Chapter Eleven
Anya hadn’t been able to leave London as soon as she would have liked. It was probably for the best that she’d been waylaid though. After she’d walked into her flat, she’d felt faint and had to lie down…a condition that was not conducive to traveling. Especially since she fully intended to drive herself to Dover. After a few days of convalescence, she packed a bag for her trip, then left her flat to secure transportation. She carried her small bag with her to catch the next double-decker. Anya didn’t want to return to retrieve it after her car-buying spree.
She knew exactly what kind of car she wanted. Anya had thought about it for a while, but hadn’t bought it because she had deemed the expenditure frivolous. Now, though, she didn’t care. After almost dying in the present, and actually dying in the past, she made the decision to live her life to the fullest. Anya still wasn’t certain her dream had been real, but she could still feel the pain from being shot. That was real enough for her to make different decisions for her life. When the double-decker arrived, she stepped on with purpose. Nothing would distract her from her goal.
As the bus moved through the London streets, it gave Anya time to think about what she’d ask Lady Vivian when she found her in Dover. Asking her outright about her time with Anastasia Wegner might raise questions she didn’t really want to answer. She wasn’t certain how to explain why it mattered to her. Lady Vivian would believe her mad if she told her the truth. It was best to keep that part of her coma experience to herself. Dealing with the aftermath already made her a nervous wreck. Any sudden movements or loud sounds and she nearly jumped out of her skin. It would take her a long while not to react that way. Sometimes it seemed as if she’d truly been shot and killed. That was not something she’d reconcile herself with any time soon, if ever.
The bus came to a stop and jolted her out of her own mind. She glanced out the window and sighed. Time to go shopping. She stood and made her way off the double-decker and stepped on to the pavement. It was a few blocks to the dealership. She hoped it wouldn’t be too difficult to buy a car for immediate use. If she had to, she’d throw her father’s name around. Telling people she was the daughter of the Earl of Parkdale opened many doors. She didn’t do it often, only in extreme emergencies. Which she deemed this to be…
It was exhausting to do almost anything after her stint in the hospital. If her parents were aware of her excursion, they’d likely try to stop her. She couldn’t allow that to happen. When she walked into the building, no one immediately came to her aid. That disappointed her. They probably didn’t think helping her would result in an instantaneous sale.
“Hello,” she called out. “Is anyone available to help me make a purchase?”
An older gentleman turned toward her and lifted a brow. He seemed to mock her with that gesture. Anya pursed her lips in displeasure and tapped her foot anxiously. Two could play that game… She’d be more than happy to be snootier than him. He brushed his fingers over the side of his silver-tipped dark hair and sighed. Of course, he gave in first and approached her. “How may I assist you?”
“I’d like to buy an Aston Martin. Bright red if it’s available, but I’m open to whatever you have on hand for me to drive away with today.”
“An Aston Martin?” The astonishment in his tone echoed around her. As if,how dare you try to buy something inappropriate for you little girl…
“Yes,” she said and lifted her chin defiantly. “What do you have available?”
“Are you certain that is the car you wish to own?” He stared down at her as if trying to will her to make a different decision. “It’s…not a car for a woman.”
She’d had enough of male chauvinism to last a lifetime. Not to mention Ana’s controlling father and fiancé from her messed up dream reality. No man would dictate to her ever again, real or imagined. “Who are you to tell me what I can or cannot buy?” She glared at him. “I want an Aston Martin, and I shall have one.” Anya reverted to the spoiled child she’d been before learning humility. “Perhaps you’d rather deal with my father, Lord Parkdale.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said quickly. He waved his hand frantically, and he seemed a little anxious after she dropped her father’s name.Good.“I only have one Aston Martin, but I can show it to you if you’d like. I’m afraid it isn’t red…”
Anya waved her hand dismissively. She really did not care about the color. She’d thought it sounded better to demand something. “That’s fine. Show it to me.”
The man took her to the car and allowed her to look it over. It wasn’t a convertible, which was too bad...she'd have liked one, but she’d make do. It was a silvery blue that she loved. Red would have been fun, but this suited her more. It actually reminded her of Arthur’s eyes. That sent a stab of pain through her heart, but she suppressed it. Now wasn’t the time to think about a past that wasn’t actually hers.
“I’ll take it.”
“You don’t wish to drive it?” the older man asked, a little baffled.
“I’ll drive it after I’ve purchased it. There’s no need to do so before. I trust there’s nothing wrong with a brand-new automobile?” She lifted a brow.
“No, of course not,” he reassured her. “Come with me, and we will start the paperwork.”
Anya let out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The man probably thought her odd, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. He could think she was addled, and it wouldn’t matter. As long as the sale of the car went through, she’d be fine at the end of it. She didn’t anticipate there would be any issues, but it was better to be prepared for the worst.
It took almost too long to fill out all the paperwork and pay for the car, and she hadn’t foreseen that it would. Once she had the keys in her hand, she placed her bag in the passenger seat and started for Dover. It would take her almost two hours to arrive at Weston Manor. She didn’t want to delay for any reason.
* * *
Anya hada lot of time to think on her drive to Dover. She relived every moment she’d spent with Arthur, from the opera, to the museum, to their wedding. All of it was surreal…as if she were watching a movie on the screen. It might even make a good movie for the world to see. Perhaps, once she had Anastasia’s story, all of it, she’d write a script. Lady Vivian might consider producing it at the Film Institute. It was worth considering anyway.
She pulled into a petrol station. Anya hadn’t intended to stop, but her tank was running low. Canterbury was an interesting town with its own history. She might stop and spend a little time there on her return trip to London. Anya didn’t have the time to dawdle now. She had a mission to complete, and that meant continuing on to Weston Manor. She prayed Lady Vivian was still in residence. It would be irritating if she had left once she arrived. Catherine had indicated she should go to Weston with her cryptic message. She hadn’t taken her word for it though. She had called the institute to inquire, and they said Lady Vivian had gone on holiday and wouldn’t return for three weeks. That meant she would have to go looking for her.
An attendant came out to the gas pump. He had red hair that reminded her of Catherine, but was on the thinner side. His eyes were so blue they almost seemed black. He was a striking young man, and she couldn’t help thinking he might be related to the marchioness. That couldn’t be right though. A relative of hers wouldn’t work at a petrol station. “You need a fill up?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” she said.
He pulled the handle on the pump and started to fill her tank. He washed her windows and then finished putting the petrol into her car. She handed him several pounds to cover the cost. “Keep the change,” she told him.
“Much obliged,” he said and nodded at her. “Drive safely.”
She started the engine and pulled away from the pumps, then drove on to the road. It wouldn’t take long before she reached Weston. She’d never been to the manor house on the cliffs of Dover, but she’d heard it was gorgeous. In some ways, she was glad to have a reason to visit the estate.
