Roses and Flames

Chapter 3

As Anastasia dressed in her favourite blue gown and went down to the lawn she thought that her mind was so much like the ocean which watches for the incoming ship, calm on the surface with so many deep under currents, all of them with their own purpose. Being a "watcher" was the perfect job for a daydreamer like her and if she must suffer cold feet and numb fingers through the winter months it's a price worth paying.

She thought that they might think her to be a fool to wait for every chance she got: eyes set to the horizon, arms resting on the cold metal rail. But the way I see it they're missing the greatest mysteries of life as they chase the mundane and trip over the details of existence. Waiting here for the man she had given her heart to gave her time to let mind escape the boundaries of the ordinary, to think beyond the offerings of modern media. She pondered over the threads that bind one person to another and the wounds that separate. She thought about the origins of goodness and what "humanity" really is. Waiting here while others do important things is such a gift, a blessing of time. I would give up an eternity of tedium to simply solve a great mystery, to think as the masters of antiquity once did. But this was not her at all, this was Ambrosia thinking of such philosophical things and they kept on popping up in Anastasia’s mind from time to time like it did with all twins.

As her mind lay somewhere else, an arrow came and landed at her feet and Anastasia snatched it up immediately.

She hastily opened the ribbon and opened up the roll of the letter and read it as fast as she could.

Sweetest Ambrosia,

Your words are the sweetest melody to my eyes and ears. I could wrap myself in your words and sleep curled up for an eternity in their warmth. Reading your letter I can only say that my every wish which I had placed on every rainbow and under the velvet cloud and acres of blue from childhood, they have come true. I have found the other half of my soul in you. I shall love you, live for you, die for you as well knowing that even my death will be yours too. For once I know that our bond is eternal and I wish to pledge the same before the eyes of the Lord.

I shall be waiting for you by the gate behind your manor which leads to the cemetery of your family with a ride waiting for you at midnight today. If you come at that hour and ride away with me to the dawn in search of a new life, I would be the happiest man alive on earth and you shall never want for anything.

Waiting to be yours for an eternity

Your Love

Oh dear God!!! This man was asking her to run away with him and spend her life with him. But could she do that? How could she run away? And what about the scandal that will follow afterwards? Her father? She would never be allowed to see her family again but this was the only way out.

She could not think of anything better than not putting her family in an awkward position than she already has. Anastasia stood up clutching the piece of paper in her hand rose up with a new found sense of purpose. She walked back home and started searching for whatever valuables she had in her armoire. She knew that in hard times jewels were the only thing that could save her life and she could not carry any of her clothes except the one she would be wearing.

Her sister and mother came back after the sun had gone down the horizon and she was in her room when Polly called her for supper. Seeing that Father was not present for the meal made her feel a tad more comfortable. Anastasia maintained her silence and gave perfunctory nods and smiles throughout before she fled to the sanctity of her room once more.

She left a letter for her father and for Amber saying that this was best for all of them and she would be perfectly alright. She left the letters on her table so that anyone could find them and dressed up in her darkest midnight blue gown which not be differentiated from black under the veil of darkness. When the clock struck twelve Anastasia checked that the leather pouch was securely tied at her waist and the wrap was around her shoulders and hair to keep out the chill. She stepped out of her room and walked down to the kitchen as slowly and softly as possible so that the maid who slept there would not wake up. She opened the bolt of the kitchen door and stepped out into the night. She could walk blindfolded through their cemetery but still it was a little scary at night but this was not the time to be frightened at all. Anastasia walked as fast as possible and slipped through the iron gate of the cemetery to find her mysterious lover on horseback and a horse with empty saddle waiting for her.

He helped her swing over the horse and then both of them rode away in the night as Lord Buchanon and his younger daughter watched from the window of the library laughing out loud.

“How did you even know this would work?” asked Lord Buchanon as they sat down.

“She is my twin, Father. She has always wanted what I have, I knew that this time was not going to be any different.”

Finally after riding for quite a long time both the horses came to a stop near the docks.

“I need to confess something,” said Anastasia as she pulled away the hood of her wrap and looked in those beautiful green eyes filled with love and wonder. As he did not say anything she continued,” I am not Ambrosia, my Lord. I am her twin sister Anastasia.”

The man burst out in deep laughter saying,” Whaddaya think? I got duped? Not at all Ma’am!!”

“You? Who are you? You are not the American, are you?” asked Anastasia with shock etched on her beautiful face.

“Guilty as charged Ma’am. But tis where we needa getoff. The ship sails in an hour,” said the man as he helped Anastasia off her horse pulling her close in his arms.

Finally when the ship sailed off towards his country Anastasia said,” Did you know that it was me from the beginning?”

“Of course I did..betcha you thought you had all of dem fooled, haven’t ya?” said the handsome American who was now her husband. They had been married by the ship’s captain an hour ago.

“In your country, tell me, do women get to vote??” asked Anastasia with her eyes wide and filled with hope.

“You bet my life on it, they do. Only thing is they need to be twenty-one to put in their votes in the ballot,” said youngest millionaire of the country.

Anastasia smiled with such joy and giddiness that it would have melt even a stone. She said,” What is two more years when I have you to walk with me for eternity?”