An Improper Courtship

Destroying Improperly

Rosalie woke up feeling better than before. Her mood was light and after a breakfast of butter porridge and fruits, her strength was returned. The night had blurred with light conversation until Blake had it reluctantly slipped out when they heard someone in the hallway. Left to her own devices Rosalie had tried to reconcile the emotions she was feeling, she had never felt so at ease with a man, especially after, 

"It's from yee Aunt," he bustling maid explained tying the sash below the empire waist of the mint gown. 

Soon after Bessie had left. Rosalie had sat at the desk and started the list. It was for Blake. She was unsure how Blake planned to help her catch a husband but if she could distract him with his own pursuit of love or a wife or both, maybe he would leave her alone.

1- What to do hope for when you think of the woman you will potentially spend the rest of your life with?2- Do you know what you are avoiding?3- Once you find an interest, entangle yourself in their lives, find their friends, families, know where they hang out but never cross a boundary, association allows affection to grow, it also puts you in the perfect position if the occasion if it presents itself.

4- What will you not compromise on? 

Alyssa walked in later when Rosalie had been on her 7th point. She quickly hid the paper and gave the illusion to be writing a letter. Thankfully Alyssa didn't seem interested."Oh splendid, you're looking much better, although that bump on your head doesn't become you very much""I doubt a bump would become anyone," Rosalie murmured "Perhaps, although I'm sure a hero could look quite dashing with one," Alyssa teased. Rosalie stifled her surprised laugh and Alyssa continued "I've come to see if you were fit enough to join our painting excursion,"Rosalie looked dumbfounded, Alyssa wasted no time in trying to rescue her confusion."Oh, I know it's a bore for people who have no talent, but just indulge your sisters. The weather outside is divine and you can enjoy it, I daresay it's a rare view in England.""I'm really rather bad at painting," "Oh, we can't be good at everything, just join us,""I'll be out in 15 minutes,""Perfect!" Alyssa smiled triumphantly even though Rosalie hadn't given much of a fight and glided out the room, her baby blue dress sweeping the floor.

Blake woke up later than usual, although he didn't have a schedule, his Aunt had expressed a desire to sort out the details of the inheritance. He could see it strained on her and she didn't like it dragging out. After dressing and eating a breakfast of bacon, fried eggs and roasted potatoes, Blake went in search of his aunt.His thoughts were most definitely not on the will and his potential acquisition of wealth but on the ray of autumn he had spent some of the night with. There was something about her that tugged at him. As if she was a beacon of intriguing knowledge that could guide him far. Her presence reminded him of autumn, her auburn colours gleaming in the golden sun, her eyes a picture of warm cocoa, cinnamon flecks and mint green. He attempted to focus his thoughts on business but the kiss seemed to linger on his lips, and her scent was firmly entrenched in every inhalation. Blake shook his head, arranging his curls in the mirror before walking into the office where his aunt and the lawyer were waiting for him.

Rosalie grimaced at her painting. She wasn't even sure it was a painting, there was green on the canvas where she had tried to stroke grass, brown plodges that looked like the secondary excrement for the oak trunks and the clear blue sky looked like an atrocious explosion of unnatural acrylic blue. Alyssa and Honey seemed to possess such ease and elegance, whilst she struggled to paint a straight line.Rosalie was glad she had moved away from the girls, her canvas tilted away. She knew her work would have been a disaster but not this. This m******e could potentially offend the artistic world."Well, isn't that something!" Blakes' voice mused from behind. Rosalie turned, she'd been so immersed in her mess she hadn't heard him. She boldly pulled his body forward to cover the canvas and herself. With her fingers wrapped around his upper arm, she felt the strength of his biceps and quickly dropped her arms."Now you're here, you have to help me get rid of this..."Blake laughed but Rosalie gave him a stern look and coincidentally Blake only grinned deeper. "No name for your piece of... art," tilting his head trying to make sense of the mess on the canvas."Merde,"Blake knew enough to know what that meant."How improper, " he said, faking a serious face."Prft! As if we care of improper" "If I help you here...wouldn't that mean I've been of assistance to you..." there was a mischievous glint "thrice"Rosalie hit his arm, "I wouldn't count the first one" she eyed her surroundings. Blake picked the canvas up."What are you doing?!" Rosalie whispered."Well it looks quite finished, I thought I'd bring it to your cousins. "

