Rose never lies.
She does, however, offer well crafted excuses.
One morning he had asked, "Rose, where's my biscuit?"
"Ate it." She answered through a mouthful of food.
Although neither of these facts matter, it seems, as Rose is terribly blunt with John.
Be it by personal reasons:
When she entered his room with lunch delivery in hand, John sighed. "How is it I can never find a single pear in this entire school?"
As Rose set up his tea and silverware she said, "I hide them."
Or an answer that's not really an answer at all:
"Rose," he caught her one afternoon in the halls. "I've not questioned it. And there is no time it once pops up as a topic in casual conversation. I cannot help but wonder, however, so I ask now. Where are you going?"
"Out," and she was gone.
Rose's equivocal behavior moves John to the most derisory of actions...
"Mister Smith!" Matron Redfern greeted.
Having hid under the bend of the staircase, John yelped. Scaring the Matron, and more than likely, alerting Rose of his presence.
John's eye locked back on Rose, who he had planned to tail soon, since her chore of scrubbing the floors is near ending. Her last job till dinner, and typically when she exits to that route of hers. Rose smirked at the ground, and John frowned. Had she known he was here?
"In regard to your maid," the Matron whispered. "May I pose a question?"
He stared at said maid a second longer, then faced the Matron. "Yes, you may."
"Well, knowing of her tired state I had offered Rose a cup of tea. To which she accepted and told me ta. I scolded her for lack of manners, but the look upon her face as I did has me wondering. She offered no explanation, only apologised. So, I do wish to know if you could confide in me the meaning of her peculiar behavior."
John smirked. "Her family is of lower Britain, Matron. Ta is informal British speech for an expression of gratitude."
"Well, I suppose I was not wrong in my actions then," the Matron huffed. "I will allow no informalities between myself and the help. Though I thank you for enlightening me."
The Matron left John troubled. It puzzles him, for this isn't the first instance that the Matron and Rose have had an issue. Perhaps their personalities clash. As he ponders the idea, they do appear opposite in many ways.
"Evening, Mister Smith," Rose said in passing.
"Yes, evening," he mumbled through thought.
The Matron being an older civilised woman, and Rose a young somewhat wild thing is one way to observe the situation. Then again, he does not know how they act when alone with one another. Because Rose does have a way of subtly pulling ones strings. She can-
John whirled around to the exit. The flutter of Rose's dress swept through the door just before closing at the far end of the hall. Chance!
But first.
So as to not look overly excited -lest the boys witness foolish behavior from their superiors- John tugged at his lapels then briskly headed her way. The game is afoot.
A/N
Stalker mode: Activate
MirrorFlower and DarkWind: Thank you so much for saying so! I was beginning to worry that this was something becoming too ridiculous..