Love in the Flower Archipelago: Rosie's Love Life
Written by the Sapphire Prince
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Previously on L.F.A:
Rosie's aunt and uncle, the McDermotts, arrived with her siblings, and bore a great surprise on her and her family: that they were to have a baby in less than a month and that they wished for Rosie to be with them at the time. Rosie accepted the invitation and within a week were they supposed to leave. However, Rosie also has to make a quick trip to visit Hannah in order to get fitted for the gown. Rosie made it all the way to the final match between her and Rochelle, her best friend, in a competition for a ladyship and a large sum of money. Rosie lost. Rika won, as did Skyler. And now Rosie is a little gloomy because of that. She leaves in less than a week, what will be accomplished?
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Chapter Four
"So what do you plan on doing with your money Lady Rochelle?" asked Rosie as she and Rika sat down at a table in the backyard of Rosewood. She had stopped by before leaving for Autumn Island once more. It was the day after the Aristocratic Matches and Rochelle was positively exhausted.
She had endured endless parties and the kiss planted by the Prince had still left her rather drowsy. It was so random, that kiss was; after dancing he just arched her back and kissed her. She was in heaven to be correct. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she believed that the Prince liked her and she believed that she could possibly be in love with him.
"You do not have to call me that all of the time, only when we are in front of other aristocrats and people of high standing would be fine," she said. She still had not grown used to the title as Lady Rochelle. She thought it to be very becoming but not one close friends and family called her that.
"You still have not answered my question."
"Oh," she said as she quickly took a sip from her French-roasted coffee; she needed the coffee to prevent her from dozing, however, she had already done so in that brief instant. "Mother and I are going to look for homes on Autumn Island to move in, or perhaps on Hydrangea."
"Hydrangea is much too far away! I would never see you if you lived there!"
"Why not? I visit you often. There is no justifiable as to why you could not visit me. You have the money," she said.
Rosie took a sudden offence. "Are you trying to imply something? I am not certain."
"No, why would I ever do that? It is the truth, you can afford to do it. Sometimes I wonder why you never seem to visit me is all."
"I do not know why...I love it when you come visit me is all. But I will visit you Rochelle; that is a promise that will not be broken."
"I trust your word," she said, but then a dreamy look was visible in her eyes. She stared to the sky, blushed, and sighed deeply. This look was a familiar one to Rosie, yet, she could not decipher from whom did it come from. She coiled a tendril pensively as she pondered.
"What do you have? Are you feeling light-headed? I have some smelling salts in the medicinal cabinet. I will send Eleanor to get it—"
"No!" She interjected. "I am calm and I am fine. I am but in love with someone."
"Whom are you talking about?" asked Rosie. Whom could she possibly be in love with? She could not recall if she had met someone at the parties, for Rosie herself had gone home early to sob in her pillow.
"I am in love with—Prince Burke!"
Rosie could not help but to laugh at this statement. It was so ridiculous to her that she laughed even louder than before. What a fool, she thought. How immature this all is, she thought.
Lady Rochelle looked at her friend, her best friend, and narrowed her eyes at her. Her succulent lips were pressed into a thin line. "For what are you laughing Rosamunde Fierra? I can be in love with anyone whom I want to be. I would rather be in love with someone than with no one at all."
Her mirth was quickly disabled, and she too began to frown. "This is not about me; it is about you. You can be foolish if that is what pleases you. The Prince is a womanizer, do not think that he really shares true feelings for you. You are no different than myself or any other woman in this country. Hence, it would be wise to get the thought out of your thick head."
"If what you say is true, I will learn it own my own. It is nice to learn things on your on Rosie. You never know a good thing until you experience. If I get hurt in the process, then so be it. For what does not kill one makes one stronger. And I will not miss out on a potential husband just because you think that you know someone's ways. Good bye!" And with that, Lady Rochelle gathered her skirts and stormed out of Rosewood and onto the road. She was going to walk to the buggy stand and fetch a chaise to take her to the Sunrise Inn, where she and her mother resided.
Rosie took a gulp of her coffee and placed the mug onto her saucer. She then wiped her mouth with an embroidered handkerchief and rose to gather the dishes.
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Rochelle set a brisk pace as she scurried along the dirt roads. The white skirts underneath her violet printed dress were turning tan from the mud, for there had been a brief morning shower earlier that morning. She did not give a deuce about though, she had more significant things to worry about: such as Rosie.
