This is just a new story I am trying. If you would like me to continue please review.
"Rosemarie wake up. Wake up child!"
My aunt's shrieking voice pulled me out of a deep sleep and jolted me out of bed. "Aunt Sonya, the sun has not even risen what could possibly be so important?" It was incredible dark outside and clearly very early in the morning.
"We must prepare," she spoke quickly as she scrambled around the room waking my cousin Lissa and cleaning some cloths off the floor in her path.
"Prepare for what?" Lissa mumbled as she rubbed her eyes in an attempt to waken quicker.
"The Ozera's are coming to visit looking to acquire the large estate at the edge of town. There will be a ball held in their honor and we will all be in attendance."
"When is this ball?"I asked praying I had an hour or two to prepare.
"Tonight."
"Tonight? Why on earth then are we awake at this ungodly hour?" Lissa exclaimed.
"To prepare!" Sonya said matter-a-factly then exited most likely to wake the rest of the family.
"Wake me in a few hours," I groaned as I laid my face back in my pillow and put my extra pillow over my head.
"Never," before I could react Lissa had grabbed my ankles and pulled me off of my bed completely. If I was not awake before I certainly was when I hit the floor, "If I have to endure this so shall you."
"Oh joy," I retorted sarcastically as we both prepared for a very long day.
Our family situation was an odd one. Sonya, my mother Janine, and Lissa's mother Rhea were all sisters. Sadly now Sonya was the only one able to take care of all the children. Rhea along with Lissa's father and brother were killed in an accident that nearly took the lives of Lissa and myself as well. My mother decided she would rather spend her life out in the world with my father and that it would hinder them to take me along. They wrote to me at first then slowly the letters began to lessen then soon stop all together. It did not surprise me that they did not want me, after all what could they do with a stubborn girl who refused to marry at the young age of fifteen when her father claimed to have a suitor for her. Rose could not understand why they wished for her to marry so soon until she heard rumors of all the money the man's family would give to the family of the woman he was to marry. It was always about money for her parents. Rose believed if she was ever to marry it would be for love, never money.
Sonya has two daughters, the oldest Sydney is only a year younger than Rose making her 17 and Mia is the youngest of all of us just having turned 15. Lissa and Rose are both 18 and Lissa's younger sister Jill is 16. We are an unusual bunch and a lot for Sonya and her husband Mikhail to control, but we love each other and are, in our own way, one big happy family.
Mikhail was a high member in the town council here in Baia and had earned much respect from the town's people. Our family was not wealthy by any standard, however we were very well off compared to others and Mikhail had worked very hard for everything he has. He would be presenting the wealthy guests that the ball would be held in honor of. This was the cause of Sonya's nerves because that resulted in Mikhail having the honor of introducing the family to them. This was the perfect opportunity to find one of the girls a future husband and Rose had no doubt Lissa would be chosen. Rose was not bitter towards her cousin, she loved her very much. Lissa was beautiful and perfect in every sense of the word. She had long platinum blond hair, fine white skin, and alluring jade green eyes. Men flocked to her and would stare as she walked past on the street, but none dare ask for her hand knowing that they were not worthy. Lissa, like Rose, believed desperately in marrying for love.
"I cannot believe this is all for some rich man to convince him to live here," I snorted.
"Rose," Lissa chastised me.
"It's true and you know it," I smiled at her.
"Yes but you hardly know the man. He could be sweet," she smiled as if she already was in love with him.
"Men are all the same Liss. Please do not get your hopes up for this one."
The room quieted quickly and the music came to a close. Whispers filled the room and all eyes turned to the door where the guests of honor had arrived.
There stood three people together in royal looking cloths, two men and a woman. One of the men had jet black hair and ice blue eyes which was exactly alike to the women's. In between the siblings was a much taller man with chocolate brown eyes and dark brown hair. His presence alone was enough to quiet the room, the manner in which he carried himself could be either confidence or arrogance, Rose hadn't decided which yet. "Who is that?" Her curiosity got the better of her as she turned to Sydney who on her other side.
