I should return to the ballroom.” For some reason, Avery thought this to be unusual for her. The throngs and the crowded garden must be having an effect upon her. He lightly took her arm and led her into the ballroom. Hearing that a waltz was starting, he gently nudged her onto the dance floor and pulled her towards him for the dance. She was getting a headache from the constant noise, her stomach was complaining from the tense nerves and still not having eaten anything, and she really just wanted to go home. Avery really tried hard to improve her mood but the evening was just too much. He truly wanted to dance with her, but the situation was beyond hope. So, Viscount Hufton just stopped and, after receiving descriptions of her parents, started upon the search. He placed her upon a couch that was a little away from the main corridor, sent some food in her direction, and continued with the search. After finally getting some food, she felt a little better but her head was exasperatingly hurting and she was enormously depressed. It was starting to feel like London again. With this extra thought she realized she probably would never find anyone to wed because only through balls and similar outings could she meet eligible men. What was she going to do? There was no hope for a young lady who detested balls and loved open, empty human-less places. Anne was about to cry when Avery came back.
“Anne!” She had started to pull out a kerchief and he knew what that meant. He was around enough crying women in his life to recognize that. He pulled her up and held her close. “I’m taking you home, my dear. You’ve had much more than you can take.”
Hufton carefully eased their way to the front door. They would be the first to leave the undeniably well attended ball. The Earl deduced correctly that they were leaving and came to bid them a good night. He at first thought that a young man was going to continue the evening with a young lady somewhere else, but upon seeing Anne’s condition realized that she was not feeling well and desperately needed to go home.
Being considerate, Avery did not talk to her at all. Instead, he just held her close so that her head rested against his cheek. The only sound Anne heard was the sound of the carriage moaning and crunching along the road and the hoofs of the horses. Hearing the horses and the rhythm of their trot soothed her a little. By the time they arrived at her home, much of the headache had disappeared but her stomach still was not comfortable. He tenderly helped her out and told the servants that Anne needed to go to bed immediately. Seeing her condition she was flanked by a servant on both sides as she went up the stairs. After watching her disappear into her room with concern etched on his face, the Viscount told the butler that she needed quiet and not to wake her the next morning. He received an understanding grin and “We know, been through this before, sir.”
Hearing that, the Viscount felt more at ease since the household seemed to know how to deal with her tender temperament. Before entering his carriage he took a long glance at the Vinrey home hoping that Anne would be able to sleep in her condition. Although the evening was very young, instead of going back to the ball Hufton just went home. There was nothing to lure him back to the ball. Avery had thought of hosting a ball in the near future and showing her his beautiful home. But after tonight’s tragic end, he knew she would avoid coming if she had a chance. He would have to think of some other way to invite the family. Before he had a chance to do so, he had drifted asleep. Never was he so drained from a ball.
The servants were extremely kind as they helped Anne go to bed: not a word was spoken and everything was done as quietly as was humanly possible. She finally was in bed and was wondering if she would be able to sleep with the gut-wrenching effects of the evening when the door was slowly pushed open but there was no one there. This puzzled Anne but in her condition, she was not able to determine the cause. Soon later the interloper announced himself: Trusty was whining because he could not jump up onto the bed yet, he was still too small. Anne quickly reacted and helped the little guy onto the bed. His tail was wagging so quickly that she could hardly follow the tip of the tail. Her headache was gone with a few ear scratches and under the chin rubs. Her stomach had untwisted itself and she was feeling satisfactory except for just the emotional exhaustion as could be expected from the day. Anne would have discussed the evening with Trusty, but was too drained and instead just fell asleep with the little beagle, terrier mix sleeping right next to her shoulder.
