Say My Name

Chapter One--Anna


Despite the knot in her throat and the heat in her cheeks, Anna Miller tried her best to maintain her composure. Dealing with bad news was not her forte. Not receiving it, and certainly not delivering it. Yet here was another young man at her door to whom she was going to have to deliver bad news. She cut a quick glance at her father who was at the sink nearby, scrubbing a spotless dish as he pretended not to be listening.

With a small sigh, she looked up at the lanky gentleman that stood in her kitchen. Though his clothing was of fine materials and he appeared beneath his element in her meager cottage, his expression was humble and his eyes scanned hers with hopeful anticipation.

Shaking her head, she sighed. “I’m sorry, sir–”

“Please, call me Edward.”

“Edward. I’m afraid my answer is no.”

“Why not?” His eyebrows furrowed together. “I want to marry you, Anna.”

“But why? We have only met but a minute ago.”

“I already know and adore so much about you, thanks to the description your father gave me of you at the market when we met.” His eyes sparkled with admiration as he spoke. “For months I tried to put you out of my head, but men speak of you everywhere I go. How could a man forget you when he is constantly bombarded by tales of your incredible beauty, grace and talent?”

Anna delivered her father a lingering glare. “Yes, it is unfortunate that Papa tends to brag about me with far too much enthusiasm.”

“But everything he said about you is true,” Edward said. “In fact, I must say he did not do your beauty justice enough.”

Anna felt her cheeks warm, just as much from the compliment as her reluctance to have to turn him away. “I’m very flattered Edward, really. But I am not currently looking to marry anyone.”

“But why not?”

“I have my papa to take care of and the house and garden to tend to.”

“I could aid you in all of that. Even hire help to tend to your father.”

She shook her head. “I thank you for the offer, but your help is not needed.”

“Once you take the time to get to know me, I am certain that you would –”

“I’m sorry.” Anna gently took him by the arm, guided him to the door and then opened it. “It is getting late, and I am very tired right now.”

“Perhaps we could picnic together tomorrow?”

She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“But Anna--”

“Have a good evening, Edward, sir.” She closed and barricaded the door behind him as soon as he crossed the threshold. Not until she heard the clacking departure of the horse and carriage did she move away from the doorway. With both hands on her hips and her head shaking from side to side, she turned to her father.

Henry Miller crossed his grey-haired arms. “What are you shaking your head at me for? You’re the one who just turned away a perfectly fine young man.”

“He’s but a stranger to us both, and one who is ridiculously enamored with the gossip you insist upon spreading, at that.”

“It isn’t gossip if it’s the truth.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “A highly exaggerated version of the truth, perhaps. I really wish you would stop bragging about me so much, Papa.”

“I only aim for your happiness, girl. You were meant for better things than being poor and stuck looking after me and this dilapidated house. I don’t want you to end up run down and alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have you.”

He eyed her then, his fuzzy white brows knitted together with concern. “You know what I mean, Anna. My life has not been the same since we lost your mama. A life without love is an empty one. It is my duty to see that you’re well provided for, and finding you a good husband would go a long ways toward that.”

Anna let out a heavy sigh. She moved toward her father, put her arms around his neck and then rested her head upon his shoulder. “Of course I know you mean well for me, but has it ever occurred to you that I’m not interested in looking for a husband? That I don’t want to leave you, or our home?”

“That would be absurd.”

“Having strange men knocking at the door for me is what’s absurd, papa. Please, stop talking about me all over town.”

“I can’t help but talk about how wonderful my daughter is,” he said, rubbing her on the back. “And all I want is for you to know love.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I know all about love.” She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

And Anna did know, far more than she let on to her father. She knew all too well about love, heartbreak and loneliness. When her eyes began to burn with the formation of tears, she broke their embrace and turned away before he could see. “I’m going to finish hanging the laundry,” she said as she hurried out of the back door.

Though it was obvious that Henry Miller meant well, Anna was not interested in meeting new men. Her heart was already set on one. Tom Tit Tot. She giggled at the silly nickname she’d given him back when they were just teens. “I don’t care about royal duties. No matter what, we belong together, Anna,” he’d told her. Quite literally he was her prince, and the only one she’d ever fallen in love with, the one she’d agreed to wait for no matter what.