"That is Christian and Natasha Ozera."
"Not them, the tall man with the ostentatious look on his face."
My unique description of the handsome man caused Sydney to laugh under her breath. "That is Dimitri Belikov. He is by far the richest man in Siberia, worth more than one hundred million a year, and he is in fact an eligible bachelor, however rumor has it that Natasha has been in pursuit of him since she laid eyes on him."
Dimitri Belikov had an air about him that Rose found mildly attractive and dare she say she felt herself gravitating towards him for most of the night.
When it came time for Mikhail to publicly welcome the guests he did so with ease. The Lords and Lady accepted the welcome graciously and gave their sincerest gratitudes. The family gathered near the guests as Sonya had instructed and then were introduced to the royalty.
"This is Mia, Jillian, Sydney, Rosemarie, and Valissa Tanner," one by one each girl bowed her head to show respect and the two oldest made faces at the use of their full names.
"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance," Lord Ozera said kindly but Rose could see his eye directing the statement towards Lissa.
After the introductions the family dispersed again leaving the two eldest and now Lord Ozera together."How do you like it here in Baia, Lord Ozera?" Lissa inquired.
"Please call me Christian. The town is quite nice," he smiled as he spoke to both of them, "I see no reason why I shall not purchase the estate by tomorrow morning at the latest."
"Do you hunt Lo- Christian?" Rose corrected herself. "When hunting season arrives the game is hardly ignorable. You would love it here during that time of year."
"Of course," he smiled again. "Dimitri and I hunt every year. It is a wonderful hobby of ours."
Speaking of Dimitri caused Rose's eyes to wander in search of him. She discovered him standing in the far corner listening to Natasha speak, looking right back at Rose. This caused her to blush so she turned away and asked the two she was conversing with if they cared to dance. Lissa and by default Christian agreed happily.
The dance was a simple old fashion dance that began with two lines, a line of males and a line of females. Rose did not know her partner but was happy to see Lissa and Christian enjoying themselves. After a few more dances Rose excused herself to sit with Sydney and Lissa soon joined them. The three girls were gossiping in a corner of the room when Rose overheard a conversation from a few feet away.
"Is this night not just marvelous?"
"This night is something, though marvelous is not the word I would choose for it."
"You must allow yourself a moment of fun, Dimitri. Dance, find a beautiful girl and charm her. You may just find yourself a companion," Christian urged his friend.
"I find dancing to be an awful waste of time. You my friend were dancing with the most beautiful girl in attendance," Dimitri spoke as if he was bored and had already endured this night many times.
"Lissa is the most beautiful creature I had ever beheld, however her sister Rose is equally as lovely."
"She is easy on the eyes and possibly tolerable, but not enough to tempt me. Do return to your beauty though, I have no doubt she is waiting somewhere to hang on your every word."
The nerve of that man! Lissa and Sydney were too preoccupied with their gossip to notice the anger in Rose's eyes. She was possibly tolerable he had said, what could that even mean? Not that Rose cared so much as to find out, but his tone and manner of saying such things bothered her. Then the way he spoke of her cousin also stuck her as pompous and Rose had decided he was arrogant.
"Rose," Lissa nudged Rose's arm to get her attention. Rose look at her cousin and observed that Christian had indeed joined them, bringing along Lord Belikov as well. "We were just speaking of poetry," Lissa informed Rose of the current topic so that her cousin may share her opinion.
"I have found poetry to be an awful waste of time and in my opinion it is a way of driving away love."
"I have always considered poetry the food of love," Lord Belikov responded. It was then Rose noticed his Russian accent that laced his words and she wished to hear him speak again, then chastised herself because she had now sworn to loathe him.
"Small amounts only, however I am convinced one poor sonnet will kill it stone dead."
"Then what do you recommend to to encourage affection?"
"Dancing, but only if one's partner is barely tolerable." With a self-satisfied smile Rose removed herself from her family and the two man feeling as if she had won a prize when she threw Dimitri's own word back at him which impressed herself. Little did she know she had also impressed the man she had meant to insult.