AN:/ Thanks for my one and only review T_T it was only one, but it was long and constructively critical - many thanks my beloved reviewer! * big heart *
So, I've been sitting on this for a good while; I just wasn't sure about my direction and didn't want you guys to hate it. . . but here it is, and it's *all* me, baby!
enjoy!
Alex Rothschild hastened his cup of coffee to its saucer before glancing back up at the girl sitting opposite him in the posh coffee house over on Potters Street. She was regaling a story, of an incident the other day that was most unbecoming of a proper lady. They both basked in its rebellious glory.
Ladies may have prefered tea, but he and his feminine companion were rather modern in that they dared to be different - without making scandal of it and still managing to outrage and impress in the same wink.
'Rosie darling, If we hadn't known eachother since childhood - I'd have thought you were simply a well dressed harlet and immediately sought to remove you from my circle!' he grinned, taking a beautifully motioned drag of his cigar. A tall, expensively clad business man entered the establishment from behind Alex and moved to reach his colleagues on the other side of the room. Little did he know that a pair of amber eyes were keenly following the languid movements of his lower half, as he walked past.
'See something you like, Alex?' Rose asked silkily, 'Because you know, if we hadn't been friends since childhood, I'd have believed you were more than just admiring that gentleman's suit!' she snickered lowly, as Alex spluttered over his coffee. He fixed her with a stern look as he re-arranged the lapels of his mahogany suit.
Ladies were not usually passionate in their remarks, nor witty, Alex firmly believed: it was something considered rude and a very poor quality in a woman of their social standing and hence stamped out from an early age.
But Rose was something altogether very different;
He often speculated that the heavens had poured too much of the Sea Mistress' fury in her, when they coloured her eyes. She was born with a passion so untamable, that not even a mother like Ruth Bukater could strangle it out of her. He had long since come to admire and appreciate this supposed flaw and their companionship deepened, as did her understanding of his own rather 'unpleasing' quality, he thought dryly. She did not mock him, as he had originally believed she might, along with all others of their circle. She gave him an amused smile, took his arm and squeezed gently as they made their way to each group at every party, mingling and dazzling the others with a fruity sense of humor.
As a writer during the time, when he was not locked away in his study that is, Alex was often keen to stay in Florence during the summer and Paris in the autumn - finding relief and tranquility in their more relaxed climes. Places that he felt more himself and less like the un-welcomed foreigner among his circle in New York. A sad aspect of life that he had come to accept as he grew to understand himself. He was not the only man with such preferences on this turf, he could be sure - the problem lay however in that as far as wealthy bachelors went, he was considered of poor social standing and just barely tolerated by the wider circle for his unspoken quirk.
As their paths in life changed, Rose and Alex made attempts to meet each other whenever he was in the city: their comfortable companionship never forgotten. This being one of those occasions, Rose confided in her platonic friend of the mysterious dream and the ensuing chaos of the next day.
'Rose, you do paint a rather curious picture of this boy...the question is, what happens now?' Alex murmured as they leant in close, over their cooling coffee cups. Rose sighed, the anxiousness apparent to Alex as he waited for her to continue. She glanced at her coffee cup and held it roundly, letting it warm her delicate fingers. A waitress stalked past them and Rose's red locks shimmered as they were swept away with the moving air around her.
'I'm marrying Caledon Hartley, Alex.' Rose stated, directing her gaze out of the window.
'So, I've heard.' Alex replied sarcastically.'...if that's what you wa-'
'Of course, it's not what I want! it's what everyone wants!' Rose barely restrained the high pitched frustration in her voice as she bit out her despair. Her lovely eyes began to well, and reddened lips tremble. Taking a minute to herself, she gazed back at Alex and continued,'My father owes Mr. Hartley Senior a great deal of debt.'
Alex's shocked eyes widened with the next words that came out of her mouth.
'I am to square that debt by marrying his son - Caledon, I believe his name was.' She blinked as she took another gulp of coffee, letting its bitter taste flood her senses. Alex sat sorrowfully looking down at the table top, straightening back in his chair.
What was there to say? he thought. Outraged for his friend's pain and helpless to resolve it, he sat uselessly. The smoldering cigar glowing with the amber that dulled in his eyes, he took another limp drag.
'What if I-'
'Oh, shut up Alex, marrying you would be the biggest farce and scandal of the century!' Rose said with a watery laugh. Alex grinned and joined her as they enjoyed a bittersweet moment.
'At least, you'll never have to be under Ruth's command.' Alex tried to encourage,'And, Hartley has a massive fortune! you'll have acquaintances vying for your attention - more people to infect with that insatiable charm of yours!' He chuckled, sipping his warm cup. Rose smiled back at Alex.
It was then, as they looked into each other's eyes that they knew: Rose would have given anything in the world to remain at her mother's side, if it meant she could still control her life to the extent she had done before. She had scorned it, yes - but by marrying Hartley, Rose would lose any right to ever living they way she wanted and ever doing the things she liked to. Her dreams of adventure and experiencing all that life could entail, were only mere fantasies now.
Never anything more.
Not any more.
'Come to the Autumn Ball, won't you?' Rose pleaded as she rose from the table, already late to be home for the Ball preparations. Alex frowned,
'I was hoping to miss it actually, I'd rather draft a new chapter.'
'Tonight will be the announcement.' Rose said, with a whimpering faux joy,'...I really would like you to be there when it happens.' Nodding at her request, Alex put out his cigar.
'For you Rosie, I will put in an appearance.' He stood as well, taking her hands and raising them to his lips in a most affectionate manner.
'See you, Alex.' Rose kissed her fingers and waved as she hurried from the cafe, hailing a taxi to be home before Ruth.
Alex watched her go before returning to his cup, looking down and shaking his head disbelievingly.
what had she done to deserve this fate?
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'Why aren't you wearing the red gown I had prepared, Rose?' Ruth questioned her daughter brusquely. Rose was setting her hair in an elegant swept style, and directed her gaze at the wall. 'I asked you a question, Rose.'
Rose continued on as if she had been alone in her room and checked her powdered face for flaws in various poses. The lighted vanity mirror showed her a glowing face with bright and soul-less eyes. Ruth walked up behind the seated woman and forced with frostily critical eyes, that her presence be acknowledged. 'I'll not ask you again, Rose.'
'Mother, please. I have a headache.' Rose murmured defeatedly.
'You're not going to sulk on the night of your engagement, Rose. I mean it. Don't ruin this for us. Think of your family, if you can't bring yourself to at least smile.' Ruth said sternly, patting her own up styled hair. She turned to the door and went on,'be downstairs in 10 minutes.'
Rose closed her eyes which told her heavily, that tears needed to be shed. But Rose thinks that those tears will disappear in a few minutes, and when she sees herself in the mirror, there will be a smile in place and a strong, stormy Bukater woman will be staring back. As her blacked out sight shrank, tiny golden stars grew into flecks of light that spread warmly over the walls and ceiling as the world came back into focus. 'Stop it Rose. You're getting engaged.'
And with that, the red haired woman rose from her vanity and turned toward the door, refusing to stumble in each stride she took. Each step may have brought her to an unhappy future but she accepted it, now.
It was time.
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