Twelve Remain

Heather:

Another rose ceremony finds me in ill spirits despite a new and beautiful dress that I'm wearing, much to the envy of all ladies who understand fashion since my brother acquired it from a merchant who brought it from England. Throughout the evening, only one question troubles me. I cannot believe I can be denied a rose because of some disreputable wench. The only way Olivia can receive a rose is by inspiring pity, whereas the Admiral is too kind. I intend to teach him that there is no sense in pitying fallen human beings, but first I must repair my standing with him. I approach when he is with Thelma as it is no challenge to take a man from her and ask whether I may have a word in private.

"Of course."

The Admiral makes an apology to Thelma before leading me to the garden away from prying ears due to the sensitive nature of our conversation. We've had a good relationship developing before the ball, which must be restored. I must have another chance, but I cannot divulge what the man within an elbow reach is thinking. He treats me cordially, yet without enthusiasm.

"I wish to apologize," I state, looking down humbly once we're alone. "Yesterday there's been a misunderstanding about Olivia. She is a fine woman who has been treated unkindly, thus I've taken it upon myself to inform you that she was alone that evening. I hope you understand that I've been re-stating ill rumours to draw attention to the problem without them being my personal opinion. Perhaps, I've stated some things not as diplomatically as I ought to have, for which I do apologize."

"Thank you," he tells me after a short pause. For a few moments, I feel that he can pierce through all the lies and see into my heart, which is most disconcerting. "I have great respect for those who strive to correct misunderstandings with all the courage and honesty required; and for those who can face their mistakes."

"I thank you for believing me," I say. We exchange a few polite phrases before we're discovered. My resentment for Brenda grows as she reminds me that all women must have a chance to speak with the Admiral privately. I watch him retreat, questioning whether he believed me. I had excellent chances to receive a rose before that ill fated ball. That wretched women now is ought to be happy. No one speaks ill of her anyone after the Admiral made is exceptionally clear that he does not approve of her exclusion from society. My apology was convincing enough, but he hadn't thanked me personally for telling the truth. He spoke too generally to determine whether he wants me to stay. I must wait to find out.

Louisa:

Time flies and disappears forever, even faster than my youngest brother wolfs down all foods edible and not exactly edible. The next rose ceremony came before I could bat an eyelash. I stand on its doorstep, questioning whether I've done enough to continue along this path that seems to wind along seashore, treacherously slippery in places, but nonetheless beautiful. I'm not prepared yet to leave it, though the favour is yet to be gained with the Admiral.

The other women share the sentiment. However, I note with an imps of mischief lighting from within me, as Amanpreet walks past proud as a peacock, we address the tension differently. Keeping oneself entertained is a cleverly devised method of dealing with an uptight knot of nerves that plagues this cocktail party.

"Goodness Gracious, Amanpreet," I exclaim, widening my eyes double the size of a scandalized lemur, "what happened to your dress!"

Like a woman who wholeheartedly believes that the world has been created exclusively for good looking people, she panics, and spins this way and that as I haphazardly keep pointing out the ever changing place of a supposed disaster. "It's at such an inappropriate place too, how dreadful!" I whisper with a doomed delight into her ear, expertly jumping over her long, cream-coloured train. The way she's dressed, one may think she came to try on the wedding band today. "You may want to cover it!"

Creating mayhem always means getting passersby involved. "Hurry, hurry! Bring us that carafe of water before this shrimp sauce gets dry, else we'll never get it out!" I urge Nessa who happens to walk by. The girl desperately needs a distraction. She walks around in circles, semi-lost and fretting inwardly. She eagerly grasps onto opportunity to be helpful once more. Due to her overwhelming kindness and good intentions, the carafe's content is quickly spilled all over Amanpreet.

"The Admiral's here!" I whisper fervently into her ear and Amanpreet with a mouse like squeak she will later deny flees to the powder room. My gleeful enjoyment of self-caused mayhem is, however, smitten by just lightening.

