Ch. 6:
Rose sighed. "Mama, I think this one is too ostentatious." The gown, 'modified' by Rose's forceful-and determined-mother, was a lovely shade of Rose's floral namesake, that shimmered with tints of ruby when it moved. Rose was actually perfectly fine with that...it was the design she was having issues with. The gown was a close fitting dress that was designed to show Rose off to her best advantage; however, it was a common design that Rose privately thought was giving the wrong impression off. It was probably worn by mistresses...definitely not something she would want to be seen in, let alone actually dance in. Rose's mother, a willowy woman who had the same witchy eyes and delicate features, looked in the room and sighed. "Rosamund. It is your name, and you need to live up to it." Rose raised an arching black eyebrow. "Mother, short from being impertinent I cannot begin to fathom how going to the ball in this...this...display will help me be a good person."
Her mother got that Look, that strange unblinking look that she always got whenever she and her daughter ever strayed near the path of the Guardianship. "The Guardians always do whatever is needed to protect the- protect Ravensmere and Stoke Raven." Rose got a frustrated look on her face. "Mama. Honestly, I don't understand why you want me to attract other people my age if Stoke Raven tradition is dictates that I marry James." Then it hit her, with her mother staring almost guiltily at her. "This is for James? This...this...oh my god, I should have known." Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Fine, fine. But you will go to the ball in a gown that I approve of."
Rose became intensely thoughtful. Grandmama's ball gowns...they were vintage. Never touched after her time...and this was a something like costume ball, they were all expected to come in clothing that was not the typical ball gown. She rushed to the old room where they were kept with a smile on her face, imagining the astonished looks on her family and friends' faces when she appeared in this. She searched through the afternoon, looking at dress after dress from that time...whirls of red, blue, and copper danced in front of her by the time she was done. She held up a gown designed for quick, easy movements and quickly slipped in. Although meant to be worn with a corset, Rose's body was toned by her active lifestyle and she slipped in with a few wiggles. Dancing around in the cool silk, she whirled around the room. *James, come look!* She looked down, fingering the intricate designs of the astrological designs of stars and moons entwined together in a whirling design. Turning around, she saw James standing there and whirled to show him the entire design. "Isn't it fascinating? I think I'll wear it to the ball, Mother won't be able to say anything against it because it's Grandmama's.She was a vision in the light gold silk that was mixed with the midnight ocean depth color of the skirt. "I actually like this gown, but I wanted you to see me in it so you won't be surprised at the ball and gape at me like you did when cousin Emma visited." Four years ago, Rose had come in an uniquely cut pink and cream gown that blazed with traditional English feminine touches while it subtly conveyed her beauty, simply to irk her snobby cousin who despised Rose for her familiarity with James and Gilbert. After the ball, no more mockingly disparaging comments about her 'masculinity' had been made by the astonished relatives. And James had become oddly overprotective of Rose while they both went through puberty and the both of them began to attract members of the opposite gender like merchants to coins. That year, James and Rose had become more and more strongly connected, and would often talk about their lives, or discuss philosophy as often as they went rowing in the lake or walking in Salisbury. That year was when Rose had become truly aware of her obligations as Guardian, and the strength of power that had accompanied puberty. James sent an awe-filled thought to her. *It's amazing. Just...amazing. Can I dance with you the entire time? I'm afraid someone's going to try and steal you away from Stoke Raven with that kind of dress." Rose frowned down on it. "I can't see all of it. Is it one of those audaciously cut dresses, do you mean?" James only disappeared, and Rose followed him out the door curiously but raised an eyebrow as James hefted a bowl in. "I don't reckon the ghosts in the next room will mind up borrowing their things for a bit, so you can see yourself once I pour some water in." Rose raised an eyebrow at his reverent tone of voice, then stared speechless at what she saw in the calm water from James' water pack. "Well, then. I stand corrected. It's not audaciously cut, but there's something in the dress that actually makes me pretty." She examined it avidly, not noticing her mother standing with a dazed expression on her face. "Rose? My Rose? She hugged Rose, and said, "Oh, I definitely approve of this one. Definitely. Don't you approve?" She looked at James, who was still looking dumbstruck by Rose in the ball gown. "Oh. Yes, absolutely. Just...brilliant. Amazing. Wow. Must go, I er...have something I have to do before I come back and gape at Rosie." He practically ran down the stairs while Rose and her mother stared after him. Rose's mother recovered first, and commented in a wry voice, "Your father reacted the same way. I think it's hereditary, honestly."
A/n: Yup, I'm back. Hopefully, I'll be able to get in a couple more chapters before writer's block sets in again, what do you think?
