Chapter 8

The night of the engagement gala had finally arrived. While it wasn't important to Rose, she knew doing a real proposal mattered to Jack. He was excited that he could give her what she deserved, which he thought was fancy balls and high society affairs.

While Rose didn't care for the balls she had been to, she knew that they would be different now that she was with Jack. She was excited to dance with him, to get dressed up and see his reaction to her as she floated down the staircase, to see him all dressed up in a tuxedo.

Rose stood in front of the full length mirror, smiling at her reflection. She stood in a lavender dress, one similar to the dress she wore aboard Titanic. She knew Jack would love it, and that it would remind them of how much they had gone through, how much they overcame, together.

Smoothing her hands over the dress one last time, making sure she looked perfect, Rose left her room and made her way to the staircase. She hoped Jack was already down there waiting for her, that he'd stare at her with wide eyes full of love, just like she always imagined. Instead, as she approached the base of the staircase, she heard a voice that she recognized. A voice that narrated her nightmares.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dawson," the voice said, and Rose shivered. "And it's an absolute honor and privilege to court your lovely daughter."

Cal. Rose froze where she was on the stairs, unable to move an inch. He was here for her. He had found her. And now, he'd take her away from the man and the family she had grown to love. She couldn't go with him, she couldn't go back to that life. Especially not now that she knew how wonderful her life could be.

But he wasn't here for her, Rose realized. He was here for Betty. Betty, Rose thought to herself. Betty had no idea that when she had asked for an arranged marriage, she was tethering herself to the most vile man on the planet. She had to stop this before it got any further.

"Rose!" A voice called to her from the top of the stairs. She looked up and found Anna standing there, dressed perfectly in a ruby red dress. "You look absolutely beautiful, darling!" She walked down to Rose, putting her hands on her shoulders and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Jack is waiting in the ballroom. You should go down there in a few minutes." She stared at Rose for a moment, noticing the panicked look on her face. "What's wrong?" She asked, though Rose could barely respond. "Oh, don't worry, Rose. I know that marriage is scary, and I know that being in front of a lot of people can be… daunting. But it'll be fine! Jack loves you so much."

Rose swallowed, though the lump that had formed in her throat didn't budge. She nodded slowly, and Anna gave her arm a light squeeze before continuing down the stairs. "Oh, William! Don't you look handsome? Just like the day we got married."

Now that she was alone, Rose sat on a step, pulling her knees up to her chest and burying her face in her hands. She sobbed quietly for a moment, allowing herself a moment of emotion before she had to steel herself and deal with the situation unfolding downstairs. She knew she had to find Jack and tell him what had happened before he saw Cal for himself. He would kill Cal for even going near her, let alone arranging to marry his sister.

Just as Rose stood and fixed her makeup, a servant approached her. "Miss Rose," she said, getting Rose's attention. "They are ready for you in the ballroom. Mr. Dawson is waiting for you there."

Rose nodded, then carefully walked down the stairs, down the hallway, and through the large doors to the ballroom. Jack was already inside, standing on a small elevated stage, where there was a table for the two of them. Everyone else stood by their tables, clapping for her.

Still nervous, Rose forced a smile, relieved that Jack would probably only think her nerves were a result of being in front of so many people. She walked over to Jack, taking his hand in hers and squeezing gently. She smiled at the people standing below, scanning the crowd for Cal. She found him only a second later, since he was sitting with Betty, and she saw his eyes widen with shock as he processed where he was, whose engagement party he was attending, and whose relative he intended to marry.

Rose forced herself to focus on Jack, who was standing next to her with his arm secured around her waist. He handed her a glass of champagne, then took one for himself. "Thank you," Jack grinned, then turned his attention to Rose as the applause from their guests died down. "I would just like to say a few words about the kind, brilliant, compassionate, beautiful, funny, and loving woman I have fallen head-over-heels in love with. My wonderful fiance, Rose." Rose blushed, leaning against him ever so slightly. "I haven't had the absolute honor and joy of Rose's presence for very long, and in the beginning I believe I called her a spoiled brat, but none of that is true." Jack turned to look at Rose, almost as if he had forgotten that everyone else was there. "Rose is the most amazing, astounding, wonderful woman that I have ever met, and every day I wake up and thank God that I am lucky enough to spend my life with her." He smiled at her, his eyes filled with nothing but love and adoration. "I don't know what I did in my life to get such an incredible woman, but I promise, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way I feel about you."

