Anastasia's Story

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

While the ride home was completely platonic, I couldn't quite shake this feeling like Klaus and I were even closer than ever and that us being just friends seemed a little ridiculous. Its true I had told him I needed space but the truth is I had just come home from a month of 'space' and I was really considering giving Klaus and I another shot.

I walked down the stairs feeling refreshed. I had been back two days and I was already feeling like myself again. Conchita answered the door, Phillpa and I had plans for tea this morning and I was feeling quite excited for my best friend to catch me up on everything that had happened while I was away.

Conchita led Philipa into the drawing room and we each took seats on the vintage sofas facing each other in the room.

"Do you want me to stay to pour more tea?" Conchita asked as she handed us both cups of tea.

"No thank you, I'll do it myself when we finish these cups." I said politely. I waited for her to leave before leaning in and asking with a huge grin "SO?" to my best friend.

"We're not engaged if that's what you're asking." Philipa replied timidly as she sipped her tea.

"So it's true, you are courting someone. A nobleman, Marcus tells me." I inquire as I sip tea and gauge her reaction.

"Yes, The Duke of Essex, I believe you met and flirted with him heavily at the retreat." she remarked sharply.

"Philipa, you were not at all interested in him at the retreat, I simply was open to his charms and when he told me he had feelings for you, I was happy for you if it were to work it which it seems to have done exactly so." I replied defensively as I placed my cup of tea down on the table uncomfortably.

"It's fine, I'm just giving you a hard time about it," she grins, "but about that, I want you to invite him over this afternoon to smooth things over."

"He's in town?"

"Yes, he arrived about a week and a half ago and we've spent just about every day enjoying each other's company. I have to say, I really could see myself marrying him." Philipa replied as she poured herself some more tea.

"But what do he and I need to sort out? I have no more interest in him now that you and he are involved, and though I admit Klaus was a bit rude, that is not my responsibility to apologize for as he and I aren't married." I explained, hoping I didn't have to invite the duke over for a truly awkward social calling.

"I want my best friend and the man I hope to one day marry to be friends. That's all." she remarked quietly as she placed her tea cup down and folded her hands in her lap in anticipation.

"Fine, but in return I want you to tell me about everything that's been going on since I left." I bargained as we both smiled. That's the thing about wealthy women, we love gossip, I don't know whether it's out of instinct or it's that we've just been taught to have hungry ears but it is like catnip to us.

"Well, Craig Burtlebee, the pervert, is missing! His family hasn't seen him for about a month now! At first, his dad said you were a harlot and he probably ran off with you but then your dad yelled at him and said you had no interest in his creepy son. Anyway, his parents found his journal and there were some pretty raunchy things in there about his trips to Europe, so they think he's snuck off to Europe to blow off some steam." As she said the word 'journal' my heart stopped for a split second.

Philipa and I finished tea and as she was on her way out she said, "By the way, the Sauntertons are having a dinner party in two days. I hope you'll come, I don't want to be the only young person there- besides Mrs. Saunterton of course." she laughed a little, she and I liked to mock the odd nature of her convenient marriage to the geriatric sole heir of a large fortune.