Blood and Water [War and Peace BBC Story]

One

Sex, money, power.

Three essentials to high society.

Of this fact, Anastasya Petrov had always been sorely aware. Her family always thought themselves exempt, but she knew that it was in no way a truth, for she had spent three years in the care of her cousin and his wife, who unlike their relatives, lived simple, honest and good lives. She longed for that same swell that came when she was tending to the horses or the fields, the calming lull of wind and water rushing about and more so, the way the stars twinkled over the rolling grasses – it didn't do the same in the city. She wishes to stay there forever, but her last sister had finally been married off and it was time for her to return and do the same – begrudgingly.

Her eldest sister was to be her escort to this party, held by the Princess Anna Pavlovna Scherer, the queen of parties. The two sisters, though alike in eye coloring and sharp features were differing in every other way. Anastasya was tanned, her time outside giving a new tint to her flesh and her sister was fair, for she never spent more than an hour in the sun. Though the younger of the two had bright, bushy red locks, her eldest sister was graced with sleek black tresses – needless to say, while the Petrov girls were all beautiful, Anastasya was a black sheep of sorts.

"Please, Ana sit up a bit straighter, you look so sad when you slouch," came the voice of her sister, Talia who was thirteen years her senior.

"I am sad," she replied curtly, "I didn't want to leave the farm."

"Oh, please do not start again, Ma Cherie," Talia sighed and her husband glanced their way, remaining in silence as he often did, "It cannot be helped. Mama called on you and it is time you come out – Princess Anna is having this party for you."

"I've never been particularly fond of parties," Ana grumbled to herself.

"Anatole will be there."

Anastasya wished she had been quick enough to stop her reaction, but it came without warrant, her cheeks flushing as her sister laughed at her expense. She and Anatole Kuragin had been the closest of playmates from childhood and as their carriage pulled to a stop and a footman opened the door for her. The cool changed the red in her face to one of the strike of a bordering frigid wind, the three hurrying up the stairs to escape the bite. Talia made quick work of fixing the mess that had become of her sister's bright red locks, earning a glare from Ana who was perfectly happy with the way her locks curled and danced in the wind.

"Smile, dear, please, you look so off-putting," Talia scolded and watched as Anastasya eagerly accepted the alcoholic beverage offered to her. Talia, who typically disliked the way her sister drank, was glad of the distraction, "Fine, sip away." They continued to greet and introduce Ana to others when her sister froze smugly, "There's your Prince Charming."

"Hardly," Anastasya shook her head, "If he's half the scoundrel he was when were children, you hardly want me to involve myself with the likes of Prince Anatole."