Brenda:

What have we here? I ask myself, observing the living room through seductive eyelashes where I stand in the light that accents my beauty to the best advantage whenever the Admiral looks my way. Nine women remain. One is going home tonight. Two are safe due to the roses obtained during this week's dates. The unsafe ones dance around each other like tigers in a cage. I, on the other hand, am blessed with far greater foresight. There's little sense in sinking those drowning on their own.

Smiling kindly, I glide towards Lucia who sits in the corner of the room. "Dear heart, you are so quiet. Is anything troubling you that you seek solitude?" I ask, schooling my features to reflect heart warming concern.

"Not at all," she smiles at me timidly. "I'm very happy tonight," she glances at the rose that so contributes to her joy and irritates me to no end, "but the others as so upset. I fear it may destroy this fragile feeling. I do understand them. I would be dreadfully upset at the prospect of leaving tonight."

"Now that I see you closer, you're glowing," I admit a supposed mistake magnanimously. "Personally, I'm so happy that you have the rose. The Admiral is most perceptive. He must have known that you'll relax and be able to show your good nature once you feel secure."

"You think he gives me so much consideration?" she takes the bait like a true simpleton. "Oh, but my doubt doesn't give him justice. He is so kind and attentive. He takes time to speak with everyone, even me, though I'm always shadowed by outspoken women. I'm so grateful for it."

"Grateful?" Deepest concern shadows my feature. "But, my dear, that's not love!"

A small thrill courses up my spine when terror rises from her heart and fills her eyes. "But," she defends weakly, "My heart beats so fast whenever he looks at me. To be deprived of that would be so sad."

I take her hand and pet it reassuringly. "This is what happens when we feel gratitude and hero worship. You must be feeling awfully alone and vulnerable. It's most regretful that we don't always treat each other with kindness, but some women are awfully mean in this house. When James pays special attention, you will feel gratitude, easily mistaken for love. Such feeling will crumble once true love is met. What will you do, being bound to one man while in love with another? What will James feel when that happens?"

"I never thought of causing anyone such pain," she utters, close to crying.

"I have all the faith you won't," I assure her tenderly. "I'm sure you'll find the courage to go before James falls in love with you."

She looks down at her hands clutching the rose and then a most annoying determination sparks within. "You're right. Thank you for kind concern. I will leave, but not before I'm sure that what I feel is not love."

"Don't hesitate to ask me for advice," I smile, though I feel like clubbing her over her slow-thinking head. Lucia has to go the same way Nessa did. This isn't Amanpreet to be thrown out on her ear as soon as Norrington learns how shallow she is. Him spending time with far more interesting women is the only reason this empty rattle toy made it so far. I wouldn't be surprised if tonight Amanpreet goes home.

Amanpreet:

Another hoarse laugher, loud enough to rattle the wine glasses, erupts behind my back, tempting me to yank a rose out of Thelma's hands to plug my ears with its stem. Louisa has nothing that resembles lady-like manners, which is proven by how rudely she interrupted my smoothly proceeding conversation with the Admiral.

I told him my deepest hurts. I feel slighted because he often favours other women with conversation, while I am left out and how we both shall regret should I leave before he has the chance to learn that I am the best woman he could ask for. He thought about it shortly and fully agreed that he's at fault, which he promised to fix soon. I took it as a sign that the next one on one date will be mine. I also wanted to hint that I love jewellery, but this tomboy jumped out at us like a cat, thus chasing me away.

Louisa is the worst. She doesn't make masks out of sheep liver for the night and she hardly uses any beauty enhancing oils. She talks like a male commoner, not a lady. The Admiral wants a woman, whereas there is no woman in her. She will go home tonight.

Louisa:

I'm laughing. He's smiling – politely as he usually does. Thus, I'm having the best time charming the Admiral when Carmen swoops down at us nearly from the sky and at once tries to lead James away. She always acts far too freely for my liking. This woman behaves like this is her home and her husband whom she's free to approach on a whim. To her, the rest of us are visitors. She encourages the Admiral to adapt similar opinions, even if through jokes and a dazzling smile. I don't discourage her mistakes. She is horribly stubborn and likes to tell others what to do. I very much doubt the Admiral will last a week with her as a wife before he runs away. He is a strong and wilful man who will not stand for others giving him directions, how to act and what to think. I won't be surprised if he's already growing tired of clashing with her. Carmen is going home tonight.

