t One
Anni Gossmann
Copyright 2013 by Anni Gossmann
Anne was enjoying the beauty of the gardens: the hollyhocks, the foxgloves, the roses, and many other colorful plants in peace from the solitude of a bench.
“Why hello!” broke into her quiet world.
She looked around and saw a young man coming towards her following the path from the house. “Hello,” was all she could reply.
“It looks as if you needed some company.”
With a deep sigh and saddened gaze, Anne replied, “Why did you think that?”
“Alone in the garden with nothing to do, of course you need company!” Erwin was so sure of himself that Anne could only shake her head in sadness.
“Actually I was enjoying the garden in peace and quiet; the beauty of all of the flowers in bloom, the gorgeous blue summer sky, and the birds flitting around from flower to flower and their young begging and pleading in the area to be fed. And then, there are all of the insects: bees, bugs, spiders, and such that so fill the garden with an unimaginable amount of life.”
“Bugs! You are watching bugs? Miss Anne, you definitely need some company if you are starting to watch insects!” Erwin sat down next to Anne upon the bench but not as she expected: he sat down much closer than etiquette allowed making her a bit uncomfortable.
“Erwin, please let me be out here in silence and in peace.”
“No. Why should I?” Anne felt what seemed like his arm going around her waist. With that motion, she quickly stood up. He swiftly followed suit, but immediately grabbed her arm. “Anne, you know you are my betrothed—“
“Really? Why is it that I don’t know about this?”
With a mischievous gleam Erwin stated, “Our parents had decided upon this years ago. So, you might as well get used to my proximity.” Erwin smirked and with that, Anne yanked her arm out of his hold and ran up to her room. Erwin quickly followed but, upon seeing Anne disappear into her room, he just took his time.
However, Erwin had forgotten that Anne’s room had a door that exited to the balcony. She had an escape route. She stealthily strode to the stables and had her horse readied. Anne needed to find some quiet and comfort with her friends in nature. With her riding escort, Fred, they rode off. Fred was used to her quiet and her desire to be alone as much as possible, so he usually rode quite a few strides behind her. Anne rode around aimlessly for a while and then suddenly increased her speed. She found something! There seemed to be a path, not much ridden, just barely discernable, but a path none-the-less. With the uncertainty of what could be on this path and where it led, Fred narrowed the distance from his charge and carefully and alertly followed Miss Anne. They rode a few minutes through a little forest which slowly opened to a clearing. Anne abruptly stopped. The scene was breathtaking, at least for her. This was the right spot, and with Fred’s help she dismounted and took in all the sights on foot. Knowing Miss Anne, Fred moved to the side and leaned upon a tree to let her have her solitude. Being Miss Anne’s escort was an easy task, at least in comparison to the stories Fred heard from other servants. Anne was not demanding, short-tempered, cruel, nor unkind.
As the two were enjoying the peacefulness, a rider was heard approaching. Fred was immediately attentive. The rider was cantering but, as he was getting closer and noticed persons ahead, slowed to a jog.
“Good afternoon, miss.”
At first Anne was angered but turned around to look at a very amiable face. “Good afternoon.” The man grinned slightly but looked at her with a bit of curiosity.
“What brings you here to this remote spot?” He asked while dismounting.
“The quiet,” she replied. Anne turned from the stranger to gaze upon the meadow that was one of the parts of the scenery that forced her to stop.
“Hmmm, yes, I see. Well, then, I shall not disturb you anymore. Have a good day.” He sent her a nod, remounted, and jogged away. Anne gazed after the visitor thinking: Now that was an understanding man! He comprehended what it meant to have tranquility. Learning that not all men were inconsiderate eased her spirit. Anne started listening more intently to the birds around her and tried to mimic some. After a few tries, some of the less complex songs were almost identical to the true bird songs and with this new “intruder” some species came closer to inspect the situation. Seeing these birds flit about her in relative close proximity made Anne gleam. Somewhere in the background she heard another song which seemed quite unusual. Having always taken time to listen and watch, it did not seem too bizarre to be a bird call. Anne tried to mimic it. But the song, being a few phrases of different whistles, was not as easy as the others she just repeated. Soon the song stopped and she could not hear it well enough in her “mind’s ear” to practice anymore.