The next morning, she awoke around ten, but did not feel like dealing with the day yet. Trusty, jumping off the bed by the lure of breakfast, woke her and his leaving her saddened her, but she understood. Hopefully he would be back as soon as he was done. Being the pet Anne had hoped,Trusty soon returned and with some help was on her bed again. She proceeded to discuss the evening and almost cried again at the thought of probably never finding a husband. Feeling her emotions, Trusty came closer and nudged her hand for some scratching. She was glad that her mother talked her into getting another dog. Teddy just could not be with her when she needed him the most. Around noon her mother asked if she was planning on getting up any time soon. Anne was about to respond when her mother explained: “You have two letters here: one from the Earl and another one.” She knew the one from the Earl was just to make sure she felt better but who else would write her? She begged Lady Vinrey to send up the letters and she would be down presently for breakfast.
The one from the Earl was opened first and was as expected but Anne glanced at the writing from the stranger. It was a very smooth, even script and very legible. She turned the letter around to look at the seal. It was set in lovely blue and a seal she recognized but could not place. With shaking hands, she broke the seal and read:
Dearest Anne,
I really wish the evening would have concluded differently. I hope your headache has subsided and that the quiet, as you dearly needed, was obtainable. (She paused, not believing what she was reading.) I had looked forward to dancing the waltz with you, since I believe music would be as dear to you as the song of birds, but under the circumstances I will just wait until the next time. I haven’t yet decided upon the date yet, but I wish to invite your family to a little gathering I plan on hosting. It will be an extremely small handful of guests, so the volume should be low. My gardens should not have anyone in them letting you enjoy them in solitude.
You humble servant,
Viscount Avery Hufton
It couldn’t be! She glanced it over again in disbelief. Avery, a Viscount! It just was not possible. In the distance she heard her name and quickly reacted and went down for breakfast.
As Anne entered the room, Lady Vinrey stated, “We heard that you had come home early: not feeling well.”
“It was like in London.”
“I told you that I was sure it was nothing unusual.” Lady Vinrey gave her husband a smoldering look. “You were escorted home safely, I pray.”
“Yes, it was the Viscount who brought me home.”
Lady Vinrey was astounded. “The Viscount? The Viscount….” She was busily trying to see if she could get the pair together more. When finally she brought her thoughts back to the present, “What did the men write?”
“They just sent their regrets.” Lady Vinrey hoped that maybe more was written but her hopes were extremely short lived.
That afternoon Lady Vinrey tried to coax her husband to invite the Viscount so that the younger generation might be together more. He refused to meddle and force them together. If there was something blossoming, the two would have to work on it themselves. At such times Lady Vinrey wondered how she could have married such a man!
Anne, in shock, just took a stroll through the grounds with Trusty on her heels to occasionally be picked up and hugged or to have something pointed out to him. She was thinking of going to her Perfect Spot, but was not sure if she really wanted to see Avery today. What would she say to him? Had anything changed? Unbeknownst to her, the Viscount was waiting for her but in vain today. He was sure she would come, and with her absence, he started to worry. Via servant’s channels, he learned that she was up and in the garden or on the V
inrey grounds. She needed to relax and rejuvenate, he thought.
The next afternoon, Anne was about to go visit her Spot when her mother stopped her all excited and bubbling with joy. “Anne, such good news! The Blands are to have a ball in about a week!” Anne looked petrified but was thinking it was only the countryside. The ball should not be such a squeeze by London standards because the Earl was not hosting it. “And, they invited the Earl—“ Anne stopped listening.
“NO! Oh, God, no!” She ran to the garden with her mother frantically calling her back. Pausing a moment in the garden but feeling as if the world was caving in on her, she ran on to the stables in tears asking for her horse. Seeing Anne’s condition, Fred immediately knew the destination and quickly scooped up Trusty and put him in his little basket on the saddle. Hopefully she would find some comfort there. They raced there as quickly as her horse could canter with Fred right next to her; sure that she was not capable of controlling her mount today if anything unforeseen would happen. Upon arriving, Anne immediately went to the bench and just cried. Fred wished he could somehow help Miss Anne, but did not know how