"Rose? Are you awake?" I hear a groan as I enter the room. "Uncle Victor is here, I think its about time you get up, don't you?"
"Five minutes, mother", Rose snaps back at me. I agree to let her have five minutes, but no more because Victor is earlier than expected.
I shuffle down the shiny and recently polished staircase to find my brother and my husband drinking coffee and eating some scones Winnie baked last night.
"Is she getting up?", Patrick asks. I nod my head, unsure if I want Victor to tell Rose. "Victor, I think I'd like to tell her," I say. Victor agrees and we all sit in silence waiting for Rose. Some time later, Rose marches down the stairs wearing the blue dress I bought for her last month, for her eighteenth birthday. "Uncle, how lovely to see you," she says, kissing Victor on the cheek. Victor smiles and nods. Then he looks at me.
"Rose, darling, we have something to tell you," I begin.
"Fire away," she says, stuffing a scone into her mouth. "Since you have turned eighteen, it is time for you to begin your life, in way of marraige," I say to Rose. Rose nearly chokes on her scone. "Mother! Please, I'd get married any day, you know I would just let me choose. Tell me I can choose," she says. I shake my head, sadly. "Father! Tell mother I am not having my marriage arranged!" Rose shouts at Patrick. "No, Rose your mother and I, we did this for you so you can be happy."
"I don't care what you say! I'm eighteen now! I can marry whoever I like!" Rose bellows.
"But what would the public think?" Victor asks.
"I don't care what anybody thinks!" she storms off to her room.
Victor and I exchange looks. Patrick is clutching his head like he has a headache of some sort.
"She doesn't even know who he is, she may end up liking him" says Victor, with enthusiasm.
"Do you want to go up and tell her who he is, Victor?" Patrick asks. Victor nods and I tell him that I'm coming with him in case Rose throws another fit.
We knock on the door. "Away with you", Rose snaps.
"Rose let us talk to you, at least tell you who he is."
"Fine!" I turn the new golden doorknob and we enter the room. I sit down on Rose's sofa, while Rose is sprawled across her four poster bed. Victor walks towards her and sits at the end of her bed.
"His name's Hugo, Hugo Reede. He is a son of my closest friends, Sebastian and Selma Reede."
"Is that supposed to make me feel happy or something?" Rose says sarcastically.
"Rose!" I snap.
"He has money, Rose," explains Victor.
"We've got money, Uncle. That's not the reason. You all just want to make sure I marry someone rich and single. Oh come on, Uncle, this is 1926, arranged marriages do not happen anymore, you know."
"Actually, Rose they happen all the time. Now, you'll do as you're told and marry Hugo!" I yell at her. I figured Rose needed a good telling off. "Come on, Victor it's time to go now," I say to him.
We go downstairs, leaving Rose behind. We say goodbye to Victor and sit back down. "What happened?" Patrick demands.
"She's still upset", I say, sounding disappointed. Patrick rings a small bell, and Winnie comes running in. "Yes, Sir," says Winnie.
"We'd like some tea please." Winnie nods and leaves the room. I stare out the window. It is a warm summer's day and we're stuck inside.
YOU ARE READING
Lanes & Lies
RomanceFeisty Rose discovers she has to marry Hugo Reede a man who seems to hide a lot of feelings. Is Hugo plotting something outgoing and exciting? Or dangerous and daring?
