Tea
Anne was running around the house in a frenzy. She was currently in the sitting room, in search, turning it upside down. Marian came inside to see what the fuss was all about, more importantly she needed to stop her sister from making a right down mess because the servants did have better things to do than to put a room in order again because Anne was having some sort of meltdown.
“Anne, what on earth are you doing!? You’re only making the servants jobs that much harder. What if we get company this morning?” Marian scolded, and Anne stopped just as she was about to fling herself under the sofa to have a look, and she gave Marian a sharp eye,
“I’m looking for my hat. I can’t find it anywhere!”
Marian raised an eyebrow, a hat, that was what all the fuss was about,
“Well…”
Anne stood up to her full height, red in the face, and with a fiery temper she exclaimed,
“If you have hid it, Marian, I will be furious! This is the fifth time this week, it’s not funny. I am late for my meeting, and I won’t go without my hat – it’ll look off.”
“I haven’t got your stupid hat, Anne! Why would I want to hide it!?”
“Because you seem to take delight in making my life as miserable as possible! Now, whoever has my hat will get a…”
“A what?” Ann’s voice was heard from behind them and the sisters turned around. Marian smirked at the sight, but her sister flushed slightly red, and a gentle smile replaced her scowl,
“Eh, you found my hat!”
“Your hat?” Ann batted her eyes innocently at her, making Marian snort amused.
“I have not a clue what you’re talking about, Anne.”
Anne took a deep breath to calm herself, exhaling slowly and Marian had a hard time keeping her laughter at bay.
“I have estate affairs to take care off. Ann – if you please, my hat.” Anne pressed, holding her hand out expectantly, she really didn’t have time for this, but Ann merely smiled sweetly,
“This hat of yours that you keep talking off – Why I cannot see it anywhere, but if I do, I’ll give you a shout.”
“Wh… it’s on your head!? Now give it back!” Anne told her cross, and Marian stood laughing silently beside her sister.
“Well, what would your hat be doing on my head? It seems like your hat would be on your head so this must in conclusion be my hat, Anne.” Ann said matter-of-factly, trying her best not to laugh at Anne’s sulky expression, and she stomped her foot,
“Ann, give me my hat. That is not your hat – you have no such hat!”
“Why I must beg to differ, Lister. I do have such a hat – I’m wearing it right now.” Ann stated still smiling, and Anne sighed loudly,
“You have never worn such a hat before – that is my hat!”
“I didn’t want you to feel threatened by my good hat, so I haven’t worn it until now.”
Anne closed her eyes trying to keep calm, and where just about to continue arguing when Joseph came into the room,
“A note for you ma’am from Mr. Washington.”
Anne took it from him and opened it swiftly, reading the contents,
“Well, it seems I don’t have to go anymore since Washington is deterred. Thank you, Joseph.” Anne sent their servant from the room again and turned her dark eyes back to Ann,
“I’m off.” Ann said and left the room without explanation, leaving Anne staring at her back with her mouth hitting the floors and Marian gave her a nudge,
“You never thought that would come back to bite you eh?”
“Ah, shut up, Marian.” Anne muttered, and her sister looked about the room that were in a disarray,
“Right. Now I’ve only got to tell the servants to make this room presentable again. Anne you do make such a bother for them.” Marian complained and Anne gave her half a look,
“They are my servants – why shouldn’t I? – I pay them for the trouble.”
“But…” Marian began but Anne raised a hand,
“Do whatever you want, I need to get my hat back.”
“Oh, right because that hat is so…” Marian began but her sister left her standing alone in the sitting room, going upstairs to try and find Ann.
The door to her bedroom stood ajar and Anne went inside and saw the blonde sitting in the window,
“Seriously, Ann – my hat! When did you become so incredibly stubborn?!”
Ann looked at her with a huge grin on her face,
“I think it was right around the time I moved in with you.”
“Argh, sometimes I fear that I am too good an influence on you. Damn it.” Anne threw her head and Ann laughed at her but gave no indication that she was going to give up the top hat situated over her blonde curls. Anne thought for a minute before softening and smirking at Ann playfully,
“It does look rather well on you after all.”
