Anastasia

Surprising News

"Charlotte won't be coming home until August. Mamma and Papa are going to join her in Switzerland and take her around the Continent," Robert announced to his uncle, aunt and cousin when they were all gathered in the drawing room. Lord and Lady Adlington spoke to him about it for a few minutes before rushing out, the former to a business meeting and the latter to a morning playing cards.

"When was this decided?" Anastasia asked once they had left, having heard no mention of her aunt and uncle leaving the country before this point.

"Last night," Robert said absent-mindedly, evidently not particularly interested.

"Oh," she said blankly, frowning. "This is rather sudden, don't you think?"

"I was the one who suggested it. I thought they might enjoy a few weeks away from London, and seeing as Charlotte is already in Europe, it is the perfect opportunity. They leave next week."

"You did this?"

He nodded nonchalantly. "There are fortunes to be made in the Amazon, Anna, even when the workers are actually paid."

Anastasia creased her brow. "But you've only just arrived home! Surely you wish to spend sometime with your parents? And you haven't seen Charlotte in so long!"

"If all goes accordingly, I shall still be here when they return."

"Robert! This isn't like you," Anastasia said, smiling to hide her confusion.

Her cousin grinned. "Are you not pleased? I shall be able to spend much of my free time with you."

"Well, I shan't be able to spend all of my free time with you. I must work, you know."

Robert smirked. "Work? Surely you cannot mean going to rallies and - "

"Hush, Robert! If anyone were to hear you!"

He laughed, but agreed not to mention it. "Very well, Anna, though I do think - Ah!"

The butler had entered, cutting Robert off. He began to announce Lady Adelaide Whitby,  but the poor man was drowned out by - 

"Anastasia! You'll never guess what Stella has  - "

Adelaide broke off mid-sentence, seeing the fair-haired young gentleman who was also present in the room. "Ah - forgive me, I - "

"Good morning, Adelaide," Anastasia greeted her cheerfully. "This is my cousin, Robert Grayson, Viscount Fawley, just returned from Brazil. Robert, Lady Adelaide is one of my dearest friends and the one who introduced me to the suffragettes."

"How do you do, Lady Adelaide," Robert said to her in a pleasant tone.

"How d'you do, Lord Fawley," Adelaide replied, then was silent.

Anastasia, taking the rare opportunity to say something before Adelaide could, said, "Robert's been telling me about the Amazon. I'm rather tempted to return with him, I'll admit. And he shall tell you about his Indians - But what is it you were about to say?"

"Ah, nothing that cannot wait, I'm sure." She sat down next to Anastasia and said to Robert, "I have heard a great deal about you, Lord Fawley. Your cousin speaks about you very often."

The cousin in question blushed, knowing her friend was referring to the countless times she had voiced her worries over Robert being so very far away.

Adelaide, however, only smiled sweetly at Robert who replied, "Goodness, Anna, hope you have been speaking as highly of me as you do of Lady Adelaide; I've heard nothing but praise for you, Lady Adelaide, from my cousin and her family."

The lady laughed and responded appropriately and Anastasia felt annoyed. She had hoped Robert and Adelaide, her two closest friends, could behave a little less formally. Time, she thought, A little time will soon put things as they should be. I must be patient.

The conversation continued on to what Anastasia considered to be rather dull topics. Not that it mattered; she scarcely spoke a word for several minutes.

"....Rebecca mentioned she had visited the college," Adelaide was saying. By this time, Anastasia had quite given up on following the discussion and thus had no idea of which college was being referred to. "She was pleased by the location, I believe, though she did note there was not so much emphasis on education beyond the basic - "

"Would that be Miss Rebecca Campbell? James Campbell's sister?" Robert asked.

"Yes - " Adelaide glanced at Anastasia. "I am told you were at Eton together."

He nodded slowly, his attention, for the first time since Adelaide's arrival, drawn away from the conversation. "Yes..." he murmured eventually. He glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. Quite suddenly, he rose and made towards the door. "I'm afraid I must leave you. I had not realised the time; there are some errands I have to do."

"Robert!"

"Lady Adelaide," he continued, ignoring Anastasia's exclamation. "It was a pleasure to be introduced you. I hope we shall meet again soon. Good day."

"Good day, Lord Fawley," Adelaide said as he left the room.

Anastasia, taken aback by her cousin's departure, sank back into her chair. "I wonder what errands he must do. Really, any more surprises today and I shall be quite worn out! What was it you wished to tell me, Addie? Addie? ....Adelaide!"

Adelaide turned away from the window at which she had been staring. "Yes? Oh, I am sorry. What was it you said?"

"What were you about to say as you came into the room?"

"As I came into....Ah! Yes, I remember. Stella has asked if you would be willing to write an article for Votes for Women. We'd keep your name anonymous, of course - "

Anastasia's face lit up. "An article? Me? Truly, Adelaide?"

"Yes! You can write, can you not?"

"Yes - well, I - " Flustered and embarrassed by the honour which was being bestowed upon her, she could only think, "Of what am I to write?"

"The next rally, provided all goes as we have planned... Goodness, Anna! You can't start now! We haven't even marched yet!"

She had run to the writing desk at the far side of the room and was already pulling out pieces of paper and ink pots and pens...she stopped. "I suppose I can't." She sighed. "And Stella told you this herself, did she?"

Adelaide nodded. "Yes. She was hoping you might come to Clement's Inn today - " She laughed as Anastasia skipped off, calling something back about getting her coat. "I'll wait for you in the motor then."