Page 213 of Snowbound Surrender

Cheeks a little pink at the admission of a gentleman friend, Meredith obediently rose and stepping into her own room.

Anne leaned back and shook her head. “A gentleman friend. She is not even thirteen, Father.”

“It will be innocent enough,” he said bracingly. “Come now. You will need to change, too, and while you are changing gowns may I suggest a change in expression?”

“This was supposed to be my wedding day, Father,” Anne said fiercely, not bothering to keep her voice down. “I do not think it will be as simple as just deciding to be cheerful.”

Sir Thomas had risen and was pulling off his waistcoat to swap it for a more formal one. “Nonsense. You will enjoy it once we see the royal family. You do not know, maybe you could meet another gentleman and – ”

“No.”

Her word was so final that Sir Thomas turned to stare at her. “Anne?”

She smiled sadly. “Father, no more. I…my heart cannot take it anymore. Let us survive through today, maybe a few more days, and then let us go home.”

“But – ”

“I am going to get dressed,” she said calmly, rising to her feet as Meredith came back into the room. “My daughter needs her mother.”

Sir Thomas’ eyes expanded dangerously, and Anne could not help but laugh. Perhaps this was going to bring about a new change in her family? Perhaps they could all be more honest with each other, now all this misery had occurred.

“She knows, Father. She knows,” Anne said gently, touching his arm lightly as she passed. “Do not ask me how, but she does, and I think it is for the best. I will be back within twenty minutes.”

It seemed that only after a few minutes, the three of them were entering into the centre of the court. Despite her father’s words, Anne could already see that it would be a dull affair. Few people of any elegance were there, and there was no energy inthe room, no vibrancy. The royal family, it appeared, were not going to attend.

Anne found herself breathing out slowly. So, Maxim would not be here. There was no chance of it if the Prince Regent was not going to be here.

The thought should have brought her joy, but instead it merely made her feel even more despondent. At this very moment, she should have been returning from the church, a married woman, to receive the blessing of the Regent. Instead…

“Now, Meredith,” Sir Thomas was saying very seriously, glaring at his granddaughter who was smiling and waving at a boy of about her age across the other side of the room. “Are you going to introduce us to your friend?”

Anne knew she must step in. “Meredith, you are not to leave this room, you understand?”

Meredith raised her eyes to her mother’s, and likely for the first time, received a mother’s glare. “Yes, Anne.”

Anne smiled. “Then enjoy yourself. We will be here if you tire of your friend and wish for our company.”

Her daughter nodded, and then instead of scampering off as she would have done merely days ago, she elegantly walked across the room, curtsying as she arrived at the family group where her friend was standing.

Anne felt a heavy hand on her arm, and smiled at her father. “She is quite safe.”

Sir Thomas sighed and shook his head. “That is what I thought about her mother.”

Anne grasped his hand. “Whatever you did, you did for the best. I am just sorry that I was not able to live up to your expectations.”

“Nonsense,” her father said, waving aside her words. “I am more sorry that I have…well, pushed you towards Alex Dmitri Maximilian Konstantine, or whatever his name was.”

Her stomach clenched, and her heart seemed to break all over again. She would have been his wife, and yet now she will never see him again.

“It has made you so unhappy, and that is unforgiveable.”

“No,” she said firmly, “please do not apologise. I know you intended the best for me, and I understand why. It is notyourfault that your plans did not come to pass. We could not have known that my secret would ruin everything.”

There was a moment of silence between them, and then her father removed his arm.

“You are…more upset, than I thought you would be,” he said delicately.

Anne smiled wanly, and nodded. “Well, I do not believe either of us predicted that I would actually fall in love with Maxim, did we? I should have known secrets would come between us. I should have known a Czar at Christmas wasn't someone you could depend on.”