The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced (27 page)

Anna giggled. “Would that be a bad
thing?”

“
Nein,
except that we need to find
our other wedding rings. And my extended family has come into town
as well. I am eager for you to meet them.”

“You have more family?” she asked,
astonished.

He nodded. “My uncles and aunts and
cousins.”

There was a knock on the door and Jutta
entered carrying a tray. She said something that sounded like a
greeting in German. Anna smiled at the way she looked at Alex. A
mixture of admiration and lust.

“
Herzogin
, when you are finished
eating, I will return and help you dress.”

“Thank you, Jutta,” Anna said.

Alex stood and brought the tray over to the
bed, putting it between them when he sat on the end of the bed.
“Eat.”

“Yes, Master,” Anna said with a sparkle in
her eyes.

Alex grimaced until he looked into her eyes.
“You’re teasing me?”

She paused and bit her lip. “Is that
okay?”

Alex grinned. “It is perfectly okay. I want
you to be comfortable with me. I’ve told you that. Tease me. Argue
with me. Yell at me, though only in private please. I want to help
you find yourself Anna. To be who you are meant to be. To be the
person that was stolen from you.”

“I think I’m the luckiest girl in the world,”
she said softly, gazing across the bed at her new husband.

Alex looked uncomfortable. “
Nein,
Anna. It is I who am lucky. All your pain could have been prevented
if I hadn’t been so arrogant.” He looked at her with determined
eyes. “I will not fail you again,
mein süße Frau
.”

“I know, Alex.” She gave him an adoring
smile. “I feel safe and without fear for the first time since my
parents died. I know you will protect me.” She smiled shyly and
looked into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of Devin anymore.”

“You’re not?” Alex’s eyes widened in
surprise.

“Is that okay?”

“
Ja
, Anna. Of course. I’m thrilled.”
He gave her a half smile. “Though it does overwhelm me a bit that
you trust me so much. But in a good way,” he added quickly. He held
a strawberry by the stem and held it out to her. “Eat. I have more
diamonds to buy you.”

Anna grinned at him and leaned forward to
take a bite of the juicy fruit.

*****

“Do you like this one?”

“Anna, I want you to pick it out. I want it
to be from you.”

“But I don't know what you like.”

“I will like anything you pick out.”

Anna stuck out her lower lip. “You are very
stubborn.”

Vati laughed. “You are just learning this,
Liebling
?
”

Anna narrowed her eyes. “You could have
warned me.”

“Would it have mattered?” Vati asked, still
laughing.

“No.” Anna wrapped her arms around Alex’s
waist and rested her head on his chest. She sighed. “I like that
our German rings match. I want our American rings to match
too.”

“Schatzi, American rings are different. Men’s
and women’s rings are very different. If you want, I will show you
which one I picked out for you. Will that help?”

“Yes.” She grinned up at him.

Alex was finding Anna almost as stubborn as
himself, though in a different manner. She wanted to please him,
which he loved. But he wanted the ring she picked out for him to be
from her, not just something he liked.

He turned to the shopkeeper, Jakob. “Will you
please get my wife’s ring so she can see it?” he asked in
German.

Jakob nodded and disappeared into the back of
the store, returning a few minutes later with a small box, which he
presented to Alex.

“Thank you.”

Alex opened the box and handed it to his
precious wife. Her eyes widened at the sight of the band of round
diamonds. He had special ordered it so that each diamond was of the
highest quality and sparkled like her engagement ring. The main
diamond of the engagement ring was just over one and a half karats
and considered as perfect a diamond as could be found. Colorless,
flawless, and perfectly cut. Anything larger wouldn’t have been as
high of quality.

“Oh, Alex,” she said breathlessly. “It’s
beautiful.”

“Just like you,” he said, kissing the top of
her head. She was so small next to him, it was the easiest place to
kiss her frequently. Plus her hair was like silk and smelled
delicious. Vanilla and raspberries. “So, is that enough to help you
pick something out?” he teased gently.

Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him.
“I just want to make sure you like it.”

“Anna, I told you. Anything you pick out I
will love, because it is from you.”

