I had time for one short visit to Vera before the party, and I had to tell her everything that had happened since our last chat. I dressed in my favorite yellow skirt and left my hair tumbling down my back, glad that there was somewhere where I didn't have to always be so perfectly prepped and coifed. I was also buoyed by the hope that today her envy might just outweigh mine.
When Vera opened the door she immediately chided me, "Rose! It's been too long, where have you been? You know how dull my life is without you to liven it up!" Rather than being annoyed at the accusation of abandonment I was pleased that she had missed my company, she didn't just see me as an asset like my family did. "Oh Vera, you know I would rather be here than practically anywhere else, but don't worry, what I have to tell you is going to make up for my extended absence."
She held up a finger to make me pause, "Let me put Gerald down for his nap, I don't want any interruptions." Before she could snatch him up and hide him away though, I grabbed him by his soft little waist and pulled him close, inhaling his warm baby smell and snuggling him to my face. He started to squirm after a few moments and I surrendered him to his doting mother, but I appreciated the borrowed moment nonetheless. Oh how I wanted a beautiful baby of my own!
When Vera returned she made herself comfortable on the footstool next to my chair and leaned forward, dark eyes sparkling, ready to live vicariously through me. It was our system. After I explained everything that had gone on with Royce, finishing with his invitation to the party, Vera sat speechless for a moment. I waited patiently and was soon rewarded as she began to gush, "Oh, Rose, this is marvelous! We've always known you were meant for something great! Oh my, a party at the King's! Think of all the people that will be there. The Reeds will be there for sure, though Leah is far plainer than they would like to admit. Probably the Marlburgs, with that simple son of theirs, what's his name again? Tad? Todd? Its something like that. Well, no matter. The point is everyone who's anyone will be there and so will you! Do you think those Cullens will be there?"
"Who?" I said unconcernedly. I hadn't heard about them so surely they were no one important, and certainly no competition.
"You know, that blond doctor, his wife, and her brother. They are all absolutely stunning, especially the men. They might even be able to give you a run for your money, Rose," she finished with a knowing giggle.
"I haven't seen them, but I will surely keep an eye out for such very ravishing beings in the future; though since I haven't seen them they must not travel in good society," I replied coldly. Better looking than me? Men that were better looking than me? That simply couldn't be right, maybe Vera was just teasing me.
Unwilling to arouse my further displeasure Vera dropped the topic, "I do wish I were you, you know you must tell me ever little inconsequential detail afterwards don't you?"
On the whole, I left Vera's pretty well satisfied with her response, though I was resolved to really look for the Cullens just to reassure myself that Vera had been wrong. It would just not do to be overshadowed by a couple of society-less men.
Waiting for Friday night after that was extremely disagreeable. I was kept physically occupied, but, as it so often was, my mind was free to wander. There was nothing to distract me from the agonizing anticipation. Finally, though I was beginning to think it would never happen, Friday evening came and I slipped into my prized navy, backless evening gown. It a piece of art, and I was not ashamed to admit that I was the perfect frame. When I was ready even Mother could not find a single thing to denounce or tweak.
When Royce arrived at the door Father ushered him in, chattering amiably. When he came around the corner I rose slowly, concentrating on being particularly fluid to demonstrate the silk to its fullest advantage, and gave him a conspiratorial smile. His eyes widened ever so slightly and he smiled fatly in return. Success.
"Miss Hale, are you ready to go?" He asked, presenting the customary roses. I took them daintily and buried my nose in them for a moment before handing them off to my mother. "Yes, thank you," I replied softly. He gallantly offered his arm, which I took, and we departed. As soon as we cleared the door I said quietly, "And please, call me Rose." He had invited me to this party after all; I might as well throw him a bone. He nodded graciously as he helped me into his very car, but did not reciprocate the invitation. I won't deny that I was a tiny bit put out about that.
He drove quickly through the muted streets and we were pulling into his circular driveway and he was effortlessly tossing the keys to a valet, not even making sure they were securely grasped before he turned away. It was all exceedingly elegant, I could imagine myself doing the same thing, maybe bringing in the shopping or something. Maybe I would even have a driver…for a moment I was lost in plans and fantasies, but I was getting ahead of myself. In the car we had hardly spoken, I knew next to nothing about Royce even though in my opinion he could now be classified as a suitor. It was rather odd, usually men were just bursting to talk around me. I was impressed by his self-possession.
As we walked into a grand entrance hall complete with marbled floor and curving staircase I could not suppress a tiny gasp, nor did I try to. Royce looked at me with a hint of smugness, but said nothing. Before I had much time to further observe our surroundings Royce whisked me into a large dining room, presenting me to every loitering person we encountered. Every encounter was almost exactly the same, with only the most minute differences. Royce would saunter up to the a group of people with a firm grip on my elbow and proclaim, "Good evening, so and so. So nice to see you, and how is such and such? May I present Miss Rosalie Hale?" They would practically bow and scrape, "Oh, Mr. King, we are so glad to be here, blah blah blah, Oh Miss Hale, you are just so lovely, so beautiful, so perfectly pretty." I wish I could say that their words dulled with repetition, that their ulterior motives rendered their words valueless, but that wasn't the case. Every time the complements poured forth I felt my glow get a little brighter, a little happier. The evening was off to a glorious start.
Dinner at the ornate table was not as pleasant; I was separated from Royce, placed between two other young men. I had to keep them entertained while not flirting outrageously enough to attract Royce's attention and risk his displeasure. For many it would have been a near impossible task, but I soon hit my stride by effectively turning off my brain. I asked questions after every inane story they related, and kept up an admirable façade of rapt attention despite the fact that I could pretty much feel my intelligence evaporating. Still, at least it wasn't women.
The best part of the evening was most definitely the dancing. The Kings had a bona fide ballroom and a string quartet, and I was the night's in-demand partner. At first I expected Royce to cling to me for the entire night, I was certainly used to being jealously guarded. However, he surprised me again, I was passed from hand to hand, circulating through the most influential people at the party. Royce did not claim me again until the very last dance. He was a very correct dancer, though he did not hold me as close as some, and I thought I could see a gleam of approval in his eyes. The last thing he said before the music and the party drew to a close was, "Your eyes look are just the color of violets." At the door to my house I said, "Goodnight Royce, thank you for a lovely evening." He didn't object, so much for that silly excessive pride. The next night when the roses came, they were mixed in with violets.
Author's Note: Thank you, thank you, thank you reviewers, I lurve you bunches and bunches. You guys make it all worthwhile, so please keep it up. So this chapter ended up like light-years longer than I had planned, but I really hope you enjoyed it. I think I am going to keep this fic going at least a little longer, I've gotten very attached to dear Rosalie and at least want to make it through her transformation. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!