Coming back to reality, Anne noticed that Fred was starting to inch towards her which usually meant that it was time to head back. Anne was not against the idea; she was starting to get hungry. With alert eyes, so that she could easily find her favorite spot again, the pair rode back home.
Erwin’s horse was not in the stables anymore, so he must have decided that he was wasting his time. Glad that the awful man was gone, Anne asked their butler where her parents were. Her mother was arranging flowers in the library and her father was busy in the study. She entered the library with some trepidation.
“Mother, Erwin….” She did not quite know how to start.
Her mother glanced up and saw the unease in her daughter’s eyes. “What is it my dear, what about Erwin?” She moved to a settee and patted the closest cushion, begging Anne to sit next to her. Knowing that her daughter was not the type to exaggerate, Lady Vinrey was becoming unnerved. “Well, dear?”
“I was out in the garden,” her mother just nodded and grinned, Anne always was in the garden if possible, “when Erwin rudely came upon me….”
Anne usually did not leave sentences hanging and when her mother reviewed what Anne said, “What do you mean rudely?”
“First he sat extremely close to me and then harshly grabbed my arm. I believe…he may have—“
“Phillip! Phillip!” Lady Vinrey shouted. Anne winced at the loud shriek.
Not much later a wide set and warmhearted man entered the room. “You called me dear?”
“Good afternoon, Father.” He came and kissed Anne’s hand lovingly, “it always is when you are around!”
He gleamed into Anne’s eyes. “So, dear, why did you call?”
Lady Vinrey got up agitatedly. Anne’s father instantly knew it was not just the usual little havoc creating cry of “Phillip” that he has often heard. “Erwin might not be the type of fellow we hoped he would become.” Anne’s mother exclaimed.
“Erwin?” He looked at Anne questioningly. She could only nod with trepidation which quickly changed to confusion.
“Father, did you have some arrangement for me and Erwin?”
“Yes, we made it when you were an infant. What has he done?” Between Anne and her mother, Lord Vinrey heard what had occurred, but with more details. “Hmph, well, I think despite our hopes of a good match for both parties, he has just destroyed it!”
“What was the gain with our union?” Anne inquired. With the sound of the arrangement being called off, she felt much calmer.
“You know that we have neighboring lands along the west. The Buttwells wish to extend their annual race, which our land would have done. And for you, you would have married into a wealthy family—“
“But I don’t need a wealthier family than we are!”
Her head received a little pat, “We know that now. But at that time, we didn’t know what exactly your needs were, nor what type of fellow Erwin would end up being. So, I see I must go and have a discussion with the Buttwells this evening.” Just t
hen they were called for supper.
During supper, the discussion continued with the new problem of finding a decent husband for Anne. From their single and very short visit to London, all knew now that anyone who came from that type of lifestyle would not suit. As they entered the outskirts of London, Anne had noticed the horrible din of the noisy city. As they came closer, the dirtiness and the constant bustle was more than Anne could stand. She pleaded right away that they distance themselves from the crazy city as quickly as they could. But, her parents hoped, as most parents do, that their daughter be accepted in London. Little did they realize how the capital’s environs impacted the quiet natured Anne. She would try to hide in the quietest spot in the apartment they let to keep the noise and madness out. And, when the family was able to get her out, Anne acted like a caged animal: haggard, perpetually moving fearful eyes, not moving from any spot she was pushed to, and not speaking at all. Needless to say, instead of meeting people, everyone avoided her.
The unanimous conclusion now became that the fellow will have to be from the country and one who wished a quiet undemanding wife. But, it was also agreed that it should be someone who Anne would like, so another arrangement would only come from Anne. Her parents would not force anyone upon her. This discussion somewhat depressed Anne because she knew she would have to wed soon. But, she had not found anyone whom