The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced (31 page)

Gretchen looked flustered. “I...I thought he
needed to know.”

“Alex has been back since July. Otto was born
in November. You couldn’t have chosen another, more appropriate
time?”

“I didn’t know he was getting married so
quickly.”

“What does that have to do with
anything?”

Gretchen didn’t answer.

“Perhaps you thought maybe Anna would be out
of the picture and he would run to you? Especially since you had a
son by him?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said,
feigning innocence.

Wilhelm raised his brow. “Really? You weren’t
feeding information about Anna’s activities to anyone?”

Gretchen’s eyes widened. “How...?”

“There’s very little I don’t know, Gretchen.
I have many contacts.” Wilhelm wouldn’t reveal Alex’s
extracurricular activities. Especially to her. “Do you know who it
was that you were speaking to?”

“He told me he was a friend of Anna’s and
wanted to know what she was doing,” Gretchen mumbled.

“Is that all?”

She shook her head. “He said he would take
her back to America.”

“Why you little—” Alex began.

“Alex,” Wilhelm interrupted, looking sternly
at his son. Alex took a breath and relaxed...somewhat. Wilhelm
turned back to Gretchen. “Let me tell you about that man who would
have taken Anna back home. He is one of the cruelest men I have
ever met. He had Anna raised in a home where she was regularly
beaten and raped. He turned her into a sex slave at the age of
sixteen. If she had been taken back to America, she would have been
locked up and punished for daring to think about marrying Alex. He
likely would have tortured her until she passed out, and then
revived her and tortured her again. And repeated the process until
she no longer responded.”

Gretchen’s face turned green and her eyes
were as wide as he’d ever seen them.

“Do you know why I know this Gretchen?”

She shook her head.

“Because he’s done it to her before. Anna has
gone through things you could not even imagine. Her marriage to
Alex will prevent that from occurring in the future.” Wilhelm
paused, keeping his eyes locked on Gretchen’s. “And you wanted to
send her home?”

Gretchen’s mouth moved, but she didn’t speak
right away. She looked at Anna. “I-I had no idea, Anna,” she said
in a whisper. “I feel terrible.”

Wilhelm could tell Anna didn’t know what to
do or say. Her face was pale and she stared at her hands. Her first
instinct was to sweetly forgive, but he could tell she was very
hurt. As horrible as things had been in her life, she really didn’t
understand how people could do things like what Gretchen had done.
It would never have occurred to her that someone would do what
Gretchen had done, and that made Gretchen’s actions even worse.

Wilhelm could feel his temper rising
again.

Alex leaned over and whispered to Anna. She
nodded in response. “Vati, I’m sorry, but Anna needs to eat. She
hasn’t eaten since dinner last night.”

“Oh,
Liebling
, I’m so sorry. Yes,
Alex, take her down for lunch. I’ll speak with you later.”

Alex helped Anna to her feet and led her out
of the room.

“Is Anna all right?” Kurt asked in German,
watching the door close.

Wilhelm smiled. “Yes. She’s pregnant.”

Kurt’s eyes widened. “But I thought....”

“There are ways, Son.”

“I thought she couldn’t have kids,” Gretchen
said with narrow eyes. “That’s what Alex said.”

“No, I believe Alex told you she was told her
whole life she couldn’t have children,” Wilhelm said. “Being told
something doesn’t make it true.”

Alex helped Anna downstairs to the dining
room. Greta sat at the table with Albrecht and Viktoria. They lived
outside of Dusseldorf and were staying at the
Gutshaus
through the New Year. The rest of Alex’s family lived in the
Frankfurt area. Anna felt relieved that there weren’t many people
there. She was a bit overwhelmed and just wanted to sit and
eat.

The look of horror on Gretchen’s face stuck
with Anna. Gretchen really had no idea what she was doing. Anna
wavered between sadness, hurt and anger as she thought about the
conversation. What would Wilhelm and Kurt do with Gretchen?

A plate of fish and vegetables appeared in
front of her and she ate quietly. Conversation flowed around her,
mostly in English. Alex leaned over and kissed her frequently,
which she liked.