Anna did a circuit of the men’s wedding rings
again. This wasn’t a large store, but it had very good quality
jewelry. And the owner could be trusted.

“What about that one?” She pointed to a thick
platinum band with round diamonds inlaid around the entire
band.

Jakob took it out of the case and handed it
to Alex. It was heavy and well made. It would also compliment her
ring very nicely.

“I like it,” Alex said, smiling at Anna. She
had good taste.

“Really? You’re not just saying that?” Her
eyes were eager as she looked at him.

“Yes, Anna. I like it. I like it a lot.”

She grinned and her eyes sparkled. “I thought
it was like a guy’s version of mine.”

He cupped her cheek. “I thought the same
thing.” He kissed her and then looked at Jakob. “How long would it
take to come in my size?” he asked in German.

“A week, I think. Or I could adjust this one.
I would need to add a diamond or two. I have some good ones in the
back. I could have that done tomorrow.”

Alex nodded. “Yes, do that. I would also like
the inside engraved.”

Jakob handed him a piece of paper and Alex
wrote three words on it. “Anna” and “San Francisco.”

Alex looked at Anna. “You like this one? You
want me to have it as my wedding ring?”

Anna nodded enthusiastically.

Alex nodded at Jakob, who wrote down some
information on a sales slip. “I have your information from your
other rings. Would you like to take hers with you today?”

“No. I’ll leave it here and pick it up
tomorrow.” He glanced at Anna, realizing it would be unlikely that
they would leave their bedroom tomorrow. “Or have someone pick it
up.”

“Very good, Herzog.”

Anna smoothed her dress nervously as they
drove up the driveway to Alex’s family
Gutshaus
. It was
even more impressive in the daytime. The stone walls, yellowed with
age, looked majestic. A dozen chimneys stuck out of the roof, and
the warmth they radiated revealed copper roofing otherwise hidden
under the snow. Stone carvings framed the windows, completing the
overall grandeur of the building.

She shifted in her seat. Her new piercings
were beginning to ache.

The SUV pulled up to the front door where
Lukas awaited them. Tony opened the vehicle door and Alex got out,
then turned to help Anna out of the car. Alex swept Anna off her
feet, kissed her and then carried her inside.

“What was that for?” Anna asked, giggling as
he put her on her feet.

“A groom always carries his bride over the
threshold. It’s bad luck not too.”

“Alex, the rest of the family is eager to
meet your bride.” Wilhelm said, heading for the stairs.

Anna eyed the stairs with apprehension.
Walking was rather uncomfortable at the moment. Alex noticed, swept
her up into his arms again and walked quickly up the stairs behind
his father.

The sitting room was even more crowded than
it had been the night before. It seemed full of Alex and Wilhelm
clones with a scattering of women and children. When Alex put Anna
down, there were German exclamations throughout the room. Anna saw
Gretchen sitting on the couch and her expression was one of
surprise, as if she hadn’t expected to see Anna. Anna thought it
strange, but the thought was put out of her mind as Alex began
introducing her to his extended family.

Wilhelm had three brothers younger than
himself, Friedrich, Albrecht and Heinrich, and Ilsa had two
sisters, Lore and Hanne, who was married to Heinrich. Alex rattled
off the names quickly and Anna got lost. She smiled as they nodded
at her, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember all their
names.

It was a huge family and Anna was glad Alex
stayed by her side. They were all very nice and friendly, but it
was very overwhelming. Most of them spoke English, though some
better than others. Apparently, English was required in German
education.

Alex guided Anna to a couch and they talked
with various members of his family. A while later she saw Seth
motion to Alex and he excused himself, kissing Anna and saying he’d
be back shortly.

Anna sat quietly and stared at her hands. She
might not be afraid of Devin anymore, but she was still shy.

At some point, Gretchen came and sat near her
along with Liesl and a couple of the cousins. Anna looked at them
with apprehension.

“Don’t you speak any German, Anna?” Gretchen
asked in a pleasant tone, which immediately put Anna on guard,
though she wasn’t sure why.

Anna smiled apologetically. “I only know a
few words.”

