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With all the confirmation she needed, she turned to Kathleen and nodded her head. The woman gave her a bright smile. “Come, I’ll help you. Elizabeth, would you care to join us?”
Anna would have slipped quietly into her own room, but Kathleen steered her toward the magnificent staircase that led to the upper bedrooms. She was led to a room occupied by Wade’s sister and her husband, while the children slept separately in the room next door. Anna had been in the room before, to prepare it for Kathleen’s visit and was just as impressed now as she was then at the striking mahogany furnishings. The bed in itself was a masterpiece. Both a headboard and footboard with elaborate carvings adorned the huge bed. Anna found herself wondering what it would feel like to sleep in such elegant surroundings.
“I have just the touch that dress needs,” Elizabeth stated, and hurried off to her own guestroom.
“I had quite the time finding a dress small enough to fit your petite frame.” Kathleen was saying as she removed the garment from its box. “I had my seamstress take in a few minor details, but otherw
ise, I think it will fit perfectly.”
As she held it out toward her, Anna couldn’t stop herself from hesitating. The moment almost felt surreal. With deliberate movements, she slowly removed the servant’s clothing she wore that night, careful not to soil or tear them. When she had placed the last piece gently on Kathleen’s bed, she turned to the woman and felt slightly bashful. Standing nearly naked in front of another was something she was not accustomed to.
Kathleen stepped forward and helped slide the dress over her head. She felt its soft material cascade down her body and Anna couldn’t resist running a hand over the wonderful material. The last button was just being fastened when Elizabeth returned.
“You look beautiful, Anna.”
She smiled shyly in return.
“May I?” She held a small sprig of baby’s breath fastened with a hair clip.
Nodding, she allowed Elizabeth to slip the accessory into her hair and stood while the two women admired her appearance.
“You are beautiful,” Kathleen gushed. “Just like I always thought.”
She led Anna over to a floor length mirror and was dumbfounded to see the woman staring back. The dress itself was remarkable, however, on Anna it was breathtaking. An urge to cry overcame her once again. Biting her bottom lip, she allowed the ladies to lead her out of the bedroom and back down to the great room.
As the trio neared, however, Anna was struck by an attack of butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She worried momentarily that she might be sick all over the beautiful gown. John was the first to notice her and immediately got to his feet. Anna didn’t have long to be stunned by the gentleman act when Prescott followed suit and got to his feet. Wade was the last to respond, as his back was to her when she entered. But it was his reaction she waited on breathlessly.
He looked over his shoulder, perhaps to see his sister or Elizabeth, but instead he saw Anna as she stood in the entrance. An unidentified look lit his eyes before he slowly got to his feet. She worried horribly if he was displeased.
“You look absolutely stunning, Anna.” Prescott declared and stepped forward to admire her.
She smiled, forcing her eyes away from Wade.
“A wonderful choice, my dear,” John stated to his wife with approval.
Kathleen beamed then looked across the room to her eldest brother. “What do you think, Wade? Does she make a better girl or boy?”
He studied her deliberately. His eyes drifted from the hem of her dress up to the sprinkle of baby’s breath in her hair. “You look very pretty, Anna.”
She couldn’t meet his eyes and so quickly looked away feeling flushed. Wade turned away as well to say to the group, “How about a Christmas drink?”
The group disbursed into the great room to their individual seats except Wade who headed for the cabinet where the ale was kept. Anna looked around and felt a warmth fill her heart. She couldn’t have been luckier to have found such a wonderful group of people to celebrate the holiday. An image of her family crossed her mind and she tried to brush it aside. But earlier, when she had thought of her brother, it was the first time she had referred to him by name since that horrible night over a month ago. With Anna being the oldest child in the family, he was closest to her in age by two years her junior.
An image formed involuntarily in Anna’s mind. The presence of Kathleen’s children in Wade’s home had triggered memories she was too frightened to explore. Now, however, she allowed the memory of children’s laughter filling a small shelter echo in her head. Or the flutter of cotton dresses as they flowed between the spring tulips that grew on the mountainside as the children danced amongst nature’s garden. She raised her hand and stroked her cheek, remembering the softness of a child’s touch as they reached out with tiny fingers.
“Anna?”
Startled, she looked up and saw Wade standing before her holding out a wine glass. The memory vanished.
She thanked him with her eyes and looked cautiously at the red liquid inside the glass. At least, she thought with relief, it wasn't that horrible amber drink. Having never tasted wine before, she experimentally lifted it to her lips and took a small sip. She was delighted to discover it tasted far better than the other drink he had offered her that night he had told her . . .
She stopped herself short, refusing to relive that night, she was enjoying the evening far too much.
The group began exchanging presents and Anna shifted on her feet uncomfortably. She did not think to buy any gifts. It was not a tradition in her household at Christmas. They simply did not have the money. She watched their faces light with joy as they opened their respective gifts and was startled when Kathleen was not the only one who had thought to purchase her a present. She opened a delicate handkerchief with the letter A embroidered in one corner given to her by Prescott. With her eyes, she relayed her gratitude, but couldn’t help but feel dreadful for not having purchased anything in return.
“I have a little something for you as well.” Wade surprised her, handing her a square flat package wrapped in red paper and topped with a large golden bow. “I’m afraid I don’t have much experience in the presence category, as I’m sure Kathleen would agree, but I hope you enjoy them.”
“Nonsense.” Kathleen overheard and produced the expensive perfume he had given her.
