They had fallen into a strange, almost comforting sort of routine since that night. Every night, when Cal was home from work they would always eat dinner together at 7:00, Cal having freshly bathed right when he came home at 5:00, with casual clothes and hair in its natural state, and Rose still in her day dress. Rose was silent most of the time but she could not deny that some of the things Cal said were almost...entertaining. Interesting. Though she hated to admit it, even to herself.
On this particular evening, the frigid November wind was wreacking havoc outside and the dining room was warm, curtains drawn to the chaos of outside.
They had mostly been eating in silence, but Cal had talked a little bit, to no avail on Rose's end.
"Rose? Rose?" Cal gently knocked his knuckles on the table but Rose still ignored him.
Rose was determinedly not looking at him, simply concentrating on looking to her side, away from the table, and drinking her water.
Cal rolled his eyes and picked a small piece of corn off his plate and threw it at her.
She started and then glared at him, his dark hair dry, tousled, in its natural state, vest and dress pants on, cologne and aftershave mingling, her mouth falling open. "What was that for?"
He smirked gently and leaned back in his chair. "Oh good, and here I thought you were mad at me."
She glared at him. "If you ever throw food at me again, I warn you, what happened with the drinking incident will seem as nothing in comparison."
He laughed a little. "Yes darling. I'll say a dozen rosaries later to make up for my sin."
She rolled her eyes and took another sip of water.
Cal learned forward and said, "Well, what I was trying to get your attention for is that tomorrow evening, there is a Hockley Steel party that you and I must attend."
Rose stared at him, in shock. Oh god no. Not a blasted first-class party, of all things!
"No. No! I won't go. And why do I need to be there, and just what is this party for anyway?"
He smirked gently. "Rose, you need to go, as everyone is invited. And just how would it look if I showed up alone? And secondly, you may as well get your much-talked about debut from the dead over with anyway. Everyone knows you are alive. And thirdly, it's just a party."
She stared at him, mind whirling. So she had to go to a party with him, of all people! And be gossiped about by everyone, probably. And be forced to smile and wave and...
Groaning, she put her head in her hands and said, gritting her teeth, "Fine. We'll go to the damn party. But I warn you, if anybody gossips about u-"
She had almost said "us." She had meant to say "me." Regretting and not understanding her slip of the tongue, she broke off and stared.
He was smirking gently at her, honestly amused at her outburst. "Rose, I assure you. Nobody will gossip about you. Everyone knows the so-called "real" story of your illness and is very pleased you are alive. And finally, I think you'll discover I am a very knowledgeable, entertaining escort."
Rose stared at him, not knowing whether to laugh or snort. Cal, an entertaining escort? Please... True, she had never paid much mind to him during their engagement at parties and the like, but she only ever remembered him talking about Hockley Steel a lot and most of it being very dull and even a little stuck-up. Not overtly, but...It was clear he took pride in his company, that much was true. But even so...
She didn't even remember what his dancing was like, she had blocked it out so much when they had in the past. They had only ever danced maybe once or twice, if that.
But curiosity suddenly struck her. Perhaps he was different...perhaps he was entertaining and knowledgeable. Perhaps he was a good dancer. She would find out. It bothered her, true, but she had slowly come to realize that there was much more to Cal than she had ever known. Living with him, interacting with him...it was undeniable. Though she could not stand the fact, fathom that she could see him in a different light, however dim that light at this point, however slowly it was taking.
Clearing her throat, she asked, "And what do you mean by knowledgable? I don't suppose you know any gossip on our lovely fellow members, do you?"
He winked at her. "Oh yes, Rose. Yes, yes, yes, I do. And believe it or not, I do take pride in knowing what I know...it makes it most amusing at parties."
Interest suddenly hitting her, Rose suddenly leaned forward on her elbows and smiled a bit. "Well do tell! You probably know more gossip than I do."
Cal smirked a bit. "Oh, maybe another time. I think I'll wait."
Growing annoyed, she said, "Cal!"
He laughed a bit and took a sip of his wine.
Rose stared at him, so annoyed with his laugh, and that he wouldn't tell her, that all the frustration she ever felt every day lately simply exploded. She supposed it was a silly reason to get mad, but it gave her an excuse to let out her anger and vent.
"I could simply scream sometimes! Goodness...between you and my mother in general, combined with her little project with buying me new dresses and damn corsets sometimes I want to tell both of you to just..."
Rose was suddenly bewildered as he suddenly moved his chair closer to her, smiled gently at her and clasped one of her hands to his heart, almost mockingly.