“Oh, you reckon I could pull it off?” Ann asked mirthfully, and Anne approached her slowly,
“I reckon I will!”
Anne snatched the hat of Ann’s head but before Ann had time to voice her opposition to that, Anne’s lips crashed onto hers, rendering Ann of all ability to think straight let alone argue.
The kiss itself had Anne drop her hat to the floor – quite forgotten. But then just as their kisses became more intense, more passionate and desperate – there was a knock on the door. Anne ended their kiss with a sigh, fondling Ann’s cheek affectionately before answering,
“Yes?”
The door opened to reveal Marian,
“There is someone here for Ann, with the Priestley’s.”
Anne raised her eyebrows at Ann who gave her a confused look in return,
“Oh, who is the caller?”
“A Mr. Ainsworth I believe.” Marian replied uncertain,
“I’ll keep them entertained till you come down.”
Marian closed the door and they heard her footsteps fade away. Ann’s face had fell and Anne held her in her arms, kissing her softly on the forehead,
“He can’t hurt you, Adney. If he so much as touches you, I will make him regret the day he was born!”
“I don’t think you should do anything, Anne – unless absolutely necessary. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Still. He won’t.” Anne reassured her, and Ann nodded and kissed her chastely before exhaling,
“Come on then, let’s get it over and done with.”
“Has he really not given up? I thought I made myself…” Anne paused; she hadn’t told Ann that she had interfered last time but Ann seemed more concerned about him being there now than her slip, and shook her head,
“He writes the Priestley’s, forwarding messages to me via them.”
“He writes you?! And you haven’t told me this, why?” Anne hissed offended, and Ann gave her a knowing look,
“Because I know you, Anne. I knew you would probably hunt him down and challenge him to a sword duel.”
“And win mind you!” Anne added bitterly, and Ann stopped them on the landing, looking at Anne seriously,
“I haven’t replied in any indecent way, but I couldn’t say to Eliza why I didn’t want to… besides it doesn’t matter. All that matters to me is you and the fact that you’re…” Ann leant closer to her, their lips almost touching,
“…my wife.”
Anne’s heart fluttered at those words, it seemed she could never tire of hearing that ‘wife’, and she sighed defeated,
“Fine. Let’s go down then – it can’t be avoided. Unless you want to jump out a…”
“Anne.”
“Fine.” Anne muttered as she tailed along after Ann downstairs.
The Priestley’s and Mr. Ainsworth were indeed waiting in the sitting room and Marian had just called for tea. Just my luck, Anne thought – Marian had to call for tea, and now they were stuck with the company for at least half an hour. Tea was quite possibly her worst enemy right now, landing her with the devil that was Mr. Ainsworth.
When they entered, he stood up and Anne thought for a second that she might just kick him in the old family jewels but decided against it and only because Ann had given her a stern look a second before. Anne greeted the room, as did Ann briefly.
“Miss Walker.” Mr. Ainsworth said looking at Ann in a way that made Anne furious, he did not own her.
“Mrs.” Anne muttered under her breath bitterly and all eyes turned to her,
“Pardon?” Mrs. Priestley looked at her intently and for a second Anne feared she might have actually heard what she had said.
“Sorry? Oh, I only had a little something in my throat.” Anne replied short smiling strained at Mrs. Priestley. Mr Ainsworth however turned his attention to Ann again,
“I must say, Ann, that you look very well. Indeed, one might be so impertinent as to ask how the loveliest of English Roses is doing?”
Anne almost gagged at the man’s poor attempt at seduction, Marian was flabbergasted by his impertinence, as a reverend no less, and Mrs. Priestley looked pleased – but after all she wanted Ann away from Anne. Ann looked at him innocently,
“Well I don’t know…”
Before Mr Ainsworth had time to answer, Ann turned to Anne who was sulking in the corner of the sofa,
“Anne, how are you doing?”
“I’m fine. As always.” Anne muttered, resting her head against her hand, and Ann turned back to Mr. Ainsworth,
“She’s fine.”
