The Storm Sister: Book Two (The Seven Sisters 2) by Riley Lucinda

Author:Riley, Lucinda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2016-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

ANNA

Christiania, Norway

August 1876

25

Anna, kjære, what a delight it is to have you back with us,” Frøken Olsdatter said as she ushered Anna into the apartment and took her cloak. “With Herr Bayer away in Drøbak, life here has been far too quiet. How was your time in the country?”

“It was lovely, thank you, although not long enough,” Anna said as she followed Frøken Olsdatter into the drawing room.

“Tea?”

“I’d love some,” Anna replied.

“Then I shall bring it in to you.”

As Frøken Olsdatter left the room, Anna thought how glad she was to be back in Christiania with the housekeeper’s kind attentions. And even if I have become spoiled, I do not care, she said to herself as she breathed a sigh of relief that she would sleep on a comfortable mattress and wake to breakfast on a tray tomorrow morning. Never mind the thought of a hot bath . . .

Frøken Olsdatter broke into her thoughts as she came back with a tray of tea. “Well, I have some news for you,” she said as she poured the liquid into two china cups and handed one to Anna. “Herr Bayer is unable to return to Christiania at present. His poor mother is very sick and he cannot leave her. He thinks the end will come soon, and of course, he wishes to be there with her. So, you have been left in my care until he returns.”

“I am very sorry to hear that his dear mother is so ill,” Anna replied, even though she wasn’t at all sorry Herr Bayer’s arrival was delayed.

“Rehearsals are during the day, so I will chaperone you on the tram there and back. After you have finished your tea, you must go and inspect your new wardrobe. The winter clothes Herr Bayer ordered from the dressmaker have been delivered. They are very splendid indeed, I think. There is also a letter for you, which I have put in your room.”

Ten minutes later, Anna opened her wardrobe door to find it filled with an array of beautiful handmade garments. There were blouses fashioned from the softest silk and muslin, skirts made from fine wool, and two exquisite gowns: one the color of topaz and the other a dusky rose-pink. There were also two new corsets, several pairs of bloomers, and stockings as fine as spiders’ webs.

The thought of Herr Bayer ordering such intimate items for her made her shudder, but she put it to the back of her mind, telling herself it must have been Frøken Olsdatter who had arranged the making of those. Sitting on a high shelf were two pairs of heeled shoes, one pair in the same dusky-pink silk of the dress with a little silver buckle, and the other pair a soft ivory color with white embroidery. Trying the pink pair on, her eyes fell on a hatbox, which she carefully lifted down. She gasped as she took off the lid. The hat matched her pink dress and sported the most elaborate arrangement of feathers and ribbons she had ever seen.

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