Anastasia's Story

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

I had woken up with the same heavy heart I had gone to sleep with the night before. Thankfully, my maid had been dismissed yesterday evening to attend a mass at her chapel and by the time she got home I had just slipped into my nightgown chemise and had feigned sleep when she had walked in the room to check on me.

It was now early morning and the sun shone through my window, attacking my senses as I began to stir out of sleep. I sat up in my bed just as Conchita rushed into my room with a breakfast tray in her hands.

"Conchita, you're spoiling me, I usually have to go downstairs to eat breakfast!" I exclaim as I grin gratefully to her.

My father had instructed all the usual staff not to feed my sister or I in bed. He said it would promote laziness and that was unacceptable while we were trying to get married off, ironically he constantly tried comforting us by saying we could be lazy after marriage, my mother didn't really like when he said that.

"Miss Anastasia, you looked tired last night, I heard some people stayed pretty late at dinner party at Mister Mikaelson's house. I assume you were one of them?" she asks smiling at me.

"Yes, it was dark when I left. Thank you for the breakfast. What have you got tucked in your apron?" I respond, eying the cream colored envelope in her white apron.

She grinned and I could see her 'you can't hide secrets from me, Misses Anastasia' look. She handed me the envelope which was inscribed with my name in very severe and blunt clean handwriting. I ripped it open and pulled out the letter cautiously. Oh God, what if he had left town after all?

MISS ANASTASIA BEARDSLEY,

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL DO ME THE HONOR OF SEEING YOU TODAY. MY CARRIAGE WILL PICK YOU UP AT TEN AND TAKE YOU TO THE SECRET DESTINATION... SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT, OF COURSE.

-KLAUS

I had to get ready, it was already nine thirty according to the huge clock in the corner of my room.

"Conchita will you fetch me the mint colored dress daddy picked up on his last trip to Paris? And my pearl choker?" I ask quickly starting to eat my breakfast.

Conchita brings out my mint dress, my nude chemise for today, and lays the pearl necklace in its box carefully on my vanity. I finish the delicious toast, eggs, and bacon and change into my day chemise while Conchita clasps on my necklace. She then helps me into my dress and I rush over to my vanity to powder my face and put on my favorite lavender perfume while Conchita puts my hair half up and the rest with curls.

"Mister Mikaelson lucky man, Miss Beardsley," she remarks as I smile gratefully at her and rush out to the front of my house where a man waits outside Klaus' carriage.

The man is dressed in all brown and white and he has a neutral expression on his face. "Mr. Mikaelson wishes me to ask you if you have accepted his invitation." He states with the same neutral expression.

"I have." I reply smiling, waiting for him to pop out of the carriage door and help me in.

"I have been instructed to take you, Mr. Mikaelson will meet you there." He responds as he offers me a hand and helps me into the carriage.

---

It had been nearly an hour's ride and by the time the carriage doors opened I half expected the outside to be the arctic. But it wasn't. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, we were above the shore on a cliff overlooking the harsh waves. It was picturesque, breathtaking.

"I hope the ride wasn't too boring." Klaus remarks as he appears out of nowhere and helps me out of the carriage.

Klaus walks me over to the edge of a cliff so that we're standing in front of a quaint table for two with a cream-colored lace tablecloth and a blue rose in a vase. The table was set with fine China and there were two servants with platters in their hands.