Mr. Ainsworth looked baffled, and his forehead crinkled,
“Oh? I didn’t know Miss Lister had been feeling under the weather.”
Ann smiled – clearly pleased with herself when she heard Anne’s quiet snort as the brunette got what she had just done.
“Tea is here!” Marian exclaimed loudly as if she was trying to steer a sinking ship, and it was a welcome distraction. The tea tray, as well as the coffee pot was placed on the table and Ann offered to pour for them all, but Anne stood up to perform the task. Mr. Ainsworth sat next to Mrs. Priestley and as Anne handed her a teacup, Anne ‘accidentally’ spilt some on Mr. Ainsworth who gave a cry of pain at the hot water landing in his knee.
“So sorry.” Anne smiled, and he lifted a shaking hand, miss Lister did unnerve him and he was terrified of her.
Mr. Ainsworth had asked to have coffee poured, exclaiming that he adored the drink but ladies better drink tea as it were milder. Anne poured herself some coffee after that statement, and, didn’t even take it with milk and sugar like the reverend had, and at that he gave a nervous smile and Anne smiled viciously back at him.
“I must agree with you, Mr. Ainsworth – coffee is far too strong for me.” Mrs. Priestley pressed, giving Anne a displeased look which Anne brushed off.
“Now, I have to say that coffee is fine in the morning, but I cannot abide to it too much or I upset my stomach.” Mr. Priestley added and Mr. Ainsworth’s eyes wandered to Ann,
“What is your thought, Ann?”
Anne clenched her jaw, how dare that man refer to her wife by anything other than her last name.
“On what, Mr. Ainsworth?” She asked,
“Men and coffee.”
“Oh,” Ann blushed prettily,
“Well, I like my coffee the way I like my men.”
Mr. Ainsworth clearly saw this as flirting but missed the fact that Ann was drinking tea, and Anne snorted on her coffee, drawing the attention of everyone and Ann, who sat beside her, put down her cup and rubbed her back,
“Got a little bit stuck in your throat?”
“Minx.” Anne replied in a strained voice, understood by no one but Ann who smiled back at her.
Marian was an idiot to have invited Mr Ainsworth and the Priestley’s to stay for tea, and now they were all stuck in an awkward situation, Anne thought annoyed, it had been twenty minutes in the making and they showed no signs of leaving.
The conversation carried on to travels, in which Anne had a lot to say – but was rather quiet because she was focusing on Mr. Ainsworth’s inappropriate stares at Ann. Eventually she was drawn into the conversation, when they began, talking about old tribes in France following an exclaim from Mrs. Priestley that the French was a rather vulgar people in some instances.
“Is it true that they eat one another when food is scarce?” Mrs. Priestley asked, and Mr Ainsworth nodded,
“Yes. In desperation they feed on the human flesh. Why I can’t ever think of a situation poor enough to do that- I’d rather die.”
“To be sure – I would never either – It seems rather vulgar.” Mrs. Priestley agreed and Aunt Anne, who had come down to join them, agreed with her, but then Mr Ainsworth turned his eyes to Anne,
“Pray, in what circumstance would you, if you would, eat another human?”
“Who?” Anne asked bluntly,
This raised a series of eyebrows, but Mr Ainsworth’s shock wore of soon enough,
“Um, I don’t know, say - Miss Walker?”
Anne stopped her teacup midway through the air,
“I’d eat her every night.”
Then as if nothing had passed, she brought the cup to her lips, at the same time though Ann choked on her tea and Anne rubbed her back for her,
“You would eat Ann!?” Mrs Priestley looked beyond disgusted, and Anne smirked,
“Well, a little taste if one’s hungry, surely!”
“Miss Lister, I’m not sure I understand – you are joking?” Mr. Priestley asked, and Anne smiled at him,
“Why yes, of course I was! I would never kill Ann… mm perhaps only a little.”
Anne winked at Ann who once again spluttered on her tea, having them all look at her concerned as Anne ran her hand over her back,
“Dear Ann, are you quite alright there? Do you need to have a little lie down?” Anne asked in a teasing patronising voice, and Ann glared at her,
“Oh shut up!”