Rose smiled right back at him, a real smile. Any thoughts of Cal or other nerves were shoved away for the time being. "I already do, Jack," she said softly. "I love you."

"To Jack and Rose!" William exclaimed, and everyone echoed the sentiment, raising their glasses to the couple. Remembering that everyone was standing below, Rose looked down, smiling at Anna, William, and Betty. Her gaze moved over the crowd slowly, meeting Cal's cold eyes for a moment. He dragged his index finger across his neck, his gaze unwavering as he did so.

In a moment of panic, Rose dropped Jack's hand and the champagne glass, the shattering of the glass catching everyone's attention as she ran from the ballroom, not turning back for a single moment.

xXx

The grass was damp under her feet as she ran, her heels clutched in her left hand and her chest clutched in her right. She couldn't stop. Not until she was far enough away that she could no longer hear the chatter of the gossipers, surely having a field day with this turn of events.

Finally, she came to a gazebo, one she had seen before while strolling with Jack. It was shortly before the gala, and in an attempt to get away from the planners and neverending list of decisions they had to make, Jack took Rose out for a stroll. They arrived at the gazebo, and Jack had gently pulled Rose toward it, catching her by surprise as he knelt down on one knee once again.

Now that you know what you're getting yourself into by marrying me, she remembered Jack saying, his voice echoing in her ears. Will you marry me?

She had laughed it off at the time, pulling him off his knees and into her embrace, saying that wild horses couldn't keep her away from him. Now, sitting in that very spot, Rose couldn't help but think of the irony. Perhaps she wouldn't run from him, but he should be running from her. She was trouble, nonstop drama, and Jack deserved far better than a life of rapid and extreme ups and downs. That's all that he would ever have with her, after all.

Burying her face in her hands for the second time that evening, Rose began to cry. She had been so close to having the life that she had always wanted, but her lies, her mistakes, her past had caught up with her. It always would, she realized, and pretending it didn't exist would never have worked forever.

Footsteps approached her, and Rose panicked over who was coming for her. "Rose!" The voice called. Relief immediately washed over her as she realized the voice belonged to Jack. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and Rose tried to wipe them away, but they only continued.

He sat down next to her, taking her hand in his. "You scared me when you ran off," he said quietly. He didn't sound angry, like most people would have in that situation. He just sounded concerned.

Rose pulled her hand away, wiping her tears from her cheeks. "I can't marry you, Jack," she said quietly. She looked down at the ring that sat on her finger, though she couldn't bear to remove it. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for embarrassing you in front of all those people, I'm sorry for costing your family all this money just to humiliate them as well. I'm sorry-"

"I don't care about any of that," Jack interrupted her. "Talk to me. Please. Tell me what's going on." He stared at her, searching her eyes for an explanation.

Rose avoided Jack's gaze, her eyes glued to the hem of her dress that was now damp. "I'm not good enough for you," she said quietly. "I'm complicated. I'm damaged. I'm a mess and I'm a liability and I can't give you what you deserve."

"What do I deserve?" Jack asked. "Because the way I see it, I don't even deserve you. I'm lucky to have you."

Rose shook her head. "You deserve someone who smiles the right way and dresses the right way. You deserve someone who will make you and your family proud," she said, standing up. "I mean, look at me! I'm a mess!" She motioned to herself, finally looking up at Jack's sad eyes. "I ran off on my last fiance. I left my mother to suffer, buried under a mountain of debts she has no way of settling. I turned on you and allowed you to nearly die on a sinking ship. And the latest embarrassment, I ran off while you said the kindest things about me that anyone has ever said."

"Please, just try to calm down," Jack begged. "Just sit down. Let's talk about this."

She couldn't listen. Her mind was a mess, continuing down the list of all the reasons that they couldn't work. "My ex-fiance showed up at my engagement gala to my current fiance!" Rose laughed. "That's insane. That's downright Shakespearian!"

"Cal's here?" Jack asked, his eyes widening.

Rose stared back at him. "He's here with your sister," she answered. "Didn't you notice?"

