Untitled

Chapter V

I stepped into the drawing room, yawning. My mother and father were seated at the table and talking about the ball our family would be hosting in two weeks.
"Good morning, Anna," my father said, looking up.
"Good morning, father. Good morning, mamán."
"Have you seen Isabelle today?" my mother asked.
"I would assume she is painting. She often forgets the time when she is in there."
"Yes, she needs a clock," my father mused. "A nice loud one."
I smiled. "Would you like me to go find her?"
"No, no. It's alright. Please sit down, Anna," my mother said. She gestured to a servant and asked them to go get Isabelle before turning to me. "How have you been? I haven't truly seen you for a few days." She had been planning a ball and we had never really been in the house at the same time.
"I've been wonderful. Clara and I have been spending a lot of time together."
"And Henri, I presume? You three seem to be quite the group," my father noted.
"Yes, father. We all get along quite nicely."
"Good morning," we heard from the doorway. Isabelle had come in. She took the seat across from me, next to our father. "I apologise for my untimeliness. I lose track of time easily when I paint."
"It's quite alright," my mother said, smiling. "Your artwork is beautiful."
"Thank you," she said, blushing slightly. That was high praise from our mother.
"I wanted to talk to you all about the ball for a minute. Of course you both will be there, and I expect you to dance as much as you can. Anna, because of your lessons, I expect you and Henri to be in plain view of everyone. Isabelle, if you wanted to display a few of your paintings in some corner I would not object."
Isabelle's eyes lit up. "I would love that!"
"They would have to be anonymous, of course. But if you were willing to sell any or just wanted to know what society thought of them, I figured that could be arranged."
"Oh, thank you, mother! That sounds truly wonderful!"
Our mother smiled and nodded. "The matter is settled, then. The tailor is coming in two days to fit you both for new dresses. Your father and I have already arranged the music and food."
"Thank you, mamán," I said. "It sounds wonderful."
"Of course. Now, young lady, are you ready for more dance classes? I think you have one this morning. Henri should be here soon."
"Yes, mother. If you'll excuse me?" I waited for both of my parents' nods and stood up. "Thank you for a wonderful meal," I said, even though they hadn't started eating yet.
"Bye, Anna," said Isabelle, smiling.
I left our dining room and went to the parlor to wait. It was in the front of the house and had large windows looking out to the street. Our house was unusual for a large home. It was built right up next to the street, with just three metres of grass and the flowerbeds before the walking path by the road. However, it expanded farther back than most and had three stories in total. Five, if you counted the basement and the attic. Clara's house backed up to mine, and Henri's was only a few houses down the street.
I decided to play our piano until Henri arrived. The one in the parlor was an old upright that was rarely played, but I wiped off the dust and started playing anything that came to mind. I had been given extensive lessons on the pianoforte all throughout my childhood and had a repertoire of all sorts. My songs switched between fast and slow, happy and sad.
Finally I heard the knocker bang against the door and finished my song.
"She's waiting in the front parlor," I heard a servant say, and then I heard Henri's footsteps.
"Back at it again with the piano?"
I stood up and pushed in the bench. "Indeed. But only while I'm waiting for you. It is not something I am willing to take lessons for again."
Henri smiled. "If I remember correctly, you threw quite the tantrums when you were there."
"Well, the tantrums were only when I was five. But the arguing was until the day I stopped."
"Oh, yes, the incessant arguing about which chord sounded better. I remember that quite well." Henri had taken lessons with me, being the perfect model student while I disagreed with everything our teacher had said. She hadn't liked me much either, the old bat.
"Well, hopefully you don't dislike these lessons as much," Henri said, holding out his arm. "Shall we go?"
I nodded and took his arm. While we had a small ballroom in the back of our home, the one we were going to to practise was a few blocks away. He led me out of the parlor and the servants opened the doors for us. Immediately the wind blew and the sun touched my skin, comforting me in a way I couldn't describe.
"Could we walk there today?" I asked.
Henri looked mildly surprised, but he knew to expect unconventional ideas from me by now. "That's fine by me. If you're sure it's not too far."
The medicine I had taken for my cut must have been extremely powerful, because I barely even remembered that I was injured. It was also best not to act like it, so I confirmed that it wasn't too far and we started walking.