Anne merely smiled at her, wishing she could kiss her but alas could not. However, Anne decided that this play had been going on for far too long.
“Mr. Ainsworth, I have an old bible in the library that I would love for you to take a look at.”
He seemed surprised at her speaking to him with such politeness that he merely nodded dumbfounded.
“Of course, Miss Lister.”
“Mm, good, if you could come with me for a second then.” Anne told him and he gulped but rose to follow her inside Shibden’s library.
Anne allowed Mr. Ainsworth in first before closing the door behind them. He fidgeted with a book on the table, seemingly nervous, and he should be Anne thought.
“Where is the b-bible, miss Lister?”
“Do you understand simple requests, Mr. Ainsworth?” Anne asked him, ignoring his question as she got closer to him, and he backed a step and crashed with his back into the table.
“Yes?!”
“Do you have a thorough understanding of the English language?” Anne continued striding yet closer to him, and he pressed his back against the table, the wood digging into his back painfully, but he was desperate to escape her.
“Yes, miss Lister – I studied at Oxford.”
“Oh? Did you? Well then, Mr Ainsworth, why are you here?”
“What?” Mr Ainsworth stuttered a little and Anne almost rolled her eyes at him – pathetic.
“Why are you here? I seem to recall a little conversation you and I had where I made it utterly clear to you that it would be very unwise of you to take the position at Lightcliffe church.”
“And I didn’t!”
Anne gave him a hard stare,
“Hm, yet I remember telling you something else, that is to stay out of Miss Walker’s life – that we should never need bump into you ever again. And here you are, in my house…”
Mr. Ainsworth pulled at his collar, looking left and right to find an escape, he was uncomfortable and maybe frightened that Anne would do something to him.
“It’s not up to you.” He managed to squeak out at last, and Anne raised an eyebrow at him,
“I think you will find that this is my home – and it’s very much up to me who comes here.”
“I meant with Miss Walker. She isn’t yours to dictate as you want!” Mr. Ainsworth seemed to have found his voice again,
“Quite right, Mr. Ainsworth. She is here by choice and she doesn’t want you here. No, is a word you should look up and then learn the meaning of!” Anne told him her voice low and threatening.
“She loves me.”
Anne scowled, her fingers curling into fists, on the cusp of giving the man a well-aimed hook,
“Sorry?”
“She loves me, but you have manipulated her to think that…”
“I’ll stop you right there, Mr. Ainsworth before you say something that you will regret. You will leave now, this instance or I will expose you for what you really are!”
“It would be rude to leave without telling Ann goodbye.” Mr Ainsworth panted, and Anne got near his face with a murderous look,
“I’d take care not to refer to her as such. She is miss Walker to you and nothing else!”
“Why miss Lister, considering how acquainted I am with Ann it’d be…”
Anne grabbed hold of his throat, still close to his face,
“Stay away from her! If you so much as look at her ever again I will horsewhip you until you are black and blue!”
He whimpered under her grip, and she squeezed tighter before letting go,
“Get out!” Anne barked and he winched,
“I cannot, you are in the way.”
“We are on the first floor – the window is right there behind you.” Anne pointed at the window, and he looked between it and her,
“Miss Lister…”
“Out, or I will make sure no more idiots are born.”
Mr. Ainsworth looked slightly green at that, and sluggishly moved towards the window, Anne eyed him intently – ready to give the man a fight if need be.
“Go on, open the window and get out!” Anne growled, as he stood hesitating by the window. He opened it, and looked back at her,
“There is a puddle of mud outside and I…”
“You’re in luck I see as I have heard that pigs love mud baths.” Anne told him sharply and he grimaced, standing with one leg heaved out the window, still not making the jump. Anne sighed and went over and gave him a nudge out before closing the window with a loud bang.
Anne went inside the sitting room again and all of them seemed confused as to where Mr. Ainsworth had gone, but Anne sat down as if nothing had happened and smiled,
“Now, where’s the tea?”