Curse of Rose de Winter

Chapter 46

Judy went to live in the de Winter house and without further ado I returned too, sending Rosalind some money that I had kept when I worked long ago. The rent was high but she refused her parents' money, so I hid it under a cup then ran away.

It was fall and leaves were changing into my more loved colors, red, yellow, and trees looked golden from their place. I thought of bringing Dylan to see it from outside the treehouse, or a higher place.

When I entered the house I learned from Irene that Claribel and Scarlett both left. Calvin wanted to leave, too, but Ruby wanted to see me. So it was Judy, Dylan, Vaughn, Calvin, Ruby, and I.

Judy had briefly met them, even Dylan, and when I came I saw her at the table.

"Good afternoon, Judy," I whispered. She was definitely upset at my choice to refuse and testify against Dylan, but she only nodded.

"Rosemarie Blackwood, right?"

"Listen, Judy, I'm not really Rosemarie. I pretended to be a dead girl," I explained suddenly, not caring Irene was standing at the doorway. "I'm a poor girl. My dad died and my mom threw me out of the house, and I didn't live in this rich area growing up. I had a rough life."

"But of course I know your suffering can't be compared to anything I've ever experienced," I lied.

"Oh, you have a transatlantic accent. Like how they speak in the films," Judy remarked softly.

What? Out of everything, this was not what I expected to hear from her. Was this mockery? No, it didn't sound like one.

"Yes," I said slowly, suddenly overtly aware of my words, "I have indeed copied famous actresses on movies." I sat down. "I can even do impersonations. Look." I changed my voice before I spoke again.

"Excuse you, watch where you are going, young lady!" I snapped, stretching out the word 'lady'. I had Scarlett's voice in mind.

Judy smiled, amused at my dumb theatrics.

"Fine, do one of a rich and tragic young heiress," she said.

"Oh, woe be me! I must find a husband, of all people! This is ridiculous, if only my father in Heaven knew how much I missed him!" I wept.

"Oh. That's really just...not me." Judy turned away. "I'm leaving this country."

"What?"

"You knew what happened to me, and how Hughes betrayed me for the eldest son." Judy gave a glare, vexed at my betrayal she heard from Vaughn, I'd guess. "However, I'll be marrying and receiving money. Vaughn has agreed. I decided I won't need or want this empty and creepy house."

"Wait, what?" I said quickly. "Vaughn agreed? To marry you?"

He was a jealous snake! He wanted the fortune—

"Before you get this wrong, we agreed to go on with our own lives and the money will all be mine. I simply didn't want any of you winning," Judy said again, as though I was a de Winter. As though I were Scarlett the witch or Claribel the Great. Or maybe, in her eyes, I did look like a well-off and greedy crone.

I sighed and tugged at my hands, raising my head to look at her, ashamed. There were no excuses for my choice.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "Did you hate Auguste, too? He designed this house himself and I'm sure he would've liked it if you kept it."

"I liked Auguste. He was like you, always the clown to entertain me. I knew his jokes and smiled hid a second life I didn't know of, but I was happy. My name is Judy, he named me. One day, he told me, I'll be Blanche, but I really never wanted to be part of this family."