Roses Always Have Thorns [Completed]

2. The thoughts before the office door

It didn't take much time for Rose to know it wouldn't be well. Lady Catherine presented as a welcoming being, along with Juliette who was very friendly, making Rose almost hearing her governess telling her 'I told you!', but just like a wise person said that in order to cast a light you must also cast a shadow, in all these events there was always something unusual. When lady Catherine showed Rose her to-be bedroom, she seemed a bit edgy, and there was something in Juliette's manner of speaking that made Annabelle uncomfortable. 

'Your name is Rosemary. Why do you want me to call you Rose?' Juliette asked in one evening, as she walked down the hall.

'I think that it's just too formal coming from someone my age.' Rose explained.

'And my brother, then? You don't seem to let him call you by Rose.' she pointed out.

'Yeah well, I don't let everyone my age to use that. Just my friends.'

'And you think we're friends?'

'Um, I do.' Rose said puzzled, widening her eyes.

'Of course, we are, silly.' Juliette laughed, before becoming serious. 'But by this, you're also telling me that Romeo isn't your friend.'

If she hadn't applied some foundation cream that morning, Juliette would've seen her blush. She never particularly gave Romeo a thought, let alone trying to form a friendship of some sort.

'No, i-it's not that! It's just that, you know, he's a boy and-' Rose began to explain agitated, but was interrupted by a laugh that sounded like the younger version of Lady Catherine; giggly, sharp and almost scary.

'Don't worry, Rose. I don't mind if you don't have a liking for Romeo; the only reason I tolerate him the way I do is because he's my brother and I don't like leaving relatives behind. Nothing more.'

The two girls chatted peacefully until they eventually reached Rose's bedroom door. They bid each other good night and as Rose closed the door behind, realizing that she must be in the company of any of the three Van Burgh members anymore, she finally felt at peace. Although Juliette proved herself a good friend and company, Rose couldn't help but get tired of her way of thinking. The way Rose thought and talked was very different from Juliette's. While Rose preferred the simple, Juliette seemed to enjoy having fancy airs, a way-tobe that Rose never quote understood nor liked. 

Even though the two girls were as different as the night differs from the day, they seemed to get along very well. She threw herself on the large bed that, to Rose's relief, she wouldn't have to share with anybody and began to reminisce over the good times when she was Miss Black's student. It already passed a month or two since her arrival in the house of Lady Catherine, and it already felt like she spent a whole year in it.

She knew her room's each and every millimetre. Her room was a room that was relatively spacious, with walls painted in a dark grey-green shade and furniture in matching colours. It was placed on the first floor, only about ten meters away from the stairs.

 Since it was late summer, the days would still be warm enough to make someone feel like melting. In some days, Juliette couldn't be able to persuade Rose to get outside for an hour or two for a walk, a time which Rose always liked to use to explore the house and all its recesses or simply in the library, reading the books she never got the chance to before. It so happens that on a Saturday afternoon in September, Rose happened to hear something she never expected to. She was walking down a hallway, minding her own business when, as she passed Lady Catherine's office, she heard something that caught her attention through the slightly cracked door.

'Really? Are you sure she doesn't know?' Lady Catherine's concerned voice could be heard.

'As far as I know, lady Catherine, Miss Black didn't keep up with that side of the family.' an familiar, masculine voice could be heard.

Rose widened her eyes in shock when she heard the name of her governess.

'Maybe it's for the better that she didn't. Imagine both emotional and educational impact it would have if she found out.'

'Indeed.'

'She'd stop learning and her head would be filled with silly ideas.' Lady Catherine said, with a note of amusement in her voice. 'She'd think that that man would care for her, but little would she know that he cares for no one but himself. No wonder he moved in the Alps. What was his name, again?'

'Edmund Agler. He lives in the Fichtel Mountains, Germany.'

Rose was so focused on the discussion that she lost balance and leaned a bit too hard against the wooden door, making it move with the sound of a crack.

'Who's there?' Lady  Catherine asked as she raised to her feet, but with no use; Rose was a fast runner.

Rose ran through the halls, not minding about anything that stood in her way, all she knew was that she needed to reach her bedroom. After she entered her bedroom, at last, she let the thoughts fill her mind. Who was that man? Why did he share the same family as her? What does Miss Black have to do with this? Was that man some relative of hers? As Rose was thinking the whole situation, a knock could be heard from her door.

Knock, Knock!

'Yes?' Rose called.

'May I open the door, miss Rosemary?' the familiar voice of Terrie could be heard from behind the door.

'Yes.' Rose said and watched how the old man opened the door an slowly walked in, his tuxedo on him, as usual, 'What is it?'

'Lady Catherine demanded your presence in her office, urgently.' the man spoke slowly.

'W-why? Did I do something?' Rosemary said with a twitch of her cheek, as her heart beating faster and faster.

'I'm afraid she didn't tell me anything more, for I am only her servant, nothing more.'

It was only when Rose rose to her feet, she realised how bad her feet were trembling. Could've Lady Catherine find out that she was eavesdropping to her discussion? Rose was mentally getting ready for what was about to happen as she walked down the hallways, alongside Terrie. If it wasn't Terrie who stopped her, Rose would miss the office door an continue to walk down the hallway.

'Lady Catherine, the girl is here.' Terrie said as he knocked at the wooden door.

As the approval came from the other side of the door, Terrie opened the door, letting Rose enter.

'Ah.' Lady Catherine said, nodded satisfied.' Good afternoon, Rosemary. Please take a seat.'

' Y-You called for me, Lady Catherine.' Rose said, feeling how her heart was threatening to make her chest explode, 'Terrie said it is urgent.'

'And Terrie is, as always, right. I called for you as we need to talk about some serious issues here that centre you.' Lady Catherine said, back to her matter-of-fact tone.

Rose felt her face going red. If Lady Catherine found out that she eavesdropped, she was as good as dead.