Chapter 5

"we would stop to visit madame Lambert shop for your fittings before we begin our stroll" Ann announced as she waited for the footman to helped the girls into the carriage.

"I hate fittings" Anna mumbled.

"What about the one we had a fortnight ago" Ara asked sharing in her sister's grief.

"It got mixed up" Ann drawled.

"She is forever mixing up our measurements" Anna groaned.

" What about the pigeons? You promised we could feed them" Ara asked with a sigh.

" We can do that after your fittings"Ann answered.

"But miss Ann there won't be pigeons to feed by the time we are back"Anna stated.

"How do you know that?" Ann asked.

"I Know everything" Anna smirked.

"I'm sure you do" Ann drawled.

" I'll inform the footman of our change of plans"Ara concluded.

"We leave immediately after feeding the pigeons and not a minute more"Ann announced.

"Miss Ann You really are the best"

Anna grinned.

"I don't believe I could be any worse" she shrugged.

After Ara had informed the footman of their plans, they went on their way to the park, as the carriage rolled away the girls chatted about everything, both regular and unusual things.

"It has been a while since Richard has called on us"Ara said.

"I'm of the knowledge he is still in town"Anna replied.

"I won't stop to wonder how you gained your knowledge" Ann replied.

"Since I'm very observant, I have come to the conclusion that he usually visits only once or twice a month, so I was quite surprised to see him at home after the ball last week" she added smiling at her.

"Everybody knows how frequently he visits Anna" Ara scoffed.

"Did you scoff at me?" Anna asked grinning.

"Of cause not, I had a bit of dust in my throat" Ara replied.

"Well I bet my stallion that I heard you scoff" Anna answered.

"You don't have a horse" Ara smirked.

"I have Amber, and moreover Steve has been teaching me the basics of climbing one with his" Anna answered.

"You shouldn't be riding them Anna they are too dangerous" Ann said.

"Who says? Frampton is too much of a darling"Anna announced.

"Amber is a mare and I'm sure there somewhere in mother's book of propiety that states that a lady should never climb a stallion" Ara added.

" Horses are of same specie and I'm not sure I have said this before but you can be quite boring Ara" Anna concluded.

"I'm not boring I'm just way more of a proper young lady than you are"Ara replied rolling her eyes at her sister's arguments.

" Aha! I could swear I saw you roll your eyes at me"Anna grinned.

"And what do you plan to do about it" Ara smirked.

"Just wait until I tell mother how much of a proper lady you were in the carriage" Anna grinned.

"I find arguing with you quite exausting" Ara signed.

     *.    *.  *.    

  Ann let them chatter away. She gathered her thoughts while she looked out the window. It had been a week since she had that absurd conversation with Lord Richard, and she hadn't seen him, she wondered what he was up to, probably some business or another, non of which was her business, so she tried thinking of other things which was exceedingly difficult, as she kept wondering when next he would grace them with his annoying presence.

The carriage rolled up and stop and they got down, Ann had gone over her plans about a hundred times in the carriage. The plan was to quickly do the fittings so they could go home, as she needed to prepare for lord and lady Mayfair, they were visiting as lady Mayfair was with child, it was to be announced formally.

Once they had settled on a bench on the field, she brought out some pieces of bread and biscuits she had gathered from the quick breakfast they had before leaving, and handed some to the excited twins.

While she sat behind to enjoy the morning scenery.

"Speak of the devil" Anna smirked.

" Oh it's Richard" Ara grinned.

" And Daph" Anna added.

"Richard!!.." Ara howled.

"Ara! It's that is very unladylike"Ann scolded hoping they didn't hear her.

"I'm sorry miss Ann" she grimaced.

"Atleast it was effective enough" Anna grinned as she stood up to gain their attention, therefore losing the attention of some pigeons as they flew to a safer distance.

"They are coming this way" Ara said almost pulling out Ann's arm as she hauled her towards them.

"Daphne!" Ara grinned as she gave her sister a big hug.

"You look lovely" lady Mayfair replied.

"I have missed you"lady Mayfair said as she gave Anna a peck on the cheek.

"Says the one who abandoned her sister for marital bliss" Anna answered.

"Well I do hope you are indeed blissful" Ara said smiling.

"She does look like it though" Richard joined.

"And I suppose you are the new companion" lady Mayfair said turning her attention to Ann.

"My lady, Miss Ann Liverbert at your service your grace" Ann bowed.

"Oh no need for that, I have never been a tiny bit comfortable with such pleasantries, and besides you look my age, you can call me Daphne" she smiled swinging her hand as she spoke.

"That is when we are with family" she added.

"As you wish your.... Daphne" Ann quickly corrected.

" So Ann what did we interrupt?" Richard asked.

"Richard?" Daphne frowned groaned.

"What? I can't call her name too" Richard smirked at his sisters hard stares.

"The girls were feeding the pigeons, but we plan to visit miss Lambert after for their fittings" Ann answered.

"Then we shall join you" Richard announced.

"You shall?" Daphne asked raising a brow at her brothers sudden change of plans.

"Yes.....I should take the time to relax before I visit the farm stead" he said looking at his sister.

"Then we better get going" Ann said.

"

Should we continue feeding the pigeons?" Daphne asked.

"I fear Anna scared quite a number of them in her excitement" Ara turned to her sister.

"I'm sure they will be back once they notice the bread crumbs" Anna said.

"Then we should get to it at once if you don't want to be late for your fittings" Daphne announced heading towards one of the long benches Ann and the twins had been sitting.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!