As of then, Rosie was a shadowy being. Rosie believed that nobody called like anyone but her and she was a sore loser also, in Rochelle's eyes. She had seen her cry but quickly try to hide her tears. She wanted to win. That was obvious. But to Lady Rochelle, it seemed as if she was highly jealous. Well, good things come to good people and Lady Rochelle had been nothing but good. She comforted Rosie when she was sad, she prevented conflicts, she did all of a friend's duties, and it seemed as if no reward was received. Instead, Rosie ridiculed her attempts at love, which she had had no success in as of lately. She did not care to die an old maid.
Marriage is what both she and her mother hoped for before. A good marriage, at that, to a loving husband that was financially secure and willing to take care of she and her mother without hesitation. But now that she had won a title and a great sum of money, marriage was not as essential as it was before; however, it would still be pleasant.
She looked through blurry eyes at the tall building with horses having buggies attached to them. She wiped her tears and waved her hand in an effort to hail the buggy. A man with a felt hat stopped his buggy and helped the lady into the seat.
"And where might such a fine lady as yourself be traveling to?"
"To the Sunset Inn on the road Exchange, please," she said, as she gingerly took out her small coin purse. "What shall the fare be sir?"
"It costs but one petal Miss," he said while holding out his hand to her. She dropped the two silver coins into his hand (A/N: petals are actually gold pieces lined with silver.). He climbed into he seat and delicate whipped the horse's flank and they set off at light trot.
A drizzle began as the approached the halfway point to the Inn, where her mother waited. She heard a loud voice calling for the buggy. "I believe that you have yet another customer."
He halted the buggy and a young man that looked no more than twenty-six boarded the carriage and he paid his fare. Rochelle felt her hair getting wet and she earnestly hoped that she could get home quicker. She looked at the young man out of the corner of her amethyst eyes and she liked what she saw. He appeared to be tall and he had a healthy shade of bronze skin and short, dark curly hair and hazel eyes. He was altogether handsome.
"May I have the honor of knowing your name?" he asked politely.
"My name is," she hesitated, "Lady Rochelle Carlyle."
He looked at her oddly, which caused her to become nervous and she stared at her black boots. Then, as if he had just remembered something he beamed and said, "you must be that beautiful lady that I saw at the Matches yesterday. You won and received a kiss by Prince Burke."
"Yes," she said, "I know." He was not the first, nor would he be the last person to remember her by that. Although it was a serene moment, she didn't care to be remembered as the Baroness who was kissed by Prince Burke. She wanted to be know as Lady Rochelle: the Good-natured Baroness.
"A lady should not act so timid in front of a common gentleman," he said.
She sneered at him with narrow eyes. Now was not the best time to tell her how she was supposed to act.
"How do I know how a baroness should act? I did not take a course at the University! All my life I have been talked to act like a common gentlewoman, so please bear with me."
He grinned and fingered her thin moustache, "you are an amusing one indeed."
"Who are you anyways? And what authority do you possess that allows you to judge me?" she cried.
"My name is Holden."
She looked at him with wild eyes, "is that all Mr. Holden? Do not you have a prename?"
"That is my prename. My full name is Holden de Belleville."
"Well then M. de Belleville , are you capable of decent conversation?"
"I believe that I am capable," he said sarcastically.
"Well, while I was not sure since you were being such a coxcomb!" she said. "Where are you going to?"
"Wherever you are," he said.
"Oh no," she cried, "I am not having uninvited callers where my mother and I are staying. I will not! Therefore, you should dispel the thought out of your mind M. de Belleville!"
He pouted his lips, in a mock attempt to make her feel remorse for her statements. "Why are you so mean? You have broken my heart into a million pieces. You will never have me that way."
"I do not want you!" she exclaimed.
"Do not deny the feelings that we share for one another Lady Rochelle. I've known since I saw you in this buggy that you and I possessed mutual passionate feelings."
Rochelle was rather bewildered as of then. What in the world was he speaking of? What did he have? Was he mad, perhaps insane? "You are a demented individual Holden de Belleville and as of now, I do not know what lunatic would ever have you. All that I do know is that you are a coxcomb and that you better not call on me, or else I will call on the officers."
"If hiding your feelings pleases you, then I cannot reject that any longer. My heart is at peace knowing that your feelings involve me," he said with a sigh.