"You know Rose, I worry about you, and I realize this is probably a delicate matter for you to discuss with me, but please don't be embarrassed darling. But darling, I must ask: Are your constant anger and mood swings merely a product of particularly difficult menstrual cycles each month? I've often thought that you simply suffer considerably worse pains than most women, and if that is the case, then we can always call the doctor and have him make a house call and see if there isn't something he can do," he said, smiling and winking at her.
Rose stared at him, shocked, her face reddening, both from anger and embarassment. Mostly anger, though embarrassment was a very, very close second.
She sputtered, and then finally said, "Excuse me? First of all this is so improper it's maddening, and secondly, exactly what are you insinuating? And do you seriously believe-"
She only grew more angry as he began to laugh a little, and she wrenched her hand out from his warm grip, angry he was intentionally riling her up.
"I'm merely implying that you're constantly angry and short with me for little to no reason at all, and that there simply must be a good reason why...not to mention, if there is, I feel for you and I will try to help you fix it, whatever it may be," he said, smirking gently at her and winking.
She glared at him.
"Really Rose, it's not good for your health to be so mad and uptight all the time anyway," he said, winking again. God did he enjoy making her annoyed sometimes. It was too easy...and amusing, truth be told.
Good god was he infuriating!
She tried not to scream and took a deep breath, though she had to grudgingly admit he did have a point of sorts. Gritting her teeth she opened her eyes and said, "Firstly, Cal, you are the reason for my...as you put it...constant anger and mood swings, the only remedy being you suddenly vanishing or losing the ability to speak in general. And secondly, I would greatly appreciate it if we did not discuss my... menstrual cycles, thank you very much," she said, trying not to blush as she looked at him and utterly failing. It felt like her face was on fire.
Cal laughed at her blush and leaned back in his chair. "And here all I was trying to do was help and try and get to the bottom of your issues, and by the way darling, your face is, I think, redder than your hair, you're blushing so much," he said, winking at her again.
She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. There was a gradual break in the conversation for some time, and then, finally, he surprised her by clearing his throat, expression serious.
She looked at him, and then he said, "You know, Rose...I...I realize it is only the very start of winter...but once the weather gets warmer...we could do...things...like go to the amusement park if you wish, or ride horses, or do a myriad of things. I realize you must be very bored in the mansion all of the time while I am at work."
She blinked, shocked. Was he actually serious? That...that actually sounded wonderful. Pleasant. Fun. Things she never normally associated with first-class life.
Anger of before forgotten, she said, "You...Cal...are...are you serious? That...that would be most enjoyable."
He smiled a bit. "Yes...I am. I told you I would not be your jailer Rose, and believe it or not, I would actually enjoy doing those things as well."
She actually found herself smiling a bit, regarding him in amazement. "A...All right. We...we'll do that then," she said, somewhat awkwardly.
He winked at her. "Good," he said shortly, a little awkwardly, and then they both resumed eating again in silence.
Casting secretive glances at him, Rose could not believe it. True, the man was ungodly irritating and inappropriate at times, like earlier, but...she had never known such a side of him existed. Again, that unwelcome, inescapable fact of just how much she didn't know about him struck her, and she wanted the thought to just sink down into oblivion.
Looking at him, she suddenly said, "So...tell me more about this...party," wincing a bit at the thought.
He smiled a bit at her expression, winking at her. "Really Rose, you should be thanking the heavens you get to go to the party with me, of all men in the world," smirking a bit as he finished.
She made a derisive snort and took a sip of water. "Oh and what woman wouldn't want that?"
He laughed a bit, then said, "It's simply an annual holiday party...we are the biggest company in Philadelphia, so we also invite other prospective clients, business associates, the like. And there will be plenty of food, plenty of champagne, and plenty of music and dancing and gossip to go around. Really, I think you'll enjoy it."
She snorted. "Well quite unlikely, but I'll take your word for it."
Their conversation lulling to silence again, when they were both finished, Rose felt somewhat awkward excusing herself.
Standing up, smoothing her dress over her knees, she said, "Well...good night."
Cal stared at her, lost in her beauty. God did she look gorgeous as ever...and again he had another vivid flash of his dreams of late, which more often than not involved Rose and himself in his bed, she screaming his name...
He cleared his throat, swallowing, trying to hide his growing arousal. "Good night, Rose," he said.
She nodded at him, a little stiffly, and then left.
Cal watched her go, still able to smell her perfume.
God did she ever affect him, like a drug...