And so our story continues…
Day 64: Anna walked towards the door of his lodgings.
Anna walked towards the door of his lodgings. She rang the bell and waited for a response. The wait was not long and soon enough a stone-faced butler answered the door. He took in her outfit with a glance that raked her up and down in one quick sweep and made it clear she was found wanting.
Anna half expected him to close the door in her face. He didn’t and she wondered if Christopher made mention of waiting for someone one to contact him with information. While Anna was dressed in her researcher best, she was aware the cloth was serviceable but not elite quality. It was something her tutor’s assistant might wear but not something that would be allowed in her own wardrobe.
“I am here to see Christopher,” Anna blinked. “I am afraid I was not given a proper name.”
“I see, Miss,” the butler replied. “And what name shall I give him?”
“Anna,” she replied. “I believe he and Marcus have been looking for me.”
The butler blinked and again Anna felt his quick study and appraisal. Clearly he knew who she was. “Of course, Please come in.” He stepped off to the side and Admitted Anna into the foyer. “If you will wait in the parlor, I will alert him to your arrival.”
Anna nodded and moved into the indicated room. All of the furniture looked formal and uncomfortable and Anna was reminded of unenjoyable afternoons in the more formal environment of her past. While she would appreciate not having to run anymore, there were some aspects Anna was not looking forward to resuming.
‘Although I doubt I’ll be asked into many respectable houses anymore,’ Anna thought as she chose a seat on the sofa and set her bag by her feet before settling herself on the cushions. She suspected there would be quite a few people who would be leary of her return and the scent of exile would cling to her. As she waited, Anna wondered how her return would play out. Now that she was committed to this course of action, she found her fear fading. The worst was over. She turned herself in. Now all she had to do was see how it played out.
‘Which in all fairness could be horrific.’ Still there was a strange sense of calm filling her now that she was here waiting for Christopher to come down. Overhead, Anna heard the hurried thumping and bumping of movement. She suspected Christopher hadn’t been ready to rise and greet visitors when she arrived and was making his morning ablutions with speed.
She waited and eventually Christopher appeared. She tilted her head in his direction as he entered. He studied her as he walked into the room and took his own seat across from her. He studied her for long enough for a tea tray to be brought in.
“I must confess,” he finally said as the butler retreated. “I am surprised to see you.”
“After Marcus gave me the proclamation, I had some matters to attend to in order to close out my affairs here,” she told him. “I have now completed them and am ready to return to the capitol.”
Ten til Midnight 