Anna and William settled into a pattern over the following days.
A day before the doctor's visit they usually went to William's house which was situated beside the river.
William's room was directly beside the river, that was Anna's best room in the house. She usually sneaked in when the doctor and William were out doing some exercise.
The tale was that William had been smitten by Tony's daughter, Tonia, and was working on a piece at his house by the river to surprise her with at the Christmas ball.
William was an incredibly talented artist; all he needed to do was take one glance, as his photographic memory would catch and preserve everything exactly as it was.
All ladies in court were seen gossiping about Tonia being lucky, although there were still few who felt even though William was royalty they couldn't spend the rest of their lives with a man in a wheelchair.
Anna overheard Marilyn, the duke of Erton's daughter, say to her clique, "if it's a one night stand I'll be okay with it, I've always dreamt of William bedding me."
Tonia was considered lucky by some and unlucky by few.
'Those few were stupid,' Anna thought, even if she had crossed her mind to have nothing to do with William, she still found herself yearning for his love, his touch, his attention.
Even if she had told herself that anything she was going to do was strictly for the job and no strings attached, she still found herself wanting to do more, even if it meant giving her life up.
Anna suddenly recalled the word inscribed on her mother's piano, "Love and Hurt."
Everyone believes love is beautiful, a never-ending fairy tale, but she couldn't recall ever loving someone without being hurt.
Love makes you weak, makes you suffer, turns you into an entirely different you but at the end of the day same love is undeniable.. once it comes you stay hooked, Anna thought staring at her reflection in the mirror.
She knew deep within her that if she was given a second chance to live again, she would still choose to love William.
Maybe if her father and his father had approved of their earlier union, things wouldn't have gotten out of hand.. or would they have tire themselves out and fallen out of love?
She knew she could never fall out of love with William but couldn't say that for him also.
Indeed William spent time working on a piece each time after his appointment. He was always moody after each exercise, the first few days there was hope in his eyes but as the days turned into weeks Anna saw that hope diminish gradually.
The doctor believed with the exercise and this new prescription backed up by William's willingness to heal mentally, he would walk again.
It was hurtful to see someone you cared for so much in so much pain and you could do nothing about it. She was going to find the culprit and was going to make sure he's left in so much pain.. she was going to hit him where it hurt the most.
Winter was drawing near, and even with the chilly air, Anna felt hot as she remembered the one kiss she'd ever shared with her only desired man.
With the full moon shining brightly she smiled with one thought on her mind, moon bathing.
She rushed down to the river undressing slowly.
She removed her gown and took the pins out of her hair, gently shaking her head to let her hair down.
She stretched staring at the moon, naked. Her mother had once told her that bathing naked in a full moon replenishes ones beauty and added extra, as a young girl they had done it severally. 'A silly tale,' she thought smiling widely.
She always smiled when she remembered how she was called by her mother, "Maris," which meant of the sea.
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William stopped painting and looked out his window when he noticed the woman he was thinking about, naked.. standing by the river.
He smiled staring lovingly at her.
He had thought seeing her that night at the garden was breathtaking.
Seeing her now was.. was paradise. Who knew she had such graceful curves in those dull and unfitted clothes she always wore.
Her skin was as white as snow, if only she could just turn around for him to get her front view, when she was coming out he told himself.
With her red hair glowng in the moonlight flowing down her waist she looked like an enchantress.. one he would not mind being lost in her spell.
This was pure art, there was a spot on the upper part of her back... a mole he thought, what else could it be.
🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️
Anna dived into the water swimming like a mermaid. She was born in the water after all, her mother was having a moonlight swim in the ocean with her pregnant friend when she came into labor.
Anna had come out in her mother's arms before any help was gotten, once they pulled them out of the water, they separated mother and child while her father held her, her mother was taken away by the midwife to check her up. Another woman was with her father to clean Anna and cover her up.
This was her father's best night time story, "you had taken little water in your nose with your first cry. We were lucky to save you my girl, one of the happiest moment in my life is holding you in my arms for the very first time" he always said.
Anna swam reminiscing her past, her childhood, her history.
If there was anything that kept her sane it was those stories from the past, those thoughts from the past.
She remained in the water for a bit before coming out as the breeze grew stronger and colder.
Coming out she picked her dress up and put her pins in her hands contemplating going in naked.
She didn't want to get the dress wet, it was the only extra dress left and she planned to use it for the journey back to the castle the next morning.
Alfred would be in his room now, Anna thought, and William.. he never left his room at this time.
She could go in without being seen by them.
Making up her mind she walked towards the house.
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William had seen her come out from the water, he smiled taking in her front view. Those two peaches on her chest were as firm as her backside.
Peaches.. he smiled widely realising the word he had used to describe her breast.
He wanted her as he had never wanted any woman.
He couldn't describe what he felt, he left his room wheeling out for some air, the woman had left him burning with desire.
First he needed to stop at Alfred's room to help him down the stairs, that was when he saw her walk in naked..
🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️
Anna wasn't expecting this.. wasn't expecting William, she used her dress to cover herself hoping he would turn away.
William turned away seeing her embarrassment, he had seen enough from his window, even though it was better at a closer view.
Anna ran into her room shutting it gently.