Anything for Her - Complete

Chapter 7

"Ambrose? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to take two pretty girls out to lunch," he announced, breezing into Rose's room and padding across to where Lara was lying awake on her back on a bunny rug. "There's one pretty girl here – but the other could use some work," he said, eyeing Rose and her dirty sweats meaningfully.

"I haven't had a lot of reason to dress up, recently," Rose replied her voice flat.

"Well, it's time to change that. You can't stay in your room forever. You need to get out there. Putting it off is not going to make it any easier."

Rose nodded. It had been the same thing she'd been telling herself all week, but the idea of running into Dimitri again was more than she could bear.

"Why are you here?" Rose asked, meaning why was Ambrose helping her. They'd always been friendly when they'd seen one another, but they didn't typically hang out.

"Because I thought you could use a friend right now," Ambrose replied. "Now why don't you let me play with this little treasure while you go have a shower? Take your time and wash your hair," he said, eyeing Rose's lank, greasy locks critically.

"Thanks, Ambrose," Rose replied, giving him a tight smile.

Standing under the spray, Rose reflected on Ambrose's kindness. The truth was she was scared to venture out of her rooms. Once upon a time, Rose had been fearless, not giving a shit what people thought about her. But that had been when she'd had the secure foundation of friends and a partner who loved and supported her. With Lissa's betrayal and everyone else believing Rose had cheated on Dimitri, suddenly Rose was feeling completely adrift. Christian was right – she was a social pariah – which made what Ambrose was doing all the more generous.

Washing her hair, brushing her teeth, and dragging a razor over her legs and pits, Rose had to admit being thoroughly clean made a marked improvement to her mood. Walking wrapped in a towel from the bathroom to her bedroom, she was happy to see Ambrose playing and talking with Lara.

"Wear something nice," Ambrose instructed without looking up as Rose made her way to her bedroom. "Not date nice, but lunch with a friend nice."

Rose closed the door, dropping the towel as she stood in front of her wardrobe. Her casual clothing was limited – most of it 'at home' clothing bought for the months she'd spent with Lissa at Professor Blundell's. But rifling through her closet, Rose found a pretty calf-length dress which she teamed with a cardigan. Putting her still wet hair into a messy bun and applying a little lip gloss and mascara, Rose checked the mirror, deciding she was ready.

"Better?" she asked, standing nervously in her doorway. Ambrose looked up from where he was waving a rattle above Lara.

"Much. Pack your diaper bag, while I put this one in her pram."

"I can wear her in the carrier," Rose argued. She'd had to soak it for two days, but miraculously the carrier had cleaned up good as new after Lara's power-vomit. It didn't even smell!

"No, you won't. She'll be comfier in her pram, and you're not going to slink down a set of back stairs. You can't avoid the Palace foyer forever. No matter what's happened, done is done. You need to stand with your head held high and get on with business."

Rose grimaced, embarrassed that Ambrose had so readily identified the reason behind her reticence to utilize Lara's pram. She quickly packed the diaper bag, sure to include multiple wipes, a small towel, and a spare outfit for her and Lara – just in case.

"I'll be right beside you, Rose," Ambrose said sweetly. "You can do this. You need to do this."

"I know." Rose's voice was small.