Chapter One

I walked down the cobbled road, my hair in tight curls close to my head fixed with numerous pins and clips. I had perfect looks, I knew I did and everyone around me envied me for it. My fitted pale yellow dress, covered in various frills and bows reached just below the knee and the patent heels I wore only added to my glorious height of five nine. I was eighteen, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect.

I carried a small paper bag, its contents being ham and cucumber sandwiches, a small cake slice from the bakery and a thermos flask filled with water. My Mother had told me to drop it off to my Father, as he had forgotten it when he had left that morning for work. As I reached the bank, a building of incredible beauty, I quickly applied a thick layer of red lipstick to my perfect lips. Royce King worked in this bank, the most eligible Bachelor in all of New York. It was important that I made the correct impression.

The doorman opened the door and I gracefully walked up the marble steps and into the building. The main desk in the foyer would tell me where to reach my Father. I approached the woman in her forties who sat at the desk. She had small, round glasses perched on her nose and thin hair helplessly pinned up in a style I couldn't even put a name to. Yet, I still put on a dazzling smile and as intended, it dazzled her. "Hello, I'm Mr Hale's daughter, I was wondering if you could tell me where to find him?"

The woman stuttered, registering what I had said slowly. My Father, Mr Hale was high up in the bank and well known to almost everyone in New York. Clearly amazed by my position and clearly amazed by my beauty, she said "Yes Miss, Mr Hale is up the stairs and third on your left, in room B3."Her voice was so nasally I struggled to understand what she had just said. She attempted to pull a smile that would dazzle me, as mine had to her, it didn't work.

"Thank you for your help," I replied. I made my way up the stairs, being cautious to sway my hips slightly in an elegant manor. I counted down the doors until I reached the third on my left, and as she said it was room B3. I knocked twice, my Father replied with a booming sound "come in!" I opened the door. "What can I do for you?" He asked, before looking up from his paperwork and realising it was me, "Oh, Rose, did I forget my lunch again my darling?"

"Yes, Father." I smiled, handed him the package and we exchanged kisses on the cheeks. I didn't sit, as I knew he was busy with his paperwork and that this was what you'd call a flying visit. "Anyway Father, just a quick visit, I'll be off and let you get on with your work."

"Quite right Rosalie, tell your Mother I shall be back for dinner, bye my darling."

"Bye," I replied, before quietly shutting the door behind me. Just as I turned away from the door I bumped into Royce.

"Miss Hale, what a pleasant surprise, how are you this fine day?" he asked, placing his hand on my arm. Clearly a flirtatious gesture on his behalf, I enjoyed this very much. Just as I had with my Father, we exchanged kisses.

"Fine, thank you and please, call me Rosalie." I replied, "Yourself?"

"I'm good, thank you dear. Anyway, Rosalie, may I ask you a question?" I knew what he was going to ask, but I kept myself dignified and well spoken.

"Yes, you may…" I paused, waiting for his response.

"Would you care to have dinner with me, tonight, at the Rovney Rooftop Restaurant?" I could see the hope in his eyes, for it was clear that we were meant to be. A dashing young man and a beautiful young woman like myself should be together. I was finding it hard to restrain my excitement and act like I hadn't known he was going to ask that question.

"Yes, I would love to have dinner with you tonight."

"Splendid, I will pick you up at six on the dot." He gave me a wink, and with that he was gone. I giggled in a nervous manner, for someone to wink at me would be considered in most people's eyes as rude, but to me it was a Royce being Royce, the flirtatious man that he was. It excited me.

I reached home within double the normal speed I would, I needed plenty of time to get ready. Nobody was home. My Mother had gone out for high tea and a walk in Central Park with her friends, who I do not particularly like as they do not particularly like me. They do not like me as they enjoy to back chat about the ugly features that people have, yet they cannot find something ugly about me to back chat about, or so I've heard. My Father, at work and my two brothers – Edmund and William – were at school.

I bathed myself before pining my hair into a perfect French Roll and dressing myself into a deep blue, silk evening dress. Again, I applied a red lipstick and matching red nail polish. My purse and shoes complimented the red but in a darker tone, and I wore a white, real fur coat.

As he promised at six o'clock, not a minute earlier or later, Royce awaited me outside my house. I checked myself in the mirror and as always, I looked beautiful.

Royce greeted me politely, complimented how I looked and then linked my arm in his as we walked through the cold to the restaurant. Our breath was visible in the air; the slight breeze blew the fur on my jacket in all directions. We spoke about the ordinary things that a man and a woman in their twenties, with a slight attraction to each other spoke about.

When we reached the restaurant, we sat at a small, round table that for two. The rooftop was outdoors, but had a shelter and heating. It had a beautiful view, and the staff were well mannered and polite. We kept our jackets on as it was still cold enough to give you the shivers, even with the indoor heating.

I read the menu, looking for something I adored. A slim waitress, wearing a skirt far too short to flatter her walked up to us "Hello Sir and Madam, I am Shirley. I will be your waitress tonight, may I take your drink orders?"

"Yes," Royce began "You may, could we have two glasses of red wine please."

"Yes Sir, can I get you any starters?"

Royce looked to me, I shook my head politely. He brought his attention back to the waitress, "No thank you, for my main course I will have the roast chicken, with the Balmorals sauce, mixed vegetables and the roasted potatoes." Royce gestured to me, it was at that point that I realised I'd been so busy thinking of this perfect night and how perfect Royce was that I'd forgotten to choose what I wanted.

"I will have the same, please." I replied in a flurry of confusion, something that didn't happen to me often.

We spoke about everything we liked and disliked, and eventually the night came to an end. As Royce paid the bill, I went to the ladies room to touch up. Opening my purse, I sprayed some perfume on myself and touched up my make-up. I was ecstatic; the night had went so well! I smiled at myself in the mirror, I was still in perfect shape. My violet eyes stared at me, twinkling in excitement. My violet eyes, a rare colour that just added to my beauty. Some people said my beauty had made me self-centred and vain, but my Mother, Father and Royce said I'm just comfortable in myself.

Royce walked me home almost in silence just enjoying my company. "Thank you Royce that was a lovely night."

"You are welcome Rosalie, I am glad you enjoyed it."

We smiled at each other, taking in our last few glances before we departed. He was a dashing, wonderful and elegant man. I made my way up to the door, smiling to myself at everything that had happened. Then, he grabbed my arm, stopping me and giving me a quick glance before he then went to kiss me.