrance ” “ Miss Elsa, I'm ce