Jack shook his head. "No," he answered. "I was focused on you. I wasn't looking at who's with Betty!"

"I was coming down the stairs and there he was, talking to your father about what an honor it was to be marrying his daughter," Rose explained. "I wanted to tell you. I wanted to talk to you. But you were already in the ballroom, and, well, you know the rest."

Jack stood, walking over to Rose. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her securely in his embrace. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea," he said softly, his voice caressing Rose's ear. "I'll take care of it. There's no way this is happening."

"It's not your fault, Jack," she told him, resting her head on his shoulder. "But you shouldn't have to worry about this. You shouldn't be in this position in the first place. You shouldn't be marrying me."

"What if I want to?" Jack asked, pulling away just enough to see her. His arms were still secure on her waist, her hands on his biceps. "I don't want anyone else, Rose. I don't want anyone but you." Rose smiled, a stray tear running down her cheek. Jack wiped it away, stroking her cheek as he did so. "You're the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, with a million evil fiances or none," Rose laughed, and Jack's heart fluttered to see her smile. "You're mine. And I'm yours. Forever. No matter what."

Rose smiled and nodded, leaning forward and kissing Jack lovingly. "Can someone get Cal out of there?" She asked. "You know I don't want to cause any sort of scene, but he threatened me. And to put it plainly, if he's in there, I won't be."

Jack's eyes widened, then he nodded, kissing her forehead. "I'll take care of it. You stay here. I'll come get you once it's taken care of. Robert," Jack turned to a valet standing a bit behind them. "Can you please stay with Rose until I return?"

"Yes, sir." He nodded, walking closer to the gazebo.

Rose wrapped her arms around herself, trying to steady herself. After just a moment, she felt something wrap over her arms and shoulders. Jack's jacket. She felt lips against her cheek, and she smiled. "I'll be back," he whispered.

Everything will be alright, Rose tried to remind herself. Jack loved her, and he would take care of her no matter what. He wouldn't allow Cal to drag her back, and he certainly wouldn't allow him to hurt her. In just a few minutes, they'd be together, and they'd be safe.

xXx

Jack walked back into the house, down the hall, and back into the ballroom. "Hockley," Jack said firmly. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Cal turned to Jack, knitting his eyebrows. "I'm sorry, have I done something to offend?"

Everyone around watched this exchange, confused by what was going on. "My fiance has asked that you not be in attendance when she returns," he told her, not clarifying any further. Cal knew why he was leaving, and it was nobody else's business. "I don't care what happened. But if you don't leave now, I'll have you removed."

"Ah, this is Rose's doing," Cal nodded slowly and dramatically. "I was just telling your parents here the truth about Rose." Jack's eyes moved from Cal to his parents, who looked at him with disappointed stares. "Seems they didn't know anything about it. About where she came from, why she's marrying you, any of it."

"That's enough." Jack's voice boomed. "Leave. Now!"

Cal stood, kissed Betty's hand, then walked proudly toward the exit. Jack followed closely behind him, followed by another valet, just to make sure that Cal did as he was told and left.

"Oh, and Hockley," Jack began, and Cal turned to face him. He tightened his fist, punching Cal square in the jaw. Cal doubled back, clutching his face. "If you ever threaten my fiance again, I'll kill you."

Cal left, walking off, still holding his face in his hand. "Make sure he leaves," Jack ordered his valet, and he nodded.

"Jack," a voice said from behind him. He turned to find his mother standing behind him. "Is it true? Everything he said? That Rose is from high society, and that she was engaged to him?" Jack couldn't answer her. He stood there, staring at her, then slowly nodded. "He said some pretty awful things about her."

"It's not true," a shaky voice came from behind them, and they turned to see Rose standing there, tears running down her cheeks, her eyes red. "None of what he said. I mean, I suppose some of it is, but he's twisted it to fit his story. It's not true. You can't believe him. Please."

Anna sighed sadly, staring at the girl she had grown to care deeply for. She walked over to her, taking Rose's face in her hands and wiping Rose's tears. "You're Rose," she said quietly. "You're my daughter now. I know exactly who you are."

Rose began to cry, and Anna wrapped her arms tightly around Rose. "It's alright, it's alright," she soothed her. "Nothing's going to happen. None of us will let it."