"I do believe my task of achieving a God blessed matrimony will be difficult to fulfill, given that young ladies encourage each other to flee my presence."

When I claimed that James Norrington was here, I certainly didn't imagine him to really be here, observing my activities. The room, suffocating enough, suddenly grows even hotter. I do miss Yulia; her presence always cools down the place significantly and makes icicles grow in sunbathing spots. I do what I always do whenever I'm caught off guard. "Admiral!" I spin around with a light smile and mock salute him. "Every one of us counts dearly on your resourcefulness to overcome this obstacle!" I inform him. My fears are put to rest for he isn't scowling in disproval like all official dignitaries do whenever they're immitating a severely miffed turtle, in fact, he looks much amused.

"I wouldn't dare disappoint you," he informs me, "yet in my lifetime I've discovered that the best way to solve a problem is not to cause it."

"Are you saying that I cause trouble?" I inquire innocently, delighted that he is not as serious as I first thought him to be. I would hate to marry a man with a charm of a withering asparagus. "That may require further proof."

He nods with a mock gravity. "Perhaps, I ought to keep you in this mansion longer to investigate."

It is a promise he'll keep. When Mr Groves appears to usher us into a room where a ceremony will commence and lines us up in a pretty, colourful line, I'm smiling, much to the annoyance of other women. Everyone is far too pessimistic. They need to follow my example and smile. Men like that. So does Norrington. The very first rose of the remaining twelve goes to me as he walks in and his eyes lock with mine. As I bounce down from the step I've been standing on to bestow a hug on him and receive the flower from his hand, I feel happier than the day my favourite brother returned home from a three year travel.

The Admiral does, however, take pity on all the suffering souls for he calls Amanpreet and Olivia next. I heard from Tracy that I should keep my mouth shut about Olivia least I'll invoke displeasure, which isn't a problem. My opinion is whatever the general opinion is. If Olivia had been misjudged, then I suppose I can get along with her. I have far more trouble with Brenda he names next. I can't tell why exactly, but my intuition is rarely wrong. She is a two faced snake, if only I could prove it. I hope she does not use some black magic to enchant the Admiral. It's the second time that he calls her name early.

The tension in the room is increasingly daunting with each given rose as fewer chances remain for those who stand without the flower. I cannot decide who I feel more sympathy for, those not chosen or James Norrington. He is a good man who deserves to be loved truly and passionately. I begin cheering inwardly or frowning in disapproval with each rose he hands out, depending on how I feel about each woman. I count every rose until there is only one left.

Ever eye is on him as the Admiral picks up the remaining flower. He was confident up to this point; but, he now hesitates between three women left. They're so different: Heather fearful to leave, but too proud to admit that not everyone is below her consideration; Tracy simply waiting for the inevitable; and Nessa who looks at him sadly with a small hope. I know he will not go back on the decision he'll make as we all wait in trepidation. At last, his voice breaks the silence.

"Tracy."

And then, there were twelve.

Ladies eliminated:

1. Yulia – 24, well read, devoted, uptight, religious

2. Nessa – 20, old fashioned, husband is more important than wife, defers to the partner

3. Heather – 21, wealthy, bully, sides with drama, looks down on others

Ladies who have received a rose:

1. Amanpreet – 20, spoiled, pretends to be modest but isn't

2. Lucia – 22, pushover, modest, kind

3. Louisa – 21, outgoing, funny, honest, horse face

4. Thelma – 16, has many siblings, mature, reliable

5. Ramona – 21, bookish, educated, well mannered, reserved, long nose

6. Rhea – 26, compassionate, tender, widow, mother of three children

7. Joanna – 23, lost her fiancée, melancholy, tries to live again

8. Carmen – 19, adventurous, free spirited, tomboy

9. Tracy – 19, gossipy, not overly bright, nosy

10. Olivia – 23, well tempered, patient, disgraced, fiancée abandoned her

11. Brenda – 21, beautiful, daughter of a broke nobleman

12. Jade – 19, graceful, gifted in music and dancing