Anna smiled automatically and nodded, and then realized it was true. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“You have never gone shopping before?” He looked at her, his eyes wide and eyebrows high. “I thought it was a rite of passage for womanhood.”
“My parents died when I was eleven and I went to live with Master Jack.” She paused, realizing that Master Jack had taken her shopping—back when he was Uncle Jack—but not in stores like the one behind her. “Shopping was never an event. We went when I needed something.”
“What did you do when you went out with your friends? According to my sisters, getting dressed is half the event of the evening.”
“Out with friends?” She drew her brows together and shook her head. “I’ve never gone out with friends.” Anna paused. “Master Jack had his friends over a lot, for parties and stuff. They kept me company.” She gave a small shrug. They had been nice to her before things changed.
Kurt frowned. “He allowed you to spend time with grown men, but not girls your own age?”
“He said it wasn’t important to have friends.” She shrugged again. “Besides, I didn’t have time for friends. I had to learn my lessons.”
“Lessons?”
“To learn how to please a man.”
Kurt muttered something in German. “Anna, how old are you?”
“I just turned twenty on Monday.”
Kurt stared in disbelief, and she shrunk back. Had he been thinking she was younger? Master Jack always said men like younger girls, and that twenty was the beginning of the end. “Did I displease you, my lord?” she whispered.
“Nein, Anna. What you said just... surprised me.” Kurt smiled, but it looked forced. “We must celebrate your birthday tonight. Did Devin do anything special for you?”
“No, but I didn’t mind. It was one of the best days I’d had in a very long time.” She didn’t want him to think poorly of Devin. “I had the entire afternoon and evening and night to myself, and I read an entire book without being interrupted. It was wonderful.” And Devin had told her he loved her. What more could she have asked for?
Kurt’s brows furrowed. “I am so sorry, Anna. That is a horrible way to grow up. It is so... wrong. No one should be treated like that.”
“Wrong?” Anna frowned, thoroughly confused. “How else was I supposed to learn what I needed to learn? My purpose in life is to please men.” She gave a tentative smile. “I think I do a pretty good job.”
“I would agree with that.” He flashed a lopsided grin. “But you—you should not be... You are not a Dirne. You should not be locked up in a house waiting for men to come use you.”
“What’s a . . . a Deer-nuh?”
Kurt smiled. “A Dirne. A Schloss sex slave.”
“Oh.” Anna frowned. “Well, of course I am, Kurt. I mean, I’m not a slave, but my purpose in life is to please men, so, I am... kind of...” She chewed her lip. Was she a sex slave? But she wasn’t marked as a slave, and Devin had said all his slaves were marked. What was she? “I am here to please you,” she said softly.
“Anna...” Kurt reached out and pulled her back to him. “Anna, you are not a Dirne. You are not a slave. I think Devin is mistaken.”
Anna furrowed her brows. Devin was never wrong.
“I think you are a very pretty young woman whom I want to spend a lot of time with...” He kissed her gently. “And get to know much better.” He gave her a tender look and kissed her again, this time nibbling on her lip.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, dismissing his words. If she didn’t know what she was, how could he? She knew the purpose Devin had for her. Besides, his words made her feel funny.
“Kurt.” Wilhelm appeared at their side, speaking in a low but firm tone. “We do not act this way on a public street.”
Kurt winked at Anna and straightened. “I cannot help it, Vati.”
Wilhelm frowned and shook his head, then chuckled. “Ilsa is arranging for someone to come to Alex’s house and help you get ready. They will arrive in an hour, so we need to go.”
“Alex’s house?” He’d mentioned it when they were in the store, but she hadn’t really thought about what it meant. Kurt’s older brother. What was he like? And why did her heart give a little skip when his name was mentioned?
Anna crawled back into the massive black car and the men followed behind her.
Kurt grinned. “We stay with my brother when Mutti doesn’t come. It is more fun than a hotel.”