Page 93 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

Tommy made his way over to them. “Hey, Anna.” He embraced her hard and kissed her cheek, then glanced up at Kurt. “Sorry.”

Kurt grunted.

“It is good to see you, Tommy.” Wilhelm extended his hand.

Tommy smiled and shook it. “It’s good to see you, sir. I understand you’re able to come into the country again.”

Wilhelm nodded. “I plan on doing so often.”

“I hope you do.” He glanced at Anna. “I haven’t seen her smile like this in a while. It’s nice.”

“Your father is around, I assume?” Wilhelm raised his brow, but there was a look in his eye Anna couldn’t quite discern.

“He is.” Tommy grimaced. “He’s trying to keep Devin calm. Devin’s not... happy about yesterday’s dinner.”

“Understandable. But necessary.”

“I agree, sir.”

They exchanged inscrutable looks again, and then Tommy said goodbye and walked away.

What a strange exchange. “Have you met Tommy before, Wilhelm?”

Wilhelm’s face became impassive. “Briefly, at Alex’s funeral. He came to comfort you, remember?”

Anna vaguely remembered Tommy trying to talk to her, and her coldness to him. Thankfully, he hadn’t held it against her.

They finally made their way through the crowd to the covered entrance of the cathedral. Vlad and Peter stood at the doorway, greeting people as they entered. Their wives stood next to them, looking sad but composed.

Dariya saw her before Peter did and smirked, until she noticed Kurt and Wilhelm. Her eyes widened at the sight of the men flanking her.

Peter saw her and smiled broadly as he hurried to her, arms outstretched. “Anna.” He seemed to have changed since yesterday, a new dignity overlying his dancer’s grace. He looked like an Elder-Son now. A nice one, though. He kissed her on the cheek and then greeted Wilhelm and Kurt.

Wilhelm greeted him with a broad smile. “How are you doing, Peter?”

“I’m doing well, sir. As well as I can.” He glanced at Kurt and then Anna. “You okay?”

She nodded. “You?”

He gave her a sad smile. “I miss you already.”

“I miss you.” She looked up when she saw Dariya approach.

“You certainly do not waste time, do you?” Dariya eyed Kurt’s hand on Anna’s shoulder.

Peter frowned. “Anna was married to Kurt’s brother before he died. She’s an Elder-Mistress.”

Dariya looked at Anna, then looked around the crowd at the other women. “You do not look like one.”

“She’s not supposed to be one.” Kurt frowned. “She is also a gertsoginya.”

Dariya started at the last word and curtsied. “I-I did not know. I am sorry.”

Anna looked up at Kurt, who beamed at her.

“I didn’t know that,” Peter said. “I suppose it makes sense...”

Anna looked between Peter and Kurt several times. “Didn’t know what?”

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