A Rose For A Rose

Chapter 11

My mother watched me curiously the whole ride to the Baia Estate, her lips pursed carefully as she observed me. The thing about my mother was that she knew everything in my head before I did. She knew when I was up to no good, and she knew when I was hiding something. I guess it was a gift of sorts. She would always brush it off as being a mother when I asked her how she knew, but this was one of the moments where I both loved and hated that gift.

The girl in me wanted to pour my heart out to my mother, to have a woman so important in my life listen to my sorrow. To lend me strength when I needed it most. But at the said coin, I couldn't do so because of what I had done. I had ruined myself in a sense and I did not feel any kind of guilt or regret.

I just hoped that I would be able to last the week without her figuring out my secrets.

When we arrived at the estate I climbed out and was greeted by Dimitri and his mother, an older woman in tow. I canted my head respectfully and let my parents greet our hosts. I smiled at Dimitri and was gifted with a brilliant smile of his own.

I was happy to see it and tried to memorize it. I wasn't sure what the week had in store for me, but I wanted to remember this time with him, and hopefully, we would be able to find a way to be together still.

"Roza, this is my babushka, Yeva. Babushka, this is Rose. You remember Aslan Mazur, yes?"

Yeva looked and him before flicking her eyes to me. She gave him a sharp nod.

"Aslan was my brother," I supplied kindly but she didn't say a word. I assumed that Yeva did not speak English well, remembering Dimitri had mentioned that they mostly spoke in Russian at home.

Lady Belikov cleared her throat. "Let me give you all a tour. I know that you have been here before my dear, but there is so much more to see."

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Pipa was diligent in getting me ready for dinner. I had seen her whispering with other maids in the estate before she came to help me dress for our first dinner as their guests. She spent more time than I deemed necessary carefully pinning my curls up in an elegant twist and applying rouge to my cheeks.

"Pipa, it's not as though I'm dining with the Queen," I sighed but she simply smiled.

"No, but you are dining with the Duke and his family, along with others. I want you to look your best. Besides, it's best if your family starts to see you dress as a lady. You'll be entering into society next summer."

"You act as though I dress like a man."

Pipa chuckled. "No, no. But it may be a shock once you start your season for your parents."

I shrugged but stood up so I could change into the dress. I was unsure about the cut of the dress but decided if my mother didn't reject it immediately, it would be okay for the night.

I descended the stairs and toyed with the heavy necklace around my neck. Both the dress and jewels were gifts from my father, the latest fashion in France. But it went unfamiliar. The silks felt different than the ones I already had, and the colours were bold, but I liked the feel of it.

I looked regal and I believe that Baba wanted it that way. I didn't exactly act like the daughter of an Earl, and maybe this was his way of slowly preparing me for my entrance into society next summer.

I paused on the stairs when I spotted Dimitri standing at the bottom, hands clasped behind his back as he looked out the window. I cleared my throat to alert him and he turned, his calm face turning to a smile. I felt pride flutter through me when his eyes wandered from my neck to my dress.