“You came here to marry Alex and you didn’t
bother to learn any of his language? That’s rather rude, don’t you
think?” Gretchen looked around at the other girls, who nodded in
agreement.

“I didn’t come here to marry Alex. I had no
idea....” Anna looked around desperately for Alex, but he was
nowhere to be seen. “I didn’t even want to come. Alex sent for
me.”

“He
sent
for you?” Liesl said in an
amazed voice. “What does that mean?”

“I....” Anna didn’t know how to answer and
blushed. She didn’t think she should say that she was Alex’s slave
and had to obey him. She shrugged and looked at her hands. “He
wanted me to come see him.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to come see Alex?” a
cousin asked, amazed. Anna didn’t remember her name. “I thought all
women in America were in love with him.”

“So why did you marry him?” Gretchen asked.
“There are lots of women who would love to be in your shoes. Alex
never lacked for female companionship.”

The way Gretchen said that made Anna
uncomfortable. Alex had said that Gretchen had a thing for him. She
obviously still did. Did Alex ever have feelings for Gretchen?

“He loves me,” Anna said softly.

Gretchen looked her up and down. “You’re so
young. What could he possibly see in you?”

Tears stung Anna’s eyes. She tried to remind
herself that Alex loved her, but without him by her side it was
easy to doubt. After all, she wasn’t sophisticated like his family.
She didn’t speak German. She was a sex slave.

“I can’t believe he married an American,”
Gretchen mumbled to Liesl, though loud enough for Anna to hear. “I
can’t believe your father allowed it. At least Mina was German,
even though he didn’t like her, though I can’t imagine why. She was
so sweet. Heidi would have been four now.” Gretchen turned back to
Anna. “When do you want to start having children?”

Anna stared at her for a long moment, her
mind wildly trying to figure out what to do. She had to escape.
“Excuse me,” she said quietly and got up and walked away. Gretchen
said something in German and the other girls laughed. Were they
laughing at her?

She headed for the stairs and hesitated. She
didn’t know where Alex was. She didn’t even know where his bedroom
was. The only place she knew was the garden, so she went downstairs
and sat in a corner chair, hoping she’d be hidden from anyone who
came down.

Gretchen’s words brought all of Anna’s doubts
back into the forefront of her mind. Anna would never give Alex any
children. But it was obviously expected. All of the Kunze women had
children if they were married. Even Mina had given Alex a
daughter.

Oh, why did Alex marry her? He said he loved
her. But he also talked about needing to protect her. Did he marry
her out of an obligation? Because his father said he needed to? Or
because he felt like he needed to?

She heard male voices echoing in the entryway
and leaned forward slightly to peer through the plants. Alex, Seth,
Tony, Greg and Sebastian walked into the entrance hall from the
opposite side of the house.

She saw Gretchen walk down the stairs and
approach Alex. They spoke in German. Alex nodded to the other men
and they disappeared up the stairs, leaving Alex and Gretchen
behind.

Anna could tell Gretchen was flirting with
Alex by the tone of her voice and the way she looked at him. Alex
frowned at her and responded in short tones. Gretchen then said
something and Alex laughed, not derisively but as if in delight.
Gretchen looked thrilled and said something else to which Alex
smiled.

Gretchen took a step forward and put her hand
on Alex’s chest and Anna looked away. She didn’t want to see Alex
with another woman. Anna knew it would happen eventually, but she
really didn’t want to see it. Especially today of all days.

Anna leaned back on the seat and curled her
legs beneath her, staring up at the blue sky visible through the
glass ceiling. The warmth of the sunny day had melted enough snow
to clear the glass, but the early evening shadows had already
started to frost the edges.

Just like her day, she thought forlornly.

*****

Alex walked up the stairs next to Gretchen,
his mind busy. Seth had determined that Devin had received some
sort of tip that he and Anna had gotten married, but they hadn’t
yet figured out who had been the mole. He couldn’t imagine who
would have betrayed him like that.

Gretchen was still chatting about what Derek
and Sophie had been doing while Alex and Anna had been at the
Schloss. As much as Gretchen annoyed him, he did love his nieces
and nephews and enjoyed the stories she told about them. They
almost always made him laugh.