Cold All the Way Through, But Warming

The Party

Gifts had been arriving ceaselessly for the past two weeks, and I had almost had to keep an inventory of everything we had received. A set of new navigational tools for Will from the Fields, a massive new set of dinnerware, over six hundred pieces, from Mrs. Brown who was deeply upset she would be missing the party, and a set of candlesticks that had been dropped off the day before the party by a grinning Charles Lightoller. He had almost brandished them at us, "I know they're poor compared to your usual set, but Sylvie thought you would like them."

They were rather plain, but they shone brilliantly and I handed them off to a footman to join the rest of the gifts. "Oh Charles, they're lovely. Really. And you have your invitation for tomorrow?"

"Tucked away in my formal coat," Charles grinned, "Although I would like to beg another from you, Harold's getting in tomorrow and I would prefer to drag him along rather than show up on my own."

"Oh, of course!" I smiled, reaching for the stack of blank invitations that had basically lived on the small secretary desk in the parlor for the past week. Callers, fresh from Newport, had been coming and asking about the party, thinly veiled requests for invitations. I had been judicious in handing them out, and Mother had already drilled into her servants what family was expressly forbidden from coming, even if they somehow acquired an invitation. So it was only the work of a minute to sign Harold's name to an invitation and hold it out. "Here, and please tell him to come in formal wear. And not to worry about a gift, just him being there is enough." He had rolled his eyes at that, bidding me farewell until the next day.

The next morning found me reviewing a few last minute gifts while I waited for Will to come down for the drive over to Mother's. The servants, under Peggy's direction, had placed them all the parlor and left me a paper to record the contents and the senders for thanks later. I had gotten to the last of them, a low velvet box with a small letter on top. It was unaddressed, and I quickly ripped it open, thinking nothing more than that I needed to get this settled before heading off with Will, who I could now see coming down the stairs and towards the parlor. A heavy musk cologne seemed to emanate from the letter as I unfolded it, hurtling me back in time to a horrible day in this very room.

My dear sweet Anastasia,

You have no idea how disappointed Samantha and I were to not receive an invitation to your engagement party. After such a long history between our families, it seems impossible for you to have forgot to include us on the guest list. It has been ages since I have seen you, I have almost forgotten what you look like. Still, we, and most especially I, wanted to send along our congratulations and a gift. I hope that you will wear it and come call on us, with your sailor. Rubies would suit your complexion far better than any other stone, as I have told you before. Again, please call on us at anytime, I have dearly missed seeing you and do not wish to go on much longer suffering in that way. You must be radiant with joy over your engagement, and that can only improve your beauty. As can my humble gift. Please, I desire nothing more than to see you wear it when you visit.

Eternally in your service,

Your Loving Henry

My hands had begun to shake as I picked up the flat velvet box, the lid jittering slightly as I opened in. Resting on the black velvet cushion inside was a golden peacock, more of a collar than a necklace. A hinge on the back opened it, so that when it was worn it would lay at the base of the wearer's neck with the head on one side and the tail on the other. Each was so encrusted with rubies that it was hard to tell any detail, and when I picked it up it weighed heavily in my hands.

I dropped it like it had burned me, throwing the box across the table. Will, his bowler in his hands, turned, "Ana, what is it?"

I had already wrapped my hands around my waist, my breathing short and panicked as I squeezed my eyes shut. I was safe, I was in my house, Will was here, it was just some servant who didn't know where it had come from. They had just thought it was another gift, delivered by another servant. They all knew what Mr. Reichster looked like, they all knew to let him no where near the house. When I opened my eyes, Will was knelt in front of me, talking, but I couldn't understand him. I thrust the letter towards Will, before returning my hand to wrap around me. I felt his hand reach out and rest on my knee, even as he spread out the letter with the other. He crumpled it in his fist once he finished, "What do you want me to do?"