After lunch they went back up to the bedroom
and Anna took a nap. Alex said that they would be up very late
tonight and that she should rest. She was more than happy to do
so.

Early evening, Alex woke her so she could get
ready for the New Year’s Eve Party. She and Alex took a shower
together and Alex held her against the wall and made love to her
again.

She was still flushed from lovemaking when
Brigitte came in to help her get ready. Brigitte styled her hair in
a loose up-do with curls hanging loose around her face. As she
pushed the final pins into place, Alex walked out of the dressing
room looking so handsome Anna could hardly speak.

He wore an elegant black tailcoat and
trousers with a white waistcoat and bow tie. A wide blue sash under
his coat ran from his right shoulder to his left hip and a neck
badge hung from a blue ribbon under his bow tie. The neck badge had
the family crest on a four-armed star.

“Oh, my,” Anna murmured, staring at her
husband. “You look...wow, Alex.”

He stood with his arms held out from his
side, presenting himself to her. “You approve?”

Anna nodded enthusiastically. “The more time
I spend with you, the more I understand the gossip about you.”

“Gossip?” He raised his brow over his
sparkling eyes.

“How women melted at your feet and such. I
thought I understood before....” She blinked several times. “Wow,”
she breathed.

Alex chuckled. “Now you know how I feel every
time I look at you.”

Anna blushed. “Alex!”

“Anna, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve
ever seen.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I can’t wait to show
you off tonight.” He straightened and beamed down at her. “Finish
getting ready. I’ll be back in a little bit. I have to go get
something.”

She watched him as he strode out of the room.
A shiver ran down her spine. “I can’t believe I’m married to him,”
she said softly as Brigitte smoothed her hair.

Brigitte smiled. “Many women will be green
with envy tonight. I think many men as well for the
Herzog
.”

Anna smiled shyly. Brigitte applied her
makeup and then took her into the dressing room, walking through
the massive closet.

She looked at her dress hanging in the
corner. “I hope it fits.”

Brigitte helped her into a white silk corset
and stockings, and arranged the dress for Anna to step into. Anna
held her breath as Brigitte zipped up the dress and sighed in
relief when it fit. “I guess Kaitlyn found the bigger size. I’m so
glad.”

“It is a beautiful dress,
Herzogin
.”

Anna stared at herself in the mirror. She
hardly recognized herself. Her cheeks were pink, her hair stylish.
She looked all grown up and could hardly believe it. She was a
grown up married woman who was going to have a baby. Was it
possible to really be this happy? Tears of joy sprang to her
eyes.

Alex appeared behind her in the mirror with a
huge grin on his face. “You look
wunderschön
,
Schatzi
.” He leaned down and kissed the side of her neck
and she sighed. “Absolutely beautiful.”

He turned and placed several velvet-covered
boxes on the table behind her.

“What are these?” she asked hesitantly.

Alex grinned. “Some things I picked out for
you to wear.”

Anna looked down at her dress. “I have my
dress already.”

He chuckled. “Accessories. Fit for a
Herzogin
.”

He opened a flat box to reveal a necklace of
diamond flowers.

“Oh, Alex...,” she whispered.

He took off her other necklace and handed it
to Brigitte, then fastened the new necklace around her. “No one
will know you are anything but my beautiful wife tonight, Anna. You
have no obligation but to have fun and enjoy yourself.”

Anna felt herself tearing up again. “Just
your wife,” she repeated softly. What a wonderful thought.

He opened a smaller box and handed her the
matching earrings and put a matching bracelet on her empty wrist.
She still wore her signet bracelet on her other arm. Ilsa wore one
as well, Alex had told her.

He opened another box with a three-inch wide
blue ribbon similar to what he was wearing. The same badge hung at
the end.

“What’s this?” Anna asked as he placed it
over her head from her right shoulder to her left hip.

“Mark of rank,” he answered, watching
Brigitte pin it into place. “And finally, the most important
piece.” He grinned and opened a very large box to reveal a
beautiful diamond tiara.

It had seven large pear shaped diamonds
spaced around the semi-circle, with other pear and round shaped
diamonds that seemed to magically hover beneath.

“It’s beautiful, Alex,” she said
breathlessly, looking up at him. “I really get to wear this?”

