Rose Heart

Chapter 8

Rose burst through the front door, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear. "Mama! Papa!" she called out, her voice trembling.

Her parents, who were sitting in the parlor, looked up in surprise. "Rose, what's wrong?" her mother asked, concern etched on her face.

"Well...I." she spoke shakily.

Rose took a deep breath before speaking. "The duke...he tried to assault me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her parents' expressions changed from concern to disbelief. "What are you talking about, Rose?" her father asked, his voice stern. "The duke Blackwood is a respected man. He would never do such a thing."

Rose felt a surge of frustration and anger. "I'm telling you, he tried to! He grabbed me and tried to kiss me. If James had not showed , who knows what would have happened?"

"Rose, you're being dramatic," her mother said, waving her hand dismissively. "The duke is a respected man. He would never try to harm you." Her mother spoke.

"But I know what happened," Rose protested, her voice shaking. "He tried to assault me. I felt it."

Her father's expression turned stern. "Enough, Rose. You will apologize to the duke and continue to fulfill your duties as his fiance. We will not have you embarrass our family with these wild accusations." Her father said.

Rose felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why wouldn't they listen to her? Why wouldn't they believe her?

She knew then that she was on her own. She had to find a way to protect herself from the duke's advances, and she had to do it without her parents' support.

****************

Rose cried for a few days and decided to go meet James one night after arguing with her parents.

The rain poured down outside,  a cozy gloom over the world. Rose stood at James' doorstep, her hair dripping wet and her clothes clinging to her body.

"James, I'm so sorry to intrude," she said, her voice trembling. "But I.... The storm caught me off guard."

James' face lit up with concern as he pulled her inside. "Rose, you're shivering. Come in, come in."

He led her to the fireplace, where a warm flame crackled and spat. Rose felt a wave of relief wash over her as the warmth seeped into her bones.

"I'll get you some dry clothes," James said, disappearing into the next room.

Rose watched him go, feeling a sense of gratitude and wonder. She had never felt so safe, so cared for, in her life.

As the night wore on, they sat by the fire, talking and laughing together. Rose felt like she had found a kindred spirit in James, someone who understood her in a way no one else ever had.

As the storm raged on outside, Rose knew that she didn't want the night to end. She wanted to stay here, in this warm and cozy space, with James by her side.

And as she looked into his eyes, she knew that she wasn't alone in her desire. James felt it too, this connection that went beyond words and explanations.

As the fire crackled and spat, Rose knew that she had found her home, her haven, in James' arms. And she knew that she would never let go.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Rose was sitting in her room, staring out the window at the gardens below. She had been thinking about James nonstop since their last meeting, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special between them.

As she gazed out the window, she felt a sudden flutter in her chest. She realized that she was in love with James. The thought sent a thrill through her body, and she felt her heart race with excitement.

She stood up and paced around her room, trying to process her emotions. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

As she walked, she felt a smile spreading across her face. She knew that she had to tell James how she felt, but she was scared of rejection. What if he didn't feel the same way?

Despite her fears, Rose knew that she had to be honest with James. She took a deep breath and sat down at her desk, writing him a letter that would change everything.

Dear James,

I need to speak with you about something important. Meet me in the old oak tree grove at sunset tomorrow.

Yours,
Rose.

Rose sealed the letter and sent it off to James, her heart racing with anticipation. She couldn't wait to see him, to tell him how she felt. She hoped he would understand, that he would feel the same way.

As she waited for his response, she felt a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and a hint of fear. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if he didn't show up?

But she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the hope that had been growing inside her. Hope that they could be together, that they could share a love that would last a lifetime.

The next day, as the sun began to set, Rose made her way to the old oak tree grove. She saw James waiting for her, his eyes locked onto hers with a curious expression.

"Rose, what's going on?" he asked, as she approached him.

Rose took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "James, I have something important to tell you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something that could change everything between us."