Beautiful Rose

Chapter 1-2

You’re a fool, Rosalind Carlisle, to ask such a thing. Hearing Vidal talk about the woman he loved would be as painful to her as it was to him.

He regarded her in silence for a long moment. Then the whole story came out in an unstoppable gush. “Carmen Flores is the daughter of the representative from that little shipping company I bought six months ago. He brought her with him when he came to meet me. He told me she had ended an engagement with an old acquaintance of mine from the university, who was determined to join the fight to expel the queen. Carmen didn’t want Esteban to go, because it would delay their marriage, and because of the danger. He refused to listen, so she broke things off with him. Her father assured me that the relationship was long over.”

He paused, and Rosalind squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue.

“Over the weeks of negotiations, she visited frequently, and after that, the courtship continued for almost half a year. It was clear her father wanted her for me, but she hesitated to commit, claiming she feared another broken heart.”

He passed a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes. “Ah, she was so lovely. Such a perfect Spanish lady. She could flirt with the flutter of a fan to tease a man beyond the wildest kisses. The touch of her hand on my sleeve overpowered me.”

“Was she your lover, Don Vidal?” Rosalind interrupted gently, her heart thumping as she asked for information she didn’t want.

He shook his head. “No, never that. She wouldn’t even let me kiss her. She confessed once that she had allowed Esteban the liberty, and his respect for her feelings died with the kiss. He left for the army the next week. I couldn’t help but honor her request, so, I courted her for months with the utmost propriety and finally asked her father for her hand. He agreed. Our engagement was to be announced at the festival, as you probably heard.”

Rosalind nodded.

“How was I to know that Esteban had returned? The war has been over for a year. I didn’t know her heart was not free. I would never have committed…” His voice broke. “If I had known.” He closed his eyes.

She said nothing, having no idea where to begin. She longed to embrace him but didn’t dare until he made some sign that he would accept it. Instead, she merely waited, his misery cutting like a blade into her soul.