"The only feeling that I have for you is contempt and I am ready to slap you across your face. Just leave me alone! I do not have to take your insolence," said Rika heatedly.
"But you will Lady Rochelle, until you are mine. I hope that your mother has prepared extra food, for I am quite famished," he said as he rubbed his stomach for emphasis.
The buggy neared the Inn and stopped promptly at the front gates. The inn was medium sized and it had the homey appeal that attracted everyone to it. A pristine pond with puss willows and a few lily pads, with large pink flowers, was just beyond the gates and just before the front door.
"Thank you for the voyage, sir," said Rochelle as she hurriedly grabbed her skirts in order to get out as soon as possible. Holden said likewise and he hopped out and opened her door for her. Then, he grabbed her and carried her over his shoulder, kicking and screaming and slapping him the whole way to the port.
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"That is mine Evan! Give it back," Rosalynne cried as her brother paraded around the yard with her most precious toy in the air.
"No!"
"Give me back my dolly or I'll tell Mommy!" she said as she fell to the ground with her arms reaching for the doll. She had just fallen upon the ground in an attempt to capture it. She sobbed loudly.
"Not until you give me back my car," he said, referring to a wooden car carved from oak that his uncle had gave him.
"But I need it so that my Dolly and her friends can drive around in it," she pleaded.
"Leave her alone Evan. Stop being so selfish," said Julian.
"Make me," Evan taunted. He threw down the doll, whose head promptly fell off, which made Rosalynne cry even harder. Julian leapt upon his twin. His equal in looks and height and perhaps even strength. They rolled around on the ground with a barrage of kicking, punching, and screaming.
The noise from the quarreling forced Rosamunde to rush outside and break up the fight. She grabbed each boy by the ear and pulled them away from each other.
"Now why were you two fighting?" asked Rosie.
"She stole my car!" cried Evan.
"I only borrowed it for my dollies," Rosalynne defended. "He broke her head Rosie; he broke her head. Wa!" she cried hysterically.
Rosie fought the urge to burst out in laughter at her dramatic sister and at the beheaded doll. Then, she put on the maternal face that had become prevalent since her siblings were born and since she started training, and made them all apologize to one another. Afterwards, she scurried back into the house where, to her surprise, she stood face to face with her friend, Sir Frederic Skyler.
"Oh Skyler," she said, "you're visit is most unexpected. Do sit down my friend. Would you like some freshly squeezed orange and carrot juice?" she asked, taking on the proper attitude of a hostess.
"Yes," he said with a smile, "I would." Then, as she walked away, he could not help but admire the elasticity of her step and her incredible figure. He yearned for the day when he revealed his true thoughts of her and when she would graciously return hers. Now, he believed that he had to build up her trust and love for him. How he went about this will be shown as the story progresses.
She came back with a metal tray with two sparkling glasses of the juice along with a pitcher, if he or she desired more, and a plate of dainties: butter cookies and crepes filled with freshly whipped cream and strawberries.
"Those look very delightful Rosie," he commented, "did you prepare these yourself."
"I did so this morning, after Rika left," she said sourly, "we quarreled with one another."
"Why?"
"Over something very stupid and not at all worth discussing," she said with a sense of finality. She did not want to speak on the subject and she scarcely wished to hear her friend's name.
"I believe that if you did not want to discuss it then you would not have mentioned it."
She admired his cleverness at times; but right then was when it was most unwanted. "Perhaps Skyler, but now is not a great time for it. I must have just slipped—please let us talk of something else."
"Well," began Skyler, "I was wondering if you would like to come on a trip to Kanto with Charlene and I in about two months or so. It would be very amusing."
"I am not certain if I can Skyler."
His smile disappeared as soon as she uttered the last syllable. What a tragedy! How would he ever get to know her? How would he ever get to know if she was really the type of person he wanted to be committed to? He believed that he loved her already and if he had the nerve, he would have proposed already; however, he wanted to make sure that she felt the same way. And he was not naive enough to make the assumption that she did because it was beyond obvious that she did not.
"Do not be disheartened my friend," she urged. "You see, I have already made engagements. My Aunt Peony and Mr. McDermott have already invited me to reside with them until a month after the baby is born: about two months. And you may already know that my friend Hannah and her Joshua are to be wed next week. If I were not already engaged I would surely vacate with you and Charlene."
"I understand," he said. Then, he said, after coming up with a bright idea, "we could just call on you while you are there! All that you would have to do is have your aunt and uncle leave me a card, or you could write down the address."
