Arranged

6

Cosette

I was in a rose garden, admiring the blooms of the white roses. My mum had once told me that white roses bloomed when angels got their wings. Curious, I bent down to touch their soft petals.

A throat was cleared behind me. I turned around, suprised to see that William had somehow gotten into the garden with me. He looked at me lovingly, coming over to put his arms around me. It all seemed so familiar, so natural, like I had known him my entire life.

I blushed as he bent down to kiss me, my hands sliding past his chest and into his hair--

My phone went off, shocking me into the real world. I found it impossible to shake the dream.

---

Thoughts of Evelyn, comforting me though my predicament returned. And then, after she left, I went on to bloody dream about him.

How ironic.

William: Would you mind joining me for tea this weekend?
Cosette: Saturday?
William: I'll have Michael pick you up at noon.

Without another thought, I texted Avery.

Cosette: William has invited me to tea on Saturday--any ideas on why?
Avery: He's been given proof of Danica's affair in Russia. Perhaps he needs to discuss it with someone.
Cosette: Wouldn't I be the last person for him to contact, then? If the affair is confirmed, they won't be able to marry and he'll be pressured to carry out the agreement.
Avery: And that's a problem for you because..?

I sighed and set down my phone, using the moment to finish putting up my hair for work. At least whilst there I could have an easy distraction from all things William.

I soon found that I couldn't stop thinking about him. Sure, he has a jawline that you want to trace, and hair that you want to comb your fingers through... But he's not yours, and he's probably a jerk anyways. So stop trying to get involved, already.

With that, I walked underground to the tube to catch my train.

---

After hours of paperwork on behalf of the Times I decided to take a quick lunch break and go upstairs to the restaurant on the balcony. On ordering, I recognized one of our new employees, Elise, and asked her to sit with me. She seemed intimidated.

"I really don't bite, you know. In fact, my first job here was as the manager of the 3rd floor. Perhaps a high first job, but I was in luck because the preceding manager had retired in a hurry the week before."

She laughed.

"Well I'm glad that you were able to get the job then, Ms. Winters."

"Please, call me Cosette. I only ask for my surname to be used during business deals and this hardly fits the bill."

Our food came and we ate in a pleasant silence for a bit before Elise decided to continue the conversation.

"Downstairs a rather controversial headline has come out for tomorrow's paper."

"Oh?"

I raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"Yes, it's about a sort of scandal involving Earl Whittney's daughter and a Russian Prince. It seems as though her engagement to Duke Evernorth's son has been severed indefinetely."