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Freedomwriter2010
Chapter Seven.
Week One.
The courting process was split into four weeks. Each week had new dates, new dinners, and new questions. It was really all quite fascinating. This week, I was going to go on internal dates with Dimitri, he would be escorting me through the gardens today. Putting on a new dress that had been tailored for me, I stood in front of the mirror smoothing it down again and again trying to get this crease from the front. Giving a frustrated sigh, I could only run my hands through my hair, twirling it to lay over my one shoulder. I was antsy to see Dimitri today, after our time together yesterday I just felt as if I wanted to be close to him, although we still could not be lovey together.
This stage of courting was to ' get to know ' each other. There would be no way to cuddle up to him, yet. Knowing I had some time before I was to wander the gardens, I grabbed the pouch from my chest that held my jewellery. Opening the door I nodded to the girls who smiled at me who were polishing the banisters in the palace today. It felt odd not helping them out, it was all I had known my whole life.
Walking into the kitchen, I noticed that it was empty at this time of morning. Too late for breakfast, and too early for lunch. Nine in the morning was a wonderful time, I didn't really want anyone watching me anyway.
Grabbing a tea cup, I walked over to the kettle that still steamed with hot water. Grabbing the pouch now from my pocket that had been designed into my dress, I carefully measuring out the herb into the bottom of the cup, I made sure to cover the bottom but not too high, and once that was done I closed the pouch up and poured the hot water into the cup, letting it steep the herbs. Once the five minutes had passed, delicately and carefully, I brought the cup to my lips and drank the tea.
Bitter but necessary. Placing the cup with the dirty and used dishes that were waiting to be cleaned by kitchen staff, I wiped the corners of my mouth and left the kitchen unsuspected. I don't need anyone knowing what I was drinking because instantly they would know what it was for, and I did not need unwanted drama. Stepping into the main hall, I watched as Dimitri stepped down the staircase with his advisor, Victor. He would be our chaperone today.
Spotting me standing there, Dimitri just smiled and being courteous, I curtsied towards him and Victor.
Coming up to me, he gave a slight nod to me, as did Victor.
" You look lovely Rosemarie, may I?" He extended his arm, graciously I smiled and took his arm.
"You May."
Out in the gardens the sun was bright overhead, walking forward with Dimitri, aware that Victor followed behind us out of hearing shot, we made small conversation, the flowers and weather, upcoming events and where next dates were. The gardens were always beautiful year around, spring, summer or winter it always had species of plants to which season we were in. It was always lovely.
Stopping by a rose bush, a gardener was trimming the bush they grew on. It warmed my heart to see Dimitri unlink our arms and go over to the gardener and squeeze his shoulder in a ' Good Job ' mannerism.
With gratitude I got to watch the warm smile light up on the older gentlemen's face, and before we continued on he seemed to see me in his side vision and handed a rose to Dimitri, whom I was suspecting was suppose to give that to me. Walking over to me, delicately he passed it to me in a bashful kind of way, rubbing the back of his neck while holding it to me.
" Well thank you kind sir. How sweet of you." Although cliché, I always thought it kind of lovely and cheesy at the same time to receive a rose, or anything rose related. Continuing on our walk, we continued chatting about favorite foods, colours, places in the world, somehow a corn maze integrated in our conversation. How amazing it would be to have fun amongst the cornstalks. Who knew you could have fun with vegetables. Suddenly a conversation sparked that made me feel a little bit more somber.
"Next week is the ball to introduce the young ladies of other countries, to seek my hand in marriage." He spoke quietly, not wanting to let Victor eavesdrop more than needed.
"You will attend it, I will also keep you close by to me as I will be your escort. It will be essential these woman see that I am already dedicating myself to another.. Now, if they say bad things Roza…" I smiled up at him. " Don't worry about it Dimitri, Im a tough girl, I can handle myself. As much as their words might sting, my bones will never break. Don't worry!" I patted the arm I hung onto delicately, and let us continue on. Inside I was nervous though.
I would be the whore that was showcased to everyone, would Dimitri take a wife? Would he be pressured into it? /he was after all 25, late into marriage, and girls around the world of prestigious families were eager to be able to wed him, and his status. I did not want to share him. I guess time would only tell what would happen in those events.
For the next couple days I actually got to eat my meals with Dimitri. We lightly conversed, this had been the most I had been able to openly talk with him. We talked about his time in Siberia with the military, and how when he was a young boy his sisters would dress him in their gowns and play with him.
Taking a few grapes off of their vine and gently sliding them in his mouth I could only watch before a grin broke across his face.
"So Rose, tell me of your family? I do not think we have brought this up." My smile gradually fell. And as if he knew the atmosphere changed, he reached forward and grabbed my hands, rubbing circles on the back of them.
Smiling sadly, I had never talked with him about my mother, about my family. Or what I knew of it.
" I came to the palace with my mother at the age of 7. She was a great mother, she had wild red fiery curls that could never be tamed." Giggling at the memories I still had. "She would always try to braid them, or bind them into a bun, but nothing ever worked. She was smart, and resilient. A strength that never burned out. Well, I thought it would never burn out. When I was 8, just after my birthday that March, my mother passed away. To this day I am still not sure what brought her death. Whether she was just worn down, or the minor cold she was fighting took over her. I will never know. But she smiled until her last moments, and loved me." Somewhere in my speech, tears had accumulated in my eyes, only one falling over the edge.
Smiling, I carefully brushed the tears away and looked up at Dimitri, who looked absolutely devastated at my grief or for me, I wasn't too sure.
