Heart of Rose

Learning ones place and secrets kept

Chapter 3

Gideon just stared in awe as Rose walked down the hall with Marie. He had never been spoken to in such a manor. If she were a man, he would have already put her in her place but she wasn’t, and that is where his problem led.

 

He did not know what to make of Rose. She was full of fire and ice all at one time. He had a feeling she could be the death of him if he let her. Her last statement stumped him. Why would she refer to herself as the Queen of Ice, as if her life story was some kind of tragedy or a curse? That to him was the most curious bit of information sweet Rose had given him at all.

 

Rosaliee walked down the hallway, meekly following Marie to the room that was to be hers. Rose was exhausted from the emotional stress of the day all that made of her past rushing back at once.

 

She was happy and sad at the same time that Gideon didn’t recognize her of the innocent little girl she used to be. He had come entirely too close to the truth. That scared Rose. She had spent the past four years hiding a secret from everyone, but her guardian Desmond—he had known her secret and didn’t try to hurt her. He had in fact come to Rose’s rescue quite a few times. Her maidenhood had stayed intact thanks to him.

 

The memories of the torture Rose had to put up with kept running through her mind. The men constantly grabbing at her made her sick. Luckily, Desmond was always there just in time to save her from any more of those lecherous men.

 

Marie had been winding the two of them down a long narrow hallway for the past five minutes while Rose slowly followed behind, wondering what this new life would bring her and if she would be able to keep her past a secret from those who could hurt her the most.

 

Rose suddenly stopped. She could her the commotion going on downstairs on the grounds and when she looked out the window, she panicked. There in the yard was Desmond being dragged without a thought of giving herself away. She raced down the stairs.

 

She made it to the end of the hallway in a matter of seconds, racing past Gideon. Outside, the men were dragging and beating Desmond. What made it odd was that he did not fight back. Why did they not show her the same courtesy when she arrived? Apparently, being a woman had given her an advantage.

 

Gideon was in shock by the life he saw in Rose as she flew by him to the grounds. It seemed as if she were racing towards Lucas and the man they had found in the woods. Gideon was furious with the way his brother and the men were treating that man. He wasn’t even fighting them and yet they still treated him so cruelly. Gideon followed Rose all the way outside to see what Rose would do, ready to protect her if he needed to.

 

“Stop!” That word ripped from Rose’s lungs, but it was all it took for the men to stop. This girl had seemed so meek when she arrived, but when it came to protecting this man, she had some fight in her. The men just stared, unsure of what to do or expect. Finally Lucas walked towards her. “Rose, what is the matter? Why do you defend this man? What is he to you?”

 

“He has been my protector for many years, Master Lucas. He has made sure no man has ever laid a hand on me. He has been my brother when I have needed one most. He will not and has not fought you. Please let him go; he will go where you wish willingly. Do not harm him.”

 

Lucas didn’t have to say anything. Most of the men heard her plea and began to let go and just stand around. Lucas himself even took a few steps back, awed by the strength she had shown in order to protect the man. One man, however, was over zealous and would not let Desmond go. Rose slowly moved to him and asked him to remove his painful hold on Desmond. The man just simply smirked and slapped Rose across the face. “You best learn your place here, woman, or you will find yourself in trouble.”

 

Rose had been hit before, but this was different. The anger of today had toppled over her and she was shaking. As she tried to hold the last thread of her control in her mind, she had heard footsteps moving swiftly towards her, but she was too far gone to care who she offended.

 

She did, however, pause with Desmond’s plea not to hurt the man. “Please Rosie, do not hurt him! He does not matter! He cannot truly hurt you!”

 

Rose’s next words caused everyone to freeze. “He will learn his place, Desmond. No man shall ever touch me again.” And with that, Rose slowly took the last two steps between her and the man and simply raised her hand to his face and cradled his cheek and willed the cold to move through her to him. The man’s eyes widened in fear as the first chill reached him but Rose’s concentration was broke when the footsteps she heard had come past her and knocked the men a few good feet away. Easily, he slid the ground loosing consciousness.

 

Rose looked at Gideon with pure shock. She had not expected him to aid her. Gideon walked over to Desmond, reached down a hand and helped him up. Every man around them backed away, too scared to cross Gideon. He was the largest man of their kingdom. All the men wanted to be like him and the ladies all feared him to much to be close. Without hesitation, Rose walked right up to him, kissed his cheek and said. “Thank you Gideon,” red rising to her cheeks as she realized what she had just done passed all lines of decency drawn. Gideon quickly hid the surprise in his eyes and gave a curt nod. He turned to Desmond and instructed him to follow him. With one last look at Rose, he and Desmond headed towards the stables.

 

Marie grabbed Rose’s arm and begged her to follow. She knew all to well how the talk would hurt Rose if she could hear what they were saying—calling her crazy and claiming she needed to be locked up. As Rose and Marie were walking back up the steps, Marie quickly turned to Rose, “Miss Rose, I know your secret, but you mustn’t worry. I will guard it with my life rather than make you out.”

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