—4—
Rosamund gently shook Susan and Cora awake as the carriage stopped in front of the hotel. "We're here," she whispered. Cora straightened herself, as did Susan, and the two peered at the sight of Paris, France.
The hotel, Cora noted, looked to be extremely grand. As they entered, luggage in hand, she glanced up at the large chandelier that hung overhead. She quickly calculated the diamonds on it must be worth thousands of pounds, maybe millions. Velvet carpets covered the floor, silencing the noise the women's heels made as they made their way to the front desk.
Rosamund coughed lightly to get the hotel worker's attention. "One suite, please. Three bedrooms," she said to him.
The worker smiled and checked them in. Rosamund took the room key from him and held it out to Susan, deciding she was the best option for keeping it safe. They'd only been given one, after all.
Cora sighed happily when she saw the view from their rooms. They could see the hotel grounds, and, in the distance, Cora could make out the distinct outline of the Eiffel Tower. It'd been completed just a few years prior, and it looked magnificent. She was so busy admiring it she didn't bother turning around to examine their suite. Rosamund and Susan, however, did. They each chose bedrooms; Susan took the one farther away from the other two rooms, so she might "have a few moments to myself once and a while." Cora and Rosamund each chose the remaining ones.
"I found the guest book earlier," Cora announced, stepping away from the window.
"Hm?" Rosamund hummed in response. She hadn't been listening. Cora tried again.
"While you and Susan were checking in. I asked to see the records from 1860, and the staff were kind enough to show me. This is the exact same hotel Dove stayed at."
Susan and Rosamund looked at each other from across the room, and then both came over to stand next to Cora.
"That," Susan pronounced, "was a good idea."
Minutes ticked by slowly, and the women soon learned that they had very little clues. They were in Paris, but what could they do now? Eventually, they ended up flopping on the bed in Rosamund's room. Susan was drumming her fingers on the duvet cover. Cora was staring up at the high ceiling. Rosamund was rereading the letter for any clues they might've missed.
"In the letter," she said slowly, causing Susan and Cora to sit up and look at her, "Lord Tatem mentions a friend staying nearby—Lord Eysmare."
"Oh, I've met him," commented Susan. "He was at my debutante ball."
Cora scrunched up her nose. "Isn't he terribly old? Approaching eighty? Surely your mother wasn't thinking of marrying you off to…" Cora trailed off as she saw the expression Susan wore on her face. It told her all she needed to know.
"We'll figure this all out," said Rosamund confidently. Susan and Cora nodded their agreement.
A knock came from the other side of the suite door. Rosamund went to open it, and was met by a young man with dazzling blue eyes and dark hair. He smiled and extended his hand.
"Good morning—or is it afternoon?" A shadow of confusion passed over his face for a brief moment before he grinned again. "Forgive me, I should be introducing myself. Lord Welles, at your service."
"Marquess," Susan whispered in her ear, as if that meant something important. Rosamund lifted her head so that she could look Lord Welles in the eye. She placed her hand in his, expecting him to kiss it like every other man Rosamund had met, but instead, he shook it as if she were his equal. Cora noticed and nudged her subtly, hiding a laugh.
"I came to check in on you. That is, all of you," Lord Welles seemed to acknowledge Cora and Susan for the first time. "Your mother asked that I keep you out of trouble."
"Of course she would," grumbled Rosamund, rolling her eyes. She'd have some things to say to her mama when she got home. "So I suppose that makes you an escort to us then, doesn't it?"
Lord Welles smirked. "I'd escort you anywhere," he said, his eyes shining. Cora nudged Rosamund again, while Susan sighed and walked off. Rosamund, though she would never admit it, flushed bright pink. She pulled her hand from his.
"Well then," she huffed, "you could always give us a tour. We've never been to this part of Paris before. She's never been at all," Rosamund added, gesturing to Cora.
Lord Welles extended his arm for Rosamund to take. She did. "There are beautiful picnic spots all over the hotel grounds," he said as the four of them made their way down the hallway. "Perhaps we could have luncheon sometime?"
"Perhaps," Rosamund answered, her tone taking on a slight edge. However friendly this man seemed, she knew not to let him get the upper hand.
Lord Welles led the three women around the hotel, pointing out every sight and explaining it to them. Rosamund particularly liked the large fountain and the gazebo in the courtyard, and Cora wouldn't stop gushing about how Mary would love the exquisite flowers that decorated the stone wall in front. Susan seemed much more interested in the books that lined the library shelves then the wooden patterns carved into the walls, but Rosamund and Cora were fascinated by the intricate details.
"We should get something like this at Downton," mused Cora, running her finger along the edges of a carved flower. Susan was nearby, inspecting the spines of various novels. Rosamund didn't think flower carvings were something Downton Abbey needed, but she had to admit they looked stunning in the hotel library.
Lord Welles then took them to the garden. There were flowers everywhere: hanging from the archways, blossoming naturally in the grass, arranged along the pathway that stretched across the entire area, etc. Lord Welles picked one of the flowers, a white one, and held it out to Rosamund. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady," he said flirtatiously. Rosamund accepted the gift, tucking it in her copper tresses. Cora nudged her yet again.
