The last time Anya recalled seeing her was in the office at the British Film Institute. She was much older than this waif of a girl in front of her. She was not only in another’s body; she’d somehow fallen back in time. What was she supposed to say? She couldn’t very well say,“Oh, you are not the Lady Vivian I’m acquainted with.”Technically, it was the same person, only a younger version.One, she hadn’t met, should never have met...Hell, Anya hadn’t even been born yet. At least she thought so… She wasn’t certain what year it was, and she guessed at it from the looks of Lady Vivian. She frowned.
“Nothing,” she mumbled. “My apologies. I have the worst head pain, and it’s making it difficult to hold a thought.”
“You poor dear,” the duchess said. “Why didn’t you say something. I’ll have someone bring you something for that.” She snapped her fingers at a nearby servant, and he wandered off. He came back a few moments later with two aspirin, and Anya took them off the platter. She swallowed them without thinking, glad to have something for her head pain.
The duke picked up a paper and opened it up. Anya wanted to gasp again, but held it in by sheer will. The headlines concerned her and gave her a lot to consider. Germany was front and center on the paper. It was September 1933, and their persecution of the Jewish community had already begun. She swallowed hard. It answered some of her questions… Like, she had been born, but she was no more than three years old. She didn’t know what to do or how to act. None of it made any kind of sense.
“Ida said she has all your bags packed,” the duchess began. Anya had to try to recall her name. She knew it… If only her head didn’t hurt so much. “Are you prepared for the lengthy journey?”
More importantly, who was Ida? The answer clicked…the old woman…the maid. “I believe so.” Anya didn’t have any other answer for…Brianne. Vivian’s mother’s name was Brianne. Though it wouldn’t be right to use it. She should sayYour Graceand follow proper etiquette. “She informed me when she woke me…” Wait…she’d also said she was traveling to Germany. Anya inwardly cursed. That was the last place she wanted to be in 1933. The war had been terrible and she had no desire to experience the worst of it firsthand, and in one of the most horrendous places of its culmination.
“She’s efficient,” the duchess said and smiled. “It has been a pleasure having you here. Your father was kind to assist us when we traveled to New York a couple years ago. As you know, my family lives in South Carolina and has a house in New York.” She did know that…though she had forgotten. “Vivian…” She gave her daughter a wary glance. “…got lost in Central Park. Without your father’s aid, we may never have located her.”
Hmmm.That was interesting. Lady Vivian was a bit of a hellion. It didn’t resemble the woman that Anya had come to know. If she ever returned to her own body and time, she might have to ask Lady Vivian what she’d done alone in Central Park at the age of fourteen. “My father was happy to help.” She hoped that was the truth. Anya had no idea who her “father” was.
“Edward Wegner is a good man. I hope he enjoys his new post with the Ambassador in Germany.” The duke folded his paper and set it aside. “Though, I’m not certain he’ll be there long if the current climate is anything to go by.” The duke sighed. “The Great War was horrible, and no one wants to relive that, but I fear we may be heading toward another war.”
The duke didn’t know how right he was. Anya swallowed hard and tried to eat. She speared her eggs with a fork and shoved a bite into her mouth. No one would expect her to say much while she chewed.
“Don’t scare her, Julian,” the duchess said. “She is already dealing with a lot.” She smiled at her. “You’ve been to Germany though. Isn’t it lovely…what you’ve seen, anyway?” There was something unidentifiable in the duchess’s voice. Had she been to Germany? If Anya remembered correctly, the duke had been a spy during the first world war. He had probably been to Germany, but the duchess was American. She’d undoubtedly stayed safe at home.
Anya swallowed the eggs, and it hurt as they traveled down her throat. She nodded. “Yes.” One word answers were good, right?
“I understand you’re engaged,” the duke said.
“I am?” That shouldn’t have come out as a question. Why was she going to Germany then?
The duchess laughed. “You might want to consider rethinking your relationship if you’re not certain. Your father said he’s in the German Army…a high-ranking officer.”
What was this Ana thinking? Did she believe in the Nazi cause? “I’m certain it is the right decision to make.” At least, she hopes so. Perhaps Ana loved the man. She’d hate to ruin her relationship.
“Well,” the duchess said. “Either way, you have your whole life ahead of you. Some decisions cannot be so easily undone, and loving the man you marry should not be a difficult one.”
“I agree,” Anya said, and she did. If and when she married, she planned on loving the man to distraction. “If you will excuse me, I’d like to freshen up before I have to leave.”
“Of course,” the duchess said. “If I do not see you before you leave, have a safe trip.”
With those words, Anya left the room. She still didn’t know much, but she’d found out enough to give her pause. This wasnotgood…not at all…
