An Improper Courtship

Brotherly Games

Rosalie had been left alone for an hour, normally she would have been the happier for it, it was what she was used to growing up with only her mama, but she knew there was a silent disturbance in the house. Stillness in the air that only began to reflect the tension in the house.

Rosalie decided she'd seclude herself in the library, there were doors that led out into the rose garden and she could find a book that could teach her something new, something her mind would delight in understanding and keep her thoughts busy away from a particular someone. Just as she crossed the entrance hall, she heard a sharp knock at the main doors. There was a pause and another knock. Rosalie was unsure as to whether she should open the door, in her old home she wouldn't have thought twice. Rosalie looked around and walked towards the door, yet the Jameson household butler dashed and skidded in front of the door. She'd never seen the old man move so fast. He took a moment to straighten his back, flip his grey patch of hair backwards and open the door with poise you'd never imagine from a man who'd just skidded.

"Well, I was just thinking I'd have to sneak in through the kitchen," the voice started,

"Master James Franco, a pleasure to have you home," The Butler smiled, warmth flooding his words. Rosalie peered through the door to see the recipient of this welcome. He was roguishly handsome, tall and he glinted in a gold aura. A cheeky grin plastered his face and his dark blonde streaked with light brown hair seemed to have no direction.

"I apologise, Master Franco, we are busy organising a ball." The Butler stepped out of the way so that the gentleman could walk in. A ball? Rosalie remembered Honey's request at dinner. Had they already commenced the preparations? Rosalie scrunched her nose, these people were truly capable of anything.

The golden dipped stranger smiled, "Ah, and who might this you be?"

Rosalie swallowed, did she curtesy? Did she take his hand to shake? The Butler answered, introducing her. Rosalie nodded and smiled at the end of the introduction.

"Uncle Micheal's niece?" he mused, Rosalie swallowed back the discomfort at the lie. She would have to get used to it if she was to debut in London.

"A pleasure to meet you, Sir" Rosalie finally uttered. James smiled wider if that was even possible. There was a terrible endearing nature about him like he hid pain under his smile, but he continued to exude positivity in hopes to fool everyone and himself.

"You give off something very familiar, Rosalie..." he started, his blue eyes scanning her intensely, "you resemble your uncle an awful lot."

Rosalie struggled to not roll her eyes, "I don't think my father would have liked hearing that," she started, the sentence could be interpreted in two ways, with her imaginary father and her real father.

James laughed, shaking his head and moving towards her, "I suppose, you are a cousin to me of some sort."

Rosalie c****d her head, "I suppose so, in a long-winded way."

"Very well, cousin. Tell me all about yourself." He politely held her bare arm resting it on his woollen coated forearm.

"Only if you promise to share too," Rosalie countered

The Butler coughed uncomfortably, afraid to break this happy new meeting.

"Should I announce your Lordships arrival to your brother?"

"To my Aunt, Uncle and dearest cousins, yes. I'm sure my brother will find out soon enough." James replied.

Rosalie peered curiously at her new 'cousin', "Why not, your brother?"

James chuckled, a shake trembling through his body, sending a contagious wave of happiness through to Rosalie, "My brother and I, have a continuous game we play. When we were children, others would joke that we were connected and could feel each other's presence. It's not true, I assure you, but since we were joined by the hip from a young age we believed that maybe they were correct," James led Rosalie into the living room, letting go of her arm and sitting on one of the brown armchairs, he sighed smiling, "it's good to be home." Rosalie took a seat on the corner of the couch, c*****g her head.

"So, what is this special game?"

James looked up at the clock, " Ah yes, when we left for school and started spending more time apart we decided to test the theory. We try to arrive home as clandestinely as possible and add on the minutes of how long it takes to find out, the other is home." The clock had just passed nine and 37 minutes. "One time, I camped out all night to win extra points."

Rosalie grimaced, " Well, that's quite a serious competition." She looked up at the clock, "How do you know the other isn't lying about the time of his arrival?"

James tapped his lips as if to say it was a secret, then laughed "I joke, with the help of Fiennes of course."

Rosalie nodded, now she understood why the butler had asked James permission.

"So, who is ahead of the race of time at this present moment?"

"Me of course, hence my entry through the main door. Wasn't looking to wait in discomfort again."

"You shouldn't be too smug, I'm sure you know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare," Rosalie replied,

"Ah you wound me, cousin, I was just going to express my luck at entering when I did because I stumbled across you, but now I think waiting in the kitchens would have been better,"

"I believe exercising caution is a sure win,"

The two entered an easy conversation, James ate to his fill showing a similar appetite to his brother. There were no awkward pauses or dull comments, statements on the weather or observations on their appearances. Instead, there was an interchange of wit and humour, laughter lapping each pause, wise words and interesting topics that spread the span of the globe. Rosalie found out that James had been travelling much like his brother but because he was compiling an anthology of poetry. It explained the golden glint of his skin.

Blake left the office, after composing the letter, he thought a ride would wake him up and he missed the rush of exercise. Upon crossing the house he heard a hiccupy laugh echo along with a familiar grumbling chortle. Blake sped his pace and peered his head through into the living room, to find his brother and his... well no... just Rosalie. He shook his head, she wasn't his.

"Finally! You decided to grace us with your presence." James strolled to his brother, enveloping him in a long, bone-crushing hug. Rosalie watched as they patted each other's backs, she saw something alight in Blake's eyes, a deep pained hurt but love. Love you found in the eyes of a protector.

"How long have you been here?" Blake started, remembering their game. James opened his mouth,

"Oh, I'd say since about 8.30," Rosalie winked at James when he turned to face her, obscuring Blake's view of Rosalie.

"So, I believe that keeps me in the lead old man," Jason smirked, 

"Equal par on what?" Rosalie asked, faking a clueless expression. James smile widened. Blake's forehead creased, he breathed in taking a look at Rosalie's pretty features, her plump lined lips pursed.

"It's a long story," Blake stated, Rosalie stifled back a laugh and James grinned ridiculously. Rosalie caught James attention and mouthed 'You owe me one.'

"I am sure you brothers have a lot of catching up to do," James winked back, picking her hand up and giving her a small peck on the knuckle. Blake watched the scene with an acidic feeling rising in his throat, when had they gotten so close?

As Blake and James made their way to their father's old office, they shared comments of reconnection.

"Nothing much has changed," James started looking around, to the emerald green carpet and the oaken brown furniture that had always looked like it was centuries old. He spun the standing globe, "Actually, something has."

Blake raised an eyebrow, "Elaborate,"

"I suppose we have a new addition to the family,"

Blake dropped the eyebrow and gave his younger brother a straight look, "That's what you choose to remark on,"

"Ah, she's a blast you know, mother would have loved her."

Blake coughed uncomfortably, Why had he chosen to bring their mother in relation to her? Had he developed something with her in the past hours?

"James, don't go pursuing things with your unresolved issues," Blake started treading carefully on his words,

James watched his brother's face, it seemed stern in thought but there was a softness in his eyes, a softness he'd seen a few moments ago when Blake had looked at Rosalie.

"You like her, don't you?"

Blake looked up at his brother's smirking face, they knew each other too well for there to be lies.

"Well, I do too. Though I suspect differently than you."