Heart of Rose

queen of ice

Chapter 2

She was praying. He didn’t recognize her because she had just heard Lucas call Gideon his brother and Gideon could never know who she was. He would betray her, she had thought he was her protector, but it turns out that he was just betraying her years ago, not protecting her.

Rosaliee felt betrayed. She had spent the last ten years in her hell believing that he was her hero and her savior, and it was what got her through it all. And now she has come to find out that he was a part of the whole thing related to the one who had betrayed her! Of all people, why him? She had spent ten years practically falling in love with the guy, and now to find he was a traitor like the rest of them.

Gideon had this feeling when he saw the girl, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was about her that he recognized. Though the girl had looked up and when they locked eyes, he felt something in his gut, those beautiful eyes the color of the sky on its bluest day had stirred something in him that he thought he had long ago lost. In those eyes, he saw life that reminded him of a little girl he knew once long ago one who he had grown fond of in a matter of seconds and one who had lost her life to young because of his father’s scheming ways. His father had murdered that little girl out of lust for fortune and power and he wanted nothing of it. The girl, however, kept staring at him and all of a sudden, just snapped out of it and turned away as if she were ashamed of him—it was as if she despised him. Gideon was shocked at the change that overcame the girl. At this point, he walked over to Lucas and stared him down, angered by the way the girl was judging him so quickly. “Lucas, who is this pet, as you have called her that you bring into the safety of our home? She looks like a peasant!”

“Gideon, this is Rose. I found her in the woods running scared from who-knows-what. She refuses to speak, but only to state that she wished to accept Father’s offer to work here. Other than that, she wants nothing to do with any of us. Although I did notice her staring at you, she seemed dazed and than all of a sudden fire was in her eyes like she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to kill you or jump your bones.”

Gideon just chuckled. He did not agree with Lucas on the wanting him part. She definitely looked as if she wanted to kill him, though at that last glance. Without a thought, Gideon walked across the room and took the young miss by the arm, excused them from Marie and marched them right over to the doorway. He had wanted to warn the young Rose before she got it into her head that she had more fire than him! Look at him like that again, he was sure she wouldn’t.

“Miss Rose, a word if you would please?”

“A word, sir? Are you asking or demanding? Don’t put it as a question if you are just going to drag me. Simply state your demand; my presence is not asking for it!”

“Ahh, Miss Rose, you are refreshing. The fire in you is quite admirable but you will soon learn your place. I would not want my father to put you down as quickly as you brought yourself up.”

“My place, sir; what do you know about place? You’re certainly speaking with a mere peasant like myself, now is?”

So she needed to learn her lesson, but as Gideon looked down, he realized that there was hurt in those eyes of fire that couldn’t be hidden no matter how hard she tried.

Rose saw the sympathy in his eyes and it made it all even worse. She did not want the man who had betrayed a little girl’s trust to feel sympathy for her. She was working up the nerve to tell him exactly what she thought of him, without giving herself away. She didn’t want them to know who she really was. Gideon just looked at her and he felt the need to tell her that she reminded him of that little girl, but a more grown-up version of her and that’s exactly what he was going to do.

“Rose, I don’t know why but for some reason, you remind me of a little girl I met years ago. She was full of life and had the same eyes as you. I can’t honestly tell you why you remind me of her, but you do.”

Rose froze. She had to figure the right thing to say to distract him and get his mind off of it. The only way Rose could think of was to change the subject. “Really, a little girl? I remind you of a little girl? First, I’m a peasant than I’m a little girl? What’s next, Gideon? What? Because you have insulted me enough for one day.”

Gideon was fuming. He had tried to make the girl feel better and she wanted to bite his head off. Lucas was right she really did want him dead or something of the painful nature.

“For your information, Rose, I told it to comfort you and it was a compliment. That little girl was the only thing that ever brought a moment of happiness to my life with her views on this world. It was not to insult you.” With that, Rose broke into tears and it took Gideon completely by surprise.

“I’m sorry Gideon. I’m so sorry for how I’ve treated you. Please just forget me.” The plea from Rose was small, but it did not go unheard by Gideon.

Gideon saw ice in her eyes. This girl was cold and the world had done her wrong and with that, he leaned down and whispered in Rose’s ear, “You are an ice queen now. My dear Rose, one day I’m going to light those eyes on fire and keep them that way permanently.”

Rose looked up and stared for a moment. Gideon had no idea what he had just said to her or how close he was by calling her the Ice Queen. With that, Rosaliee looked at him and softly whispered back, “I was born a Queen of Ice, Gideon. There’s not enough fire in you to thaw this frozen heart.”

And she left.

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