"Yes," she said, "your plan is very agreeable. There is no doubt that Aunt Peony would not mind a caller."
"Excellent. Then it is set. All you have to do is tell me where they live, I will write it down some other time. Pray tell me what it is."
"I believe that it is the number sixteen avenue Calendula. The estate is called Calendula Manor and it is located on the lower eastside of Passion Fruit Island."
"Many thanks Miss Fierra," he said with a smile, "I am going to take leave of you right now so I will send you a letter during your stay. Bon voyage!" Afterwards, he hurried out of the door.
"Wait!" Rosamunde called just before he left the threshold.
"Yes?" he asked with a confused, yet excited expression on his handsome face.
"Why do you want to visit me so badly Skyler?"
Skyler was stunned, he did not know what to say. Maybe she had figured me out after all, he thought. "In order to strengthen our acquaintance. I think that you are a phenominal young woman. I value your friendship."
Rosie blushed after realizing how much that might have taken out of him. Such a sweet person he is, she thought. "Thank you Skyler." Then, after overseeing him mount his stallion and gallop away, she leaned against the doorframe and sight. Maybe Hannah was right, she thought...
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"And who might this dashing young man be?" asked Mrs. Carlyle as she eyed the young man from a padded rocking chair. She was feeling very under the weather today, however, she was not sick enough to dismiss an unplanned, yet handsome, visitor.
"I am Holden de Belleville, madame. I'm from Belleville, a small village on Dew Island. My family is the founding peoples of the village and we live upon a hill in an estate called Belleville Hall."
"How excellent. You must indeed be in search of a wife M. de Belleville. What else would a fine man of your credentials be doing in a place such as this?"
"Mother," Rochelle snapped, "why are you doing this?" Her lips barely moved as she said it, but Holden heard it nonetheless. He grinned.
"Doing what?"
"As a matter of fact Mrs. Carlyle, I am looking for a wife. I believe that your beautiful daughter is the best candidate."
"Holden!" she interjected. "I do not believe that your speech is appropriate. Besides, it is getting late; so why do not you leave?"
"Do stay M. de Belleville for dinner. I believe that the cooks are making roasted duck tonight," she said. If this is what it took to get Rika to marry, then she was more than happy to instigate it.
"Your daughter does want me to leave Mrs. Carlyle," he began; "but I will stay nevertheless." He smiled sweetly and then threw a smug glance at the object of his attention. She promptly placed her head and her hands and shook it. It was going to be a long evening.
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The next day, Rochelle could not face the fact that she and Rosie had argued and did not reconcile. Therefore, she rushed over to Rosewood as soon as possible, just before she left, in order to so.
The McDermotts and Rosie were already outside with their trunks stacked into a pile as they awaited the arrival of the chaise. Rosie was dressed in a tan riding habit with her hair falling freely down her back. Eleanor and Dew were by her side, for they were going also.
"Rosie," Rika cried out as she rushed over to the group of people. Rosie was snapped out of the gaze which had take over her countenance and did not know whether to sneer or to sigh in relief. The entire dilemma had been bugging her all day yesterday and she was just as eager to reconcile with her friend.
"Rika," she said as they stood face to face.
"Hello Lady Rochelle," said Peony and her husband as they curtseyed and bowed.
"Hello to you all," she said. Then, she turned to Rosie and grasped her hands. "I have been terrible for the past night or so. I just have to get this off of my chest."
"Me too."
"I am sorry for what I said yesterday. You did not deserve it. My anger blinded me."
"As did mine."
"Friends forever?" questioned Rika with a hopeful look in her violet eyes.
"Friends forever," she replied and the two embraced in a tight embrace. A warm embrace that only the truest of friends and passionate of lovers can perform (THEY ARE NOT LOVERS IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING). You see, reader, true friends and lovers cannot go on fighting. One or the other will always break down and apologize, or rather they should, for the other no doubtedly feels the same way. Our petty indifferences as humans are just what I have said: petty indifferences. Why should we lose an incedible friendship because of them? The answer is: we should not.
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Dear Readers, in the next chapter Rosie will be at her aunt's house on Passion Fruit Isle, in the lush estate of Calendula Manor. New acquaintances and new pokemon await her in that place. You will read more in the next chapter. Also, Hannah and Joshua's wedding will commence in just a few days! Please read and review. Yours, etc. —The Sapphire Prince