Only Skin

Chapter 14

"Henry, Son!" My father cried from the lounge room. I regretfully headed towards the sound of his voice, and found a cheery Charolette accompanied by her parents. "I have some exciting news to share with you! We've decided to move the wedding up." "I'm sorry?" I spoke aghast. "How much further could we move it up? It is in only 11 days after all." "Nonsense! We have decided. In three days time, our dreams will all come true!"

My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of my head. I was completely shocked. I was barley handling the news of a wedding as is, and now it's being moved up?! "But father!" I said eagerly. Calming myself, attempting to fill my next words with reason and not dread, "what about my injury? I am sure Charolette would prefer her wedding to have her groom uninjured." "I knew you would say so." Father said with a smirk and a playful tone. "However miss Charolette has requested the exact opposite." Charolette. "She did?" I asked with nervous laughter, feeling my sweat begin to encase my body. "Oh Henry!" Charolette said in her eerie voice, approaching closer to me. "When you were injured, it only made me want to marry you even more! So I came to your father for his permission, and we received his blessing!" She pulled me into her bosom, placing me into what felt like a chokehold with her arms. "I am just so excited."

And now for once, I did not feel comforted by an embrace. Her hold was not warm like my mother's when I was a young boy, or the filled with the loving glow of Rose's. I should've know she would try to trick me like this. I underestimated her by far- she was much smarter than she seemed.

Seemingly saving my behind, Thomas ran into the house through the back door by the gazebo. Following behind him was Rose. Charolette let loose of my torso, and it took all strength to not run to Rose right then and there.

"Thomas? Who is this?" My father asked, taken aback by the sudden presence of a stranger in his house. "Sir, this is the woman that saved Henry." Rose shuffled her feet, bowing her head to avoid the blush covering her face. "Is this true, Henry?" Father directed to my direction, but perhaps I was too focused on her, and only responded after a throat clear from Thomas. "Oh, yes. This is her."

"Come here." My father said to Rose, directing her with his fingers where she was to stand. "Your name?" "Rose, Sir." "You have done a great deed by saving my beloved son. I thank you." "Thank you, Sir." There was a brief moment of silence between the two before Father asked "how would you care to serve as Charolette's new Abigail? She'll be in need to help her prepare for the wedding, and for when she begins her new life here." I couldn't decide whether I was excited or disappointed by this request. I would get to see Rose a lot more often, but on the cost I have to marry Charolette? Alas, my questioned was answered for me with unsteady breath; "I would be honored, Sir."
"Fantastic!" Father exclaimed, clapping his hands together in an celebratory manor. He began to pour whiskey for us, but Rose and I could only focus on one another. What were we to do now?

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
It was the next day, and when I woke up I was immediately surrounded by tailors and shoemakers. Everyone was rushing to get the wedding together, and I had yet to see Charolette, which meant no Rose. When I had breaks in the day, I would let all of my feelings out into my journal, but I would come to learn it wouldn't help much. Between the suit fittings and the food tastings, all I wanted was peace.

As I walked back upstairs from one of my various meetings, I heard giggling and high-pitched voices. I recognized the tone belonging to Charolette and her mother, and couldn't help myself but listen in. "Oh isn't it just gorgeous, sweetheart?" squealed Charolette's mom. "I hate it." Charolette said after a long pause.

The dress that adorned her fit perfectly. It's white fabric modestly covered all spots of skin leading up to her neckline that was lined with petite flowers. A lace balayeuse fitted her bodice, followed by an elegant train engraved with bunches of flowers. The look was topped off with a veil and headpiece. For a second, she convinced me she was everything her image appeared to be: pure, delightful, and elegant. But I knew that beneath that exterior lay a harsh and foul-mouthed girl, who didn't deserve my love.

"But why not? It's everything you wanted." Charolette snapped back at her mother, uncrossing her arms and stamping her foot. "It's not good enough! I want perfection, and I will not walk down that aisle until I get it!" She flung her head around to face the servants and barked "Am I understood?" Rose was unseen from my line of view, but I could recognize her voice from anywhere. "Yes m'am."

Rose walked out of the room with a pile of  white cloth and fabric, closing the door behind her. I scanned the hallway for any other personal, and once the coast was clear, I lifted her head up and whispered in her ear "My love, I believe I have a plan."