A Rose For A Rose

Chapter 13

The silence was deafening around the table. I could feel my father's fury rolling off of him from here. Andre looked down at the wine glass in his hand with a grim look. Lissa's look of shock didn't make me feel better either. I knew that she would feel betrayed that I hadn't told her. Eddie had a blank look that I was thankful he had. Dimitri's sister looked mortified and to be honest, a little angry.

Ivan and Adrian thankfully were the only ones at the table who did not seem fazed by Natasha's admission.

I didn't know what to say, because there was nothing I could say to make this less horrible. Olena cleared her throat and looked at her son, her lips pursed the slightest bit.

"I think that you are very out of line," Baba said darkly.

"Excuse me?" Natasha asked with raised brows. "I know what I saw."

"I believe that what happens between an engaged couple is not the business of anyone else," Baba stated, "And to fathom that you would do something so indecent as watch a private moment."

I kept my face impassive as Baba talked. I was stunned that Baba would so quickly try to cover it up, but to use the guise of an engagement was even more alarming.

"That is a disastrous thing to say, Miss. Ozera," Lady Castile said firmly.

Natasha shook her head and opened her mouth again but Olena interrupted her. I met Adrian's eyes over the table and he smirked at me, raising his glass to me before taking a long drink.

I narrowed my eyes at him as Dimitri spoke, his voice bellowing over all of the others.

"That is enough!" Dimitri snapped. I turned to look at him timidly, as did everyone at the table.

"Miss. Ozera, you are a guest of this household. The manner in which you have conducted yourself is astonishing, and frankly, tarnishing. As my guest, I had hoped that you would respect this household. You have proven you cannot," Dimitri said sternly. He didn't raise his voice, but he commanded the attention of those around the table.

I downcast my eyes as Natasha fumbled over her words. I think she forgot that not only was she insulting and causing problems for me, but she was also doing the same to someone she claimed to care for. Someone who was her friend as well.

"Natasha, I believe that you owe our host and Rose an apology," Christian piped up. I looked at him in confusion. I hadn't expected him to come to my aide. But it could also have been that he was trying to protect his family's already tarnished reputation, one that Lissa would be taking on in a week's time. It also could have been because of how much Lissa and I meant to each other.

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ABE POV – 3 Days Earlier

I wasn't surprised when Dimitri asked me for a moment after dinner. Janine had mentioned last night that Rose had revealed to her that she was in love with him, for lack of words, and that they had been involved. I did not want to think of the manner in which they had been involved.

I was not thrilled at the idea of my little girl becoming a woman, but it was something that I needed to come to terms with.

There weren't many men I had met that I would deem good enough for my girl, but Dimitri fell in that category. Despite his father, he was a level-headed man and he took after her mother.

I was surprised to see the inside of his personal study. It was usually a room that the head of the house kept to themselves, aside from their family. As a child, Rosemarie used to lie on the rug in front of the fireplace, playing with her dolls. As she grew up, it changed from dolls to novels, to sketchbooks. It was where I comforted her after Aslan died, holding her tight while she sobbed into my shoulder.