Crowned Upon

Chapter 4

Rosalie

"How did the meeting go with the Association for Underprivileged Children?" Kace asked between bites of duck à l'orange. Technically, dinners were supposed to be a family affair, but considering the Carrington family consisted of just James, dad, and Rosalie, the Lincolns usually dined with them.

"They agreed to a charity ball." James revealed. "To be held on friday."

"Good work, James." Charles Carrington praised his son.

"Friday? That's so soon!" Rosalie exclaimed. She immediately began sorting through dress options in her mind.

"The party planners will have their hands full." Mrs. Lincoln agreed. 

Rosalie didn't have much experience with mothers, but Kace seemed like he got a good one. Mrs. Lincoln was sweet and welcoming; she liked to bake and sew in her free time. She stood out starkly from the four stern men at the dining table, as well as Rosalie, who'd never touched an oven in her life, was too overbearing to be sweet or welcoming, and had pricked herself too many times to count when she had tried to learn to sew. Rosalie envied her sometimes. She was the type of female Rosalie was supposed to be. A proper lady.

An idea shot itself into Rosalie's mind. "Can I plan it? Oh, please, dad? James? I've always wanted to plan a party!"

"You've certainly attended enough of them to know how it goes." Kace mumbled under his breath. Rosie threw him a glare.

"It's a charity ball, not a party." James reminded her.

"I know, I know!" Rosie rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, it will be totally appropriate! Please, can I do it?"

"Just leave it to the planners, Rosalie." Her father spoke up.

Rosalie's shoulders slumped. She pushed her vegetables around on her plate, feeling rejected, like always.

James sighed. As crazy as his sister drove him, he'd always had a soft spot for her. "How about you work with the planners, Rosie." He suggested. "If all goes well, maybe you could plan the next one by yourself."

"Really?" Rosalie lifted her eyes from her plate, staring into her brother's eyes, the same dark green as hers. James nodded. Rosalie smiled. "This is going to be great! We'll have it outside, as you suggested!"

"Outside?" Mr. Lincoln questioned.

"Just on the palace grounds!" Rosalie pleaded.

"I'm not sure that's safe." He explained.

"Oh, come on! If anybody dangerous made it as far as the grounds, then it'd be a cakewalk to get inside the palace. It's really not very different." Rosalie reasoned. "Balls held inside often get attendees spilling out into the grounds, anyway."

Mr. Lincoln looked into her pleading eyes and nodded. "Okay." He agreed. "We can try it."

"Thank you!" Rosalie smiled even wider. "I can invite Mr. Kendall."

"The new equestrian trainer?" Mr. Lincoln questioned.

"Rosalie's attempting to stick her claws into him." Kace explained.

"Christopher!" Mrs. Lincoln scolded her son. She turned to Rosalie and gave a small smile. "I saw him feeding the mares the other day. Quite a cute little fellow!"

"Why would we invite the equestrian trainer to a charity ball?" The king questioned incredulously.

"I think we should." James spoke up. "He's a new employee, we should give him a proper welcoming to the palace."

"You've met him, James?" The king questioned.

"I've just come back from a riding lesson with him. He was very pleasant." James responded.

"Hell, invite the horse trainer, what do I care?" The King allowed.

James and Rosalie smiled.

Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!