Rose sighed. "Mama, I think this one is too ostentatious." The gown, 'modified' by Rose's forceful-and determined-mother, was a lovely shade of Rose's floral namesake, that shimmered with tints of ruby when it moved. Rose was actually perfectly fine with that...it was the design she was having issues with. The gown was a close fitting dress that was designed to show Rose off to her best advantage; however, it was a common design that Rose privately thought was giving the wrong impression off. It was probably worn by mistresses...definitely not something she would want to be seen in, let alone actually dance in. Rose's mother, a willowy woman who had the same witchy eyes and delicate features, looked in the room and sighed. "Rosamund. It is your name, and you need to live up to it." Rose raised an arching black eyebrow. "Mother, short from being impertinent I cannot begin to fathom how going to the ball in this...this...display will help me be a good person."
Her mother got that Look, that strange unblinking look that she always got whenever she and her daughter ever strayed near the path of the Guardianship. "The Guardians always do whatever is needed to protect the- protect Ravensmere and Stoke Raven." Rose got a frustrated look on her face. "Mama. Honestly, I don't understand why you want me to attract other people my age if Stoke Raven tradition is dictates that I marry James." Then it hit her, with her mother staring almost guiltily at her. "This is for James? This...this...oh my god, I should have known." Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Fine, fine. But you will go to the ball in a gown that I approve of."
Rose became intensely thoughtful. Grandmama's ball gowns...they were vintage. Never touched after her time...and this was a something like costume ball, they were all expected to come in clothing that was not the typical ball gown. She rushed to the old room where they were kept with a smile on her face, imagining the astonished looks on her family and friends' faces when she appeared in this. She searched through the afternoon, looking at dress after dress from that time...whirls of red, blue, and copper danced in front of her by the time she was done. She held up a gown designed for quick, easy movements and quickly slipped in. Although meant to be worn with a corset, Rose's body was toned by her active lifestyle and she slipped in with a few wiggles. Dancing around in the cool silk, she whirled around the room. *James, come look!* She looked down, fingering the intricate designs of the astrological designs of stars and moons entwined together in a whirling design. Turning around, she saw James standing there and whirled to show him the entire design. "Isn't it fascinating? I think I'll wear it to the ball, Mother won't be able to say anything against it because it's Grandmama's.She was a vision in the light gold silk that was mixed with the midnight ocean depth color of the skirt. "I actually like this gown, but I wanted you to see me in it so you won't be surprised at the ball and gape at me like you did when cousin Emma visited." Four years ago, Rose had come in an uniquely cut pink and cream gown that blazed with traditional English feminine touches while it subtly conveyed her beauty, simply to irk her snobby cousin who despised Rose for her familiarity with James and Gilbert. After the ball, no more mockingly disparaging comments about her 'masculinity' had been made by the astonished relatives. And James had become oddly overprotective of Rose while they both went through puberty and the both of them began to attract members of the opposite gender like merchants to coins. That year, James and Rose had become more and more strongly connected, and would often talk about their lives, or discuss philosophy as often as they went rowing in the lake or walking in Salisbury. That year was when Rose had become truly aware of her obligations as Guardian, and the strength of power that had accompanied puberty. James sent an awe-filled thought to her. *It's amazing. Just...amazing. Can I dance with you the entire time? I'm afraid someone's going to try and steal you away from Stoke Raven with that kind of dress." Rose frowned down on it. "I can't see all of it. Is it one of those audaciously cut dresses, do you mean?" James only disappeared, and Rose followed him out the door curiously but raised an eyebrow as James hefted a bowl in. "I don't reckon the ghosts in the next room will mind up borrowing their things for a bit, so you can see yourself once I pour some water in." Rose raised an eyebrow at his reverent tone of voice, then stared speechless at what she saw in the calm water from James' water pack. "Well, then. I stand corrected. It's not audaciously cut, but there's something in the dress that actually makes me pretty." She examined it avidly, not noticing her mother standing with a dazed expression on her face. "Rose? My Rose? She hugged Rose, and said, "Oh, I definitely approve of this one. Definitely. Don't you approve?" She looked at James, who was still looking dumbstruck by Rose in the ball gown. "Oh. Yes, absolutely. Just...brilliant. Amazing. Wow. Must go, I er...have something I have to do before I come back and gape at Rosie." He practically ran down the stairs while Rose and her mother stared after him. Rose's mother recovered first, and commented in a wry voice, "Your father reacted the same way. I think it's hereditary, honestly."
A/n: Yup, I'm back. Hopefully, I'll be able to get in a couple more chapters before writer's block sets in again, what do you think?