ROSE ON THE LAKE 18+

🌼CHAPTER SEVEN🌼

Tonight, look up and see the moon.
I'm looking too, and I'll be with you soon.
When the stars are bright and the moon is glowing;
Our river of love will soon be flowing.
Like a river to a sea,
Bring your sweet love to me.

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The weather was cold, the atmosphere calm and everywhere else quiet. From a distance, one could hear the incessant chirping of palm birds as clearly as the eye could see the laborers of Garton farmlands tilling away in the fields.

Meanwhile, in the morning room of the Garton's villa, a duo of prim, cultured ladies were gently sipping some tea and savouring the cook, Chef Linguini's new invention; a hybrid of chocolate chips and sugar coated macarons, while they indulged in their gossip.

"It's very tragic"

"Tragic indeed. To have lost her life at such_"

"No, I'm not talking about her death, Eloise."

"What else could be more tragic than the sudden demise of Rose Garwood?"

"Her marriage" Emily whispered, dumping some macarons in her mouth.

Or was it chocolate chips?

"And how is_ was her marriage tragic as compared to what happened to her?"

"Oh El, sometimes I wonder what world you live in. Everyone in these parts knows she chose the Garwood heir over his younger brother, her lover, all for the sake of wealth and power."

"How sure are you that it wasn't the older one she was in love with? You can't always be sure."

"Stories of their love spread about like wild fire. And knowing Rush's reputation, everyone was always attentive for the latest juicy detail. But while he was away, one an amorous interlude adventure no doubt, his brother stole his love."

"Or she jilted him" said Eloise.

"Tomato Tomahto. It was a betrayal, nonetheless." She sipped her tea satisfied to be the bearer of such scandalous news.

"She could still have fallen in love with Dillan." Eloise reasoned.

"Love!" Emily scoffed. "If abuse was a manifestation of love."

"What are you insinuating?"

Leaning closer to her elder sister, she whispered, but loud enough for anyone to hear.
"I heard he beat and raped her on a regular basis. Even in front of the servants!"

Eloise gasped, her hand over her mouth and her head gently shaking in disbelief. Stark horror and dismay pasted on her face.

"Who got raped?" Asked a curious Eva as she walked in and promptly dropped into one of the chairs with a loud thud.

Eloise frowned at her elder sister's unladylike manner.

"Keep dressing like a man, and soon you'll smell like one." She warned, her nose crunched up in disgust.

"Musky?" Eva asked giving her sister a saucy wink.

"Sweaty!" Eloise rebuffed, aghast.

"Delicious" Emily said, licking her lips with interest, drawing a look of disdain from Eloise.
This provoked a chuckle from Eva.

"Must you always be so vulgar?" Eloise said rolling her eyes.

"Must you always be such a drag?" Emily fained a yawn, implying her sister was a bore.

Eloise smacked her face with a sofa pillow. For a second, Emily stood still, shocked that her ever-so-serious sister just started a pillow fight. Well, she wasn't about to let her win. Grabbing a pillow, she hit her sister squarely on the head, undoing the tight bun she'd imprisoned her gorgeous chestnut locks in.
That didn't unnerve Eloise, like it usually did. The Duo continued with their pillow fight, oblivious to the fact that their eldest sister had taken advantage of their distraction to devour their snacks.