1907—Southampton, Yorkshire, England
"I plan to marry well and will do anything to make it possible," Anna announced to Colin one warm day the following spring. "I dreamed of the man who would be perfect."
"The perfect man—again." Colin rolled his eyes.
Anna continued, ignoring his attitude. "He has to have dark hair and brown eyes. He is romantic—and loving—and adores me no matter what I do. I will be pampered and taken care of for the rest of my life."
"Where do you think you will find this man?" Colin looked up and down the street. He leaned against the high brick wall surrounding his home. He thoughtfully ate an apple as she paced back and forth before him; his eyes ever surveyed her frame. "There are not too many around her that fit your description."
He took a bite, and blotted juice from his lips with his sleeve. The warmth of the day had prompted him to come out with his shirt loosely tucked and partly open at the neck. He looked very much the part of the gypsy that day.
"Don't worry. I'll find him. You'll see." Anna stopped pacing and pulled his hand down to take a bite from the apple.
"Do you think I might apply for the position?"
Anna laughed. He smiled, and cast his eyes down in mock embarrassment.
"As if your father would allow it. He wants you to marry a girl from a finishing school," she paused to drop a curtsy, "who can run a proper household. Someone who can entertain the best company and…"
"Enough, Anna. I know what my father wants." He paused as if weighing a thought before he ventured on. "It's not especially what I want." He threw the apple core over the wall above his head. Colin caught Anna by the wrists, and slowly pulled her toward him. "Let me tell you what I want." He looked down at her.
Anna stumbled, and nearly fell against him. She recovered her footing at the last moment. He pulled her palms to his chest, their faces barely six inches apart. Anna could feel his heart beating like thunder; the heat of his body penetrated the thin material of his shirt.
She swallowed as she wondered at the emotion that rose within her. "Colin Marsec, we are standing in a public street." Pulling her gaze from his face, she looked around to see if anyone was about. "Someone might see us. This does not look proper."
"I don't care." He shrugged, and tightened his hold on her. "I want a certain sixteen-year-old girl. She is slender." His eyes caressed her face. “Stubborn, red-haired, and not as in control as she thinks she is.” His voice lowered to a whisper.
Anna caught herself as she leaned closer to hear, melting into his dark eyes before she realized what she was doing. “She thinks she knows what she wants. I happen to know what she needs. I also know where to find her anytime I want her. I don't have to wait for her to materialize from a dream."
She pulled her hands from his grip, and stepped away before she found herself lost in his fantasy. "Your father would disown you and your gypsy ways without a second thought. You’d not be able to support her. Then what?" She turned her back on him, as she tried to control the beating of her own heart. She walked proudly away, with a sassy swing of her hips. She paused to look over her shoulder in what she considered a seductive manner.
His lips curled in a playful smile and there was that dangerous spark in his eyes.
Anna loved that look. He was about to break the rules. She picked up her skirt and dashed as fast as she could down the sidewalk to the alley, a shortcut to her street.
She heard Colin give chase and he caught her just over halfway through the alley. He had only to reach out, catch a handful of her hair, and use his hold to guide her back against the eight-foot brick wall that separated his yard from the alley. Anna grasped his hand with both of hers, and tried to free herself. He took advantage of the situation, captured both of her hands, and pinned them above her head.
"Someday, Miss Anna Scott," he said, his face barely an inch from hers, "you will regret teasing me."
His voice was low and menacing. He pressed his body against her, and held her to the bricks. With the tilt of his head, his lips met hers in a hard kiss that kindled sparks all the way to her toes.
He stepped back in triumph, and slid his hands down her arms and her sides before he allowed them to drop from her hips. Colin winked and strolled briskly toward his street, not looking back.
"No, I don't think so," Anna called after him.
It was too exciting. Anna hadn’t known she could draw such attention from him. She was surprised at how she had reacted to his attentions as well. Had the kiss been any longer, any deeper, she would have had no choice but to completely surrender.
Anna shook out her skirts to straighten them as she walked on toward her street. She adjusted her combs to recapture the stray wisps Colin had set free and, by not paying attention, collided with someone. Large hands grasped her waist to steady her. She looked up, and beheld the deepest brown eyes of the most amazing young man she had ever come face to face with.
"Pardon me, sir." Anna stood eye to eye with him; his hands remained firmly on her waist. He was stocky and equally as tall as she, with olive skin, a well-manicured beard, and hair as black as midnight. Anna stepped back in surprise, and dropped her hands.
"It was my fault." He spoke with a slight accent. American, Anna was certain.
"Miss Anna." Aidan interrupted. She hadn't noticed him until he spoke. "What are you doing in the alley? Don't you know it's dangerous for a young lady in there?"
He didn't know the half of it, she thought, and hoped he hadn't witnessed what had passed between she and Colin.
Aidan was an acquaintance of many years. At one time, they thought they were right for each other, but rarely had opportunity to spend time in company.
"Aidan, how are you?" She ignored his question. "What are you doing in this part of town?" She held out her hand to him. He grasped it for the customary moment of acknowledgement.
