The House Party

Chapter 9

Annalise sighed as the late afternoon sun shone through the lace wall covering. The heavy outer curtains had never been closed after she had taken up residence in the room.

The blonde’s nimble fingers were covered in dark soot from the charcoal stick that had dwindled into a stump in her hands. The image on the thick paper had turned into the boat which she now loathed. None of her guesses were reaping any results.

As Anna tilted her head she could see the sun through the ship’s canvas sail and wondered how to convey that sense of light, until words caught her eye. Annalise staggered forward and picked up the boat uncertain whether she had imagined it all but the sunlight revealed hidden words, “F 6 300.”

Suddenly the door slammed open and Elizabeth marched in wearing a dowdy hat. Annalise flinched at the hideous accessory and the boat silently hit the carpet.

“Where have you been?” Elizabeth asked, with a cross expression.

“I-“ Annalise tried to talk but Rose interrupted her excuses with her own arrival. She mercifully was not dressed like a dowager.

“Hiding, of course. Didn’t take you for a coward Miss Anna,” Rose exclaimed and firmly closed the door shut behind her.

“I’ve been looking all over for you and here you are hiding. You missed breakfast and lunch,” Elizabeth groused.

“No, I’m not! Perhaps, maybe, does it matter? In any case I needed some sleep. I’m not used to being awake so early and then suddenly inspiration struck and you know how I get when I need to sketch,” Annalise sighed as furious eyes bore down on her, “Tales of my escapades must have travelled all over Mansfield court.”

“Not quite. Baron Luthworth does seem to have some sense of proprietary and has stayed mute on the matter,” Elizabeth beamed at her friend, “Rose was the one who informed me of the situation.”

“Stuffed with proprietary in fact. Says he shan’t say a word. I interrogated him at breakfast,” Rose settled her purple underskirt, delicately as she took a seat on the sofa.

“How chivalrous and what about the rest of them?” Annalise asked eagerly.

“If they don’t want to be kicked out on their rear they will comply although they have been reared to the best of standards. I don’t assume they shall gossip either,” The dark haired beauty’s blue eyes glinted with the promised threat. 

“So, how was it?” Annalise wrinkled her brow losing comprehension of Elizabeth’s question, “How did it feel being encased in the arms of the manly viscount!”

“There you were regaling us about the propriety of your Baron and suddenly...” The blonde displaced her messy curls as she shook with mirth, “Well, he’s alright I suppose. I’ve danced with him before if you remember.”

“He is such a brooding, romantic personality and he’s got half the ton running after him. It must have been so exciting to have been held by him,” Elizabeth sighed and waved her fan on her ruddy face.

“Drool over your Baron, my love. The Viscount is not worth your while,” Anna laughed along with Rose who also wasn’t expecting the outburst. Elizabeth had never shown any preference for the viscount but it seemed the lure of the forbidden gave her much life.

“Whatever you say. I imagine him to be quite the dishy piece. So romantic,” Elizabeth giggled.

“I was too busy trying to poke his eye out with my elbow,” Annalise explained and wondered why her friend was behaving so oddly, “I do wonder what you had for lunch for such an abrupt change in your outlook towards men.”