“Maybe next time you’ll keep your impertinence in check.” Ida yanked on the dress. “There. Now sit so I can dress your hair.”
Anya would have liked to slap Ida back, but held back the urge. The maid would likely hurt her worse for fighting back. Sometimes it was easier to accept the circumstances you were in than to continue struggling against them. So she sat and let Ida yank her hair into a tight chignon that made her head hurt.
“It’s lovely,” she told Ida, and it was. Sometimes fashion could be painful, and this particular hairstyle definitely fit that description. “May I please leave my room now?”
“Yes,” she said. “Your fiancé will be waiting for you. Go now and do not dawdle and keep him waiting.”
Someday, she hoped, Ida would find someone else to harass. Someone who might appreciate her heavy handedness. That someone was definitely not her. “Thank you, Ida.” She understood her part even if she didn’t want to play it.
She left the room and headed toward the foyer. Dierk was there waiting for her. He’d dressed in a dark blue suit that matched his eyes. His blond hair was slicked back, making him appear even creepier than he had earlier that day. Edward Wegner was in a deep conversation with him and hadn’t even noticed her arrival. Mr. Jones stood off to the side in his black suit with too observant gaze. She smiled softly, but he didn’t return it. Why did she feel guilty? She’d done nothing wrong…
Dierk finally noticed her. “I see you’re finally ready,” he said, annoyance in his voice. He looked her up and down and then nodded. “You’re presentable. We must go now.”
Edward Wegner frowned. “Don’t you have a better dress than that?”
“No father,” she said primly. “Ida said this is my best gown.”
“You’ll need something nicer for the wedding. I’ll have a designer come to the embassy and prepare something special.”
She nearly groaned. “The wedding will be even more wonderful with a new dress.” Had he intended her to wear something she already owned? She was glad this wasn’t her actual wedding. If she ever married, she wanted it to be special. Not some thrown together affair that was best forgotten. “Thank you.”
“Come,” Edward said to her, then nodded at Mr. Jones, gesturing that they needed to leave. There was something different about Mr. Jones…his eyes seemed darker, and he didn’t seem to even notice her. He usually nodded toward her or flashed her a grim smile of some sort. She’d ponder over it later… “We don’t want to be late.”
Considering she didn’t want to go at all, she as all right with that. Neither Dierk nor Edward would want to hear that though. “I’m ready,” she said and waited for them to indicate she could exit.
Dierk went out the door first, then Edward, and Mr. Jones gestured for her to go after them. Apparently, the idea of ladies first had not occurred to her fiancé or father. She couldn’t help thinking again…poor Anastasia. Mr. Jones followed behind her and helped her into the car, then got into the driver seat. She hadn’t expected he would drive them, but she should have. Why else had he been waiting?
It didn’t take them long to reach the grand assembly hall. Swastika flags were hanging down the building and armed guards were standing outside. This all seemed like she was living in a different reality. Anya kept hoping she’d open her eyes and find out this was all a bad dream.
Mr. Jones pulled the car up to the entrance. A man opened the door and helped her out of. Dierk got out after her, and Edward stepped out from the front seat. Mr. Jones kept to himself and stayed in the car. Once everyone safely exited the car, he pulled away. She couldn’t help glancing in his direction. Had she done something to anger him?
“Come along, dear,” Dierk said as he grabbed her arm and looped it with his. “It’s time to meet everyone.”
At least this ball gave her the perfect opportunity to instill herself in German society. She might be able to learn something useful and help some of the Jews escape persecution. She pasted a smile on her face and prepared to pretend to enjoy herself.
