Anastasia

A Damsel In Distress

The remaining weeks of the Season began to pass at an almost alarming rate. Balls, concerts and dinner invitations were as frequent as ever and Anastasia attended them all. She had delivered the article, as she had promised Adelaide she would, and was soon given a copy of Votes For Women with her report in it. It was quite exciting, she had to admit, to see one's own writing published so officially. Part of her regretted the Anonymous at the end where her name should have been, but to come out like that would have caused a quite scandal and she had not yet made preparations for such an event.

Robert's return, and news of his fortune, had relaxed Lord and Lady Adlington slightly in their quest to marry their daughter off quickly. Anastasia fancied their reasoning was that at least he would support them if she failed to secure a rich husband. Nevertheless, with the end of their time in London looming, they continued to urge her to converse with Lord Terbridge, and even Mr Whitby, whenever they could. Lord Terbridge's increasingly frequent calls were met with great excitement by the Countess, but only unease filled Anastasia on these occasions. She enjoyed the man's company, to be sure, but she could no longer ignore his true intentions.

Though Anastasia had decided she would not marry for money, she could not help but find herself considering what it would mean to accept Lord Terbridge. Would it not just be easier for everyone if she did become his wife? And yet something always stopped her - the memory of another gentleman, standing in the doorway, watching her intently as she played on the piano. That memory always caused her to smile a little, almost sadly, and for her to feel a shoot of pain in her chest.

It was the events of a certain morning, scarcely a week later, which finally made her certain of what she would do.

Adelaide arrived at Adlington House, unchaperoned - though that was hardly surprising to Anastasia by this time - and looking very agitated, at an hour early enough for Lady Adlington to still be in bed. Anastasia, therefore, welcomed her and took her to the appropriate parlour. She closed the door quickly, ensuring no servants were lingering outside, before turning to her guest and asking -

"How can I be of service, Addie?" - with an expectant smile.

Adelaide's face, however, remained as worried-looking as it had since her arrival. She sat, first, on the sofa, but hopped up again after a few moments of intense fidgeting with the buttons on her jacket. She strode over to the opposite side of the room, then back again. Anastasia observed all of this with due curiosity as she waited patiently for her friend to explain explain her anxious behaviour.

After at least a minute of pacing and twisting her hands together, Adelaide spoke. "Oh, Anna, what am I to do?"

Anastasia harboured an amused grin, instead deciding to attempt to take the matter as seriously as she could. "About what, Addie?"

Adelaide stopped in front of the sofa and fell back onto it again, covering her face with her hands. She looked up, a minute or so later, and launched into a speech so long and jumbled that Anastasia really didn't know what to make of it.

"I'm so sorry for coming here so early. I wouldn't have, but I didn't know what else to do! It wasn't until last night, you see, that I realised it. I didn't sleep at all, for I couldn't stop thinking about it - about him - and this morning I just had to leave the house before I screamed with frustration! And, Anastasia, you see, I need to ask you what I should do, because the truth is that I really cannot make sense of anything. I don't know if it would be right - I've given up so much for the Cause, and I never expected to be in such a situation - "

"Adelaide!"

Adelaide broke off suddenly, staring at her friend helplessly. Anastasia was a little taken aback by how vulnerable she looked and she realised, with a slight jolt, that Adelaide had come to her for help.

"Of what do you speak?" she asked gently.

Tears welled up in Adelaide's eyes. "Anna, I think I may have fallen in love with him."

It took a few moments for Anastasia to process her words, but once she had, she had to struggle not to let her jaw drop. "In love...in love with who?" she asked slowly, but had a feeling that she already knew the answer.

"With Lord Fawley!" Adelaide said, the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

"Oh, Addie - what is the matter?" Anastasia moved closer to her, putting a comforting hand on her arm. "This is wonderful news - a little surprising, I'll admit - but wonderful all the same."

Adelaide shook her head. "But what am I to do, Anna? If he asks me to marry him - which he hasn't - what would I say? I - I've worked so hard for the Cause, but if I married him, I'd have to give it all up. He'd take me to the Amazon, far away from the suffragettes and - Oh! I can't abandon the Cause, can I?" she looked up, showing her tear-stained face and red eyes. "I couldn't give it up. Certainly not for a gentleman!"

The statement only brought her more misery and a fresh wave of tears. Anastasia waited patiently for the sobbing to subside and for Adelaide to regain at least some of her composure before saying, "Is that your only objection to leaving England and going to the other side of the world - that you feel you would be betraying the Union?"

Adelaide nodded, sniffing into a handkerchief. "I would miss you all, naturally, but - Oh, Anna, I really do love him!"

Anastasia lowered her eyes. "If that is indeed the case, Addie...If you really love him and you feel you would be happy to go and live in the Amazon with him, then I think you should - I think you should marry him."

Adelaide looked at her, disbelieving. "But - but what about - "

"The Cause? Adelaide, the WSPU will continue fighting on whether you stay or not. And in the end, it is your life, and you should make choices for yourself, for your own happiness."

"Truly, Anna?"

"Yes."

Adelaide breathed a sigh, relief spreading across her face. A few minutes passed as she thought about what Anastasia had said. Then she embraced her friend tightly. "Oh, thank you! Goodness, Anna, I am so happy!" She pulled back, now wearing a wide grin.

Anastasia laughed. "And rightly so. Being in love is the most wonderful feeling...or so I am told."

"I must go home - what if he calls this afternoon? What am I to do? I shan't be able to keep a sensible expression!"

"Go, Addie," she giggled, moving towards the door. "If he really loves you, I daresay he shan't care whether or not you look sensible."

"Oh! But what if doesn't love me?" Adelaide suddenly stopped, halfway out of the room. "I've been considering what I should do if he did ask me to marry him, but perhaps he does not love me at all?"

Anastasia shook her head. "Why else would he call on you so often? And Robert once vowed to me he would only marry for love."

Adelaide did not take much more convincing. Soon, she was rushing out of the house, eager to be home in case Robert called.

It wasn't until Anastasia had returned to the parlour and slumped - for she was alone - on the sofa that it occurred to her: Adelaide is in love with Robert. They may get married. She shook her head. They will probably get married, she corrected herself. And Adelaide came to me for advice...