" I never knew more of my family unfortunately. My mother told me that my father was someone with an extraordinary personality, and that he was a loving man. He cared for her deeply, and loved me very much. As to why I never got to grow up with him, beats me. Although she did mention it being a time of war in Turkey… Maybe the stories my mom told me were all lies – I will never know. The only thing I can do is hold onto the positive stories and love that she gave me. The only name that I was given for him was Abe. That's all she called him. But its alright, because had fate been different – I wouldn't have gotten the chance to sit here with you, your highness." Smiling he looked down at our hands, something in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher.
Sitting there we sipped at our tea for a little while longer before Victor announced that Dimitri was needed elsewhere to help with his duties. I smiled. " That's alright – I think I might go keep your mother company while she paints. It seems to be about that time.
Standing up we both said our farewells before going our separate ways. It was nice being able to get to know him all over again, this time not in secrecy, this time out in the open – like a normal girl. Kind of anyways. It reminded me of the conversation we both had, about four months into us favoring one another, when Dimitri had first told me he loved me..
Flashback..
It was late, and we were laying on a bed, me under the covers, Dimitri ontop. We had not been intimate at this point in our likings to each other. Dimitri lay on his back, both arms behind his head, and I had laid my head on his chest, just feeling the warmth and positive vibes was so nice.
"Dimitri, I feel like I am in a dream, like you aren't really here, like you will be taken from me in an instant." I had felt so emotional, it was dawning on me that the Prince of Russia was laying right next to me, and my heart ached at the thought of this all being a game.
"When you first gave me that rose, I couldn't believe it, I still have a hard time thinking that you are actually interested in someone so low in society, that I get to have this opportunity – "
"Roza, do not doubt yourself." Turning his body so he was on his side, one arm propping him, the other coming to play with my hair that had been taken down.
"I don't know what it was that drew me to you when I first laid eyes on you, whether it was your sarcasm, your modesty, your beauty, your personality, or this magnificent hair you have, you drew me closer everytime I talked to you, saw you."
Getting this nervous look in his eyes suddenly, my eyes welled with tears at his heartfelt speech to me. His hand moving from my hair to cup my cheek, he swallowed and smiled so graciously at me.
"I know that we have been meeting in secrecy, that we still have so much to learn about each other, so much time we have to spend together, but Roza, I, Prince Dimitri, think that I have fallen in love with you already, and I am not sure how that is possible but it has happened." Bringing his lips to mine gently, he pressed them together, it was like fireworks seemed to go off between us.
"I love you Milaya, ya lyublyu tebya" Sniffing, I sat up with him and wrapped my arms around him. I felt so overwhelmed, but I knew deep in my heart that I was just as in love with him as he was with me.
" And I love you Dimitri Belikov"Sharing another kiss I couldn't help but lay my head on his chest and smile. I was truly happy, happier than I had been in a long time.
End Flashback..
Coming to the door of Olena, I nodded to the guard who nodded back, allowing me to enter.
Her room was the same as I remembered it for all of these years. Being away for a couple of weeks felt so odd. Seeing her already facing her window that fell wide open paint was such a serene sight. But like I said she was a wise woman.
"Ahh Roza, how nice to see you again. Turning around holding her brush she gave me a once over slightly and a big smile. "Come here and talk with me while I paint the sky today. " Nodding, I grabbed my chair and took a seat, showing that her paint had just begun so there was plenty of time to catch up.
" My dear how have you been? How has the courting been with my son. Is he behaving?" She smiled continuing with the light blues. I watched in amazement. " It has been going good, I am getting to know your son more than I have known in the past eleven years Olena." Which was true, I was getting to know everything about this man.
" He is treating me fairly, and he is a true gentleman, you have raised him well." She gave a light laugh.
"Thank you Roza, I am glad to hear that. To be honest, I was very surprised to watch you walk into that ballroom. It mustve caught you off guard did it not?" She asked me, question in her voice.
Oh no, here it came the questioning which I had to seem like the dumb girl getting courted.
"I was very surprised Olena, I was not expecting this and I had no idea that I had caught the fancy of Dimitri. I feel honoured that he would look at me that way, especially og my status in society. For someone so prestigious, It warms my heart. Although I did doubt my title once or twice, but majority from my pride being hurt by what others might say, but I guess you cant have everything without strings attached right?" Which wasn't a lie, I did feel warm hearted.
" I am glad that you have taken this so well Roza, although I do agree with you that you might struggle with what others say about you. This position is not some luxurious title like Princess. A Courtesians place was meant to be a position to give pleasure to his highness. A harem position, to produce offspring to the royal family, and cater to the needs to the man. I was almost sad to see you put into this position, but as long as he treats you right, and you are here I can always protect you, my child." Smiling at Olena I could feel my insides warm at her love of a mother, and her protectiveness.
"My mother would be happy to know how caring you are for me, thank you Olena." Turning around her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Oh, stop you. While you are here, I have something to give to you." Setting her brush and palette down, she made her way to wardrobe holding her gowns. " The ball is next week, where Dimitri will be introduced to the ladies of different countries. I would love for you to wear a dress that I had when I was your age, that was more like my coming out into my title. It needs a night out." Smiling, I followed behind Olena and watched as she pulled the dress out. Covering my mouth, I could only gasp in awe. I would get to finally look like a woman, Prince Dimitri's woman.
TBC.
WOWOWOW TWO CHAPTERS IN LIKE TWO DAYS. I AM ON A ROLLLL. Hope you all enjoy and I just wanted to spoil you all for being so amazing. I have been trying to push out 2500-3000 word chapters and I am proud because ITS BEEN HAPPENING. Please review I love seeing your messages, It makes me want to give you more. YAY. Until next time!
Freedomwriter2010