When Lord Welles' tour came to a close, he kissed each woman's hand before turning back to Rosamund.
"I hope I can see you again—as a friend, instead of a spy for your mother," he said. Rosamund laughed at the remark about Violet and her many spies. "My mother is hosting a ball tomorrow evening," he went on. "Perhaps you three would like to attend?"
"We'd like that," Rosamund said, smiling. Lord Welles smiled back. He bent to kiss her hand once more.
"Until then, Lady Rosamund."
The minute he'd left, Rosamund felt an elbow to her ribs.
"Cora, do stop nudging me. It's getting rather tiresome."
The minute Rosamund, Cora, and Susan entered the Welleses' ballroom, they were immediately met with another level of glamour. Three chandeliers varying in size hung from the ceiling, even grander than the one in the hotel. Waiters carrying trays of many different foods made their way around the floor, offering glasses of sherry to anyone who wanted one. The orchestra was playing the sweetest melody Rosamund had ever heard, accompanying the couples waltzing on the dance floor.
Susan didn't feel much like dancing, and instead went to go sit on the sidelines. Cora, however, filled up her dance card within mere minutes of the women's arrival. Rosamund watched her spinning around the ballroom. She was hiding from the other men, knowing full well they'd take advantage of any young dame they could find. One man in particular made his way to her, though, and she smiled as he came to stand next to her.
"It's quite a ball, Lord Welles," she remarked. "You must have loads of young debutantes flocking about you."
Lord Welles turned his head to look at her. "A few, yes," he said quietly. Then, returning to his normal volume, "And please, call me Simon."
Rosamund smiled. "Then you must call me Rosamund. I hate titles; I wish they didn't exist."
"If titles didn't exist, we wouldn't be at this ball, would we?"
"I'm sure my sister-in-law would be, seeing how men adore her so." Rosamund resented the bitter tone her voice took, but it couldn't be helped. "That's her, see? The one in pale blue, with the flower in her hair. She's the star of every ball, though she would never acknowledge it. She's much too good to be vain."
Simon looked to where she'd gestured, at Cora, who was laughing as she was spun around the ballroom by her dance partner. "She is very pretty, yes," he said softly. "But she is not the prettiest woman here tonight."
"Well yes, I think blondes are considered more attractive nowadays…" Rosamund stopped when she realized his eyes were fixed on her.
"I wasn't referring to a blonde, Rosamund." Rosamund's breathing grew shallow as his eyes bore deeper into her. "I meant you. You are the prettiest woman in this room."
Rosamund gave a shaky laugh to hide her sudden uncharacteristic nerves. "Oh, but I'm certain that isn't true. I'm much too plain to ever be pretty."
"Who told you that?" asked Simon, drawing ever closer. Rosamund backed up a few feet.
"My mama, when my brother married Lady Downton. She said that as if it's the sole reason I haven't married yet, because no man would have me."
Simon frowned, stopping himself from leaning forward the last few inches. "Surely that's not the case," he said incredulously. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met. And, well—"
In one swift movement Simon guided Rosamund out the ballroom doors and into the hallway, an easy feat since they'd been standing so close to the entranceway. She barely had time to breathe in before his lips were on hers, filling her with a fire she'd never felt before. One of his hands found her waist while the other rested on her neck, pressing her to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, moaning softly as he continued to kiss her. They parted for air for only a moment, before he resumed ravishing her with his lips, which were now trailing down her neck and to her collarbone. She pulled the sleeve of her dress back so he could kiss her shoulder, and she filled the silence in the air with quiet gasps at a delight she'd never felt before.
"Simon," Rosamund breathed. Her voice grew in intensity, "Simon."
"What is it, my darling?" he asked without breaking his stream of kisses, moving back up to kiss the side of her mouth. Rosamund struggled to compose herself enough to form proper sentences.
"We can't do this," she murmured. He went on kissing her.
"Why not?" he whispered against her flushed skin. He suddenly seemed to gather his sense and sprung back a few feet. "Have I misjudged your feelings for me?" he asked hurriedly, searching her eyes for any signs of betrayal. She shook her head and pressed her hands to his chest.
"My brother's wife and cousin are waiting inside for me. They could see us at any moment."
"Rosamund," Simon went to kiss her again, but she held up a hand to push him away.
"I'm not good enough for you. You deserve a duke's daughter, or at the very least, a marquess'."
"Rosamund, though it may be unwise to rush into things, know that I would give up everything I own to be with you. I have never loved a woman more. Please, tell me I can see you again after this."
Rosamund opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Susan coming into the hallway. She took in the sight of the two lovers; Rosamund thought she might press them for an explanation, but Susan just turned to her.
"Rosamund, there you are. Cora sprained her ankle dancing and I don't know what to do."
What do you guys think of Rosamund's newly-found lover? Let me know in the reviews!