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I Am A Gentleman. Anya

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She nodded, and smiled at him softly.
“Until next time,” she said, and dipped her head.
“Until next time,” he smiled, and bowed low to place a kiss on the back of her knuckles.
True to his word, Alexei became a regular visitor to Anya’s home. He was often there for dinner and all manner of other occasions. For one, Anya was happy with the development. She was suspicious, at first, that he fully intended to abandon her after their tryst. He proved, however, to be quite a gentleman.
Anya was also surprised that they were not physically involved, as she thought he would want. Aside from that single encounter, Alexei seemed intent upon maintaining the bounds of propriety, and the most they touched was for her to take his arm. They often …show more content…

“What are your thoughts on marriage?” she asked him one day as they wandered through the gardens.
“What about it?” he asked, glancing over at her with raised brow.
“Do you think you’ll ever marry?” Anya asked, and she tried hard to keep her heart from beating too hard.
Alexei looked over at her, his eyes pensive and contemplative.
“I do not think I am made for marriage. What a question,” he finally laughed lightly. “Why ever do you ask it?”
“No reason, I suppose,” Anya shrugged as they walked along, feeling her heart sink. “I intend to marry.”
“Do you?” he said, and his voice was flat with obvious distaste.
“I have little choice,” Anya sighed. “I must bear my own children and manage my own household. A man may choose not to marry a woman if he pleases. But for a woman that is not so honorable.”
“And why not?” Alexei said, and suddenly stopped to face her.
“I’m not sure,” Anya blinked, suddenly flustered.
“The laws of society cannot dictate matters of the heart,” he said, a fire in his blue eyes. “Good day, mademoiselle.”
And with that, he left her in the garden alone.
The encounter had been bewildering and distressing to Anya, and she still didn’t know where they stood in their relationship with one another.
While this was distressing for Anya, it seemed to be a source of entertainment for her mother and Olga, and they mused aloud that it would only be a short matter of time before he finally asked her, and they would be wed.
“You can’t just stay here forever,”

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