"Actually, we were coming to see you. How fortunate this is. May I introduce to you Mr. Chase Trent? He is newly come from New York. His family has come for business reasons and has taken the home across from mine. I told him I would introduce him round."
"I am pleased to meet you, sir." Anna extended her hand to him. He took it— and kissed it.
"And I you." His voice was as smooth as his gaze.
"Chase, this is Miss Anna Scott. She is not your typical Southampton girl. She is quite entertaining without all of the proprieties. She does not mind if you are not a perfect gentleman although she does guard her virtue well."
"We will see." Chase winked. "Aidan, my friend, I thank you for introducing me to my future bride. It is a great service you have done me." Chase took Anna's arm in his, and led her down the street with a shocked Aidan following after. "Miss Anna, will you allow me the pleasure of seeing your company once more tomorrow? Time does me the dishonor of keeping me from spending much time with you today."
"You are rather sure of yourself, aren't you, Mr. Trent."
"There will be none of that. My name is Chase."
"Chase," she echoed.
"Yes, I am. You will find I am always right. You’ll see. When may I speak with your father?"
"My father?" She stopped, eyebrows raised.
"About your hand. Didn't I just say you would be my bride?"
"Were you going to ask me? I don't know if you are who I would want to marry."
This was all too quick. It couldn't be this easy. He was perfect at first appearance but was he truly the man Anna had described to Colin not ten minutes earlier?
"Oh, I am the man you want to marry. I'm charming, handsome, and rich. These are usually the only virtues a man need have. I am romantic, devilish, and from now on," he dropped to one knee as he took her hand, "totally devoted to you, Miss Anna Scott."
Anna was stunned beyond words. What kind of crazy, theatrical person had Aidan introduced her to? Still, he was intriguing.
She glanced down the street to find Colin watching from the corner. His eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. She gave him a triumphant smile. He frowned as he disappeared around the corner. Anna's heart told her to race after him. Her mind told her to play out this fantasy. She chose to stay.
"Please, Chase, get up before someone sees you." Anna pulled her hand from his grasp.
"What ever you say, M'Lady." He stood, and turned to Aidan. "Well, what do you say to some lunch, Aidan? I'm starved. Miss Anna, I will be calling on you tomorrow. Please inform your parents of my coming. Aidan, will you be joining us tomorrow?"
"Oh, uh, I'm not sure. I think I may be otherwise engaged. Miss Anna, would it be all right if I excuse myself and Chase come alone?"
"I don't think it would matter what I think. He has already made up his mind," Anna laughed. This was all too strange, too quick.
Chase flashed a bright smile. "It is settled. I will see you tomorrow, Anna."
She watched them as they walked away, leaving her at her gate.
* * * *
Colin stalked toward his house. The shock of seeing another man at Anna's feet rendered him speechless. What did that man think he was doing? He stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets as he walked. Anna was his girl. She had been for years. She just didn't know it yet.
He stopped, turned to go back, but could not find the ability to move. He had to tell her she was his girl. Too many times he tried but she didn't take the hint. He'd have to muster the courage to come right out and tell her so there would be no further misunderstanding. He persuaded his feet to move and made his way toward her street. He'd tell her then he'd run that dandy back to wherever he had come from.
But what if she refused him? Could he take the rejection in front of Aidan and his friend? Aidan never thought of Colin as an equal anyway. If Colin came roaring out of the alley like a lion, would it only prove his inferiority? Colin was halfway to the street, halfway to a decision. If he didn't say something, he had the feeling he'd lose her.
He took several more steps. By the smile on her face, she was lost already. Did he even have a chance? He moved to the wall, and relived the few moments when he held her there, completely in his power, completely his. He pressed his back against the wall, chin to chest, and wondered what he should do.
* * * *
Anna was much too excited to go home. She wanted to see Colin. As soon as the two young men turned the corner, she dashed toward the alley. Colin stood, hands stuffed in his pockets, his back pressed to the wall where he had her trapped against the brick only a few minutes before. His countenance was dark and brooding.
"Who was he?" His voice was low, ominous.
"Aidan. Surely you remember Aidan?" She played dumb, which she knew would make Colin bristle.
"You know who I mean." He spoke just above a whisper, a dark, stormy look in his eyes.
"You are referring to Mr. Chase Trent, newly arrived from New York, America? Don't you think he is just what I wished for?"
"He's not one of us."
"Exactly." Anna clapped her hands. She could hardly contain her joy. "He's better than us. He's rich. And he wants to marry me. What do you say to that?" She proudly drew herself up.
Colin was silent as Anna gloried in her good fortune.
"Is he what you really want?" He was hesitant.
"Yes," she hissed. "He's all I want and more. He is my dream come true, my ticket upward, just as I had planned." She stared into his dark eyes. "I defy you or anyone else to take this opportunity from me."
After a long, silent moment, he dropped his gaze. "I wish you luck." Colin turned his back on her and walked away.
_________________________________________________
To Be Continued...
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© 2008 Jena Galifany/Marge Conrad
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