She had no intention of breaking that promise for some foolish man who showed up at her doorstep smitten with gossip.

The silent air of the early night blew through the garments and linen as Anna hung them up, their gentle flapping, like wings on the wind, helped to lift some of the heaviness in her heart.

The tranquility was interrupted by what sounded like footsteps and the crunching of leaves. Anna stiffened and held her breath as she looked toward Mellowbrook woods, which bordered their property. For the most part, she merely suspected some small, scavenging animal had discovered the end of the woods. Another part of her hoped her long-awaited prince would pop out of the foliage and swoop her up into his arms like he used to years ago during their secret courting.

However, moments went by and the intruder never revealed itself. It remained hidden in the bushes, moving just enough to rustle the leaves every so often. Anna clipped the white sheet she was holding onto the line before she went over to investigate, her pulse quickening with a mix of fear and hopeful anticipation. But instead of an animal or her absent beloved beau, it was the neighbor’s stocky and wide-eyed boy who jumped up, laughing.

“What are you doing in the bushes, Jason?”

“Hiding from you! Did I scare you?”

She smiled, trying to contain her disappointment. “No, not really. But perhaps you’re the one who should be scared.”

“Me? What for?”

“Don’t you know that there are monsters who also hide in these bushes?”

His eyes grew wide as plates. “Monsters? What kind of monsters?”

“Green goblins,” Anna said with a wide, wicked grin. “Nasty ones that like to scare mischievous little boys.”

He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. “Are you telling me the truth, Miss Anna? Are there really green goblins out here?”

She nodded her head. “There are. I myself have seen one hiding in this very spot once before.”

“Here? When?” Jason looked around. “You haven’t seen a goblin here today, have you?”

She laughed. “No, not today. But it is getting late, and you probably should be heading home soon. I’d be careful if I were you.”

“I’m going home right now. Bye, Miss Anna!”

She watched with mild amusement as he dashed off, but then took a moment to scan the area herself. What she’d told the boy wasn’t completely a lie--she believed she had seen a goblin in that very area a few years ago. It hadn’t done anything more than peer at her through branches and disappeared soon after she’d caught sight of it.

The approach of trotting hooves distracted her from her thoughts, and Anna frowned when she saw the vehicle, which was even better appointed than Edward’s, stop in front of her house. Her frown turned into a scowl when her father rushed to greet the man who came out of it. Not another silly suitor! Anna gripped two fistfuls of her skirt and marched to the front of the house, prepared to tell this one to not even waste his time a minute further. But he was speaking directly to her father and barely glanced at her as she approached, so Anna kept her mouth closed and listened.

“The king has requested an audience with your daughter at once.”

“With my Anna? Are they acquainted?”

“Your Majesty would like to become so.”

“But what would King Thomas want with my daughter?”

“The king is looking for a wife, sir. A wife unlike any other. One who is beautiful and of unusual talent and bravery. Have you not been boasting all over the land that your daughter is all of these things?”

“Well, yes ... yes! My Anna is all of those things, and more.”

“Then good,” the messenger said. “Tomorrow at midday a carriage will come to escort you both to Castle Grimbros. The king looks forward to meeting your daughter.”

“What fortune.” Henry beamed from ear to ear. “Yes, of course, tell the king it would be our honor to be his guests. Right, Anna?” He clapped his hands together and nodded at the man, and at the same time both men turned to look at Anna.

Anchored by feet that suddenly felt as heavy as lead, Anna blinked a few times, feeling her legs go wobbly underneath her skirt. Still clutching at the material, she fell to the ground. Her father came quickly to her side, and reached for her.

“Surely you won’t turn down even the king, my dear girl. You could become Queen!”

Prince – no, King Thomas now--has called for me. She stared off into the bushes, her heart pounding, her mouth hanging open.

“Please child, let’s give this man an answer. Won’t you at least agree to meet the king, even if not just out of courtesy and respect for his majesty?”

After four long years, I will finally get to see my Tom Tit Tot again.

Anna managed to nod her head. In this man, and only this man, she was interested in meeting, indeed.