The finished bit was true, there was definitely no more room for improvement,

"No, just drop it and step on it with your muddy boot!" Rosalie begged. Blake looked thoroughly amused, he was enjoying her desperation perhaps too much."What would be my reward for saving you once again my fair lady,"Rosalie froze and looked down searching for something. Blake observed her face crease up and in an instant, the canvas had been dropped, his knee had cracked it and Blake had stood up ensuring his muddy boots had stained earth all over the mess of the canvas. He caught Rosalie's happy sigh, just before his cousins rushed over. He couldn't help but feel the glimmer of pride when looking at Rosalie's triumphant face."What happened!" Honey exclaimed her eyes wide with shock."Another accident!" Alyssa said her voice expressionless,"Oh no!" Rosalie said, picking the pieces and dropping them again 'by accident' face down on the ground."I'm terribly sorry Miss Rosalie, I don't know what happened. " Blake said uncomfortably he had never been one for accidents. He had great control of his body."It's fine," she smiled, too extravagantly for someone whose hard work had been destroyed, "things like this always seem to happen. I guess art and I should not keep in each other's company.""Oh, it's such a shame! I would have loved to see it" Honey exclaimed."As would I," Alyssa said staring at Blake, her arms crossed in scrutiny.

After the girls had gone back to their pretty pictures. Rosalie and Blake commented on the success of their mission. Feeling for the piece of paper with the list, she handed it to Blake. She hadn't expected his hands to envelop hers so tightly. Blake's automatic reaction was to clasp her hand in his. The shock that reeled through Rosalie took her out of nowhere, her mind snapped with a memory of clammy hands and a suffocating crawl of spiders spread up her arm, to her throat, where her breathing felt cut off. She tried to rationalise, focus on her surroundings but her mind was reeling, it had taken her back.  The grip wasn't like Viscount Carmon's which had been cold and sickening like the look in his eyes.

"You should be honoured that I deem you worthy of my affections" His hand tightened around her wrist. He pulled her closer, his ice eyes raging with something selfish. Rosalie had tried to remain neutral, but her body with its flight instincts had tugged, causing his hands to tighten in a grip of a vice."Look Mr Carmon, I don't want this disgusting thing you call honour. Find someone else!""What I want I get and I want you! You will be mine no matter what!" As a child, Rosalie had thought after she'd escaped the situation. He had forced his predatory self on her. Forceful and clammy, Rosalie skin had crawled and a scream had stuck at her throat. If someone had told her she would have kneed a man in the area he prides the most, just earlier that evening Rosalie would have choked with laughter. Yet, when it came to that or losing her sanity, dignity and possible virginity, she chose violence. Carmon had held himself between the legs, his white skin blotching a satanic red. He had tried to lunge, but his imbalance had made him angrier. Lanky his presence had intimidated Rosalie, he consciously blocked the door, blocked her only exit. Rosalie numbed by his relentless words, vomit-inducing words sprang into action. Driven by pure desperation Rosalie had picked up a chair, smashed the window and tumbled out, cutting her limbs with the shards. Rosalie had fled, picking her skirts up and dashing out the door running home. Blood had trickled behind her, but the desire to escape trumped the pain. She had barely survived intact.  Rosalie fled in pursuit of some relief to her shattered heart and trust. Not stopping once, the innocence of her 16-years had been left behind in that office.

As the memories flashed before her mind, unfiltered, uncontrolled and unwanted. Rosalie pulled her hand out of his grasp. Tripping back from the force, Blake let go instantly when he saw her face pale to an unhealthy grey "Are you well?"Rosalie's head span, her mind was in two places, telling her to leave, to protect herself whereas the other side told her Blake was nothing like that. What the hell do you know, ran through her mind, she'd only known him for little more than a day.Get a hold of yourself, her head ordered. "I just need to lie down." She whispered blinking fast to refocus her eyes. She pinched her arm inducing some pain or sensation, Blake noticed it and his hands prickled to provide a caress, but a subconscious voice told him to not reach out. Without any words, Rosalie turned towards the house, her feet itching to run, it was familiar for her to do so with these caged feelings and memories. In a moment her shock would be replaced by fury, a wave of anger so raw she was unsure if she could ever heal. She wanted to blame Blake for touching her when she had not been expecting it or welcoming it. She understood why her mind had jumped to this strained place. Her walk had transformed into a quick pace of violent marching. Rosalie barely heard Blake's call over the voices in her head, the sound of her heartbeat in her ears. She carried her way upwards to the house. Blake picked up his pace, the length of his legs meant he was within arms reach but he couldn't bring himself to touch her with her defences so high, he of course hadn't known her long but something was deeply troubling her.He watched her sprint the steps up the verandah and saw her fist connect with the stone barrister. She wrenched the door open and disappeared into the house. Rosalie slammed her bedroom door out of habit, dragging a chair she placed at the door and turned the lock. Falling into the chair, Rosalie took heavy breaths. These traumatic reactions were something she needed to pattern and learn to control. The escape from Blake had quelled the main feelings of anger she had directed unjustly to Blake. Not all men were like Carmon she knew that but memories sometimes clouded her emotional judgement and her rational mind could not compete with those visceral reactions.