“Just where do you think you’re going young lady?”

Ana started as the voice drifted from the darkness, turning sharply and only relaxing when her mother emerged from the living room.

“Well Anastasia?” Natalya asked, eyeing Ana impatiently.

“There’s a party tonight, Alexei said it was fine if I went…” Well he hadn’t really but he hadn’t objected to her going. She had hoped to be gone before her mother noticed though. “Besides, I’m not a child anymore Mama, I’ll be fine,” Ana added, exasperatedly when her mother went to protest, walking out the door before Natalya could stop her.