Carmen:

Louisa tries, what she believes, to stand up to me. Passions blazing, I'm willing to accept the challenge that provides a perfect opportunity to put her back in her place when Thodore Groves appears to take James away. The ceremony is in quarter of an hour. Our still bachelor needs to reflect on who will be going home tonight. Without the desired man, the fight dissipates on its own. Trailing a handsome, tall figure with my eyes until he's gone, I walk into the garden where I nearly run into Joanna.

I yelp in fright. I don't like Joanna. She's always sad. She's always closed off. Looking at her, one may think she came to the funeral not the wedding. A man can spend an eternity unlocking her heart. I wouldn't wish such a curse for the Admiral to keep beating down the closed door. He must realise the need for a passionate woman to love him. Joanna will go home tonight.

Joanna:

"Unsophisticated creature, is she not?" Ramona attempts to strike a conversation with me in half-whisper. She discretely nods at Carmen as I enter the house after our unpleasant collision.

I utter a non-committal agreement and brush past her, heading towards Thelma. The youngest of us provides a better conversation. It's good to be intelligent, but Ramona cares nothing for normal, day to day happenings. There is a world past the books, which she should see. This is why her relationship with the Admiral is going nowhere. At first, he appreciated her knowledge, but now they can't seem to talk about anything real. Not about their feelings, not about any pragmatic things occupying their lives. I think tonight she's the best candidate to go home.

Ramona:

Olivia asks me a question to smoothen the discomfort caused by Joanna brushing past us. I grasp the opening in the interest of diplomacy. Pity allows me to acknowledge that she is a fine woman with a great deal of tact. Good qualities aside, the shroud of gossip shall never relinquish its hold on her. The Admiral may discourage vindictiveness. However, he is not indifferent to keeping a spotless reputation. A wife once drowned in disgrace may hurt his career and social standing. He will eventually let Olivia go - possibly tonight.

Olivia:

We are invited to the rose ceremony once more. It is a curious endeavour where each one of us faces the fear of rejection in a manner befitting of our personalities. Louisa and Carmen are looking up bravely to meet James' eyes. Joanna, in contrast, looks down at the floor. Whereas Thelma and Lucia are ready to bestow a hug on the one who needs it the most. What do I do when I'm nervous? I wish I could observe myself from the distance.

My mind is racing as the first rose is presented to Amanpreet. I've never seen a strong connection between them, but perhaps that's his way in encouraging her and smoothing his oversight. The next two roses are predictable, based on a visible attraction. They go to Brenda and Carmen. The rest is undetermined.

My heart is racing faster than I want it to when one more rose is taken from the tray and Joanna drifts back to her place with a minor smile.

"Olivia."

On wobbly legs, I reach James and accept the rose, only supported by the sound of his voice. The tension is palpable when I rejoin the line in front of him. There is only one rose left alone on the tray. Ramona or Louisa?

James picks up the red flower. There is always the longest pause before the last rose is handed out. I'm confident that James comes into the ceremony room already knowing who he will choose. What halts his hand is unwillingness to cause pain. He must collect his thoughts to say the right thing that will lessen the hurt. A small breath from him lets me know that he's ready.

"Louisa."

James:

We part with Ramona on good terms as expected of a collected, thoughtful woman. Having observed her interaction with Father Moore allows me to believe that she has a lot to offer to a man of her dreams, aside from her intellect, but I am not the man who can open that side of her. She must feel the same respect for me as I do for her without the romantic feelings. This is a mutually acceptable parting and a new page. This means my relationship with the remaining women is slowly moving onto a deeper level. As I return into their circle, I raise a glass to it.

Ladies Eliminated

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

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

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

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

Ladies Staying

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

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

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

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