Alex nodded. “
Ja. Mutti
helped me
pick it out. It’s one of her favorites.”

Brigitte took it from Alex and pinned it into
Anna’s hair.

Anna looked in the mirror again when Brigitte
was done. Now she really didn’t recognize herself. She turned and
flung herself into Alex’s arms. “I feel like Cinderella.”

Alex cradled her cheek and kissed her. “I
love you,
Schatzi
.”

“I love you, Alex.”

*****

The adult members of the family, as well as
Alex’s men, ate dinner in the dining room together dressed in their
formal wear. Albrecht and his family were there as were Liesl and
her fiancé, an Irishman named Patrick. Kurt was unusually quiet
during dinner and Anna wondered what happened with Gretchen.

Anna thought it was such an elegant dinner.
The men were all dressed in tails, white vests and bow ties. The
women in beautiful, fashionable gowns. Wilhelm and Ilsa both wore
blue ribbons like Alex and Anna wore. Ilsa, Liesl and Greta all
wore tiaras, though Liesl and Greta’s were smaller than the ones
that Ilsa and Anna wore.

After dinner, Wilhelm pulled Alex and Anna
aside.

“Gretchen is not attending tonight, which I’m
sure you deduced,” Wilhelm said in a soft voice. “I’ve left it up
to Kurt whether or not she will stay. She is his wife, after all,
and you’ll be returning to San Francisco soon. I have no concern
about Gretchen speaking to Devin’s lackey again. She was truly
horrified at how you were raised, Anna. Her father wasn’t exactly
the nicest man when she was growing up.”

“I don’t want her anywhere near Anna until we
leave, Vati,” Alex said.

Wilhelm nodded. “That’s understandable. I
don’t think she’ll desire to be very social. I wasn’t very kind to
her after you left.”

When it was time, they made their way out to
the entrance hall to begin greeting guests. Alex and Anna stood in
the receiving line with his parents, and Anna was introduced to
German society as Alex’s wife.

It amazed her that Alex knew all these
people, even after being out of the country for years. But everyone
knew Alex and wanted to meet his new bride. Many were surprised
that she was American.

When they were finally able to make it into
the great hall, Alex led her out to the dance floor and they
waltzed around the room. Anna giggled and grinned the entire
time.

“I had no idea you could dance like this,
Alex,” she said as he spun her around.

Alex’s eyes sparkled. “Every proper German
knows how to waltz,” he laughed. “You look beautiful. I may have a
hard time keeping you in my sights, tonight. I can see many men who
want to dance with you.”

Anna bit her lip nervously.

“Anna, they won’t hurt you. You are my wife
and nothing else. Remember?”

Her face brightened and her heart grew light
again. “I forgot.”

He grinned at her. “There’s that beautiful
smile. My men are keeping an eye on you,
Schatzi
. But the
people in this room respect my family. No harm will come to
you.”

Alex was right. Anna danced every dance and
met so many nice people. She had a wonderful time. Part of her kept
wondering what would happen to ruin the evening, but nothing did.
It was the best night of her life.

At midnight, Alex was by her side and gave
Anna her first ever New Year’s kiss. They danced again and then she
was swept away by more charming men. She got glimpses of Alex
dancing and having a good time as well. He kept bodily distance
between himself and the women he danced with, but with Anna he held
her close and kissed her frequently.

The party went very late. Anna was so tired
by the end that Alex carried her upstairs, helped her undress and
put her into bed. She snuggled close to him and slept.

Too soon it was time to return to San
Francisco. Anna had loved being in Germany, surrounded by a loving
family. They arrived home mid Thursday morning. Alex wanted to give
Anna a few days to adjust back to the time zone before dancing
again on Monday.

Anna looked out the window as they drove
through the city. It looked like.... “Are we going to Aaron’s
house?”

Alex grinned. “
Nein, Schatzi
.”

“Where are we going?” She was tired and
wanted to go home.

“Home.”

Anna frowned. “I’m pretty sure this isn’t the
way to your house.”

Alex pulled her close. “It is the way to
our
house,
Schatzi
.”

She looked up at him. “What do you mean?”