Anne of Survivor

Chapitre Six: Hide & Seek

Anne's eyes settled on the attractive redhead before her. Though more seasoned in his appearance, she could never forget his face. Devin would always be Devin, the charming young poet who held a special place for her in his heart. Oh, how was she to keep her secret from someone who knew her as well as he did?

"Good morning, sir. My name is Devin Lennox," he held out his hand. She took it so not to be rude but wondered at the change in his surname. "I'm sorry but have we met before? You seem quite familiar."

It begins already, thought Anne. Well, I'll play the game, and I intend to win. Smiling with newly found confidence, she completely denied their acquaintance.

"I fail to see the point in defending him," raged Orianna as she paced up and down the Queen's sitting room. "Is it not his duty to see to the lower affairs of state and to attend formal balls and gatherings? Of course, it is," she answered for her parents. "I believe it is time you ordered him to take up his duties rather than playing merchant to the islands!"

Bohden had always found Orianna amusing. She had so much energy and conviction, and if the truth be told, he sometimes felt she would make a better heir than his son Nolan. However, today was not one of those days. At present she was little more than an annoyance, and he intended to take the wind from her ever billowing sails. "Speak you of duty, my daughter, when you have not fulfilled your own?"

She stopped her pacing. Father and mother lazily sipped their tea while enjoying the warmth coming through the large window behind them. They tried to pay Orianna little attention; knowing it would only fuel her flame. Orianna watched her parents with mild loathing. She knew exactly what her father meant and knew her mother agreed. Oh, how little they understood the modern world.

"A lady does not need a man to aid her in her affairs," she spoke between her teeth, which was not ladylike in any situation whatsoever. "I feel I have proven that already. As your son gallivants from island to island 'sowing his oats,' as mother likes to call it, I am here running this country! Is there any man here to assist me now? No. Also, were I to wed, who would see to your precious son's obligations," she yelled stamping her foot in what promised to be the beginnings of a tantrum.

Her parents remained unperturbed by her outburst, and when they did speak, it was as though they were having a normal conversation about any number of frivolous topics. "She's running the country, my dear?" Her father lazily added a lump of sugar to his tea. "Perhaps, I have missed something. Last time I checked I was still king, or perhaps I have died and have simply failed to notice. Tell me truthfully, my love, am I yet living?"

Without looking up at her husband, Zorina answered in the same lazy tone in which the king had spoken. "Of course, you are living, or at least you are as much a part of the living realm as I. Therefore, if you be dead, I must be as well. Though I do very much doubt it, else our child would not be vexing us during tea." She nibbled a lemon cookie.

Their banter only proved to anger Orianna further, but before she could fly into another fit of rage, her father seemed to awaken from his lethargy. "Orianna, I would like you to remember to whom you are speaking," his tone was more alive than it had been before. "I am still the king and the law of this land. As you are my daughter, I have always given you a fair amount of leniency, and now, I offer your brother a bit as well. You seem to think I am unaware of the happenings around me, but I assure you, that is not the case. Nolan shall be returning home in time for the winter holidays, and we will then further discuss his role and duties. As for the present, I thank you for looking to his affairs as well as your own, and I would have you treat your mother and myself with more respect than you have shown us today." With that being said he went back into the laxness from which he came.